2013 Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo Monprivato

Elegant and fragrant, this radiant wine opens with classic Nebbiolo aromas of forest floor, crushed herb, dried rose, wild berry and a whiff of new leather. The focused, ethereal palate sneaks up on you, offering red cherry, spiced cranberry, wild strawberry and licorice alongside firm, ultra-refined tannins. Bright acidity lends balance, energy and tension. It’s still youthfully austere so give it time to develop even more complexity. Drink 2023–2033. 97 points

These wines from Mauro Mascarello and his family all need more time to open, but rest assured they are heading down the right path. Like the others, the 2013 Barolo Monprivato is taking its sweet time. The wine opens to a brilliant ruby hue. This beautiful color intensity and even tonality is very characteristic of this cooler vintage. The wine is still on the nervous side, with tight tannins and cooling acidity. But it is also very elegant and fine in terms of its aromatic output. It will gain more volume and intensity with time. My score seeks to underline where this wine will be in a decade or more. 95 points