Bartolo Mascarello Barolo:
[mahs-kah-(l)rehl-lo]
Bartolo Mascarello is both an icon of Piemonte winemaking tradition
and a master of classic Barolo. His is the archetypal Barolo that
pays homage to the wine’s ancient and glorious past. The staunchly
traditional estate upholds the philosophy that reveres Barolo as
a wine of patience, and vows not to compromise its integrity with
short cuts. The use of long maceration (capello sommerso)
and aging in large old barrels (botti) of local oak and chestnut
are perfected, not disregarded.
Little has changed at the Mascarello estate since 1918, when
Giulio Mascarello distinguished himself by refusing to sell his
fruit to a négociant and moving away from the use
of demijohns (the standard for the time). Three generations of
the Mascarello family (Giulio, Bartolo, and Maria Teresa) have
adhered to the tradition of crafting a single-estate Barolo sourced
from the best fruit of several different vineyards, a protocol
that ensures wines of balance and harmony. Nebbiolo is sourced
from five hectares planted in the historic and prestigious Barolo
vineyards of Cannubi, Rue, San Lorenzo, and Rocche, all of which
are situated in the La Morra commune. Wines deriving from this
zone tend to be the most feminine and perfumed of Piemonte's Barolos.
Of the 1,200 cases that are produced, only a mere handful make
it to the States.
Highlights include the landmark 1964 vintage
Barolo of which Eric Asimov, chief wine critic
for The New
York Times, describes "...an
unforgettable wine full of signature aromas
of tar, truffles, tobacco, and yet as fresh
as a wine 30 years younger."
Other landmark vintages include the historic
1990 and 1997, and Tre Bicchieri winners from
1989, 1998, and 1999. Mascarello Barolo has
the ability to age up to 30 years after
its vintage dates. These are wines that demand
time to reach their full potential.
A trademark Mascarello Barolo carries the traditional
garnet red hue with highlights of orange bracing
the rim. A delicate and enticing bouquet of
rose petals and licorice embrace the nose.
On the palate, acidity and tannins are firmly
braced by noble structure
and exquisitely balanced with flavors of dried
cherries, tobacco, leather, tar, and
truffle.
|
Buy Mascarello Barolo
Wine: Barolo
Producer: Bartolo
Mascarello
Varietal(s): Nebbiolo
Region: Piemonte
Province: Cuneo
Commune: La Morra, Barolo
Vineyard(s): Cannubi, Rue, San Lorenzo, and Rocche
Classification: Barolo DOCG
Bottle Production: 1,200 cases in optimal years
More Landmark Wines:
G. Conterno Monfortino
Giacosa Rocche del Falletto
A. Conterno Granbussia
|
