Livia Fontana 2019 Villero Barolo DOCG – Piedmont, Italy
From one of the celebrated crus of Castiglione Falletto comes the Livia Fontana 2019 Villero Barolo DOCG, a beautifully structured and elegant expression of 100% Nebbiolo from one of Barolo's historic vineyard sites.
The Villero cru lies in Castiglione Falletto, where its south and southwest-facing vineyards rise between approximately 225 and 360 meters above sea level. Mineral-rich marl soils with low permeability retain moisture particularly well, helping the vines maintain balance even during dry growing seasons. Villero is known for producing Barolo that combines structure and longevity with particularly refined, elegant tannins.
Livia Fontana's 2019 Villero captures that character beautifully. Bright ruby-garnet in color, it opens with an expressive bouquet of violet, sour cherry, raspberry and blood orange, joined by sweet spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg and subtle balsamic nuances.
On the palate, the wine is fresh, structured and precise, with polished yet vigorous Nebbiolo tannins surrounding layers of red fruit, citrus peel, spice and savory mineral character. A distinctive saline quality emerges toward the finish, adding freshness and complexity before a long, delicately balsamic conclusion.
This is classic Castiglione Falletto Barolo: powerful enough for extended cellaring, yet defined by elegance rather than sheer weight.
93 Points – James Suckling
James Suckling awarded the 2019 Villero 93 points, highlighting its dried red cherry and floral character, fine yet firm tannins, orange-peel notes and polished style. The estate's current records confirm the 93-point score for the 2019 vintage.
93 Points – Falstaff
Falstaff also awarded the wine 93 points, finding fragrant sour cherry, blood orange and raspberry aromas followed by fine, polished tannins, delicate raspberry fruit and a pronounced saline character on the finish.
Gambero Rosso – Tre Bicchieri
The 2019 Villero earned Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) from Gambero Rosso, its highest distinction. The winery's own awards record confirms the recognition, and WineNews specifically notes the award for this vintage.
The Villero Cru
Villero is an important MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva) of Castiglione Falletto. Its mineral-rich marl soils and ability to retain water contribute to wines known for structure, longevity, elegance and incisive but refined tannins.
Livia Fontana's vineyard sits approximately 300–350 meters above sea level with southwest exposure, on Sant'Agata Fossili marls with a presence of sand. The estate's Villero holding covers approximately one hectare.
Winemaking & Aging
The Nebbiolo grapes are harvested by hand, traditionally around mid-October, with careful selection in the vineyard and again at the winery.
Following gentle crushing, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, with approximately 20 days of skin maceration. The wine then undergoes extended maturation in traditional large oak barrels, followed by further bottle aging in the Fontana family's temperature-controlled underground cellar.
For the 2019 specifically, additional reporting indicates approximately 40 months in traditional oak, reinforcing the traditionalist character of the wine.
About Livia Fontana
The Fontana family's connection to the vineyards of the Langhe stretches back generations. Today, Livia Fontana works alongside her sons Michele and Lorenzo, continuing a family tradition centered on Nebbiolo and the great terroirs of Barolo.
The estate is based in Castiglione Falletto, and Barolo remains at the heart of its production, including wines from Villero and Bussia.
The family's philosophy combines respect for traditional Barolo with careful vineyard management and modern precision in the cellar, allowing the individual character of each vineyard to remain the focus.
Tasting Notes
Color: Bright ruby red moving toward garnet.
Aromas: Violet, sour cherry, raspberry, blood orange, dried red cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg and subtle balsamic notes.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied with vibrant freshness, polished yet assertive tannins and layers of red cherry, raspberry, orange peel, sweet spice and savory mineral character.
Finish: Long and persistent with distinctive saline and delicately balsamic notes.
Food Pairing
The combination of structure, acidity and refined tannins makes this an outstanding gastronomic Barolo. Pair it with braised beef, roasted lamb, duck, osso buco, porcini mushroom risotto, truffle pasta, game meats or aged cheeses. The producer also recommends richer seafood preparations such as cacciucco, demonstrating the wine's versatility.
Wine Details
Producer: Livia Fontana
Vintage: 2019
Wine: Villero Barolo DOCG
Country: Italy
Region: Piedmont
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Cru / MGA: Villero
Municipality: Castiglione Falletto
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard Elevation: Approximately 300–350 meters
Exposure: Southwest
Soil: Sant'Agata Fossili marl with sand
Harvest: Hand harvested
Maceration: Approximately 20 days
Aging: Approximately 40 months in traditional oak, followed by bottle maturation
Alcohol: 14.5%
Serving Temperature: 61–64°F / 16–18°C
Cellaring: Drink now or cellar for 15–20 years
Critical Acclaim: 93 James Suckling | 93 Falstaff | Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri
Why You'll Love It
This is a particularly compelling Barolo for customers looking beyond the largest names of Piedmont. It combines a top Castiglione Falletto vineyard, traditional winemaking, long oak maturation, three major critical accolades and genuine long-term cellar potential.
It also gives MyWinePlus a nice opportunity to present Villero alongside Livia Fontana's Bussia Riserva: two different expressions of Nebbiolo and two important Barolo terroirs from the same family producer.
