Tasting Notes
Antonio Galloni 98
The 2008 Barolo (magnum) is a stunner, as it has always been. Intensely aromatic, silky and layered, the 2008 is so elegant. I especially admire its vibrancy and overall freshness, both signatures of the year. Plum, dried flowers, crushed rocks and lavender build in an undeniably sexy Barolo that hits all the right notes.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2048
Stephen Tanzer 93+
(from fruit picked beginning on October 18, about a month later than the 2007 harvest): Good medium red. Aromas of sour cherry, licorice, menthol and savory soil. Silky, juicy and intense but quite imploded and understated today. In fact, this is brutally closed, with substantial tongue-coating tannins that will only be resolved with long cellaring. The very long, slowly building finish shows lovely aromatic dark berry character and excellent lift. I’d forget this one for a decade.
Wine Advocate 96
Mascarello’s 2008 Barolo is a wine of extraordinary elegance. A sweet, open bouquet leads to dark red fruit, mint, spices and licorice in this pretty, nuanced Barolo. The 2008 is all about detail and understated finesse. It boasts breathtaking purity in its fruit and fabulous overall balance. A textured, finely-knit finish leaves a lasting impression. The 2008 is very classic in style. It will require considerable patience, despite its deceptively medium-bodied structure. This is another dazzling wine from Maria-Theresa Mascarello. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. It’s hard to go wrong with anything Maria-Theresa Mascarello is making these days. While much of the winery’s past fame was built on the sheer charm of Mascarello’s father, Bartolo, an icon in Piemonte, the wines weren’t always of the same stature. They certainly are today. At the time of my visit, Mascarello had not yet bottled her 2010 Langhe Nebiolo (note the traditional spelling with one ‘b’) as the malos progressed at snail’s pace and the wine was not ready. Readers who want to learn more might want to check out my video interview with Mascarello on www.erobertparker.com. Importer: Robert Chadderdon Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 332-4999
Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038
JancisRobinson.com 16.0
Clear, dark blackish ruby. Herbal leaf-mould aromas. A tiny bit stodgy. No aromatic lift. Correct but not exciting.
Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026
