$274.99
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Region: Barolo, Italy
Grape: Nebbiolo
First glance: Powerful, dense and age-worthy Barolo
Acclaim: 97 points
The Massolino was founded in 1896, and it is one of the premier estates in the Serralunga sub-region of Barolo.
Apart from making highly acclaimed wines, Massolino is significant for being the first producer to bottle a single-vineyard Barolo back in 1982 - something which is now very much in vogue, with the more recent official introduction of the MGA vineyard classification. The new rules offers producers the option of labelling their wines with specific vineyards or communes, as opposed to relying solely on house style and age designations to stand out from the crowd.
The Parafara vineyard sites 300 to 340 metres above sea level and faces due south, catching the full face of the sun. The aspect, the 60+ year old vines and the dense clay/marly/lime-infused soils typically result in the densest, most powerful wine of Massolino’s three Serralunga Crus.
The review:
97 points, Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter
Massolino's vineyards are at 330 metres above sea level and produce one of the most representative wines of the MGA. Intense smoky woodland notes emerge first, then wild strawberry and darker violet-soaked fruits. There's serious elegance on the palate, with near-perfect tannins (not only in the context of the vintage), a youthful character, and a dense mid-palate of lifted acidity and filigreed depth. A great wine but not so easy to drink now because of its youthful restraint.
