Barolo Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2013 tasting notes and review
Barolo Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2013: the quintessence of Barolo. Many words are wasted on a mythical wine like Monprivato, but the truth is simple. It is one of the most incredible wines in the world because it is the product of tradition, rigor, hard work, and drastic choices.
It is produced only in the best vintages. The grapes all come from one of the best crus in the Langhe, Monprivato, which is in the town of Castiglione Falletto. The grapes were carefully chosen. The soil is composed of silty-clayey marl, with an abundance of limestone. The exposure is excellent (southwest), and the height above sea level is 280 meters. It macerates for 30 days in steel and then rests in large barrels for 30 months.
So many words, but it is a masterpiece if we want to reduce this Barolo Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2013 to the bone. It’s expressive, but it also manages to capture the smells and tastes of the land where it comes from. Add to all of this an extraordinary complexity that stays rooted in the Langhe second after second, and you will have the score of a unique symphony in your hands.
As soon as you taste it, you feel the earth. It urges you and opens glimpses of landscapes, a perennial escape between woods and hills.
But do not think it is a “difficult wine.” On the contrary, it can be read very quickly. It is direct and harmonious. The tannins are silky yet vigorous. The persistence is frightening and lasts 10 minutes on the palate. The ethereal tones are hypnotic, lacquered, and like small strawberries in alcohol. But the beauty is that everything moves with a unique naturalness, smoothly: the aromatic volume is a rainbow, it touches hidden strings of pleasure; there is a continuous play of light and shadow, but the symphony is played brilliantly.
There are good two-dimensional Barolos, excellent three-dimensional Barolos in their expressive strength, and Monprivato, who discovered the fourth dimension. You wish you could stay there forever, but unfortunately, it ends… But don’t worry—if you are lucky enough to taste it, you will remember it forever, like those who have seen Michael Jordan play in the playoffs of the six Bulls titles—moments that have marked history. And Mauro Mascarello does the same with the vintages of Monrpivato.
The bouquet of Barolo Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2013
The aromatic framework is clear, austere, but expansive. An intense nose with aromas of small fruits in alcohol, withered flowers, chinotto, roots and earth, and truffle. The rhythm is tight, impeccable in its declination, and of rare elegance.
What does Barolo Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2013 taste like?
On the palate, the phrasing is nuanced. It is articulated around evolved tannins chiseled with art. The flavor is bitter and reminiscent of citrus fruits. There are no jams or spices; the cleanliness is impressive. The saltiness gives depth and progression. Wide structure with precise contours and significant extraction power, but never overbearing. It is “already enjoyable” now, but its aging potential is infinite.
How does Barolo Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2013 cost?
170 euros is not cheap, but it is worth it for this masterpiece.
Barolo Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2013 food pairings
It’s not a shy wine, as long as the dish is rich and succulent: black truffle risotto, passatelli with Parmigiano fondue and truffle, bucatini all’amatriciana, roast beef, hamburger.