Giacomo Conterno Riserva Monfortino Barolo 2013 DBMG

Giacomo Conterno’s 2013 Barolo Riserva Monfortino in double magnum (3 L) is one of those rare bottles that serious collectors build cellars around. Drawn entirely from the famed Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba and bottled in very small quantities, this is a monumental Nebbiolo that marries immense power with haunting finesse. The 2013 follows directly in the footsteps of the legendary 2010 Monfortino, echoing its depth and purity while offering slightly more open-knit tannins and an earlier sense of approachability in a large format.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2013 Monfortino shows a deep, luminous garnet core with a subtly bricking rim that hints at its slow evolution, especially captivating in a 3 L format where development is even more graceful. The nose is intensely layered: rose petals, dried violets, tar, and crushed mint weave around dark cherries, red currants, and wild strawberries, with undertones of sweet tobacco, leather, licorice, iron, and warm earth. With air, you’ll pick up hints of truffle, orange peel, and a delicate balsamic lift. On the palate, this is both authoritative and refined. The tannins, while abundant, are a touch more relaxed and velvety than the steely 2010, giving the wine a juicier, more earthy feel. Flavors of macerated red berries, blood orange, and sour cherry sit alongside notes of savory herbs, graphite, coffee bean, and spice. The acidity is vivid and linear, driving a very long, mineral-inflected finish. In a 3 L, the aging curve is significantly extended: this wine will easily evolve for 30–40+ years, gaining more tertiary complexity—truffle, underbrush, tobacco, and dried flowers—without losing its spine of freshness.

Production
Monfortino is sourced from the renowned Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, a hillside site with poor, compact marl and limestone that naturally produces low yields and highly structured Nebbiolo. In 2013, all the Francia fruit was dedicated to Monfortino; no separate Barolo Francia was made. The grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, with strict selection both in the vineyard and at the winery. Fermentation is traditional and long, with extended maceration on the skins to extract depth, tannin, and aromatic complexity. The wine is then aged for many years in large, neutral Slavonian oak botti, allowing the character of the vineyard and the vintage to take center stage. This patient, uncompromising approach—no barriques, no shortcuts—is central to Monfortino’s identity as one of Barolo’s purest and most age-worthy expressions.

Food & Serving
This is a wine built for the table and for great cuisine. Pair it with classic Piedmontese dishes such as brasato al Barolo, tajarin with white truffles, or veal shank, as well as slow-braised lamb, game birds, venison, or mature hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano and aged Castelmagno. For best enjoyment, serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F). Given both the structure of the wine and the 3 L format, generous aeration is essential: decant at least 3–4 hours before serving in large Burgundy-style glasses, and don’t hesitate to follow it over the course of an evening—or even two days—for the full spectrum of its evolution.

Producer
The Conterno name is synonymous with the very highest echelon of traditional Barolo. Founded in the early 20th century, the estate became a benchmark under Giacomo Conterno and later his son Giovanni, who created Monfortino as a flagship cuvée to represent the finest possible expression of Nebbiolo from Serralunga. Today, Roberto Conterno continues this legacy with an unwavering commitment to classic methods and low-intervention winemaking. The winery’s acquisition and meticulous farming of the Francia vineyard cemented its status as one of the region’s most important crus, and Monfortino is regularly cited among the greatest red wines in the world, frequently garnering top scores and featuring in the cellars of serious collectors and top restaurants alike.

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