Giacomo Conterno
Barolo Monfortino Riserva
Barolo
2013
Vintage
Varietal
Nebbiolo
ABV
Where it is, July 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2023-2048).
In 2026, the Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva 2013 is at year three of a 25-year peak window that opened in 2023 and runs through 2048, an early-peak timing that represents an exceptional entry point for Monfortino's legendary aging trajectory. The 2013 Barolo vintage was rated 96 points Classic by Wine Spectator, described as the best Barolos since 2010, with a cooler growing season and late harvest producing wines of purity and finesse with fine acidity, and Monfortino's extended barrel aging has amplified those qualities into something of extraordinary precision. In 2026, the wine has crossed the threshold from youthful austerity into genuine drinking pleasure, the Nebbiolo's characteristic sour cherry and rose petal aromatics now fully accessible alongside the tar and spice complexity that defines Monfortino at its core. The formidable tannin backbone that demanded patience at release has softened to a firm, polished presence that still provides decades of structural foundation. This is Barolo at the pinnacle of its tradition, and 2026 is an excellent moment to experience Monfortino in the full flower of its early-peak expression. Discover the full tradition of great Italian reds via our [Piedmont region guide](/wines/region/piedmont) or explore other outstanding [Nebbiolo](/wines/varietal/nebbiolo) in our cellar.
The ‘13 Barolo Monfortino Riserva.
Three years into its 25-year peak window, the 2013 Conterno Monfortino delivers WS 96 Classic precision: crystalline sour cherry, rose petal, and tar from one of Barolo's finest modern vintages.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep garnet with a translucent, brick-edged rim that reveals Nebbiolo's naturally pale extraction and the six-plus years of maturation since release, the color at once delicate and concentrated. The nose is quintessentially Monfortino: sour cherry and dried rose petal lead the primary register, followed closely by tobacco, wild herb, and the distinctive sandalwood-and-tar quality that is the Conterno house signature. The 2013 vintage's cooler, more precise character adds an extra dimension of mineral clarity to the aromatics, distinguishing this Monfortino from the richer, more voluminous expressions of warmer years. On the palate, the wine delivers what its reputation promises: a full-bodied, densely structured Barolo with the legendary Monfortino tannin architecture - present, firm, and still commanding, but softened by a decade of cellaring from the near-impenetrable wall of tannin the wine presented in its first years. The sour cherry and spice notes carry through to a long, resonant finish with a tar and iron mineral quality that is the vintage's most distinctive calling card. This is a wine of extraordinary depth and length, one that rewards patience and attention in equal measure.
The 2013 vintage
The 2013 Barolo growing season was defined by a cool, extended summer that allowed the Nebbiolo grape to ripen slowly and develop the fine acidity and structural precision that distinguish the vintage from the richer years on either side. A delayed start to spring kept yields low and bud break late, while cool August temperatures slowed the final ripening period and extended the harvest into mid-October, well past the average date for the Barolo zone. The extended hang time preserved natural acidity and concentrated the grape's phenolic development without the extraction pressure that hot vintages create. Wine Spectator rated the 2013 Barolo at 96 points Classic, describing a cooler growing season and late harvest that resulted in wines of purity and finesse with fine acidity, noting these as the best Barolos since 2010. For Giacomo Conterno's Monfortino, whose extended maceration and long barrel aging amplify the vintage's structural precision, the 2013 conditions were ideal: a cool, acid-preserving season combined with Conterno's traditional method produced a Monfortino of crystalline clarity and exceptional aging potential.
About Giacomo Conterno
Giacomo Conterno, founded in Serralunga d'Alba in 1920 and today directed by Roberto Conterno, is the definitive estate for traditional Barolo and one of Italy's most revered wine producers. The flagship Barolo Monfortino Riserva is produced only in the finest vintages from the Cerretta and Francia vineyards in Serralunga, macerated for weeks in contact with the skins, and then aged for a minimum of five to seven years in large Slavonian oak casks before bottling without fining or filtration. This traditional method - long maceration, long barrel aging, no modern intervention - is what gives Monfortino its defining character: extraordinary tannic longevity, crystalline transparency to terroir, and the capacity to evolve for four to five decades in the cellar. Roberto Conterno has maintained this philosophy without compromise since assuming leadership of the estate, preserving what is widely considered the most faithful and age-demanding expression of Nebbiolo in existence.
From the cellar: pair with
Braised beef short ribs with bone marrow and barolo reduction
Monfortino's formidable tannic backbone and sour cherry acidity need the protein and fat density of marrow-braised short ribs to counterbalance; the 2013's fine acidity lifts even this rich preparation.
White truffle over tagliatelle with butter and Parmigiano
The 2013 vintage's fine acidity and the wine's rose petal and spice aromatics pair uniquely well with white truffle's penetrating musk; Nebbiolo's high natural acidity prevents butter from coating the palate.
Aged Parmigiano Reggiano 36-month
The wine's sour cherry and tar character pairs classically with the crystalline umami depth of aged Parmigiano; Monfortino's firm tannins soften against the cheese's salt crystals in a textbook Piedmontese combination.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 64-66F (18-19C)
- Decanting
- Decant 3 to 4 hours in 2026. Monfortino's legendary tannic structure demands extended aeration; the wine opens progressively through the first two hours and reveals its full complexity by hour three to four.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Barolo
Frequently Asked
When is the 2013 Conterno Monfortino at its best?
The 2013 Monfortino entered its drinking window in 2021 and reached peak in 2023; in 2026 it sits at year three of a 25-year prime window running through 2048. The 2013 vintage's naturally high acidity and Monfortino's legendary extended maceration and barrel aging mean this wine is built for extraordinary longevity. While 2026 offers genuine drinking pleasure, holding until 2030-2040 will reveal the full aromatic evolution that Monfortino is famous for. This is a wine where patience is rewarded exponentially.
Does the Conterno Monfortino 2013 need decanting?
Decant for 3 to 4 hours in 2026, ideally in two stages: first decant 3 to 4 hours before service, then let the wine rest in the glass for 20 minutes before drinking. Monfortino is Barolo's most intensely tannic wine and requires extended aeration for the aromatics to fully express. The 2013 vintage's fine acidity means the wine does not fatigue with aeration; four hours of air will reward with significantly more expressive rose petal, tar, and sour cherry complexity.
What foods pair best with Conterno Monfortino 2013?
The 2013 Monfortino's sour cherry character, significant but fine tannin structure, and the vintage's high natural acidity make it ideal for Piedmontese classics: braised beef with bone marrow, veal ossobuco, white truffle over pasta, and aged Parmigiano Reggiano are the canonical pairings. The wine's tannins need protein and fat to integrate fully; avoid lean proteins or vegetable preparations that cannot counterbalance Monfortino's considerable structure.
How should I cellar the 2013 Monfortino?
Store at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, 60 to 70 percent humidity, bottle on its side. The 2013 Monfortino will continue developing through 2035-2045 before entering its full expression window, with the hard decline not expected until 2059. For a comparison of Conterno's style in a warmer, more opulent year, the 2010 Barolo vintage produced richer, more immediately accessible wines at most estates; Monfortino in that year showed more voluminous character against the 2013's precision and linear structure.
What makes Barolo Monfortino different from other Barolo?
Giacomo Conterno's Barolo Monfortino Riserva is the benchmark for long-maceration, long-barrel-aged traditional Barolo. While many modern Barolo producers use shorter macerations and French oak to produce wines accessible within a decade of harvest, Conterno's Monfortino is macerated for weeks and aged for five to seven years in large Slavonian oak casks before release. The resulting wine carries a tannic structure of legendary proportions, preserving Nebbiolo's sour cherry, rose petal, and tar character in their most austere, age-demanding form. This fidelity to traditional method is why Monfortino needs decades to fully evolve and remains the reference point by which all traditional Barolo is judged.