Giacomo Conterno

 

Barolo/ Monforte d’Alba

2013 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d’Alba Francia

NOV 15 Ruby. Dark berries, ripe, rich, intense and spicy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, rich, blackberries and plums, spicy finish, long. 90

2013 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d’Alba Cerretta

NOV 15 Ruby. Dark berries, anise, spices, quite rich and almost exotic nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet and juicy, dark berries and spices, rich, long finish. 90

2012 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cerretta
NOV 14 Ruby. Ripe, rich, liquorice, intense dark fruits. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich, ripe and fruity, intense. 89

2012 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia
NOV 14 Ruby. Ripe, rich and fruity nose, liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, sweet and ripe, warm finish, almost burning. 87

2011 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia

NOV 15 Bright ruby. Tar, dark fruits, morellos, chocolate, intense nose, firm. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich, fruity, intense, dark berries, long and fairly firm. Hides the alcohol better than Cerretta. 93-94

2011 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cerretta

NOV 15 Bright ruby. Intense nose of tar, roses, cherries, blackberries, liquorice and spicy touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, rich, fruity, intense, alcohol warmth, long and rich finish. 92-93

2011 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia
JAN 14 Ruby. Rich, dark berries and a faint herbal note on the nose, intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rich and intense, dark berries, rich, sweet (15%) and ripe palate, good length. 89 

2011 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Ceretta
JAN 14 Deep ruby. Dark berries, rich and fruity nose, scented, dark and deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rich and sweet, very ripe, bit alcoholic finish. Long. 88

2010 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
NOV 14 Bright ruby. Intense nose, dark fruits, liquorice, cherries and anise. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, sweet fruits, liquorice and leather, long. 92

2010 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Ceretta
NOV 14 (Magnum) Bright ruby. Intense nose, dark fruits, liquorice, light tar and roses note. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, rich and sweet fruits, fairly lively, bit warm finish, crowd pleaser but could be more complex. 90

2010 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia
FEB 13 Ruby. Deeper and more scented nose, dark fruits. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lively and fruity, rounded palate, long. 89

2010 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cerretta
FEB 13 Ruby. Nuanced and somewhat light nose for Barbera, not as sweet and fruity as some. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, darker fruit on the palate, elegant body and texture, refreshing, good length. 88

2009 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
JAN 14 Ruby. Some herbs, tar, roses, cherries, morellos, anise. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe and fruity, lacks nuances, fruity and a bit warm. Long. 90

2009 Giacomo Conterno Langhe Nebbiolo Cerretta
FEB 13 Pale ruby. Very scented and nuanced nose, red berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity style, easy going for GC, good length. 88

2008 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
FEB 13 Pale ruby. Scented nose, roses, tar and red berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant, very elegant CF actually, more open than a 05 bottle a few weeks back, more forward, in a very good way. Long. 92

2008 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Ceretta
NOV 10 Ruby with pink rim. Intense nose, warm herbs, dark berries and anise. Elegant mouthfeel, a bit sweet, ripe fruit, good acidity, long length. I think this Barbera needs a bit of cellaring. 86

2007 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
JAN 12 (Served blind) Ruby, garnet rim. Carrot, spices, tomatoes, dried oregano, anise, red berries, with air, some floral notes. High acidity, high tannins, somewhat short. 86

2007 Giacomo Conterno; Barbera d'Alba, Cascina Francia
FEB 10 (magnum) Deep ruby, pink rim. Dark berries, blackberries, hints of chocolate and some spices behind, blueberries, mouthwatering acidity, good structure and great balance, very young and lively, complex and long. 90

2006 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino
JUL 16 Served blind. Bright ruby. Tar, roses, tight, scented, anise, cherries, things happen far back, nothing happens even after two hours in decanter. Fresh acidity, high of ripe tannins, tight, youthful, coffee and quite heavy. Who knows? Not like last bottle. 88-95

2006 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino
JAN 14 Ruby. Scented, dark berries, fruity, nuanced, detailed, tar, coffee touch, cherries, layered and nuanced. Fresh and high acidity, high of ripe tannins, fruity, detailed, layered, nuanced, refreshing, bit tight. Long. 95

