2019 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino [WA100][JD98-100][V99][D98][JS98]

Producer: Giacomo Conterno 
Region: Barolo, Piedmont, Italy 
Varietal: Nebbiolo 
Year: 2019 

Wine Advocate, 100 Points 

"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." 

Jeb Dunnuck, 98-100 Points 

"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." 

Vinous, 99 Points 

"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." 

Decanter, 98 Points 

"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." 

James Suckling, 98 Points 

"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." 

Alcohol: 14.5% 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.