Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/735024
{ SOMMjournal.com } 47 hits a nerve every time. The wines are mys- terious, elegant, complex and delicious all in one fell swoop. Fontanafredda Serralunga d'Alba Barolo is a balanced style that offers up silky tannins and a firm mouthfeel, but is also approachable and youthful. It's a great value and stepping stone into the vast and beautiful world of Barolo." Erik Boyd, Beverage Director, Food and Beverage at The Peninsula in Chicago, has made the Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera a large part of his wine program. "We offer the Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera by the glass as well as the bottle in all of our dining outlets located in The Peninsula Chicago. One of the biggest reasons I like to have it on our menu is its versatility. I find that with its mellow tannins, high acidity and nice overall fruit characteristics it makes it easily pair with the many styles of dishes we offer, from The Lobby, which features contemporary American cuisine, to our Shanghai Terrace restaurant, which features Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisine." As the cooler months approach, Boyd offers his reasons to order a glass of Fontanafredda at The Lobby. "The Briccotondo Barbera is a great wine for fall, as it is easily drinkable whether it's the warmer or cooler side of fall. It's light enough, with its red juicy fruit and acidity, that it is easy to drink and approachable during the warmer temperatures that might be still lingering from the summer, and yet it has a nice depth and structure that makes one feel warm and cozy when the temperature starts to cool down." Amatuzzi offers something different in the cooler seasons: "The weather is changing, the cuisine is getting heavier and Barolo is the guiding force that makes the transition from warm to cool an annual transcendence." #baroloweek Fontanafredda's #baroloweek is a global celebration—starting in October of 2016 until the year's end—that will include white truffle & Barolo-themed dinners, Barolo masterclasses, and Barolo-themed retail displays, all tied together by a social media platform utilizing the hashtag "#baroloweek." Participants are encouraged to attend functions in their local communities, tag their friends and family holding a bottle of their favorite Fontanafredda Barolo, and perhaps most importantly, have fun while learning a thing or two about Barolo. Visit www.baroloweek.com for more details. TASTING NOTES by Wine Editor Jessie Birschbach Fontanafredda 2011 Serralunga d'Alba Barolo The Serralunga d'Alba is aged 24 months in barrel, 12 months in bottle with fruit from the 250-acre cru in Serralunga d'Alba. Piercing blackberry, black currants, sweet tobacco and dried roses roll off the strong backbone of tannin to finish with a touch of anise. Fontanafredda 2014 Briccotondo Barbera, Piemonte This spicier version of Barbera (100%) from Piemonte launches into dark cherry, plum and freshly cracked peppercorn, then moves into dried purple flowers. Fontanafredda 2014 Briccotondo Arneis, Langhe Lemon blossom on the nose, green apple, juicy Meyer lemon, white peach and peach pit in this 100% Arneis that's substantial enough to have with a heavier pasta and light enough to have on a hot day. Fontanafredda 2014 Briccotondo 2014 Dolcetto, Langhe Bold, fresh and zippy, this 100% Dolcetto offers cherry, plum and sandalwood in a medium-bodied polished texture. Fontanafredda 2015 Gavi del Comune di Gavi100% Cortese from vineyards located in Roverreto and surrounding district of Gavi within the Comune di Gavi DOCG. Ample nose, with an intense bouquet featuring floral notes, vanilla, lemon and apples. Dry, full-bodied, well-balanced and elegant. —Winemaker Danilo Drocco Fontanafredda 2014 Briccotondo Barbera served by the glass at The Peninsula Chicago. PHOTO: REBECCA PEPLINSKI PHOTO: REBECCA PEPLINSKI That's a lotta truffle! Black truffle risotto from The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago. Erik Boyd, Beverage Director, Food and Beverage at The Peninsula Chicago. PHOTO: REBECCA PEPLINSKI