2006 Barolo Riserva Monfortino
By Giacomo Conterno
2006 Barolo Riserva Monfortino from Giacomo Conterno, Piedmont, Italy
The year 2006 is etched in the chronicles of viticulture for the pivotal role it played in shaping the unique expression of the Barolo Riserva Monfortino. Crafted by the admirable winemaking artistry of Giacomo Conterno, this vintage stands as an unrivalled embodiment of a memorable harvest defined by an unpredictable climatic rhythm in the vineyards of Piedmont.
A Monfortino masterpiece, a worthy investment
The year's unpredictably shifting temperatures across the season led to a tense crescendo that threw the dice in favour of yielding this ingenious wine. The 2006 Barolo Riserva Monfortino leaps from the glass with a captivating bourgeon floral perfume—a heartwarming embrace embellished by hints of delicate red fruits and tempered spice notes.
The palate echoes this sophisticated harmony with an unabashed intensity underscored by a deeply layered structure. With time and air, it unfurls, offering glimpses into its multi-dimensional personality, tinctured with luscious fruit, cedar essence, and savoury undertones that entwine to assail your senses with an epicurean reverie.
Italian winemaking excellence
In a year when excessive rains could lead many vineyards astray, care and diligence guided Giacomo Conterno to rouse something truly exceptional from their Barolo vineyards. This gripping iteration proudly highlights the house's meticulous mastery over the Nebbiolo variety—visible through their deftly employed traditional winemaking techniques—and securing its indomitable stature among fine wines from Italy.
This accomplished blend is designed to challenge, provoke and engage discerning tasters in equal measures, whilst preserving its inherent authenticity and elegance. This isn’t just a mere bottle of wine—it is an audacious proclamation of vision, presented in a beautifully enticing liquid form.
As a wine investor seeking out landmark vintages, the 2006 Barolo Riserva Monfortino from Giacomo Conterno offers a measured balance of intrinsic quality, aging potential and market demand. Truly, an investable vintage that holds the promise of unprecedented returns for the patient connoisseur.
Market price (CAD)
$15,910.00
12x75cl
Highest score
99
POP score
503.16
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted from botte number 45, the 2006 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is gorgeous. Roberto tells me, “Monfortino is not a drinking wine, it’s a chewing wine.” His comment makes perfect sense and offers incredible insight into the profound beauty beholden before us. You almost feel the crunch of the young tannin and the snap of its presence in the mouth. The bouquet is perfectly matched to the wine. Elegance and finesse add contrast to the wine’s sheer power and determination. Dried rose, licorice, tar, spice and tobacco show immense definition and focus. The 2006 vintage is noted for its extraordinary aging potential. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045. There is something almost ecclesiastical about a cellar visit to Giacomo Conterno at the foot of Monforte d’Alba. Enter his gates and you immediately cross an imaginary threshold into a spiritual and sobering world. The winery has the feeling of a vast cathedral with soaring ceilings and open spaces. Impeccable oak casks, each beautifully varnished, line the cellar perimeters like a succession of small family chapels. Roberto Conterno glides slowly and steadily across the tiled floor as if he were a priest lost in a contemplative moment of prayer. He carefully wipes the spigots clean of each stray drop with a white handkerchief he keeps at his side. The official tasting of his wine is performed with the ceremonial precision and religious intensity of a First Communion. And, just as when Mass has concluded, there’s a subtle sense of relief when you finally step back out into the sunlight. Importers: Polaner Selections, Mt. Kisco, NY; tel. (914) 244-0404; The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484
Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate, 27 June 2013