Giacomo Conterno Barolo | 100pt Monfortino & 99pt Francia

Giacomo Conterno, Monforte d’Alba - Barolo

Following Wednesday's offer of Conterno's Arione, from the same pristine cellar comes limited quantities of three legendary vintages of Monfortino along with four vintages of Francia, the same vineyard source for Monfortino...

(Up through the 2014 vintage, both Monfortino and Francia were sourced from the Cascina Francia vineyard - from 2015, Arione also contributes to Monfortino.)

2014 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino
• 100VN, 100WA

"When it comes to comparisons of any kind, all bets are off with the 2014 Monfortino, a Barolo that enters the stratosphere of profound and utterly moving beauty. Seamless and elegant in the glass, with stunning aromatics and perfectly ripe tannins, the 2014 is simply breathtaking in its beauty. In 2014, Roberto Conterno waited to harvest this fruit very late. The result is a Barolo that offers the textural opulence of fruit picked at the end of the season with the aromatic depth and structure of a wine from a cool year. Most incredibly of all, the 2014 is a very tannic wine analytically, and yet the sensation is of a Barolo of softness and opulence. A rush of dark red/purplish berry fruit, blood orange, spice, tobacco and mint builds into the rapturous finish. Readers who can find the 2014 when it is released next year should not hesitate, as it will unquestionably go down as one of the greatest Monfortinos ever made." - Antonio Galloni (Aug 2019)

2004 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino
• 100VN, 100WA

"The 2004 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is drop-dead gorgeous. I have tasted the wine multiple times from barrel and three times from bottle and never been anything less than blown away. The 2004 is a subtle, layered Monfortino that captures the sheer elegance and finesse of this great vintage. It is sweet, perfumed, silky and utterly mind-blowing. From barrel it has always been a 100 point wine, but it has just been bottled and naturally a bit closed in on itself. Still, with some time in the glass its silky, perfumed fruit and dazzling class come to life. The 2004 is remarkably harmonious for such a young wine. Readers will have much fun debating which is the greatest Monfortino of recent years. Could it be the 1996, 1999 or 2002 for their huge structure and classicism? Or, is it the 1997 for its opulence? What if the dark horse 1998 and 2000 steal the show? Personally, I adore the 2001 and 2004 for their completeness, but the 2004 is the sexiest of them all. Kudos to Roberto Conterno and his team for this magnificent, thrilling Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2044." - Antonio Galloni (Oct 2011)

2002 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino
• 98VN, 98WA, 98WS, 97FS

"Conterno’s 2002 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is a legend in the making, or now that it is in bottle, it may be more correct to simply say it is a legend. The late Giovanni Conterno and his son Roberto Conterno created quite a stir when they announced that they would make their Monfortino in 2002, a year in which most of the harvest in Piedmont was severely compromised by a cold summer and devastating hail in early September. But there was more. The Conternos not only announced that they would make their Monfortino in 2002 but no Barolo Cascina Francia for the first time ever in the estate’s history. In a bit of defiance towards the press, the Conternos then announced no one would be allowed to taste the wine from barrel. Over the years, this stance softened. Visitors lucky enough to visit the cellars and sample the wine from cask knew what was in store. Simply put, the 2002 Monfortino is stratospheric. A dark, imposing, but sensual wine, it flows from the glass with a breathtaking array of dried roses, autumn leaves, wild cherries, plums, new leather, espresso, licorice and spices, showing phenomenal depth, richness and balance. The tension between the luxuriousness of the fruit and the austerity of the vintage is truly captivating. I have tasted the 2002 Monfortino multiple times from barrel and bottle. At times it has reminded me of what I imagine the 1971 tasted like upon release, at other times it has seemed more similar to 1978. According to Giovanni Conterno, the 2002 reminded him of the 1971. Either way, the wine is extraordinary. The 2002 Monfortino is the result of the cold vintage that was typical of Piedmont up until the mid 1980s. In many ways, it is a throwback to wines that can’t be made anymore in Piedmont. Roberto Conterno thought so highly of the 2002 Monfortino he gave the wine an extra year in barrrel. And of course, there is one sad footnote. The world lost Giovanni Conterno to cancer in 2004, but he made sure his last Monfortino was at least equal, if not better, than his most monumental wines. There is little doubt the 2002 Monfortino will soon take its place as one of the greatest Monfortinos ever made. It is the most fitting last chapter to the life of one of the world’s greatest winemakers. As always, I suggest readers who have an interest in Monfortino taste the wine as soon as possible, as it will soon head into a period of dormancy, which in this vintage may last several decades. One of my favorite vintages for current drinking is the 1970, which still looks to have another 30 years of fine drinking ahead of it! Anticipated maturity: 2027-2052." - Antonio Galloni (Dec 2010)

2021 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia, 750mL + 1.5Ltr
• 99VN, 97JD, 97JS, 98DC, 99FS

"The 2021 Barolo Francia is a vertical, explosive Barolo endowed with tons of energy. Bright acids and fine beams of tannin provide the framework for this striking young Barolo. All the elements are so well balanced. Time in the glass brings out an interplay of mineral-drenched energy, persistence and textural breadth. There's a lot of structure, and yet the tannins feel fine-grained and finessed. I especially admire its translucent energy. Magnificent." - Antonio Galloni

2020 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia
• 98VN, 97+WA, 98JD, 98FS

The 2020 Barolo Francia is fascinating to taste next to the 2021. A substantial young Barolo, the 2020 offers notable mid-palate density and tons of pure explosive energy. Savory and mineral notes abound, but at this stage, the 2020 is a Barolo of fruit and texture. Practically seamless tannins pull it all together. I have a slight preference for the 2021, but it is neck and neck between these two great Barolos. A second bottle enjoyed in a local restaurant a few days after this tasting was every bit as memorable." - Antonio Galloni

2017 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia, 1.5Ltr
• 97VN, 97WA

"The 2017 Barolo Francia is dense, rich and explosive right out of the gate. There is virtually no feeling of tannin, as the creaminess of the fruit is so expansive. Bright red cherry fruit, blood orange, kirsch, sage and menthol gradually appear as the 2017 starts to open in the glass. In 2017, Francia is decidedly exotic, not to mention such a thrill to taste." - Antonio Galloni

2015 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia, 1.5Ltr
• 98VN, 97WA, 97WS

"The 2015 Barolo Francia is a soaring, regal wine endowed with tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. The most reticent and inward of the 2015s, the Francia possesses superb textural density and persistence all the way through to the explosive finish. An immense, towering Barolo, the Francia is positively stellar. It is also going to require a number of years ars to be at its best. In recent years, the Conterno Barolo Francia has often been relatively accessible post bottling, the 2015 is far from that." - Antonio Galloni

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Orders which include wines marked PRE-ARRIVAL that are combined with in stock items will be available for shipping/collection once all items have arrived at our warehouse. Minimum purchase per order is 3 bottles.

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