Montestefano is the most historic vineyard in the appellation, the first in all of Barbaresco to be bottled as a single cru, in 1961 by Beppe Colla; the Giordano family's first bottling dates back to 1971. Montestefano is prized for its heavy, blue-toned clay soils famous for producing structured, powerful, deeply colored wines, which have been described as 'the most Barolo among Barbarescos,' wiht unmistakable notes of leather, tobacco, and truffle, all of which are reflected in Giordano’s exceptional version. Compared to the winery’s other Barbaresco bottlings, Montestefano typically undergoes a few extra days of maceration in cement tanks and two additional months in barrel, after which the wine is returned to cement before bottling. An exceedingly attractive, mid-weight wine, with the hallmark veins of Montestefano tannin giving it a feeling of nervy tension. Dark cherry, leather, spice, menthol, tobacco, and a whole range of balsamic inflections shape the finish. The year's Montestefano might be best defined by its evolution in the glass, revealing layer after layer once you have the patience; sit down and spend a few hours (or days...) with this one.