Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva "Monfortino" DOCG 2019
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WA 100] [DM 100] [VM 99] [JD 98-100] [JS 98]

About the Winery:
The Conterno crown jewel, Monfortino, is not only arguably the greatest Barolo; it was also the very first Barolo made in what has come to be known as the classic style.

At the time that Giovanni Conterno’s father Giacomo served in World War I, Barolo was generally sold in either cask or demijohn, meant for early drinking. But when Giacomo returned from the war, he decided to create a Barolo with immense aging potential. His first wine was a 1920 Barolo Riserva, and he soon adopted the name Monfortino in honor of his home village Monforte d’Alba.

For the next 54 years, Giacomo—and then his son Giovanni—made Barolo in much the same way. Two Barolos were made, always from purchased grapes, the main distinction being fermentation technique and time in cask.

Giovanni left the world many great vintages of Barolo, including 1964, 1971, 1978, 1985, 1990, 1996, 1999 and 2001. But possibly his greatest legacy was to hand over his important work to his gifted son Roberto. A brilliant winemaker in his own right, Roberto not only shares his father’s gifts but is equally determined to uphold his family’s traditions. He could have followed other young Langhe winemakers into modernism, but he never will. In his words, the wines of Giacomo Conterno will always belong to the generations that came before him.

About this Wine: 
Monfortino, the product of wild temperature swings during fermentation and 6 to 8 years in barrel, is the most perfect expression of the Nebbiolo grape. It is only produced in the finest of vintages (the most recent was 2015).

Made from a selection of the very best Nebbiolo grapes from the Francia and - since 2019 - Arione vineyards. Fermented about 4 weeks in wooden vats with regular breaking of the caps. No temperature control. Aged for a minimum 7 years in large cask.

Ratings & Reviews

100 Points – Wine Advocate:
“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 (Jan 2025)

100 Points – Decanter Magazine:
“To be released no earlier than 2025 as a Riserva, this is the very first preview of Monfortino 2019 following three years without being produced. Still in barrel, where it has been fermented, this is the final blend between the Arione and Francia MGAs. ‘The 2013 tasted at the same time,’ commented Roberto Conterno, ‘was not so round.’ Restrained, polite and elegant, it has sweet violet aromas with earthy balsamic minerality, watermelon, subtle cinnamon candy, and aromatic herbs. There's also yellow citrus in depth and a hint of chocolate. The attack is firm, crisp and thick, with sweet and super-ripe tannins. The 15% alcohol is extremely well balanced. The signature of this Barolo continues to be the elegance of the tannins combined with layered complexity.” – Aldo Fiordelli (Feb 2023)

99 Points – Vinous Media:
“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 Conterno’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 (Jan 2025)

98-100 Points – Jeb Dunnuck:
“A jeweled ruby color, the 2019 Barolo Riserva Monfortino was tasted from botti and is the final blend. As of March 2024, it was still a few months away from being bottled and was scheduled to spend another year in bottle prior to its release. Having tasted this wine a year ago, it exceeded my expectations at this tasting and is really coming into its own now. Roberto Conterno says the vintage reminds him of 2013, but he thinks the addition of some Arione in the final blend of the 2019 may explains why it seems to have a touch more finesse than the 2013. It is a fantastically structured wine that offers a great deal of pure, compact richness in this vintage, with expressive floral aromas that unfold beautifully in the glass. It continues to build in intensity and focus through the palate, with precise tension and length. I anticipate this to be a wine with tremendous longevity in the coming decades.” – Audrey Frick (May 2024)

98 Points – James Suckling:
“A complex and deep wine that’s as graceful as it is powerful. Aromas of earth, strawberries, dried cherries, restrained orange peel, sweet dried violets, potpourri and licorice root. Full-bodied and concentrated, with graphite flavors and thick, dusty, muscular yet ripe tannins. Still youthful and vibrant, with refreshing acidity. More impressive on the palate than on the nose, suggesting it needs time to fully evolve. Available in October. Drink from 2026.” (Jan 2025)

98 Points – Decanter:
To be released no earlier than 2025 as a Riserva, this is the very first preview of Monfortino 2019 following three years without being produced. Still in barrel, where it has been fermented, this is the final blend between the Arione and Francia MGAs. ‘The 2013 tasted at the same time,’ commented Roberto Conterno, ‘was not so round.’ Restrained, polite and elegant, it has sweet violet aromas with earthy balsamic minerality, watermelon, subtle cinnamon candy, and aromatic herbs. There's also yellow citrus in depth and a hint of chocolate. The attack is firm, crisp and thick, with sweet and super-ripe tannins. The 15% alcohol is extremely well balanced. The signature of this Barolo continues to be the elegance of the tannins combined with layered complexity. (AF)