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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 97 pts. and median of 98 pts. in 29 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Dnordh on 5/19/2024 & rated 98 points: This really is exellent! Fruity, complex, fully body. Drinks very well and best Barolo I have tried (296 views) | | | Tasted by Robmcl920 on 2/2/2024 & rated 97 points: Vinous Monfortino Dinner with Roberto Conterno; 2/1/2024-2/2/2024 (Legacy Records, NYC): Surprisingly to me, the '13 was fairly open aromatically, but on the palate, it is an austere wine in need of time. The '13 is a stereotypical Monfortino, showing dark red cherry fruit, red roses, leather, iron, and a touch of orange peel. It's incredible on its own, but doesn't stand out in the way that some other surrounding vintages do. On the palate, the wine feels more tannic than any of the surrounding vintages, even if apparently that is not technically the case on paper. Pure red fruit, orange peel, leather, and fresh roses flow across the palate, with tons of tannin, and although the tannins are high enough quality that it's drinkable right now, clearly the best is yet to come. (1644 views) | | | Tasted by miadelt on 6/20/2022 & rated 100 points: From Magnum, opened in cellar for 6 hours and then decanted 1 hour. In a previous note, Xavier described the wine perfectly and much better than I can and so I am quoting him "This has everything. Power and finesse, precision and transparency, fragrance, amazing complexity, flawless purity, silky texture and rich but incredibly refined tannins, spices and tar and roses, dried fruits, amazing depth and elegance, slightly balsamic finish with amazing length. The essence of Barolo. Perfection." (5992 views) | | | Tasted by Sundbyberg on 5/5/2022 & rated 92 points: Tasting: Obviously I did not quite get this wine, as others have scored it significantly higher. I have had maybe 5 wines from Conterno and I have not quite understood the hype. I think I like Gaja (a lot) more.
This wine probably needs quite a lot of time. (5008 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 10/25/2021 & rated 100 points: A private dinner (Restaurant d'Oude Schuur, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium): This has everything. Power and finesse, precision and transparency, fragrance, amazing complexity, flawless purity, silky texture and rich but incredibly refined tannins, spices and tar and roses, dried fruits, amazing depth and elegance, slightly balsamic finish with amazing length. The essence of Barolo. Perfection. Drink now and over the next 50 years. (8485 views) | | | Tasted by jviz on 7/30/2021 & rated 98 points: Wow. A flawless wine. Superlative in every respect. One of those wines that captivates and is understated at the same time. Classic Nebbiolo nose with tar and faint rubber. Effusive dried fruits on the nose. Hints of smoke. The tannins are not punishing now but what a beauty this will be in time. An amazing treat, we thought on par in quality with DRC (7410 views) | | | Tasted by Robmcl920 on 12/29/2020 & rated 97 points: The '13 Monfortino showed a glimpse into its potential, but remains very young and somewhat closed off. The aromatics were very cool-toned and showed good depth, with pure ripe red cherry fruit, roses, tobacco, fresh cool herbs like sage, a touch of violet and cured meats, and at times some exotic blue fruit tones adding an upper register. On the palate, the '13 was a dense, massive wine with a mass of pure dark red cherry fruit, tobacco, dried floral notes, and ending with sweeter red fruit, dried herbs, and tar. While clearly a massively tannic wine, the wine was largely smooth given the density of the fruit. That said, the '13 shows a bit less finessed than either the '14 (which comes across as lighter and where the tannin was nearly imperceptible) or the '10 (which was even denser than the '13, better hiding its tannic structure).
