Giacomo Conterno - Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1941

€1,190.00*

Contents: 0.75 Liter (€1,586.67* / 1 Liter)

Prices incl. VAT §25a UStG. plus shipping costs

1 Available immediately

Product number: JHW-26205

Filling level into neck, capsule and label good.

Product information

The Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1941 is an absolute legend of Piedmont- not only one of the oldest Monfortinos available, but also a testimony to the war period. Produced in an era of minimal technology and maximum craftsmanship, this wine survives today only in perfect collections. Tasting it is like an archaeological sensation.

Historical context & rarity

Vintage 1941: A World War II vintage with difficult conditions (viticulture under resource scarcity). Nevertheless, a surprisingly good vintage thanks to dry autumns.
Monfortino myth: Selected grapes from the Cru Cascina Francia (Serralunga), matured for years in large oak barrels.
Survival rate: Extremely low! Intact bottles are museum pieces (an estimated 5-10 exist worldwide). Auction values: 1,000-2,000€+ for top provenance.

Tasting note (based on historical tastings, including 2011 with Roberto Conterno)

Colour:
Deep mahogany with amber reflections - amazingly clear for its age. Signs of oxidative ageing, but no cloudiness.
Nose:
Inscrutable complexity: damp forest floor, truffles, dried mushrooms, tobacco leaves and rancio notes (walnut, sherry). Hidden fruit underneath: preserved cherries, plum jam and orange peel. A hint of wax, old leather and balsamic herbs (liquorice, sage).
Palate:
Lively despite being 80+ years old: Acidity and residual sugar in hovering balance. Flavours of Terre da Siena minerality, dried figs, tar and bitter cocoa. Tannins completely resolved - silky texture like old velvet. Finish with smoke, black tea and a salty umami note (soya sauce).
Structure:
Supernaturally elegant, almost weightless. Not a trace of alcoholic heaviness. Length of minutes, carried by vibrating acidity.
Condition-dependent:
If the bottle is intact: climax with residual freshness. If slightly oxidised, sherry character dominates (then to be appreciated as "Vin Jaune des Piemont").

Tasting protocol & risks

Storage check:
- Fill level: At least upper shoulder acceptable (1940 cork porous!)
- Cork: Always allow to steep professionally (risk of decay!).
- Sediment: Abundant → Leave to stand + double decant.
Decanting:
- Maximum 30-60 minutes (rapid oxidation collapse!). Taste immediately.
Temperature:
- 16°C (too cool → flavours die; too warm → alcohol breaks through).
Accompaniment:
- Pure as a meditation potion! Alternatively: Vitello tonnato or Alba truffles on eggs.

"A Barolo that no longer speaks of the terroir, but of the spirit of the 20th century: smoky, chewy, full of melancholy - and yet of indestructible elegance."

Philosophical classification

The 1941 Monfortino is not a wine, but a monument:

🕰️ Time capsule: Only wine from perfect cellars (humid, 10-12°C, dark) has survived.
🧪 Disproving myths: Proof that pre-modern Baroli can last for centuries if stored ideally.
⚖️ Sensory paradox: fragility (oxidation!) vs. persistence (acidic structure).

Only open such a bottle with respect - it is irreplaceable. If you own it: Document every phase (video/photos). A moment like this is history! 🍷

	Alcohol:	14
	Colour:	red
	Country:	Italy
	Filling quantity:	750 ml
	Flavour:	dry
	Grape variety:	Nebbiolo
	Producer:	Conterno Giacomo
	Product type:	Wine
	Region:	Piedmont
	Type of wine:	Red wine
	Vintage:	1941