2013 Paolo Conterno Ginestra Barolo Piedmont 750 ml

If Barolo is the “king of Italian wines,” then the Conterno family could be credited with kicking off the dynasty in 1886. Founded not long after the creation of Barolo as we know it, they are now at the height of their powers, producing long-lived, terroir-driven wines that become cellar essentials in great vintages like 2013. At 95 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and seven years of age, their sumptuous 2013 Ginestra expression is just beginning to show off the true depths of its extraordinary complexity.

When the 2013 Barolos were released in 2017, we joined critics in a collective standing ovation. Antonio Galloni  called them “thrilling, utterly captivating wines that speak to the pedigree and class that are the signatures of the best Barolo vintages.” Few estates can boast the pedigree and class of Conterno, so when we were able to secure a tiny allocation of their supple and savory 2013, our Master Sommelier and Barolo expert Sur Lucero’s face lit up as like he’d just won the lottery. 

When the wine arrived direct from the estate, we understood why: A true blockbuster, we were immediately floored by the wine’s expansive, laser-pure perfume, a hallmark of Conterno’s Ginestra Barolo. Crushed raspberry and cherry dominated at first, but then accents of pipe tobacco, licorice, rose petal, and toasted walnut took over. 

We smiled to ourselves knowing that as decadent as the wine is now, it will surely evolve deliciously over the next several years. However, if faced with a plate of rigatoni heaped with black truffles, waiting for years will be out of the question.

It’s not uncommon for Barolos this revered to soar past $100 per bottle—Conterno’s neighbor Elio Grasso’s Ginestra Barolo is a prime example—and we’re thrilled to be able to offer Conterno’s version to our members for much less, a knockout deal for such a regal Barolo.

This price is even more remarkable given the lengths the Conterno family goes to produce their flagship wine. They farm some of the steepest slopes of the blue-chip Ginestra vineyard, forcing all vineyard tasks—harvest especially—to be done by hand. With vines this stressed and labor so painstaking, the result is a Barolo with a concentration of fruit we rarely get to experience. 

Paolo Conterno’s 2013 Ginestra Barolo is a singular triumph, a must-have for any wine lover who cherishes great expressions of Nebbiolo. It’s an elegant expression of the grace and purity that top Barolo can achieve, at a price that belies its globally recognized pedigree.