Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2013 - Giacomo Conterno

Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2013 — Giacomo Conterno

This Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2013 from Giacomo Conterno is one of the absolute monuments of Nebbiolo, a mythical cuvée produced only in years deemed worthy of carrying the Monfortino name. The 2013 embodies a classical, austere and masterful expression of Barolo: cherry, plum, strawberry, rose, rose petal, tar, spice, cedar, tobacco, liquorice, earth, iron, black truffle, anise and a finish of exceptional length.

Monfortino is Giacomo Conterno’s most legendary wine and one of the historical references of traditional Barolo. In 2013, Barolo Francia was not produced: the fruit from this great terroir was directed into Monfortino, giving a wine of immense scale, crystalline, tannic, vertical and profoundly built for ageing. Production remains limited, with around 20,000 bottles, 2,500 magnums and 400 three-litre bottles according to published data.

Terroir: Francia, Serralunga d’Alba and the limestone power of Nebbiolo

Monfortino is intimately linked to the great Francia terroir in Serralunga d’Alba, one of the most structured and profound zones of Barolo. Serralunga is renowned for producing Nebbiolo that is more austere, more tannic, more mineral and longer-lived than many other sectors of the Langhe. It is a terroir of patience, where power reveals itself slowly over time.

In the 2013 vintage, this terroir translates into a straight, vibrant and profoundly classical expression: cherry, plum, strawberry, rose, tar, tobacco, iron, earth, cedar, spice and dense tannins. Long ageing in large oak casks, faithful to Conterno’s traditional spirit, allows the wine to preserve its purity, tension and exceptional capacity for evolution.

Tasting notes

Appearance: deep garnet with ruby reflections and early orange hints, bright, dense and still very youthful in expression. The colour preserves Nebbiolo’s noble transparency while showing remarkable intensity for a structured Barolo.

Nose: deep, classical and gradually expansive, with cherry, strawberry, plum, rose, rose petals, spice, tar, cedar, tobacco and liquorice. With aeration, nuances of sandalwood, black truffle, earth, iron, wild herbs, cigar box, anise, bark, black tea and balsamic notes may appear.

Palate: full, vertical, powerful and extremely precise, with an imposing tannic mass of very fine grain. The fruit remains vibrant, supported by lively acidity, ferrous minerality and remarkable depth. The finish is immense, austere, saline, spicy and persistent, on cherry, rose, tar, tobacco, iron, earth, spices and cedar.

Expression of the 2013 vintage

The 2013 vintage in the Langhe produced classical, fresh, structured and long-lived Nebbiolo wines. For Monfortino, the year produced an imposing, tannic wine of remarkable precision. Tastings underline its crystalline dimension, aromas of rose, tar, spice, cedar, plum, sandalwood and tobacco, as well as a vertical, deep, dense palate still very much destined for the cellar.

Today, Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2013 remains very young in its trajectory. It can already fascinate through its perfume and precision after long aeration, but its true balance will be revealed with time. With ageing, the tannins should soften and allow more truffle, fine leather, forest floor, tobacco, dried rose, melted spices, noble tar and balsamic complexity to emerge.