Giacomo Conterno, Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2008

Estate Background

One of the greatest names in Piedmont, the Giacomo Conterno label started life as a modest wine bar in the village of San Giuseppe in 1908, run by Giacomo's father Giovanni, who made wine from purchased grapes and sold surplus in barrels - the custom throughout the region at the time. The Monfortino - the label's most legendary wine - was first conceived as a means of showing off the tavern's very best efforts, and is thought to have been first bottled on its own in 1912 or 1920.

The Conternos purchased fruit from local farmers until 1974, when Giovanni bought the Cascina Francia vineyard in Serralunga. The first vintage was released in 1978, although the Cascina Francia name did not appear on labels until the 1980 vintage.

Upon his passing in 2004, Giovanni, who forged a reputation as one of the greatest Barolo producers, left the estate to his gifted son Roberto, who has continued the important work of three generations of Conternos; creating strictly traditional and globally renowned wines many claim to be the very purest expression of Barolo.

Tasting Notes

"This is one of the most balanced and harmonious Monfortinos that I ever tasted. Aromas of dried rose petals and oranges. It's full-bodied yet compacted and tight. Tannins are perfectly managed. It makes you want to drink it now with its balance and finesse. All in harmony. This is from one of the latest harvests ever - started October 29. So fabulous and so perfect now. Why wait? But will age for decades."

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com  |  Score: 99  |  September 2015

"The 2008 Monfortino is one of the most hauntingly beautiful young Barolos I have ever tasted. Wild flowers, spices, orange peel, menthol and dark red stone fruits are some of the many notes that flesh out in the glass. The 2008 is like biting into a candy that is hard on the outside and impossibly sweet on the inside. I imagine the 2008 will age beautifully, even if it is a Monfortino built on finesse rather than power. The 2008 spent six years in cask, as opposed to the more typical seven, and will be released in 2015."

Antonio Galloni - vinous.com  |  Score: 97+  |  September 2014

"Monfortino is not simply one of the best Barolos, whose name alone can make die-hard Barolo fans weak at the knees, it is one of the finest wines in the world."

Nick Belfrage MW  |  Barolo to Valpolicella (Published 1999)

Investment Analysis

Vintage Comparison

With under 600 cases being produced for this wine each year the availability for all back vintages is very low. Although there appears to be availability for the most recent vintages, once these are picked up by collectors, they rarely resurface on the open market and if they do, one can expect a significant increase on the price compared to release.

Given the high critical acclaim and minute production levels associated with the Monfortino, comparisons can be drawn to wines with similar traits. Some of the most revered producers from around the world are typified by minute production levels, and although their wines can fetch lofty prices, they still experience huge global demand. Below is a list of wines of similar quality and annual output to the Montorfino.

As seen in the table above, the Riserva Monfortino offers significant value against estates with similar reputation, production levels and overall critic scores. The huge price gap overall suggests that this wine is significantly undervalued in comparison to wines from the key estates from other regions.

Summary Points