Offered JUL 13th, 2017

Cantina Conterno originated in 1908 when Giovanni Conterno began making wines. While not technically labeled Monfortino at the time – the name constituted Giovanni’s homage to his home village of Monforte d’Alba – the now legendary Riserva was born in 1912, the product and tangible evocation of Giovanni’s emphasis on premium quality Barolo. He regarded the latter as being the exclusive province of great vintages – the wines of which realize prime aging potential through long fermentation and aging periods. His son, Giacomo, not only inherited this philosophy, but afforded it heightened expression.

Barolo Monfortino is crafted exclusively in vintages of the highest caliber, averaging less than 600 cases in each vintage. Monfortino undergoes longer maceration and maturation periods than those of any other Barolo. While it typically sees six or seven years in Slavonian oak, certain vintages have realized 10 years in oak. A wine of superior structure and ethereal qualities, Monfortino is the most tannic and longest-lived of all Piemonte’s Barolos.

Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2001
12 bottles available
$1,050 per bottle

99 points Vinous: “The 2001 Barolo Riserva Monfortino flows from the glass with stunning depth and purity. This seamless, elegant Barolo caresses the palate with incredible persistence as layers of aromas and flavors develop in the glass. Stylistically it is very much like the 2001 Cascina Francia, only with more intensity, depth and sheer volume. Monfortino has always had power to spare, but in 2001 it is also incredibly elegant, something that previous vintages have only acquired with significant bottle age. This is a towering, majestic Monfortino that will rightfully take its place among the very finest Monfortinos ever made.“