Giacomo Conterno
The Conterno name dominates Monforte d’Alba - with Aldo Conterno, Claudio Conterno, Paolo Conterno, Diego Conterno and Franco Conterno all producing exceptional wines. But in international recognition, the name Giacomo Conterno is first among equals. The winery was established in 1900 and today retains a traditional approach to their 17ha in Serralunga and Monforte.
It is rare for a single producer to command such respect not only from lovers of the “King of Italian Wine”, but also from its peers, Giacomo Conterno is a bastion of traditional Barolo having been passed down through the years to Roberto Conterno, the third generation to be at the helm of his stunning family estate.
A winemaker of uncommon talent, Roberto’s official ascension to the throne in 2003 merely followed a period of many years during which he was head vigneron, presiding over an elevation in the wines’ quality, marked by both huge critical scores and fervent demand. From their vineyards in Serralunga, the Conterno family has been crafting incredibly elegant and high-toned Barolo for decades.
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Piedmont | 1 | 94 (VN) | د.إ1,550.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2018 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Cerretta is so elegant and refined in this vintage. The 2018 is lithe and precise, with lovely red berry, floral and blood orange flavors that are woven together into a fabric of total class. The long, silky finish is a thing of beauty. With a bit of time, the Cerretta starts to show its trademark pliancy. I would give it a few years in bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Piedmont | 1 | 98 (VN) | د.إ5,465.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2015 Barolo Francia is a soaring, regal wine endowed with tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. The most reticent and inward of the 2015s, the Francia possesses superb textural density and persistence all the way through to the explosive finish. An immense, towering Barolo, the Francia is positively stellar. It is also going to require a number of years to be at its best. In recent years, the Conterno Barolo Francia has often been relatively accessible post bottling, the 2015 is far from that. |
|||||||||
|
|
Piedmont | 2 | 97 (VN) | د.إ5,875.00 | |||||
Vinous (97)Conterno’s 2016 Barolo Francia is effusive, with a real sense of expansiveness that gives the wine breadth. Sage, mint, cedar, tobacco and strong mineral accents complement a core of dark fruit in a Barolo of real gravitas. Just bottled a few months ago, the 2016 is going through a very rare period of approachability (in relative terms). It will almost certainly shut down within the next few months. Readers who are curious will want to taste it before that happens. In 2016, Roberto Conterno did not bottle his flagship Monfortino, all the casks were blended for the Barolo Francia. |
|||||||||
|
|
Piedmont | 1 | 98 (VN) | د.إ5,155.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2020 Barolo Francia is fascinating to taste next to the 2021. A substantial young Barolo, the 2020 offers notable mid-palate density and tons of pure explosive energy. Savory and mineral notes abound, but at this stage, the 2020 is a Barolo of fruit and texture. Practically seamless tannins pull it all together. I have a slight preference for the 2021, but it is neck and neck between these two great Barolos. A second bottle enjoyed in a local restaurant a few days after this tasting was every bit as memorable. |
|||||||||
|
|
Piedmont | 2 | 100 (VN (AG)) | د.إ11,490.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)The 2014 Monfortino, on the other hand, belongs to a group of later-ripening years that includes 2002 and 2008. Dark and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is also supremely refined, especially within the context of young Barolo. It’s another wine that ideally is best forgotten in the cellar for at least a few years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Piedmont | 1 | 99 (VN (AG)) | د.إ10,965.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (99)We served the just-released 2015 as a last-minute surprise. It was the perfect conclusion to this dinner, as it really brought all the themes of the evening back to the present. Young and quite vibrant, the 2015 has a long life ahead of it. Like so many of today’s best Barolos, it can be enjoyed far younger than was once the norm. |
|||||||||
|
|
Piedmont | 2 | 100 (JD) | د.إ9,820.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)I’ve tasted the 2019 Barolo Monfortino three times before bottling at the estate, and it’s one of those vintages where no Francia was made, so all the fruit went into the Monfortino. This is a highly structured expression of the cuvée, yet it shows remarkable finesse and nimbleness in the glass. Aromas of leather, smoky earth, cherries, and floral cologne emerge with clarity and depth. The palate is tightly woven and precise, with firm yet balanced tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, resonant finish. It’s already showing beautifully, and this is truly as good as it gets. The nobility of its structure is profound and promises decades of evolution. Speaking with Roberto Conterno during this tasting, he likened the wine to the 2013, but noted that it carries more elegance even now, something he attributes to the inclusion of Arrione in the final blend. |
|||||||||
|
|
Piedmont | 3 | 99 (VN (AG)) | د.إ9,865.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (99)The 2013 Barolo Riserva Monfortino picks up where the 1999 and 1996 leave off. Tannic and imposing, the 2013 is an austere young Monfortino for the cellar. Soaring aromatics and vibrant, palate-staining fruit are some of the signatures. Readers should expect a bold, large-framed Monfortino. |
|||||||||

