Massolino Barolo 2020
The Wine
First produced in 1911, the fruit for Massolino’s classic cuvée is selected from seven sites across roughly seven hectares of prime-sited Serralunga vineyards. The most important of these sites—Briccolina, Collareto, Broglio and Le Turne—are dotted around the town itself (Le Turne borders Margheria, while Collareto lies next to Vigna Rionda)—so we are talking quality real estate. The 2019 also includes a little declassified fruit from Massolino’s Parussi Cru. Vine age varies from 10 to 55 years.
This is the third year that Massolino’s Barolo wines fermented in large wooden casks (the wines used to ferment in concrete). While the Cru wines below now ferment exclusively in oak—which Giovanni Angeli credits with imparting even more finesse—half of this Barolo still fermented in concrete. This cuvée spent around 20 days on skins, and the final blend matured for 30 months in Slavonian oak. It is an exceptional release for a wine that is, as always, wonderful value and an archetypical Serralunga Barolo.
94 points, James Suckling, jamesuckling.com 'Bright and lively red fruit character with dried flowers, stones and hints of tree resin. Medium-bodied, clean and focused on the palate, with fine tannins and a linear finish. Shows freshness and poise. Polished. Try from 2027, but already a joy to taste.'
17+ points, Walter Speller, JancisRobinson.com 'Lustrous mid ruby. Richness of fruit on the nose with a hint of gingerbread. With aeration opens up to savoury cherry, if still a little subdued. Supple, suave cherry fruit with superfine, long, chewy tannins. A pretty wine.'
The Details
Variety - Nebbiolo
Country - Italy
Region - Piemonte
Sub Region - Barolo
Extra - Cork
Year - 2020
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Founded in 1896 by the enterprising Giovanni Massolino—he was the first to bring electricity to the town—the estate is based in and around the town of Serralunga d’Alba, one of the prime sub-zones of Barolo. Today, the keys of this historical estate belong to Franco and Roberto Massolino who work with gifted, ex-Vajra winemaker Giovanni Angeli. Behind Massolino’s rise to the apex of Barolo lies their remarkable collections of Serralunga vineyards, including choice parcels of such famous sites as; Margheria, Parafada and the legendary Vigna Rionda where the Massolino family is the largest holders with 3.5 hectares of vines (two are planted to Nebbiolo) between 40 and 50 years old. Outside of this commune, Massolino also tends vines in the great Parussi Cru of Castiglione Falletto.
The high-altitude chalky hillsides of Serrralunga d’Alba, on the eastern edge of the Barolo DOCG, produce some of the most profound and long-lived Barolo wines. It is the home of great names such as Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa’s Falletto vineyard. The wines often have an extra stuffing of intense Nebbiolo fruit as well as a remarkable minerality that plays on both the freshness of the tannins and gives the wines a certain ferrous edge when young.
There are many great things to write about Massolino, a family winery based in Serralunga d'Alba. As I reflect on these wines, I am struck by the harmony and perfection of the overall portfolio: the clear identity of each product and its placement within the Massolino quality pyramid and the crescendo of wines that culminates with a truly memorable single-vineyard Baroli and the top-shelf Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda. The portfolio has a few unexpected surprises too, such as a very elegant Moscato d'Asti and a cheerful Riesling.” Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
