Massolino Barolo, DOCG, 2017, Serralunga d'Alba, Piemonte, Italy

Our View:

Another wonderful Barolo produced by the very well respected Massolino family. The wine is full bodied, elegant and well structured and displays complex spicy, sweet, floral and fruit aromas.

A beautiful, elegant and fragrant Barolo, approachable now and will improve in the years to come.

The Wine:

This 23 hectare estate has been in the Massolino family since 1896. Winemaker Franco Massolino has done a wonderful job of marrying change with a respect for tradition, something that sets him apart from most of the younger producers in Barolo today. This is in part dictated by the nature of the vineyards that the Massolino family owns in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba - the source of some of the greatest, most structured, robust and long-lived Barolo wines.

Fruit for the Barolo was sourced from grapes grown in several vineyard sites in Serralunga d'Alba and Castiglione Falletto, situated at an altitude of 320-360 metres above sea level. The soil is composed predominantly of limestone and the vines range in age from 10-55 years old.

The wine was matured in large oak casks for 30 months followed by a year in bottle before release.

Tasting Note:

This wine has a bright ruby-garnet colour. The grapes come from different sub-areas of Serralunga, therefore on the nose there is a spectrum of perfumes, ranging from spicy to sweet, floral and fruit. The palate is a classic example of the region; full-bodied, elegant and well structured, with great ageing ability.

The Facts:

What the critics say:

Wine Enthusiast 95 points: 

"Camphor, wild berry, new leather and blue flower aromas emerge on the nose of this savory wine. Full-bodied and delicious, the structured palate delivers succulent Marasca cherry, baking spice and a hint of menthol alongside firm, refined tannins. This is an incredible performance for what is the firm’s entry level Barolo. Drink 2023–2029".

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 92 points: 

"Massolino's classic 2017 Barolo sees most of its fruit come from Serralunga d'Alba, although a small percentage of the blend comes from Castiglione Falletto. Compared to its peers from this hot and dry growing season, this wine is delicate and almost fragile. It softly reveals cassis, red berries and exotic plum. A second wave of aromas introduces spice, red earth and rusty notes. These results achieve very good balance overall".