2011 Barolo Francia

Wine Details
Place of Origin

Italy

Serralunga D'alba

Piedmont

Color

Red

Grape/Blend

Nebbiolo

Reviews & Tasting Notes

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Drinking Window

2021 - 2041

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Roberto Conterno's new releases are simply stunning. Over the last 7-8 years, Conterno has made significant investments in what is a total obsession with quality. In 2008, Conterno bought a parcel in Cerretta, the first investment his family had made in vineyard land since 1974, when his parents bought Francia. Earlier this year, Conterno purchased Arione, the property that lies adjacent to Francia on the southern edge of the property. A new destemmer, professional cork testing equipment, new casks and a gleaming, Ferrari-like state of the art bottling line are all sitting in the striking, newly renovated winery. I can't think of a single producer in Piedmont who has put so much on the line and who has made investments of this importance over the last decade. For that, and for the wines that emerge from this cellar, Conterno deserves all of the praise his wines command today. "This can't happen anymore," a visibly angered Roberto Conterno told me last year in front of an off magnum of 1996 Monfortino. Unlike so many producers who know to say the right things, Conterno backs up his words with action. Prices have gone up considerably, reflecting what appears to be a new normal for Piedmont's top estates, but I can't fault a producer who is so clearly investing for the future. Take it from someone who spends six months each year visiting wineries all over the US and Europe, Giacomo Conterno is as world class as world class gets.

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Drinking Window

2018 - 2036

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Roberto Conterno's recent purchase of the Arione vineyard in Serralunga was top of mind pretty much everywhere I visited last week. Conterno acquired a total of just less than 6 hectares in Arione, which shares a border with Francia. Arione is an interesting vineyard in that it straddles the border between Serralunga and Roddino, which lies outside the Barolo zone. The total surface is just about 3.6 hectares in Serralunga planted with Nebbiolo for Barolo and a bit more than 2 hectares in Roddino, one planted with Nebbiolo d'Alba and one with Barbera. There will be a new Barolo Arione starting with the 2015 vintage. It is also possible that some Arione fruit might make it into the Monfortino, as the two sites are pretty similar, according to Conterno. The Nebbiolo in Roddino will be used for a new Nebbiolo d'Alba botting. Roberto Conterno is one of the most forward thinking growers in Piedmont. Conterno's recent plan to expand the cellar 'just in case' has turned out to be a brilliant decision. In fact, without the extra space, Conterno would have had to work in very cramped quarters to vinify Arione. As for the wines in barrel, they are special. The 2013 Barberas show the personality of the late harvest year, while the 2011 Barolos are among the best wines of that vintage. Bottling is scheduled for June 2015.

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Roberto Conterno's 2011 Barolos are terrific. As is the case in many cellars, the wines have had a pretty remarkable transformation over the last few years and are now much more finessed than they were at the outset. Conterno has often told me that in his opinion Nebbiolo can handle cold, rainy weather, but that drier, warmer seasons are much more difficult. There was no Monfortino in 2003, 2007 or 2009, so I would be quite surprised to see one in 2011. Conterno adds that in 2011, the Barbera and Nebbiolo harvests were separated by just two weeks, as opposed to the more customary four or so. Readers might also want to take a look back a this [short video]](http://vinous.com/multimedia/a-conversation-with-roberto-conterno-sep-2011) I shot with Conterno in late August 2011. With the 2010 vintage, Cascina Francia is now labeled as simply Francia.

Importer Details
Polaner Selections

Imports to: United States

Address: 19 N Moger Ave, Mt Kisco, NY 10549

Phone: +1 (914) 244-0404

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Website: https://polanerselections.com

The Rare Wine Co.

Imports to: United States

Address: 280 Valley Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005

Phone: (415) 319-9000

Email: sales@rarewineco.com

Website: rarewineco.com