Giacomo Conterno

In 1974, Giovanni Conterno acquired the Cascina Francia vineyard in Serralunga. With its fabulous exposure, the site was perfect for the powerful Conterno style, and Giovanni immediately stopped buying grapes, relying on approximately 9 hectares of Nebbiolo to produce on average 600 cases of Monfortino and 1500 cases of Cascina Francia. Cascina Francia also held 5 hectares of Barbera, giving Giovanni the material to produce one of the Langhe’s finest Barberas. Giovanni’s son, Roberto, took over from his father after his death in 2004. He is meticulous and a perfectionist who honours the traditional methods of his father and grandfather. Today, the estate owns vineyards in three of the top Crus in the commune of Serralunga, having added Cerretta in 2008 and Arione in 2015.

My favourite tasting experiences from this property include the outstanding 1989 Cascina Francia (a year that Monfortino was not made), and a variety of Monfortino from a magnum tasting of 1970-2008 we hosted at 67 Pall Mall. My top pics that night were the 1970, 1999 and 2004.