Barolo Monfortino 2014 Jeroboam Giacomo Conterno

Barolo Monfortino Riserva by Giacomo Conterno: The Icon of Traditional Barolo

The Barolo Monfortino Riserva by Giacomo Conterno is considered one of the most prestigious and sought-after Barolos in the world. It is a wine that embodies the essence of traditional winemaking in the Langhe, combining meticulous craftsmanship, patience, and an unwavering dedication to the terroir. Produced only in the best vintages and in limited quantities, Monfortino is a true masterpiece that reflects the unique characteristics of the Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba.

History and Philosophy

The story of Giacomo Conterno begins in the early 20th century when Giacomo started producing Barolo using grapes from local farmers. However, it was his son, Giovanni Conterno, who created the first vintage of Barolo Monfortino in 1924. Named after the Monforte d’Alba region, this wine was born from the idea of producing a Barolo Riserva capable of withstanding decades of aging.

Today, under the leadership of Roberto Conterno, the winery continues to honor this legacy by maintaining a traditional approach: minimal intervention, long maceration, and extended aging in large oak casks. Monfortino is only produced in exceptional vintages, a reflection of both the vineyard’s greatness and the family’s uncompromising standards.

Grape Variety

Monfortino is crafted from 100% Nebbiolo, sourced from the prestigious Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, known for its calcareous-clay soils. This terroir gives the wine its firm structure, elegance, and unmatched aging potential.

Vinification and Aging

The production of Monfortino follows a meticulous and time-honored process to preserve the purity and integrity of the grapes:

• Hand Harvesting: Grapes are carefully picked by hand, selecting only the best bunches.
• Spontaneous Fermentation: Fermentation occurs naturally with indigenous yeasts and can last 3-4 weeks, ensuring a slow and thorough extraction of tannins and aromas.
• Extended Maceration: The wine remains in contact with the skins for an extended period to develop depth and complexity.
• Long Aging: Monfortino is aged for approximately 7-8 years in large Slavonian oak casks (botti grandi), a method that enhances its structure and age-worthiness without masking the vineyard’s identity.

Tasting Notes

The Barolo Monfortino Riserva offers an extraordinary sensory experience with an unparalleled balance of power and elegance:

• Color: Deep garnet red with orange reflections that intensify with age.
• Aroma: An expansive bouquet of ripe red fruits, dried roses, licorice, and hints of tar, combined with earthy and balsamic undertones.
• Taste: On the palate, it is robust and structured, with fine-grained tannins, vibrant acidity, and a persistent finish that reveals notes of cherry, leather, spices, and a delicate mineral touch.

Food Pairings

The complexity and structure of Monfortino make it an ideal companion for refined and flavorful dishes, such as:

• Braised beef or oxtail
• Wild game (venison, boar)
• Aged cheeses (Parmigiano Reggiano, Castelmagno)
• Traditional Piemontese dishes like “Brasato al Barolo”

Serving Temperature

To fully appreciate its nuances, serve Barolo Monfortino Riserva at a temperature of 18°C (64°F), after decanting it for at least 4-5 hours.

Alcohol Content

The wine typically has an alcohol content of around 14.5%, perfectly integrated with its powerful structure and refreshing acidity.

Conclusion

The Barolo Monfortino Riserva by Giacomo Conterno is more than just a wine—it is a symbol of tradition and excellence. With its limited production, meticulous craftsmanship, and ability to age gracefully for decades, it stands as one of the greatest expressions of Nebbiolo and an essential treasure for collectors and enthusiasts.

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The Giacomo Conterno Winery is one of the most prestigious and legendary names on the Italian wine scene, a symbol of excellence in the heart of the Langhe, famous above all for its production of Barolo and Barbera. Founded in the early 1900s, the winery has built its reputation on a rigorous winemaking philosophy that respects tradition and is geared toward creating wines of extraordinary longevity and complexity.

The Origins and Legacy of Giacomo Conterno
The winery’s history began in 1908, when Giovanni Conterno founded the company in Monforte d’Alba, a small village in the heart of the Barolo area. Initially, the winery produced wines for local consumption, but it was Giacomo Conterno, Giovanni’s son, who made the breakthrough that made the family name internationally famous.

In the 1920s, Giacomo had a revolutionary intuition: to produce a Barolo Riserva intended for extended aging, at a time when Barolo was generally consumed young. Thus was born, in 1924, the legendary Barolo Monfortino, one of the first Barolos to be bottled individually as a “Riserva.”

Over the decades, the baton was passed to Giovanni Conterno, Giacomo’s son, who further consolidated the winery’s reputation through scrupulous attention to quality, making wine only in the best vintages and maintaining a traditional approach with long aging in large Slavonian oak barrels.

Today, the legacy of this extraordinary family is carried on by Roberto Conterno, who leads the winery with the same spirit of integrity and dedication, maintaining the philosophy of producing wines that express the full potential of the terroir and are able to defy time.

The Philosophy of Production
The philosophy of the Giacomo Conterno Winery is based on purity, tradition and absolute precision. The wines are produced with extreme craftsmanship, following traditional methods that include:

Selective manual harvesting, to pick only the best grapes.

Spontaneous fermentations, without the use of selected yeasts, to preserve the authenticity of the fruit.

Long macerations, which can last up to 4-5 weeks, to extract complexity and structure.

Prolonged aging in large Slavonian oak barrels, a process that can last up to 7-8 years for Monfortino, ensuring extraordinary longevity.

Iconic Vineyards
The extraordinary quality of Giacomo Conterno wines is linked to vineyards of exceptional value:

Vigna Francia: Purchased in 1974, located in Serralunga d’Alba, it is the heart of the winery’s production and provides the grapes for Barolo Francia and the celebrated Monfortino Riserva.

Arione: Purchased in 2015, a prestigious cru adjacent to the Vigna Francia, which enriches the range with additional nuances of complexity.

The Wines of Giacomo Conterno
The winery’s wines are recognized as authentic works of winemaking art, representing the ultimate in Langhe elegance and power:

Barolo Monfortino Riserva: The winery’s signature wine, produced only in exceptional vintages. It is a Barolo of rare complexity and longevity, maturing for about 7-8 years in barrel before release.

Barolo Francia: A classic and elegant expression of Serralunga d’Alba, with aromatic depth and powerful structure.

Barbera d’Alba Vigna Francia: A refined and long-lived Barbera, characterized by vibrant freshness and high aromatic concentration.

Barolo Arione: The latest addition to the range, it expresses the distinctive character of this prestigious cru with vigorous tannins and layered complexity.

A Heritage of Excellence
Cantina Giacomo Conterno is not just a winery, but a living symbol of Barolo history and Piedmontese tradition. Each bottle tells a chapter of absolute dedication and respect for terroir.

Conterno wines are sought after by collectors around the world for their extraordinary ability to age and evolve, transforming each taste into a timeless sensory experience