1996 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Speciale Monfortino
ITALY / PIEDMONT / MONFORTE
Wine Advocate | Rating: 97
Dark red. The 1996 Monfortino opens with a breathtaking nose that is to die for. Expressive aromas of leather, spices, cocoa, and roses gradually emerge from the glass. On the palate the wine displays masses of concentrated fruit that coat the palate with extraordinary length and expansiveness and with a purity of expression that keeps me coming back to wine time and again. Although it remains quite youthful and somewhat dominated by its structure, I am encouraged by its development. Perhaps we won't have to wait decades to enjoy this wine at its prime. That said, my earlier drinking window (after 2006) appears to have been overly optimistic. This was a great showing by one of Barolo's legendary wines from a legendary vintage.Author: Antonio GalloniIssue: 38838Wine Spectator | Rating: 97
Fabulous aromas of crushed strawberry, flowers and light dried porcini. Full-bodied, with ripe fruit and a pruny undertone. Round and caressing. An amazing bottle that will be even better with age.Author: James SucklingInternational Wine Cellar | Rating: 94
Moderately saturated medium red. Compelling aromas of dried fruits, fig and minerals, along with an exotic suggestion of apricot. Dense, thick and spicy, with a superripe hint of marzipan and powerful framing acids that currently dominate the middle palate. A classically styled, very tannic Barolo that's extremely hard to taste today. I would not be at all surprised if it eventually merited a score above my projected range.Author: Stephen TanzerIssue: November/December 2002
Cantine Giacomo Conterno wines are among some of the finest Barolo produced in all of Piedmont. Made by tradionalist methods, his winemaking began sometime around 1908 - with family viticulture roots dating back to the 18th century.
Giacomo Conterno's two sons, Giovanni and Aldo Conterno, formally took over the estate in 1961. With the older Giovanni Conterno already responsible for winemaking since the 1959 vintage, Aldo Conterno eventually parted ways over conflicting winemaking philosophies with his brother, and he then founded his own estate: Poderi Aldo Conterno in 1969. Both wineries share the view that the "modernist" approach (using small oak barrels and shorter maceration times) undermines the inherent fruit of the Nebbiolo by adding too much vanilla flavor to the wine. Roberto Conterno, became the 4th generation to man the helm in 2003, and has continued the traditions, while expanding the estate's holdings to include 3 hectares of Ceretta vines.
Today, Conterno's Monfortino Riserva (their Grand Cru) is only produced in exceptional years - at times when the full expression of the Nebbiolo grape can be seen in the wines. A lot like the wines of Giacosa and Gaja, Conterno wines are deserving of a place in any cellar for their age-ability both as an investment or eventual drinking pleasure.
*Pictured (left) - 'The Arione Single Vineyard purchased by Cantina Giacomo Conterno'
Giacomo Conterno's two sons, Giovanni and Aldo Conterno, formally took over the estate in 1961. With the older Giovanni Conterno already responsible for winemaking since the 1959 vintage, Aldo Conterno eventually parted ways over conflicting winemaking philosophies with his brother, and he then founded his own estate: Poderi Aldo Conterno in 1969. Both wineries share the view that the "modernist" approach (using small oak barrels and shorter maceration times) undermines the inherent fruit of the Nebbiolo by adding too much vanilla flavor to the wine. Roberto Conterno, became the 4th generation to man the helm in 2003, and has continued the traditions, while expanding the estate's holdings to include 3 hectares of Ceretta vines.
Today, Conterno's Monfortino Riserva (their Grand Cru) is only produced in exceptional years - at times when the full expression of the Nebbiolo grape can be seen in the wines. A lot like the wines of Giacosa and Gaja, Conterno wines are deserving of a place in any cellar for their age-ability both as an investment or eventual drinking pleasure.
*Pictured (left) - 'The Arione Single Vineyard purchased by Cantina Giacomo Conterno'
Collector Data For This Wine
- 188 bottles owned
- 44 collectors