sorta a random monday nighter question
anyone know anything about this wine
it was due to be released this fall
it is murmured to be interesting despite the vintage
whats the deal
no one is listening
someone on CT claims to have consumed a bottle
fess up
Is this mystery keeping you up at night, Rob?
no but i am hunting for a bottle and came across a note on monfortino and saw the Ct note and there you go
Don’t think it’s been released yet, Rob - I know Antonio has tasted it, although he has not given the wine an official rating (and I seem to recall that being at Roberto Conterno’s request).
Just did a search and back in February Antonio responded to a question regarding this wine indicating that it would not be bottled until next year.
I don’t know how the wine turned out, but I visited the cantina in mid-September 2002, after the devastating hail storms that hit La Morra and Castiglione, and Roberto said then they’d had no hail over in Serralunga. On the other hand, the same dreary, wet summer affected all the villages.
I had the pleasure of visiting with Roberto earlier this year. I was more interested in speaking with him than tasting the wines, to be honest, but I did happily taste a few.
Per Roberto, they carried a very light crop through 02 (purposefully), miraculously escaped the hail, and, in his words, had a tremendous vintage. For the first time ever they are not producing a Cascina Francia. Everything from the vineyard that they made (small crop) will become Monfortino. The folks at Paolo Scavino told me a similar story of their Bricco Ambroggio in 02 which escaped damage from hail as well. As an aside, I’ve tasted the 02 Ambroggio and like it for the same reasons I like the 02 Monfortino.
I am not a Monfortino expert (out of my price range to drink frequently enough to be an “expert”) but I would be if I could afford it 
In any case, though, I found the 02 to be reminiscent of cognac in it’s weightlessness, aromatic complexity and overall intensity. Just tasting a small pour briefly in the cellar, I thought it was beguiling, perfectly balanced, and very complex, if not a massive / extracted / dark wine. It was one of the best wines on a trip that included visits to the top 8 or so traditionalists in Piedmont as well as Roumier, Fourrier and d’Angerville in Burgundy. Keep in mind I will take aromatic complexity and seemlessness over power and extract any day, so the 02 Monfortino played directly to my sweet spot. I will still keep buying a lot more Cascina Francia than Monfortino, as finances dictate, but if I could I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a good stock of the 02 Monfortino. If nothing else it is a testament to making great wine in vintages where you aren’t supposed to be able to.
I agree w Josh. Unlike few barrels samples that I have ever tasted. It was ready to go when I tasted it 15 months ago. Remarkable for that reason. It would be an interesting wine to own
Only if the price is as interesting, which will be the problem. This will sell for “Monfortino” like prices, that is why he made it.
Have you tasted it Daniel?
I’m not going to suggest that it was some altruistic to the consumer practice to declare the whole production Monfortino.
But I haven’t had much, if any, Cascina Francia as good as the 02 Monfortino. To be honest, I haven’t had much Nebbiolo that was that good.
I don’t disagree that based on vintage perception it will be a hard sell.
Josh
Did not taste, although I was in on a discussion with Roberto a few years back, when it was revealed that he was producing 2002 Monfortino. He believes in the wine as Monfortino. So it will be priced that way. I have no doubt that the wine is probably good, but it will be a very tricky sell.
Dan,
As much as I respect Roberto and think Monfortino is a much better wine than a lot of other wines around the world that sell for more, the consumer in me hopes to buy some 02 Monfortino on closeout.
So does the retailer in me, Josh.