2005 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino
FEB 13 Pale ruby. Scented nose, intense and very open for Monfortino. The bottle was open for three hours before I tasted it, and rarely have I had a more forward and less secretive Monfortino. Tar, roses, classical nose. Fresh acidity, high of ripe tannins, slightly tighter palate, very long. 94

2005 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
JAN 13 (Magnum) Bright ruby, garnet rim. Leather, blueberries, jam of cherries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, tight and needs air. Dissapointingly short. 89

2005 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
MAR 10 Pale ruby, brick rim, tar roses, floral notes, stone fruits, jasmin, hint of black tea and bergamot, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, great structure, leaner fruit, but the 14, 5 alcohol shines through unfortunately. 88

2002 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino

APR 11 Ruby with brick rim, tar, sweetish, radiator dust, warm car brakes, slightly cooked fruit, eucalyptus, mint. Fresh acidity, high of ripe tannins, good length. Points for texture rather than flavors. 88

2000 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino
DEC 09 Bright deepish ruby, very complex and elegant, roses, tar, truffles, fresh soil, leaves, well hung game, red berries and cherries. Great and fresh acidity, high and ripe tannins, very complex, great transparency, but also intense, very elegant and balanced. Layers upon layers of flavours. Long finish. 94

1999 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

OCT 12 Towards bright ruby. Some tar, roses, somewhat scented, subdued and closed.  Licorice, sometimes intense, sometimes evasive. Hay. Ever so slightly of glue. Fresh and high acidity, unripe apples and high tannins. Edgy texture, elegant for Monfortino but hardly elegant compared to most wines. Slightly warm finish. Long. Opened up a bit after two hours in the glass. 93

1997 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino
NOV 09 Ruby with brick rim. How seductive! Beautiful youthful nose, fantastic elegance, truffles, coffee, red berries, cherries, Belgian chocolates, perfumed and roses. The balance is out of this world, fantastic acidity and ripe tannins in the back ground, intense and complex and still extremely elegant and a long finish. 95

1996 Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia Barolo
NOV 09 Ruby with brick rim, intense nose of liquorice, tar and roses, youthful, some cherries and hints of truffles. Nice acidity, ripe tannins, pure, slender, elegant fruit, intense cherry stone, some mocha and dark chocolate. Not the longest aftertaste. 88

1990 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
MAR 12 Deep ruby, orange rim, mocha, chocolate, anise, leather and some VA. Unusual nose for a Barolo. Rich palate, high acidity, high of fairly ripe tannins, but surprisingly short. 88

1988 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

OCT 12 Faulty storage, cooked.

1988 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
JAN 12 (Served blind) Ruby with brick rim. Perfumed, dark berries, some VA, sweet lilies, vanilla and mint. High acidity, apple tartness, high of ripe tannins, mouthwatering, lean finish. With more air (it was decanted) tar, roses, anise. 89

1979 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

APR 12 Ruby, brick rim. Tar, roses, cherries, liquorice and earthy nose. Fresh and high acidity, dry tannins, sweet and sour, cherries, dust and chocolate, lacks refinement and precision and purity even if quite intense. The fruit seems too weak for the structure. 88

1974 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

NOV 15 Somewhat cloudy ruby with brick rim. Some figs, leather, coffee and tar nose. Acidity is lively and kicking, rough tannins, no fruit to back it up, dusty finish. 85

1974 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino

FEB 10 Bright ruby, orange rim. Leafy, tobacco, tar. Fresh acidity, quite intense, mouthwatering, lean, the freshness last's and last, fantastic texture, but where is the flavours, I do not understand this one. My first old Monfortino, and one very much more experienced Monfortino drinker than me at the table said it should have been decanted for hours and hours..... 82

1971 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

OCT 12 Garnet. Figs, cheese, some anise, strange nose. Very tannic palate, fruit can’t handle it at all. Funky. 84

1971 Giacomo Conterno Barolo

AUG 11 Ruby, brick rim, leather, some VA, anise. High and lively acidity that matches the wine perfectly, tannins soon gone, superb balance, cherries and plums, long length. 94

1964 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino

AUG 12 Cloudy orange. Earthy, almost woody nose, astringent and thin, just structure, no fruit. 85

1964 Giacomo Conterno Barolo
NOV 13 Bright garnet, watery orange rim. VA and Musar like nose of red berries, tar, roses and anise. Fresh acidity, fine textured and still grippy ripe tannins, structured, rounder fruit, volatile but not alarming, slightly dry finish. 91

1964 Giacomo Conterno Barolo

FEB 13 Astonishingly dead.

