Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong

Drinking window

Best 15 to 50 years from vintage.

vintage15 yrs50 yrs52 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

What it pairs with

With cheese

Castelmagno Our pick Qualigeo pairs Castelmagno with full-bodied reds. The crumbly, piquant paste of an aged wheel, with its blue-green veins, meets Barolo's firm tannin and high acidity, which clear the palate between pieces. Ossolano Local tradition Qualigeo lists Barolo first among the structured reds it calls the classic match for Ossolano. The elastic, savoury paste with its herbal pasture notes gives Nebbiolo's tannin something to grip, and an older, more intense wheel holds its own. Gorgonzola Our pick Qualigeo says Gorgonzola Piccante prefers well-structured, aged reds. A very piquant, longer-aged Piccante can overwhelm a delicate wine, so it wants a Barolo with enough tannin and age to stand up to it.

How to serve Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Brasato al Barolo, Bollito misto, Aged Castelmagno. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Monfortino is Giacomo Conterno's reserve Barolo, historically the house's longest-aged wine and now sourced from the Cascina Francia (acquired 1974) and Arione (acquired 2015) vineyards in Serralunga d'Alba.

  1. 1920Giacomo Conterno establishes Monfortino as a long-aged reserve Barolo
  2. 1974Cascina Francia vineyard in Serralunga acquired
  3. 2015Arione vineyard added

Facts

Producer
Giacomo Conterno · visiting guide
Grapes
Nebbiolo (100%)
Classification
Barolo DOCG
ABV
14.5%
Price
EUR 800 to 2500 at retail
Drinking window
15 to 50 from vintage
First vintage
1920

Frequently asked about Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino

What does Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino taste like?

Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The summit of traditional Barolo, made only in great vintages from the Cascina Francia and Arione vineyards in Serralunga, with wild-swing fermentation and six to eight years in large old barrel before release.

When should I drink Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino?

Drink 15 to 50 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino?

Brasato al Barolo is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Bollito misto and Aged Castelmagno. The braise's depth meets Monfortino's vast structure and savoury core.

What grapes are in Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino?

The blend is Nebbiolo (100%). The wine is classified as Barolo DOCG.

Tags

cellar worthy cult wine dry firm tannin full body high acid iconic library release mood bold mood contemplative nebbiolo occasion cellar occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price collector single vineyard still red

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