I visited Franco three years ago - Barolista: A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - Visit To Massolino - and loved every minute, so it was time for a revisit.
Franco is the perfect host - attentive, generous and fun. And the wines! You know that you can pick any bottle with the Massolino label - it will be great, whatever style you are looking for. A privilege to meet Franco and taste these stunning wines.
I will be back!
2023 Langhe Riesling
A fresh, pure nose with nots of steel, chrushed rocks, maturing pears and some summer flowers.
The taste is crisp and spicy with lots of chrushed rocks, grey pears and a fine acidity. Very, very good.
88p (tasted 2025/09)
2023 Langhe Chardonnay
An open, direct nose with notes of lemon cream, dry fudge, sun warm rocks and birch leaves. Complex and fine.
The taste is has a nice body to it with a supporting acidity and lots of ripe lemon fruit. Long and fine.
91p (tasted 2025/09)
2024 Dolcetto d´Alba
An upfront, healthy nose with notes of blueberry bushes, damson and a fine iron scent.
The taste is light, pure and balanced with notes of blueberries, gravel and ink.
87p (tasted 2025/09)
2024 Barbera d´Alba
A solid, spicy nose with notes of ripening raspberries, earth and dry licorice.
The taste is light and nicely polished with notes of ripening raspberries and licorice.
86p (tasted 2025/09)
2023 Langhe Nebbiolo
A high, handsome nose with notes of ripe cherries, rosehips, shoe polish and forest floor. Very fine.
The taste is tight and refined with gorgeous red cherry fruit, silky tannins and a long, war, finish. The best Langhe Nebbiolo ever from Massolino IMHO.
93p (tasted 2025/09)
2022 Barbera d´Alba Gisep
Named after Franco´s grandfather, Gisep is the Piedmontese version of Giuseppe. The grapes comes from three different vineyards in Serralunga which are 50+ years old. First vintage was the 1998.
The nose is a stunner, with deep, perfumed notes of raspberries, fried herbs, licorice and scorched earth.
The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of leather, chocolate covered cherries and sun warm asphalt. The finish goes on and on and on.
94p (tasted 2025/09)
2022 Barbaresco
Massolino have been making Barbarescoo since the 2019 vintage. The -22 offers up a fresh, earthy nose with notes of wild strawberries, rosehips and ripening flowers.
The taste is cool and elegant in a low keyed way, with notes of strawberries, fir wood and forest floor. 4+ years.
89p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Barbaresco Albesani
A somewhat restrained, focused nose with notes of ripe red currants, incense and Langhe earth. Very fine.
The taste is finely tuned with fruit, acidity and tannins in a lovely balance. This just needs time, 7+ years.
93p (tasted 2025/09)
2022 Barbaresco Albesani
The one year younger Albesani shows of a more open nose with notes of wild strawberries, licorice and ripe flowers. A very fine sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is forward and elegant with notes of dried strawberries, spices and licorice. Long and fine. 4+ years.
92p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Barolo
A very fine, elegant nose with notes of dried up strawberry jam, licorice and old furniture.
The taste is young and firm with notes of hard cherry candy, earth and licorice. A fine, silky finish. 5+ years.
92p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Barolo Margheria
The -21 Margheria displays a juicy, layered nose with notes of paint, sun warm tiles, strawberries and rosehips. Very fine.
The taste is polished and finely structured with notes of licorice, red cherries and incense. A long, sappy finish. 8+ years.
94p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Barolo Parafada
A open, concentrated nose with notes of damsons, charcoal, black cherries and licorice. Dark and dense and absolutely gorgeous.
The taste is broad and rich with salivating tannins, sweet black fruit and a minute long, distinct finish. Needs time, 10+ years. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2025/09)
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| Franco is justifiably happy with his Barolo line up |
2021 Barolo Parussi
A tight, dark nose with notes of ripe strawberries, hints of chocolate, dried flowers and moist earth. Very, very deep.
The taste is racy and bold with a firm backbone, stunning black fruit and a structure for long aging. Gorgeous fruit. 10+ years.
95p (tasted 2025/09)
2019 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda
A Massolino Vigna Rionda from one of my favourite vintages - could it be other than awesome? The nose is bottomless deep with beautiful notes of ripe cherries, sweet Langhe earth, assorted spices and ripe roses. Just stunning.
The taste is a posterchild for the proverbial saying - an iron fist in a velvet glove. All knots and bolts except for maturity is in place. A candidate for perfection in 15+ years.
98p (tasted 2025/09)
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