A rising star in the southern reaches of the Barolo zone, Diego Conterno and his son, Stefano, craft elegant Nebbiolo wines in Monforte d’Alba. Diego started his own project in 2000, after two decades at ConternoFantino where he worked alongside his cousins, bringing with him a five-acre plot in ‘Ginestra,’ Monforte’s top cru. Conterno wines “blend the energy and brawn of Monforte with the translucence of traditionally inspired winemaking,” says Antonio Galloni. Rich and potent yet suave in perfume and flavor, Conterno wines are made naturally, fermented on indigenous yeasts and aged in traditional large oak cask (botti). All vines are cared for organically.
The 2020 Diego Conterno Barolo Comune di Monforte d’Alba opens with lifted aromas of dried rose petals, red cherry, and wild strawberry, layered with subtle hints of licorice, crushed stone, and a touch of savory spice. On the palate, it is vibrant and structured, offering flavors of red fruit, blood orange, and black raspberry interwoven with classic herbal undertones. Firm yet polished tannins provide a precise backbone, while the wine’s hallmark Monforte minerality adds tension and depth. The finish is long, focused, and persistently elegant, leaving a lasting impression of both power and finesse.
The 2020 Barolo del Comune di Monforte d'Alba is a very serious wine. Deeply pitched notes of balsamic, menthol, licorice, spice, chocolate, and blackberry soar out of the glass. A wine of depth and textural drive, the 2020 captures tons of Monforte character. Soft tannins (for a young Barolo) make the 2020 surprisingly - I should say shockingly - accessible. What a wine!
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