2022 Giacomo Conterno “Francia” Barbera d’Alba
Love love love this wine. Every time someone tells me that they do not think Barbera is a wine worth
Producer
Giacomo Conterno
I have reviewed four wines from Giacomo Conterno, from the 2020 to 2023 vintages, across Barolo and Barbera d'Alba. Scores range from 96 to 100, averaging 98; the highest is the 2021 Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo (100 points). Giacomo Conterno also features in two journal articles on this site.
In the pantheon of Italian wine, the Giacomo Conterno estate stands alone. Now led by Roberto Conterno, it is the ultimate benchmark for traditional Barolo, and its history is inseparable from one vineyard and one wine. Monfortino was first produced in 1924 by Giacomo Conterno as a Barolo Riserva, selected for decades from top vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba and other villages. In 1974 his son Giovanni bought the Francia vineyard in Serralunga, and from 1978 Monfortino has come from Francia alone.
Francia sits at 350 to 400 metres with a southeastern exposure, on limestone and clay rich in marine fossils, where cool nights preserve acidity and fragrance. The same fruit makes two Barolos. Monfortino, made only in great vintages, macerates for 40 to 50 days and ages at least seven years in large casks. Barolo Francia, first bottled in 1978, follows a more classic maceration: austere, structured and complex, it is for me the true definition of Barolo, approachable young yet built for fifty years.
Francia also produces one of the best Barberas in Piedmont. The altitude and limestone give the grape an unusual stress, mineral precision and complexity, and it is aged only in Slavonian oak. The estate also farms Cerretta and Arione in Serralunga; in 2021 Francia and Arione defined the structured nobility of the vintage.
2020 Giacomo Conterno “Francia” Barolo
Since its first vintage in 1978, Barolo Francia has set a benchmark in Barolo. Often described as austere, structured, complex,
2021 Barolo – Vintage Report
After a series of warmer, solar vintages, 2021 marks a majestic return to the “Alpine” soul of Nebbiolo. Defined by a long, snowy winter and a perfectly paced autumn, this is a vintage of noble austerity and breathtaking precision. These are not the open-knit wines of 2020; they are tension-filled, vertical, and built for the long haul. With “crunchy” red fruit, savory minerality, and a spine of vibrant acidity, 2021 is being hailed as the most complete and “classic” vintage since 2016—a year where the distinct terroir of each commune is rendered in high definition.
2021 Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo
Since its first vintage in 1978, Barolo Francia has set a benchmark in Barolo. Often described as austere, structured, complex,
2023 Giacomo Conterno Francia Barbera D’Alba
Love love love this wine. Every time someone tells me that they do not think Barbera is a wine worth
The Francia Vineyard: The Legendary Cru Behind Conterno’s Barolo, Barbera and Monfortino
Vigna Francia, acquired by Giacomo Conterno in 1974, is a prestigious vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba known for exceptional Barolo and Barbera wines. Its unique terroir, elevated location, and mineral-rich soils contribute to the production of legendary wines like Monfortino. Francia Barbera showcases remarkable complexity, setting it apart in Piedmont.
The Francia Vineyard: The Legendary Cru Behind Conterno’s Barolo, Barbera and Monfortino Read Post »