The '13 Monfortino is a textbook classic Serralunga Barolo, with a good amount of finesse as the recent vintages of Monfortino have shown. If we're splitting hairs, it's a bit overshadowed - in terms of early complexity, density, and finesse - by both the 2010 and 2014. But in an absolute sense, this is an insanely beautiful wine. (8446 views) | | | Tasted by tinybubbles on 9/9/2020 & rated 95 points: Brilliant. Deep and intense dark fruit, damp soil and savory spice notes. Merely requires a few decades in the bottle. 95-96 (6410 views) | | | Tasted by CamWheeler on 8/5/2020 & rated 96 points: SLDS August 2020 - Maybe the world is ending tasting: Orange, cherry, liquorice, slate, redcurrant, ash and graphite - complex and appealing on the nose. Structured and serious but with a lovely red fruit profile that gives it some gloss and flow. Super strong potential to lift to incredible heights. (5643 views) | | | Tasted by Ltim BE on 5/22/2020 & rated 95 points: H2H blind tasting with the 2013 Soldera. The Soldera at this stage overclassed the Monfortino and was more sexy and open and approachable. The nose and the extreme sexy taste of the Soldera blew our guests away. The Monfortino being more robust and earthy opened up more and more after 4/5 hours but the Soldera stood stronger. (6056 views) | | | Tasted by Brian of Mull on 5/2/2020 & rated 98 points: Wow! I decided to try this. I bought 3 bottles to stash a while back and thought why not. I’ve had a lot of Conterno but not the Monfortino. Cherry liquor and strawberry hit me first. But mixed in are rose and a bit of tar. Just incredible depth and length of flavor, silky smooth and lovely tannins. Wine really does not get better than this. This is so elegant. I will I was in Italy but this gets me close. I expect I will hold off on trying again for 5 years. Clearly an expensive wine but one that does not dissapoint. (5309 views) | | | Tasted by axisx on 1/16/2020: concentrated and tight, much muted on nose, especially when compared to Francia 15 which was tasted along side it. long and powerful finish. I think it's going to be a legend in the making. But for now I refrain from scoring. (4321 views) | | | Tasted by Andre Brattland on 12/7/2019 & rated 96 points: 14.5% alcohol. Really dense and super concentrated aromas with tight red currant fruit, cool tar, salt and light herbal tones.
Really packed wine with enough fruit to last forever. Energetic and concentrated redberry fruit, herbs and dark salts. Lovely middle part. Good bite at the finish. Perfect fruit, acidity and tannins. The wine gives a partial glimpse of a "legend in the making." This is wine for the retirement age.96 points for now. (96-98 points) (6351 views) | | | Tasted by vespa110 on 11/5/2019 & rated 94 points: Granato luminoso, naso scuro minerale, terroso, argilloso, fiore secco, frutta rossa fragola matura, bocca succosa, fruttata, tannino fine, lunga persistenza, forse un pelo di freschezza manca per allungarlo nell'olimpo. (5477 views) | | | Tasted by Marcyrillo on 10/22/2019 & rated 95 points: Long long long finish. Very strong structure. Tannic at this momemt. Present wood. Amazing wine. Will age for a long time. (4709 views) | | | Tasted by brihprivat on 5/28/2019 & rated 98 points: Bottle sample prior to release. Even in its infancy, this is a profound wine with extraordinary balance, intensity and depth. This really is the reference point for barolo. Wish I could get hold of (and afford) a case of this. Goosebumps! (5660 views) | | | Tasted by cct on 5/21/2019 & rated 98 points: With Roberto and Stephanie
Savory and meatier than the other Baroli with cured meats, tar, nettle, and violet more than rose florals. This is impossibly deep and structured. It has come together well since the first time I tried it. Towering, yet with amazing clarity and depth. Seemingly bottomless. The tannins, while huge, have softened over the last couple years. Iron fist in a more than average firm velvet glove. Less open than the rest of the Baroli presented, but in the end this will outpace them all, likely after I am pushing up daisies. A profound very young meditation wine to drink and chew. 98+ (5295 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 2/13/2019 & rated 98 points: Piedmont; 2/11/2019-2/15/2019 (Alba, Italy): There will be no Francia in 2013, all of it going into the Monfortino, as Roberto Conterno decided that the quality of the entire vintage was sufficiently high to merit it. (There will also be no Francia in 2014, with all of it, again, going into Monfortino.) Bottled in June of last