Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1987

This was afforded some 4 hours to breath and while it showed well it was not nearly as expressive as last years bottle. the nose was wonderful with apricot fruit right up front, very gentle indian spice tones, classic rose notes, really clean and bright with orange flesh, seared cherry and almond milk all adding depth. In the mouth this comes of as very sweet and painfully young with tons of tannin yet excellent transparency. I think this is just much less evolved than last years bottle but can't rule out a bit of damage. Of course the damage may very well have been to me after so many bottles of fine wine.

February 2008

This had lovely sweet fruit and spice notes upon opening but by the time dinner rolled around the fruit had calmed down and revealed more complexity, though I missed the sweet fruit. Leathery at first then floral and spicy with dark oily seeds which segued into a cocoa aspect then gained fatty mortadella notes and bright rosehip top notes. Eventually this began to sweeten up again with musky notes of dried porcini adding depth and engagingly sweet notes of licorice, orange rind, and peonie and a finale of espresso. All the elements of great Barolo were here on the nose but the palate didn't fulfill read more...the promise held therein. This opened fairly big with tons of soft tannins filling the mouth and bright, youthful acidity but the wine was a bit blocky in the mouth and a touch too chewy and muddled across the midpalate. Medium full bodied with a very solid core of strawberry and cherry fruits that turned a bit more citrussy on the finish this might just be a bit too young, it certainly is, nut this bottle may not be pristine. A good but not great Monfortino 92pts    (hide)

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November 2008

Apon opening around 1 pm this showed a gorgeous brnished red color. Exhibits a faint nose of iron, blood, and roasted stock bones. Some upfront sweetness in the mouth, dense and compact with great structure and a core of slightly confiture strawberry fruit with some leather and herbs on the long finish, a superb early showing.At around 8 pm the nose here is and endless pool of menthol tinged, minerally spicy dark berry, wild strawberry fruit - rich and dense in the mouth yet still very linear and tight. Retains the vibrancy of youth, full of soft tannins, floral and bitter cocoa top notes emerge. A read more...very compelling bottle of wine that is just beginning to drink at peak.    (hide)

March 2007

This was afforded some 4 hours to breath and while it showed well it was not nearly as expressive as last years bottle. the nose was wonderful with apricot fruit right up front, very gentle indian spice tones, classic rose notes, really clean and bright with orange flesh, seared cherry and almond milk all adding depth. In the mouth this comes of as very sweet and painfully young with tons of tannin yet excellent transparency. I think this is just much less evolved than last years bottle but can't rule out a bit of damage. Of course the damage may very well have been to me after so many bottles of fine wine.

September 2008