2008 Barolo Monfortino Riserva, Giacomo Conterno
The 2008 Monfortino opens with the kind of authority that doesn’t need to declare itself. The bouquet rises slowly, almost ceremonially — dried cherry, pomegranate, and rose petal intertwine with tar, warm stone, and a deep, ferrous minerality that seems to come from the very core of Barolo. With air, hints of incense, blood orange, and wild herbs deepen the wine’s intricate aromatic architecture.
On the palate, the wine is simultaneously stern and soaring. The acidity draws a precise, vertical line through the centre, while the tannins — abundant yet exquisitely refined — frame the flavours with sculptural clarity. The fruit is bright but layered with darker, savoury tones: cherry skin, liquorice root, crushed leaves, and iron-rich soil. There is a sense of internal tension, as if immense power is held in perfect check.
The finish is long, cool, and pulsating with mineral energy, leaving impressions of citrus peel, spice, and the unmistakable signature of Serralunga’s depth. Even in a vintage of classical precision, this Monfortino feels timeless — profound, ascetic, and utterly compelling, a wine that speaks in decades rather than years. Truly a legend and exceptional wine, probably the best I have ever had in my life.
