Massolino
My first visit to Massolino but definitely not my last. I had the greatest time with the most charming and knowledgeable host, Franco Massolino. The wines from this estate has a kind of old time British understated refinement about them.
2020 Langhe Riesling
A fine, low keyed nose with notes of lime, dry mango and chrushed rocks.
The taste is light on its feet with fine lemon dominated fruit and a cleansing acidity.
87p (tasted 2022/09)
2020 Langhe Chardonnay
A finely balanced nose with notes of ripe lemons, wet cement and yellow flowers. Handsome.
The taste is cool and fresh with notes of yellow plums, ripe lemons, dry fudge and minerals. Very, very good.
90p (tasted 2022/09)
2021 Dolcetto d´Alba
This is jumping out of the glass with lovely notes of fresh blueberries, iron, earth and violets. Lovely.
The taste is pure and elegant with notes of blueberries, damsons, bakelite and violets. Perky tannins. Really fine.
91p (tasted 2022/09)
2021 Barbera d´Alba
A delicate nose with notes of ripening raspberries, dry licorice, leather and earth. Very, very good.
The taste is medium bodied and fine with notes of raspberry licorice, hot earth and herbs. A very good acidity.
89p (tasted 2022/09)
2020 Barbera d´Alba Gisep
A very deep, complex, rich nose with notes of ripe raspberries, fried herbs, Finnish licorice and furniture polish. Lovely.
The taste is tight and concentrated with stunning notes of wild raspberries, licorice, tobacco and a hint of dark chocolate. A great acidity. A serious Barbera. 4+ years.
93p (tasted 2022/09)
2020 Langhe Nebbiolo
An open, fresh nose with notes of red cherries, roses and salmiac. Classic LB from a seemingly great year.
The taste is young, pure and sandy with notes of cherries, roses and dry tobacco. Very, very good. 4+ years.
90p (tasted 2022/09)
2019 Barbaresco
A very handsome, elegant nose with notes of strawberries, gravel, dry leather and herbs. Very fine.
The taste is young and tight and a fine focus, lovely strawberry/cherry fruit and a long, finely tuned finish. 6+ years.
91p (tasted 2022/09)
2019 Barbaresco Albesani
A stunner. There are the same characteristics as the Barbaresco above but here they are turned up to eleven. A fantastic nose.
The taste is brilliant with fruit, tannins, acidity in perfect balance. This will go places. Just wait 8+ years. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2022/09)
2018 Barolo
No Cru´s in 2018 so all wine have gone in this Barolo Normale. It shows of a fine, somewhat restrained nose with notes of cherries, tobacco, flowers and some coffee notes. Very, very good.
The taste is cool and finely structured for aging with notes of cherries, tobacco, herbs and earth. Sandy tannins. 5+ years. Tasted later at home - http://barolista.blogspot.com/2022/10/2013-2018-barolo-massolino.html
91p (tasted 2022/09)
2017 Barolo Margheria
A deep, refined nose with notes of hard cherry candy, roses en masse, forest floor and paint. A lovely balance. Very fine.
The taste is pure, focused and forward with gorgeous fruit, silky tannins and a lenght counted in minutes. Great wine. 7+ years.
95p (tasted 2022/09)
2017 Barolo Parafada
A rich, tight and concentrated nose with notes of smoke, ripe cherries, sandelwood and earth. Very fine.
The taste is rich and inky with notes of black cherries, dark flowers, smoke and asphalt. Very long. 8+ years.
94p (tasted 2022/09)
2017 Barolo Parussi
This Castiglione Falletto wine oozes up from the glass with lovely notes of ripe cherries, rosehips, dried flowers and forest floor. Very refined.
The taste is pure and concentrated with gorgeous fruit, silky tannins and a fresh acidity. A very fine structure. 6+ years.
95p (tasted 2022/09)
2016 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda
How describe perfection? The 16 Vigna Rionda floored me with its intensity, balance and focus. Every knot and bolt are in its place. Wine doesn´t get better than this. And to answer my own question - its hard, and maybe impossible, to describe perfection. I seem to be lost for words in the presence if perfection (see two more examples below). I will settle with the fact that this in one of the best wines tasted in many years.
100p (tasted 2022/09)
Two more perfect wines that I had a hard time describing when I tasted them: