Giacomo Conterno - Barolo DOCG - Serralunga d'Alba - Cascina Francia - 2020

Giacomo Conterno - Cascina Francia - Barolo - Most loved and sought after Barolo.

A monumental Barolo from Serralunga, with great depth, elegance and power. Made for lovers of traditional, long-lived wines.

The wines of Giacomo Conterno from the Cru Francia are always made in a classical way. Roberto still uses the principles of his grandfather Giovanni.

The wines are strict and firm, but at the same time never hard or over-concentrated. Francia is always elegant in style. Typical aromas in Francia are rose petals, tar, licorice, spices, pomegranate, iron and red fruit. The wines also have a noticeable saltiness.

In the nose refined notes of rose petals, dried cherries and violets, complemented by spicy accents of tar, licorice, balsamic and a hint of cedar. In the mouth this Barolo is powerful and precise: ripe red berries, black cherries, earthy notes and iron minerality. The tannins are firm but noble, and are supported by a lively acidity. The finish is long, complex and layered.

The Cascina Francia vineyard is located on chalky clay with a high iron content. This soil gives the wine its typical structure, tension and deep minerality. Cascina Francia is a southwest-facing vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba, at an altitude of approximately 400 metres. The plot covers approximately 14 hectares, part of which is planted with Nebbiolo. The Nebbiolo vines in Cascina Francia were first planted in the 1970s by Giovanni Conterno, Roberto's father. Some vines are now more than 40 years old.

The 2020 vintage was a classic year in the Langhe. A mild winter, followed by a mild spring and a warm summer with some refreshing rain showers in August. The ripening was even and resulted in balanced, expressive wines. The grapes for this Barolo were harvested manually in the first half of October 2020, when the Nebbiolo had reached its optimum phenolic ripeness.

After a long maceration and fermentation in large wooden vats, the wine is transferred to traditional large Slavonian oak barrels (botti). Here, a natural malolactic fermentation takes place. The wine matures for about 4 years in these large barrels, developing its typical structure, depth and complexity. Bottling is done without filtering.

Wine and food pairing:
Perfect with game dishes such as hare or venison, rich beef stew, truffle risotto or a classic Piemontese dish like brasato al Barolo. Also delicious with matured hard cheeses.

About Giacomo Conterno:

Giacomo Conterno is a leading winery in the Barolo region, with a rich history dating back to 1908. Led by Roberto Conterno, the estate produces wines of exceptional quality, sourced from prestigious vineyards such as Cascina Francia, Cerretta and Arione. With a strong focus on traditional methods and an uncompromising approach to quality, Giacomo Conterno wines remain a reference point for Barolo lovers worldwide.

97+/100 Points Robert Parker

The Giacomo Conterno 2020 Barolo Francia shows balance and elegance with an especially mineral character that is specific to this wine. Red and blue fruit aromas add hints of sweetness, but the bouquet quickly moves to iron ore and dusty ferrous notes. Of these three single-vineyard Barolos, Arione has the finesse, Cerretta has volume and structured tannins and Francia, well, has an even greater sense of tannic intensity. These are age-worthy tannins that still feel quite firm and compact and will need more time to resolve.