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Barolo Monfortino Riserva, Giacomo Conterno 2004

RegionItaly
Subregion Italy > Piedmont > Barolo
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyNebbiolo

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Tasting Notes

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is drop-dead gorgeous. I have tasted the wine multiple times from barrel and three times from bottle and never been anything less than blown away. The 2004 is a subtle, layered Monfortino that captures the sheer elegance and finesse of this great vintage. It is sweet, perfumed, silky and utterly mind-blowing. From barrel it has always been a 100 point wine, but it has just been bottled and naturally a bit closed in on itself. Still, with some time in the glass its silky, perfumed fruit and dazzling class come to life. The 2004 is remarkably harmonious for such a young wine. Readers will have much fun debating which is the greatest Monfortino of recent years. Could it be the 1996, 1999 or 2002 for their huge structure and classicism? Or, is it the 1997 for its opulence? What if the dark horse 1998 and 2000 steal the show? Personally, I adore the 2001 and 2004 for their completeness, but the 2004 is the sexiest of them all. Sadly, 2004 is also the year Giovanni Conterno passed away, but one can't escape the feeling his spirit lives in this wine. Kudos to Roberto Conterno and his team for this magnificent, thrilling Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2044.

100
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate (197), November 2011

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is as it has always been: virtually perfect. It is a staggeringly beautiful wine of heroic proportions, with all of the elements in the right place. The bouquet alone is head-spinning; but then the fruit conquers the palate with its sensual, beguiling beauty. The tannins are impeccable, polished and impossibly refined from start to finish. The 2004 Monfortino is shaping up to be one of the very finest wines ever made in Italy, or anywhere for that matter. Let me just say this: the 2004 Monfortino is the only wine at Conterno I did not spit on what turned out to be a magical afternoon. It was the last stop of the day, and I granted myself that one small indulgence. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2054.

97/100
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate (193), February 2011
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.