Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 2016

This is one of Barolo's most iconic estates, and remains a lifelong highlight of wine tasting trips during a visit to VinItaly in Piedmont. 'Proprietor Mauro Mascarello makes some of the most compelling, traditional wines in Piedmont. Mascarello’s signature Barolo, Monprivato, rarely shows well when young, yet it has a proven ability to transform magically in the bottle, something I have witnessed first-hand with more vintages than I can remember. The irony is that by the time the wines start showing well they are long gone from the market or have appreciated dramatically in price.' Wine Advocate (the lesson here is...buy this wine now, cellar it and have a profound experience down the road...)

The Mascarello estate is located in the village of Castiglione Falletto, and has been owned by the Mascarello family since 1904. The Monprivato vineyard is a prime hillside site stretching over 15 acres at 280 metres above sea level, in the heart of the Barolo wine-growing area and dates back to 1666. It produces a Barolo wine with excellent body, a subtle bouquet, delicate tar, a lingering aftertaste and an unmistakable elegance with the ability to age well while maintaining extraordinary youth and freshness. The Monprivato cru is only bottled - with a numbered label - in outstanding and excellent vintages. Any vintages which are not considered to be up to this extremely high quality standard become part of the normal Barolo, while others are sold as Nebbiolo Langhe. We tasted Monprivato for the first time at VinItaly and it was the finest Barolo of the trip. This 2016 is garnet red with orange-colored highlights. Complex, very fruity, elegant, intense, spicy, with flowery touches. Excellent body with power and stuffing, demanding, masculine, long, full. Pair with red meats in general, game, and mature cheeses.