2019 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino Riserva Barolo

Giacomo Conterno is one of those names that immediately grabs the attention of anyone passionate about Piedmont wines. Known for crafting some of the most iconic Barolos in the world, this family-run estate has built its reputation on a commitment to tradition and quality. Their wines are all about power, precision, and aging potential, but they never lose that soulful connection to the land.

Current custodian Roberto Conterno keenly appreciates what being the benchmark for Barolo can mean in a commercial world that makes such a rarity of his wines. In the laboratory and in production, Roberto has adapted and refined equipment like his utterly unique destemmer to operate at remarkable levels of sensitivity. Back into the vineyard, and continuous trials like the massale selections, must pass sufficient time to satisfy Roberto’s fastidious expectations.

Other Reviews....
Demonstrating the meticulous precision for which the estate is known, the 2019 Monfortino is a thoroughbred. I was able to taste it on a couple of occasions during its maturation, after the blend of Francia and Arione was made. Since bottling last spring, it has retreated into itself and now just hints at black tea, truffle and dark wet earth. The tannins are still rigid and stubborn, though very sophisticated and inextricable from the fruit, while the acidity is simply salivating. Glimpses of baked earth, granite and graphite appear, but truly, this will take years to unfold. For now, it’s all iron fist. The yet-to-be-bottled 2020 which I tasted alongside will likely be approachable long before this. Drink 2030-2050.
100 points
Michaela Morris - Decanter

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. Roberto Conterno tells me he chose not to make Monfortino in 2016 because he considered 2015 to be a superior vintage. (There is an image problem with 2015, he concedes, because 2016 was more consistent overall than 2015; however, his experience with 2015 is better.) The 2017 vintage was a contender for Monfortino, but the wine was not made. The 2018 vintage also came close to production, but a lack of diurnal temperature shifts at the end of the growing season disqualified it, Roberto Conterno explains. His heart settled on 2019, a vintage that reminds him of the tension and energy found in 2013. However, the DNA of the 2019 vintage is slightly different because this edition sees 27% fruit blended from Arione. This site adds finesse and elegance. The rest of the blend represents a special selection from Francia, and that is where this wine gets its power and age-worthy tannins. The 2019 will be released in October 2025. Drink 2028-2060.
100 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2019 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is a modern-day classic. Powerful and virile, the 1999 takes its place in the line of great, classically built Monfortinos, a lineage that includes vintages such as 1978, 1996, 1999 and 2013. Dark, balsamic-infused spice and mentholated notes meld into a core of dark-fleshed Nebbiolo fruit. Huge swaths of tannin wrap it all together in grand style. Unforgettable. Drink 2039-2059.
99 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

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. Available in October. Drink from 2026.
98 points
Aldo Fiordelli - JamesSuckling.com

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.
100 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com