"Utterly Captivating"
2010 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia
I've held on to this wine for some time. It's difficult for me to part with.
Every time I taste a Conterno Barolo, I'm reminded of the level on which the wines exist.
Roberto Conterno is one of the most intensely focused and exacting winemakers we know. No doubt, his are among the greatest wines around.
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When you factor in the 2010 Piedmont vintage, I'm sure you can understand my reluctance. This is a special wine.
Talking about the 2010 Barolo vintage feels like beating a dead horse. Let's just say that its purity, length and overall completeness make 2010 look like one of the most blessed vintages of the past couple decades.
I'm confident that the 2010 Francia is one of the great editions of this wine.
This is a monumental Barolo. The grandeur and architecture of the wine can border on stupefying at times. It comes from one of Serralunga's top sites, a commune renowned for the density, texture and heft of its wines.
If Francia is impenetrable in its youth, it is built to age decade upon decade. With proper cellaring, this muscular wine becomes beautifully intricate, perfumed and exploding with complexity. For all its brooding intensity, the noble breeding of the wine is always obvious. The clarity on the 2010 vintage only accentuates this quality.
I'm going to wrap this up. I'll end with a note of caution: as you can imagine, quantities are very limited. Please give us your order and we'll do our best.
To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits