Barolo, Monprivato, 2018
Rosehip, pressed raspberry, cherry stones and tart red berries, Monprivato 2018 is juicy and fresh in style with a touch of balsamic and stones. Measured and fresh and all in proportion – there is a lightness to this but history shows that it needs time to reveal its true potential. Patience will be rewarded. If you ask most Piedmontese growers which vineyard they would buy, money no object, the response is invariably Monprivato. A south west facing vineyard situated at 280 metres above sea level just below the town of Castiglione Falletto, the blue grey, marly silty and clayey soil has a high active limestone content. This together with gentle, traditional winemaking result in ethereal, nuanced wines of great ageing potential. Their complexity can sometimes be missed in their austere youth, but invariably blossom with age. The wines are aged in large Slavonian oak casks of 50-90 hl for three years.
critic reviews
The 2018 Barolo Monprivato is gorgeous. Aromatic and gracious, the 2018 is silky, expressive and very nicely balanced. The 2018 is a bit light and ethereal, as Monprivato is these days, but the tannins are impeccably balanced and all the elements are beautifully put together. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and orange peel lend nuance throughout. This is a fine effort in a highly irregular year.
The Giuseppe Mascarello 2018 Barolo Monprivato reveals an open and accessible personality. This wine is an immediate charmer. I tasted these wines with the Mascarello family seated across the table from me, and during our chat, they explained that this was a gratifying vintage in terms of farming and winemaking. The growing season was not too hot, and high alcohol levels were not an issue, they say. In the case of this wine, we are greeted to mild tannins and a pretty bouquet with delicate floral notes, smoke and tar.