Giacomo Conterno, Barolo 'Monfortino' Riserva, 2019
Giacomo Conterno, Barolo 'Monfortino' Riserva, 2019
- 75cl
- 14.5%
- Red Still
- Nebbiolo
Please note, en primeur wines are not available for delivery until they arrive in the UK
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Est. delivery in January, 2026
The Giacomo Conterno Monfortino Barolo Riserva is only made in exceptional vintages (the previous release was 2015), and its clearly worth the wait. Monfortino isn’t just wine; it’s the embodiment of long-haul greatness. Six to seven years in oak, and then ideally two decades of bottle rest, It's like a handshake across generations. If Barolo is Italy’s heavyweight champ, Monfortino is its undisputed #1.
Back in the 1920s, inspired by his father Giovanni’s tavern and his own stint in WWI, Giacomo Conterno hit on a bold idea: instead of selling Barolo to drink young, why not bottle a wine made to last? The result? The first ever Barolo Riserva, later named Monfortino after the family’s Monforte d’Alba roots. In 1974, the family took a monumental leap: They bought Cascina Francia and planted their own grapes, marking the birth of their own cru‑driven approach.
Now helmed by Roberto Conterno (Giovanni’s son), the estate has grown to encompass more crus: Francia, Cerretta (acquired 2008), and Arione (2015) and Roberto’s stewardship stays true to tradition, with long macerations, ageing in Slovenian oak botte, zero temperature control, six years maturation, including plenty of time in the bottle.
What the critics say:
"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."
"Demonstrating the meticulous precision for which the estate is known, the 2019 Monfortino is a thoroughbred. I was able to taste it on a couple of occasions during its maturation, after the blend of Francia and Arione was made. Since bottling last spring, it has retreated into itself and now just hints at black tea, truffle and dark wet earth. The tannins are still rigid and stubborn, though very sophisticated and inextricable from the fruit, while the acidity is simply salivating. Glimpses of baked earth, granite and graphite appear, but truly, this will take years to unfold. For now, it’s all iron fist. The yet-to-be-bottled 2020 which I tasted alongside will likely be approachable long before this."
OUR GROWERS
Giacomo Conterno
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