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Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino 2019 (1.5L)

$2,200.00
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It must be nice to be universally regarded as the greatest wine producer in all of Italy! In the old days, Conterno did what many Barolo producers did back then, and they purchased grapes. But since the 1970s they have shifted gears and have focused instead on acquiring a collection of amazing vineyards in Serralunga and producing wines exclusively from their own grapes. In 1974, Giovanni Conterno acquired Cascina Francia. For a while, it looked like they would just stick with that monopole vineyard. But his son Robert has proven to be ambitious: he acquired land in Cerretta in 2008 and then a sizable chunk of Arione in 2015. He produces single vineyard Barolos from all three sites, plus the great Monfortino, which going forward will blend Francia with neighboring Arione.

Given that Monfortino on release now costs more than $1000 per bottle, itโ€™s easy to dismiss Conterno as an overrated producer of trophies for rich people. Perhaps those of us who lack the means should content ourselves with such a sentiment, but truth be told it is off the mark. Monfortino is the greatest wine of Italy. There are plenty of less worthy French wines that cost far more. This may be rich peopleโ€™s wine, but itโ€™s really good rich peopleโ€™s wine.

Professional Reviews

Antonio Galloni

AG 99
"The 2019 Barolo Riserva Monfortino has closed down considerably since I last tasted it. Then again, the 2019 is a very serious Monfortino that includes the entirety of Conternoโ€™s production from both Francia and Arione. Today, the tannins are pretty imposing, but modern Monfortinos have shown an ability to assimilate their tannin with much less time in bottle than was once required. Production for the 2019 is on the higher side because of the blending of sites, so readers should have a relatively easy time sourcing this." -Antonio Galloni

Robert Parker

RP 100
"It's been a while, alas. The last vintage of this legendary wine was 2015. Skipping forward to a year of natural richness and concentration, the Giacomo Conterno 2019 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is a magnificently executed wine. It carefully reins in the soaring power of Nebbiolo and whittles it down to extreme finesse and precision. This is the essence of the grape with no extra bells or whistles. Roberto Conterno tells me he chose not to make Monfortino in 2016 because he considered 2015 to be a superior vintage. (There is an image problem with 2015, he concedes, because 2016 was more consistent overall than 2015; however, his experience with 2015 is better.) The 2017 vintage was a contender for Monfortino, but the wine was not made. The 2018 vintage also came close to production, but a lack of diurnal temperature shifts at the end of the growing season disqualified it, Roberto Conterno explains. His heart settled on 2019, a vintage that reminds him of the tension and energy found in 2013. However, the DNA of the 2019 vintage is slightly different because this edition sees 27% fruit blended from Arione. This site adds finesse and elegance. The rest of the blend represents a special selection from Francia, and that is where this wine gets its power and age-worthy tannins. The 2019 will be released in October 2025." -Monica Larner

Details

  • Grape Variety

    Nebbiolo

  • Vintage

    2019

  • Size

    1.5L

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Earthy , Minerally , Rich

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Customer Reviews

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