Barolo ‘Monprivato‘ - Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo | Monopole wijngaard | The Mauro Mascarello family MONPRIVATO vineyard is located in the village of Castiglione Falletto, and is a classic prime medium-hillside site stretching over six hectares (15 acres) at 280 metres above sea level, in the heart of the Barolo wine-growing area. It is historic vineyard, as is confirmed by old land registry archives dating back to 1666 | Silty, calcareous, packed with active limestone, composed of blue-grey marl of marine formation from the Helvetian era of the Miocene epoch, Tertiary period | 20-25 dagen traditionel vergisting | rijping voor +- 38 maanden op botti. | complete wijn, dit heeft het allemaal!

The 2014 Barolo Monprivato is one of the finest Barolos I have tasted from the Mascarello family in a number of years. That is all the more remarkable considering a challenging growing season in which conditions were so tough that Mauro Mascarello did not want to show me his vineyard that summer. In the glass, though, the 2014 is gorgeous. Perfumed, bright and gracious, the 2014 captures all the best that was possible. Sage, mint, lavender and dark red/purplish berries add nuance to this super-expressive, transparent Barolo. Although the 2014 is not an epic Monprivato, it is a very beautiful wine. More importantly, let's hope it represents a return to the level of quality that was the norm at this reference-point estate up until 2009. 93/100 Vinous - Galloni

The six hectare Monprivato vineyard is beautifully situated facing southwest, in the town of Castiglione Falletto. The Mascarellos now own all of Monprivato (having purchased small plots from a couple of neighbors in the period between 1985 and 1990), making this great site now a monopole along the lines of La Tâche. Not only is the Mascarello Monprivato renowned for its great terroir, but much of it is also planted to one of the finest strains of Nebbiolo, the Michét variety, which was first introduced into the vineyard by Maurizio Mascarello in 1921. Subsequent substantial replanting with Michét were also undertaken by the family in 1963. The soils of Monprivato, coupled with the haunting refinement found in Nebbiolo Michét, produce one of the most compellingly complex and elegant interpretations of Barolo to be found. With bottle age Monprivato produces a beautiful, red fruity, truffley and soil-driven Barolo, redolent also of autumnal notes and roses. For four generations the winemaking style of the Mascarellos has followed a traditional approach that allows for the brilliant underlying terroir of all of their wines, and Monprivato in particular, to take center stage.