2016 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo Magnum

Bartolo Mascarello is a legendary winery in Barolo, Piedmont, known for its dedication to traditional winemaking methods. Founded in the 1920s by Bartolo's father, Giulio Mascarello, it has become a symbol of elegance, authenticity and craftsmanship in the world of Barolo wines. Bartolo Mascarello stands for craftsmanship and purity. They avoid modernist techniques such as new French oak barriques or micro-oxygenation. Instead, they use large Slavonian oak barrels (botti grandi) for longer aging, which creates delicate tannins and layered complexity. The winery produces a limited amount of wine of around 25,000 bottles annually, making its wines rare and sought-after.

The grapes come from prestigious cru vineyards such as Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rue and Rocche dell'Annunziata. The grapes are all vinified as a blend, which emphasizes balance and harmony rather than individual cru expressions.

The Barolo 2016 from Bartolo Mascarello is considered one of the most exceptional vintages in the recent history of Barolo. The 2016 vintage offered perfect growing conditions: a cool spring followed by a warm, dry summer and an ideal harvest period. This resulted in wines with impressive balance, structure and ageing potential. The 2016 vintage was awarded the maximum 100 out of 100 points by Parker.

Colour: Bright garnet red, typical of Nebbiolo grapes.
Nose: A complex bouquet of rose petals, violets, cherries, blueberries, dried herbs and a hint of tar. Subtle earthy and mineral notes add depth.
Taste: The wine is elegant and powerful, with fine, structured tannins. Red berries and cherries dominate, together with hints of tobacco, truffle and spices. The wine has a lively acidity, which provides freshness and an exceptionally long finish.

The Barolo 2016 can be enjoyed now after decanting, but has excellent ageing potential. The wine will develop further and gain more depth over the next 20-30 years.

Perfect Wine and Food Pairings:
- Truffle dishes, such as risotto with white truffle.
- Game dishes such as deer or pheasant.
- Braised meat (ossobuco or brasato al Barolo).
- Matured cheeses such as Castelmagno or Parmigiano-Reggiano.

This is an extremely scarce 1.5 liter magnum.