Poderi Aldo Conterno’s “Il Favot” Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2023 is the estate’s earlier-drinking Nebbiolo, sourced entirely from the Bussia area of Monforte d’Alba. It is made from 100% Nebbiolo—specifically the Michet and Lampia biotypes—drawn from “different vineyards in Bussia” with vines capped at “a maximum of 15 years” (Poderi Aldo Conterno). The estate context matters: this is a long-established Bussia property (the “Favot” farm was purchased in 1969), with vineyards around 400 meters, generally south to southwest facing, on sandy, calcareous marl soils (Massanois).
In style, the producer positions Il Favot as a Nebbiolo shaped more by fragrance and approachability than sheer structure. The winery notes a relatively short maceration—“6–8 days at 24–26°C”—specifically to extract “few tannins and more color,” aiming for “a well-colored wine with remarkable softness” (Poderi Aldo Conterno). Fermentation is carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel, consistent with the estate’s broader practice of avoiding selected yeasts (Massanois; Poderi Aldo Conterno).
Elevage details for the 2023 are not entirely consistent across published technical information. The winery describes refinement “in stainless steel vats with multiple transfers,” followed by “a few months in oak casks before bottling” (Poderi Aldo Conterno). An importer tech sheet, by contrast, claims “18 months aging” in “100% new barrels” and lists the alcohol at 14.5% (Massanois). In practical terms, readers should treat the producer’s account as the most reliable, while noting that some markets may present different specifications.
No professional, vintage-specific critic reviews were verifiably available for the 2023 at the time of research, so there are no “excellent” 2023 scores to report. For perspective only, the 2022 received an excellent 94 points from James Suckling and 92 points from Decanter—an encouraging sign for the cuvée’s recent track record, even if it is not a direct assessment of the 2023.