year, to be sold this year in the fall, so this sample was from a finished bottle. In a word, brilliant. It's everything I expected from a 2013 Giacomo Conterno. Dizzying complexity in the nose, with red fruit playing a huge role here. It's simultaneously gentle and powerful at the same time, like a giant treading very softly. I did find the tannic structure here a little more accessible than expected, but that's not a complaint. Plenty of sweet fruit to balance the acids out. Unequivocally brilliant, and it will be thrilling to see this become a perfect wine with time. (6148 views) | | | Tasted by psmith on 2/13/2019 & rated 98 points: A bottle sample at the winery prior to release. This is simply a perfect combination of the elegance of Arione and the power and balance of Francia. It doesn't have any of the former in it, and in fact it's all the latter, but since I had the '15(s) immediately prior, and since these things are all metaphorical anyways, I'll take some liberties and make the comparison. A wonderful hypersphere of a wine, with just a dazzling display of purity, beauty, detail, and everything else those so often imply. More red than black, and more complete than "big", though it has all those things. Among the best young wines that I've ever had; and so now the elbowing and angling to secure a few bottles begins... (4718 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 11/23/2018: Here we go atruffling... (aka Piedmont... and Veneto); 11/16/2018-11/30/2018 (Alba, Guarene, Modena, Barolo, La Morra, Lake Garda .....): What a very serious treat to try! This wine doesn't even have the label on it yet. Will be released next year. For 2013 this was all Francia fruit. It is different than many of the other barolos we've had. Much more dominated by the darker fruits. I already am starting to get some more secondary with the leather and the pepper and a bit of the herbal and then dark flowers. There's a power and structure and at the same time an almost weightlessness to the wine. It is clearly very well made and very enjoyable. (5099 views) | | | Tasted by beatles on 10/8/2018 & rated 98 points: Grand Vin in da house; mint,m Mynte, iodine, medicinecabinet on the nose, in the mouth tight, concentrated; wonderful, pure, stony fruit. Incredible length.
#Conterno (4439 views) | | | Tasted by cct on 5/7/2018 & rated 98 points: With Roberto and Stephanie
From barrel
Cooler, dark and deep. Tar and roses, and cough drop/ balsamic notes. This is much more cohesive than last year, when I found it impressive in it starts, but out of sorts. Firm tannins, very long, with power yet floral and perfumed lift. Clarity and focus have come together since last May. You still need to chew rather than drink this wine. Huge structure and likely to peak after I am no longer here. (4279 views) | | | Tasted by JOsgood on 11/8/2017 & rated 99 points: Tasted at the Cantina with Roberto Conterno and Stephanie. Botti sample. Wow! Pure and velvety on the palate. Incredible mix of flavors. This is just epic. (4153 views) | | | Tasted by JulianSkeels on 8/23/2017 & rated 98 points: Tasted from barrel. A very clear 98-100pt wine. Fantastic depth and sweetness although it shuts down hard at the moment with much air. Stirkes me as a vintage that will need some age but with distrinctively pure aromatics. Not as dense and most recent vintages at the moment - but for me the most promising since 2002 (note: I haven't tried 2010). One to buy with absolute confidence. (4503 views) | | | Tasted by vine farmer on 7/11/2017: Tasted from barrel. Amazing quality; high toned with aromas leaping out of the glass. Very vivid and balanced with medium body and penetrating tannins that leave a lasting sensation for minutes after the wine has been tasted. At this point in time I was more in awe of the absolute quality than truly engaged with the wine. Then again, barrel tasting is fairly quick and doesn't afford the time to really get to know the wine. I will absolutely be purchasing for myself. (3841 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Walter Speller
JancisRobinson.com (7/20/2023)
(Giacomo Conterno, Monfortino Riserva Barolo Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Conterno Monfortino Magnum Vertical: 1970-2014 (Feb 2021) (2/1/2021)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino (Magnum) Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Walter Speller
JancisRobinson.com (11/14/2019)
(Giacomo Conterno, Monfortino Riserva Barolo Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2015 Barolo – The Late Releases (Nov 2019) (11/1/2019)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Aldo Fiordelli
