2017  

"The 2017 Barolo Francia is dense, rich and explosive right out of the gate. There is virtually no feeling of tannin, as the creaminess of the fruit is so expansive. Bright red cherry fruit, blood orange, kirsch, sage and menthol gradually appear as the 2017 starts to open in the glass. In 2017, Francia is decidedly exotic, not to mention such a thrill to taste." - 97pts Antonio Galloni ---- "I tasted the Giacomo Conterno 2017 Barolo Francia shortly before bottling. Like Roberto Conterno's other wines from this controversial vintage, this wine shines with brilliant and unexpected purity and intensity that is harder to find in its peers. It shows a deep understanding of the potential of a warm growing season, and the Nebbiolo is supple, velvety and uncharacteristically exuberant (for a grape whose elegance starts famously with understatement). Francia in Serralunga d'Alba evokes power and profound depth, with black and purple fruit highlights, rusty nail, crème de cassis, grilled rosemary and reddish rock or baked terracotta. The wine carries its considerable fruit weight with grace, and at the end of the day, it offers a complete portrait of vintage, variety and vintner." - 97pts Wine Advocate

2018  

"The 2018 Barolo Francia is powerful, deep and also a touch austere. It shows the edginess of all the 2018s, but also has a feeling of textural creaminess that adds tons of character. Spice, menthol, leather and a whole range of balsamic overtones build into the deep, imposing finish. Roberto Conterno decided to forego his Barolo Monfortino in 2018, opting instead to blend all the casks into his Francia bottling. When that happens, Francia often surprises down the road. That could very well turn out to be the case here." - 95+pts Antonio Galloni

2020  

"Bright red pale in color, the 2020 Barolo Francia is gorgeous with a bit more structure and depth, though it remains elegant all the way through. Its ripe, pure notes of fresh cherries, roses, incense, and spice are followed by a medium-bodied red with structured, ripe tannins, energetic lift, and gorgeous notes of apricot and tea leaf on the incredibly long finish. While it certainly boasts more depth compared to the 2018, its elegant profile harkens to the gracefulness expressed in many of the best wines in that vintage. It's outstanding all the way through and is going to offer a tremendous amount of pleasure over the next 20 or more years." - 98pts, Jeb Dunnuck ---- "The 2020 Barolo Francia is a soaring, classically austere wine built for the cellar. Medium in body and driving, with tons of mineral intensity, the 2020 is an evocative wine that makes me think about the future. This is what young Barolo should be - vibrant and stern, but with the purity of fruit that is typical here. The 2020 is so wonderfully alive." - 98pts, Antonio Galloni

2015  

"The 2015 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is magical. This is the first vintage that includes fruit from Arione, so the 2015 is 80% Francia and 20% Arione. That marks a return to Monfortino as a multi-vineyard wine, which it mostly was until 1978, when the first Monfortino from Francia was made. The combination of sites works so well. I remember tasting the 2015 as separate components and seeing what exactly the Arione piece adds, and that is aromatic explosiveness, texture and breadth. Rose petal, mint, sage, tobacco and cedar lend complexity. More than anything else, though, I am blown away by how utterly delicious the 2015 is. Of course, the 2015 will be better in time, but its pedigree is plainly evident today. Roberto Conterno gave the 2015 just five years in cask, the shortest time in wood for any Monfortino in recent memory, maybe ever. Like most producers around the world, Conterno is thinking deeply about what the optimal period of time in oak is. As for the 2015, it is a flat-out stunner in every way." - 99pts Antonio Galloni

1990  Barolo

2017  Barolo

1978  

2018  

95pts Vinous

2001  Barolo Falletto

Barolo Falletto 99 DC 97 WA 97 VN

2008  

2019  

"The Michele Chiarlo 2019 Barbaresco Asili has a fragrant bouquet with bright and punchy aromas of wild cherry, raspberry, blue flower and crushed stone. This vintage shows a level of energy and vitality that helps it stand out in a crowd, and the wine is elegant and silky in texture. This is an especially attractive expression from the celebrated Asili vineyard of Barbaresco." - 94+pts Wine Advocate

2019  

"The 2019 Barbaresco Faset is all grace. Sweet dark cherry, spice, leather, tobacco, mocha, dried herbs and licorice all meld together. This soft, open-knit Barbaresco offers tons of immediacy. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years. Sweet floral and spice notes linger on the inviting finish." - 93pts Vinous