1964 Giacomo Conterno Barolo
MAR 12 Cloudy brick with orange rim. Massive sediments. Tobacco, tar and roses, far behind, leather and a faint hint of VA. High acidity, some tannins, but less than in many 64'2, very balanced for old Giacomo Conterno, where the structure can sometimes override the fruit, long. 89

1964 Giacomo Conterno Barolo
MAR 10 Orange colour, hot dog water, fond, slightly oxidized first, after quite a while, volatile, then leather, liquorice and slightly perfumed. High acidity, lean, tannins more or less gone, really needs the air to open, getting even more complex after 30 minutes, red berries, evolves a lot, fantastic balance, very fresh, long finish. I'm putting 92, but I'm not sure that I totally understood it.....

1961 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino
JUL 14 Served blind. Cloudy garnet with brick rim. Tired nose, oxidized. Broth. Very tired.

1961 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino
MAR 12 Garnet with orange rim. Coffee, licorice, dry notes, intense. High acidity, ripe tannins, feels youthful on the fruit, but seems to start to dry up in the finish. 90

1961 Giacomo Conterno Barolo

APR 14 Dead as a dodo.

1961 Giacomo Conterno Barolo
NOV 13 Pale bright garnet, thin orange rim. Scented, nuanced, tar, roses, layered, nuanced, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, fine grained tannins polishing off, a few still gives a little bite. Anise, flinty minerals, wood polish and teak, red berries, long floral and flinty finish. 94

1961 Giacomo Conterno Barolo

MAY 12 Garnet with brick rim. Red berries and anise, some VA and a touch dusty. Fresh acidity, few astringent tannins, red berries, nervy, to thin fruit. 87

1961 Giacomo Conterno Barolo

OCT 11 Brick with garnet core. Anise, cherries, coffee and chocolate nose. Fresh acidity, lively, drying tannins, leaner body, cherries and anise, long. 91

1961 Giacomo Conterno Barolo

AUG 11 Madeira.

1958 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino

NOV 13 Orange colour. Dried, dusty, earthy nose. Lean and tired palate.

1958 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino

MAY 11 Ruby with orange rim, coffee, floral, some dust, apple cake, quite intense. Fresh, lively and intense, beautiful acidity, ripe tannins soon gone, very long finish, but not that complex. 91

1958 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva

APR 12 Cloudy brick with garnet core. Red berries, anise, touch VA, roses, violets and tar nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and lively, detailed, nuanced, long, lovely, featherweight expression. 94

1958 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva

SEP 11 Cloudy orange red. Roses, tar, cherries and anise, transparent and delicate nose, not too intense. Fresh acidity, tannins still there, again transparent and delicate, sweet and sour, anise, lacks complexity but brilliant expression. 95

1958 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva

JUN 11 Pale red/ orange. Tar, roses, intense, sour cherries on the nose. Stunning acidity, high and fresh, tannins more or less gone, intense, licorice, superb balance and length, so lively. Better than the Monfortino of the same vintage. 94

1958 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva
AUG 10 Brick with orange rim, tar, roses, touch of iron, slightly volatile, some leather. High acidity, few tannins left, elegant, needs air to open, very long length, but lacks complexity. 87

1955 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva
AUG 10 A level fill, light brick, broad orange rim, not much sediments. Coffee, tar, oil, caramel, dried fruits. Good tannins, great acidity, lots of fruit, complex, very intense, pure, elegant, could have been a bit longer, but who am I to complain...... 94

1955 Giacomo Conterno Barolo
NOV 11 Pale garnet, orange rim, some sediments. Some anise, touch of tar, lean feel, red berries with a little air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, more fruit, rougher and slightly edgy texture. 89

1948 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

SEP 12 Mushrooms, warm radiator dust, tired.

1937 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

APR 13 Mahogany cloudy color. Earthy, dusty, faint sweet and sour palate, tired. 81

1937 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino

AUG 12 Maderized.

1937 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino

DEC 11 Dried fruits, dusty, earthy, tired.

1937 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva
JUL 14 It's rare to have something as maderized as this one.

1934 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino

JUL 13 Total Madeira gone bad.