Giacomo Conterno, Barolo Cascina Francia 1988

Giacomo Conterno’s Barolo Cascina Francia 1988 is a rare, fully mature expression from one of Barolo’s most revered crus and most traditional producers. Sourced from the steep Cascina Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, this wine captures the power, structure and longevity that have made both the site and the estate legendary. From a classic, cooler vintage, it showcases Nebbiolo at peak maturity, with decades of bottle age now translating into nuance, depth and remarkable elegance.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 1988 Cascina Francia shows a deep garnet core shading to brick and amber at the rim, a textbook color for beautifully aged Barolo. The nose is intensely complex and evolved, with layers of dried cherry, rose petal and violet interwoven with leather, tar, tobacco leaf, cedar, forest floor, balsamico, truffle and delicate sweet spice. On the palate, this is full-bodied yet ethereal, with a silken texture supported by vibrant acidity and perfectly resolved, fine-grained tannins. Flavors echo the bouquet: dried red fruits, blood orange peel, savory herbs, licorice, iron and earth, all carried on a long, haunting finish that unfurls in layers of tertiary nuance. While the wine is fully mature and drinking beautifully now, properly stored bottles still have the structure and acidity to hold and offer pleasure for a few more years, though it is firmly in its plateau of maturity.

Production
Cascina Francia is a south- to southwest-facing vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, rooted in limestone-rich clay and marly soils that are renowned for giving Barolo great backbone, minerality and aging capacity. In this classic, cooler 1988 vintage, Nebbiolo was harvested by hand at optimal ripeness after a long, gradual growing season, preserving high natural acidity and fine tannin structure. True to Giacomo Conterno’s steadfastly traditional philosophy, the grapes underwent an extended maceration in large wooden vats, with weeks on the skins to extract aromatic depth, tannin and color, followed by around 48 months of aging in large, neutral Slavonian oak botti before long-term bottle maturation in the cellar.

Food & Serving
This mature Barolo calls for refined, savory dishes that complement its complexity rather than overpower it: classic pairings include white truffle dishes from Piedmont, tajarin pasta with butter and sage, braised veal or beef (brasato al Barolo), game birds, and aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or mature Castelmagno. Serve at around 18 °C in large Burgundy or Barolo stems to allow the bouquet to fully express itself. Decant gently for at least 3–4 hours to help the wine open and to separate it from any sediment, taking particular care due to the wine’s age.

Producer
Giacomo Conterno is one of the benchmark producers of traditional Barolo, with roots dating back to the early 20th century and a reputation built on uncompromising craftsmanship and patience. Often cited as a guardian of classic Barolo style, the estate helped define the region’s ageworthy, structured expression through long macerations and extended aging in large botti. Cascina Francia, acquired in the 1970s in Serralunga d’Alba, quickly became one of Barolo’s most celebrated single vineyards, forming the backbone of some of the Langhe’s most collectible and long-lived wines. Under the stewardship of the Conterno family, the domaine has earned a near-mythical status among collectors and critics alike, with its Barolo bottlings—especially from great sites and vintages—considered reference points for the region.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.