Rare and Fine Wine from Italy and Spain

Live Virtual Auction, 14 May 2023

Rare and Fine Wine from Italy and Spain
About the Session

An exquisite selection of highly sought-after collectables of Fine and Rare Italian and Spanish wines.


Sold for

ZAR 19 933
Lot 51
  • Giacomo Conterno; Barolo Cascina Francia; 1990; 1 (1 x 1); 1500ml


Lot Estimate
ZAR 18 000 - 28 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 19 933

About this Item

1990 Barolo Cascina Francia
1 (1 x 1) 1500ml

Giacomo Conterno is a widely acclaimed Barolo producer based just outside Monforte d'Alba in the south of the Barolo DOCG zone in Piedmont, northwestern Italy. It is best known for its Cascina Francia and the Monfortino Riserva Barolo labels, both of which are long-lived and earthy. In 1908, Giovanni Conterno opened a small tavern in the village of San Giuseppe, making Barolo to supply the business. The first Riserva was bottled around the time of World War I, and was one of the first examples of producer-bottled Barolo at a time when most were sold in bulk for early consumption.

With the vineyard designation “Cascina Francia – Serralunga d’Alba” clearly on the label, the 1990 Barolo Cascina Francia is a true specimen of Nebbiolo excellence. Giovanni Conterno purchased the celebrated vineyard in 1974 and the first vintage released was 1978 (although the vineyard name was only identified starting with the 1980 release). Current proprietor Robert Conterno would start working by his father’s side in 1988, so this bottle bears the personal touches of both generations.

Provenance

The Coats Family Cellar is arguably the most prestigious fine wine collection ever offered in South Africa. It contains a deep collection of the worlds finest, most sought-after wines, spanning over 150 years. Collected over many decades, the cellar was imported from Ireland to South Africa via reefer. Each bottle within the Coats Family Cellar was authenticated by Michael Egan in August 2022 and given an ID number for tracking.

Michael Egan is a world-expert in fine and rare wines with more than thirty five years of experience. He was the principal expert for the plaintiff in the two major wine counterfeiting trials in Koch v. Eric Greenberg and United States v. Rudy Kurniawan, both of which occurred in 2013.

Along with Michael Egan, the Strauss & Co Fine Wine team have tasted extensively through the cellar and are confident of the wine storage and hence quality. The entire collection is currently stored at Wine Cellar.

Critics Ratings

‘The wine is amazingly impactful and elegant with a profound sense of varietal pureness. The bouquet opens to licorice, cola, dried cherries, prune, truffle, menthol after-tones and hickory smoke. The lingering effects are buoyant and bright. Silky tannins wrap gently on the finish and the wine feels polished and smooth with superb textural finesse. There’s a profound life force within that will pay it forward for another decade of cellar aging, or more. Make time to decant 12 to 18 hours before drinking this wine. Drink: 2014-2030.’ – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, 98/100 (Jun 2014)

View all Giacomo Conterno lots for sale in this auction