Decanter, Slowine guide book 2020 presentation (10/12/2019)
(Giacomo Conterno, Monfortino Riserva, Riserva, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (1/20/2019)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva, Red, Italy) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2014 Barolo: Late Releases (Nov 2018) (11/1/2018)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2013 Barolo: The Late Releases (Oct 2017) (10/1/2017)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2013 Barolo: Sublime Finesse & Elegance (Feb 2017) (2/1/2017)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and Decanter and JamesSuckling.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Giacomo Conterno Producer website
Ken Vastola's fabulous guide to G. Conterno labels
Praelum: “Arguably the King of Barolo. No wine journey is complete without the tasting of one of the great Conternos. ‘Only premium quality can bring prestige to the Langhe.’ Giovanni Conterno taught his two sons Giacomo and Roberto after World War I to ferment and age wines in Bottis with prolonged maceration and ageing. The brothers split in 1969 and Giacomo started investing in his own vineyards since 1974. The wines of Cascina Francia, Monfortino and recently, Ceretta from Serralunga d’Alba are amongst the finest expressions of Nebbiolo that the wine world has ever seen. 4-6 years ageing usually.”NebbioloNebbiolo is a red grape indigenous to the Piedmont region of Italy in the Northwest. The grape can also be found in other parts of the world, though they are not as respected.
Nebbiolo is often considered the "king of red wines," as it is the grape of the famed wines of Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, and Roero DOCG. It is known for high tannins and acidity, but with a distinct finesse. When grown on clay, Nebbiolo can be very powerful, tannic, and require long aging periods to reach its full potential. When grown on sand, the grape exhibits a more approachable body with more elegant fruit and less tannins, but still has high aging potential.
"Nebbiolo" is named for the Italian word, "nebbia", which means "fog", in Italian and rightfully so since there is generally a lot of fog in the foothills of Piedmont during harvest.
Nebbiolo is a late-ripening variety that does best in a continental climate that boasts moderate summers and long autumns. In Piedmont, Nebbiolo is normally harvested in October.
More links:
Varietal character (Appellation America) | Nebbiolo on CellarTrackerRiserva MonfortinoPlease read this very important note from Ken Vastola. In each vintage, all Monfortino is from the same lot. Even if some bottles say "Riserva" while others say "Riserva Speciale" or "Stravecchio", these are all from the same cask and bottling. There was only one bottling of Monfortino in each vintage.Italy Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorPiedmont Vignaioli Piemontesi (Italian only)
On weinlagen-infoLanghe Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Roero | Union of Producers of Albese Wines (Albeisa)BaroloRegional History:
The wines of Piedmont are noted as far back as Pliny's Natural History. Due to geographic and political isolation, Piedmont was without a natural port for most of its history, which made exportation treacherous and expensive. This left the Piedmontese with little incentive to expand production. Sixteenth-century records show a mere 14% of the Bassa Langa under vine -- most of that low-lying and farmed polyculturally. In the nineteenth century the Marchesa Falletti, a frenchwoman by birth, brought eonologist Louis Oudart from Champagne to create the first dry wines in Piemonte. Along with work in experimental vineyards at Castello Grinzane conducted by Camilo Cavour -- later Conte di Cavour, leader of the Risorgimento and first Prime Minister of Italy -- this was the birth of modern wine in the Piedmont. At the heart of the region and her reputation are Alba and the Langhe Hills. This series of weathered outcroppings south of the Tanaro River is of maritime origin and composed mainly of limestone, sand and clay, known as terra bianca. In these soils -located mainly around the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco -- the ancient allobrogica, now Nebbiolo, achieves its renowned fineness and power.
map of Barolo DOCG
An interesting thread on Traditional vs. Modern Barolo producers:
https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106291 |
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