| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | Italy > Piedmont > Barolo |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2020 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is a hedonistic turn-on. Silky and pliant, with captivating purity, the 2020 is a total delight. Bright acids drive through a core of vibrant red-toned fruit. Sage, lavender, rose petal and chalk are some of the notes that develop over time. The 2020 has the gorgeous inner perfume and sweetness that is such a signature of warmer years, a quality that can make young Monfortino so seductive right out of the gate. Polished, silky tannins frame the long, resonant finish. Barolo at its sexiest. Drink 2028-2060.
The Giacomo Conterno 2020 Barolo Riserva Monfortino, tasted in bottle ahead of its October release, is quite beautiful in its softness, generosity and sheer Nebbiolo delicacy. Compared to the more structured 2019, the 2020 feels fuller, silkier and more immediately embracing, with the sensation of biting into ripe fruit. The tannins are nearly invisible, supple and seamless, giving the wine a plump, graceful mouthfeel without sacrificing depth or pedigree. Roberto Conterno captured the vintage perfectly when he said, "Between 2019, 2020 and 2021, the 2020 will be the first one we drink." Drink 2029 - 2055.
Restrained, fresh and sleek, showing watermelon, mints, potpourri and deep embers with vibrant strawberries and blood oranges. Incredibly elegant on the palate, with smooth, graceful tannins despite the full body, density and tense acidity. Dried-flower flavors are persistent and savory. Harmonious. October 2026 release. Drink then or hold.
Scheduled for release in October, the 2020 Barolo Riserva Monfortino pours a jeweled ruby color and reflects a more fruit-driven expression compared with the more classically structured 2019. The nose reveals notes of raspberries, crushed stones, blood orange, and delicate flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it carries the depth and structure expected from this wine while showing a bit more openness and accessibility in its youth. The tannins are refined and persistent, with balanced acidity and remarkable length through the finish. The 2020 and 2019 are very different expressions that complement each other well, with the 2020 offering a more approachable profile while still built to age. Drink 2028-2048.
This sample was tasted from barrel and will not go into bottle until late in 2025. The Giacomo Conterno 2020 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is a beautiful wine, already head and shoulders above most of the other wines I tasted from this vintage. It offers fine definition with wild rose, tea leaf, rusty nail and crushed stone. The tannins are refined, despite the wines young age, but you also get fruit-driven volume and richness over broad texture. The 2020 vintage is Francia fruit with 15% blended from Arione. 2029-2058.
