Giacomo Conterno - Barbera Francia 2021

Price: $99.99

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Producer	Giacomo Conterno
Country	Italy
Region	Piedmont
Varietal	Barbera
Vintage	2021
Sku	12017107
Size	750ml

 

JD

94-96

V

95

There is no questioning the fact that Robero Conterno is one of the greatest winemakers in Piedmont, and probably in the world. His masterful Barolos will set you back about $300 for the Francia, and the Monfortino well over a thousand dollars.  
You also need to have patience, as they need decades to evolve. It is said that you buy the Francia for your children, the Monfortino for your grandchildren. But today's offer is one you can sink your teeth into a lot sooner. While it will be better with 4-6 years of bottle age, you could drink it now with decanting.
You could also enjoy it a decade from now. This is one of the best expressions of the Barbera grape you will ever find - unless you prefer more modern oaked versions. But for me Barbera just doesn't get any better than this. Just a couple dozen cases on hand, don't delay! 

Visiting Conterno is like a pilgrimage to a holy shrine. The winery is spotless, like "eat off the floor" spotless. It is quiet and calm, reverential, and you tend to hang on every word Roberto utters like it was the Gospel. And tasting the wines is a revelation, the most amazing one ever being the 2002 I tasted blind out of cask several years into its maturation. A dreadful vintage, no one even considered guessing it was a 2002.

Some growers declassified the entire vintage, the highest score in both the Wine Advocate and Vinous Media after Monfortino's solo 98 points is 90+, and they fall off from there. While Conterno's Barolos are out of reach for many, me included, the Barbera is one way to get to know the superb wines priduced at this estate. Cheers! Chris
 

- Historic estate, producer of one of Italy’s greatest and most iconic wines, the Barolo Monfortino
- Roberto Conterno is known for his unmatched attention to detail as well as his incredible work ethic as he continues to raise the bar on every minute detail of the viticultural and winemaking process at this esteemed estate
- Owner of the top crus of Francia and Cerretta as well as the more recently purchased Arione cru which abuts Francia, all in Serralunga D’Alba
- Some of the most ageworthy wines on the planet

"The 2021 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia is fabulous. Rich and expansive, with tremendous presence, the 2021 is positively stellar. Super-ripe dark cherry, lavender, spice and pomegranate all gain volume and intensity with time in the glass. The 2020 is one of the finest recent editions of the Francia Barbera I can remember tasting. Today, it's explosive, heady personality is impossible to resist."

Jeb Dunnuck 94 - 96 points
"The 2021 Barbera Cascina Francia was tasted from barrel and pours a rich youthful ruby/purple color. Mineral-tinged with graphite, black raspberry, and violets, it is medium-bodied on the palate, with refined tannic structure, great freshness, and a red plum and more violet perfume. Gorgeous and pure, warmth and freshness at the same time, this is as good as it gets for Barbera."