I often talk about how the wine world has changed, but sometimes you find a collection that stops you in your tracks.
We just secured a cellar that frankly shouldn’t exist.
You have to understand, back in the 1960s and 70s, Barolo wasn’t the luxury asset class it is today. There were no consultants, no rot fermenters, no new oak barriques. It was just families. It was cold cellars, large Slavonian casks, and patience.
When you visit the small cantina of Bartolo Mascarello or Rinaldi today, you feel the weight of that history. But to actually taste it? To taste the work of Bartolo himself, or Beppe Rinaldi, or Bruno Giacosa from the golden era? That is a privilege that is becoming almost impossible to find.
These wines are not just “old bottles.” They are survivors. They are the definition of traditional Barolo: unforced, unmanipulated, and agonizingly beautiful.
The Bartolo Mascarello Vertical
Bartolo was the fiercest defender of tradition. He famously refused to make single-vineyard wines, believing that the perfect Barolo was a blend of the best sites (Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rué, and Rocche). He believed the blend created balance. Looking at these vintages, it’s hard to argue with him.
- 1961 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (Pre-Arrival): The 1961 vintage is mythical. It is widely considered one of the greatest post-war vintages in Piedmont. To find a Bartolo from this year is like finding a needle in a haystack. Expect a wine that has moved beyond fruit into pure earth, tar, and ethereal sweetness.
- 1967 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (Pre-Arrival): If you want to understand the soul of Bartolo Mascarello, this is it. It’s slightly more ethereal than the Riserva, offering that classic “tar and roses” perfume that defines the estate.
- 1967 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo Riserva (Pre-Arrival):1967 was a warm, generous vintage—these wines are known for their charm, silkiness, and aromatic explosion. This is a rare chance to buy enough to open one now and keep the rest for special occasions over the next decade.
- 1971 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (Pre-Arrival): If you ask the old-timers in the Langhe for their favorite vintage, they often say 1971. It was a year of incredible balance—power and elegance combined. This is a benchmark wine.
- 1978 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (Pre-Arrival):The King. 1978 is legendary for its tannic structure and immense power. Even after nearly 50 years, ’78s can still feel nervous and alive. This is a monument of a wine.
Bartolo in Magnum (1.5L)
If finding a 750ml bottle of old Bartolo is rare, finding a Magnum is a unicorn event. The 1.5L format is the ultimate vessel for aging Barolo; the ratio of wine to oxygen keeps the liquid fresher, younger, and more vibrant for decades longer. We have a stunning run of these giants.
- 1978 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival): The undisputed King of the era in the king of formats. In a standard bottle, the ’78 is just now hitting its stride. In Magnum? This wine is practically immortal. This is a center-piece bottle for a serious collection.
- 1982 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival): The counterpoint to the ’78. 1982 was a warm, generous vintage that produced wines of incredible charm and opulence. While the ’78 demands your respect, the ’82 demands your love. It is open, silky, and profoundly aromatic.
- 1983 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival): Often overshadowed by the hype of ’82, 1983 is a vintage that rewards the patient. It is classically structured, savory, and full of dried herbs and spice. In Magnum, this will be showing fresh and vibrant—a perfect surprise for a blind tasting.
- 1986 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival): 1986 is the “Insider’s Vintage.” It was a year defined by a massive hail storm that decimated yields, but the fruit that survived produced wines of shocking concentration and structure. This is a dark, brooding, and intense Barolo.
- 1988 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival): A return to “Classic” Piedmont. 1988 was a cooler year, resulting in wines with razor-sharp acidity, firm tannins, and a vertical, austere profile. This is the intellectual’s Barolo—precise, etched, and absolutely stunning in this large format.
Bruno Giacosa
Bruno Giacosa was known as the “Genius of Neive” for a reason. He had a palate that was arguably unmatched in the history of Italian wine. While he was famous for purchasing fruit, his estate-owned vineyard, Falletto, in Serralunga, produces his most powerful, structural wines.
- 1988 Bruno Giacosa “Falletto di Serralunga d’Alba” Barolo (1.5L) 3-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival): This is insanity. 1988 is a classic, structured, “cool” vintage—my personal favorite kind. But to find them in Magnum, and in an Original Wood Case? This is a collector’s dream. The large format will have kept this wine incredibly fresh.
- 1986 Bruno Giacosa “Falletto di Serralunga” Barolo Riserva (Pre-Arrival): The Red Label. Giacosa only made the Red Label Riserva when he believed the wine was perfect. 1986 was a year where hail reduced the crop, but what survived produced wines of intense concentration. A true rarity.
Giuseppe Rinaldi
Beppe Rinaldi was a character—grouchy, brilliant, and deeply philosophical. His wines have always been known for their rustic elegance. They are not polished; they are raw and honest.
- 1961 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo (Pre-Arrival): Another shot at the legendary ’61 vintage, but through the lens of Rinaldi. These wines are known for their savory, leather-and-spice profile.
- 1964 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo (Pre-Arrival): 1964 was the counterpoint to ’61. If ’61 was power, ’64 was elegance. It was a perfect growing season. This should be silky, perfumed, and utterly seamless.
The Library: Borgogno
- 1976 Borgogno Barolo Riserva (Pre-Arrival): Borgogno is famous for its library, but stocks are finally dwindling. We managed to grab the last significant chunk of the 1976 Riserva. This is your “Wednesday Night” history lesson. 1976 was a difficult vintage that has aged into something beautiful—delicate, savory, and full of dried autumn leaves and spice. At this price, with this quantity available, this is the perfect bottle to buy by the case to serve at dinner parties. It’s rare to be able to pour a 50-year-old Barolo for a crowd—don’t miss this.
- 1978 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva (Pre-Arrival): If 1976 is the history lesson, 1978 is the legend itself. Universally hailed as the greatest vintage of the era, the 1978 Riserva is a completely different beast—powerful, structural, and still incredibly vigorous after nearly five decades. While the ’76 whispers with dried leaves, the ’78 sings with deep notes of tar, iron, and dark fruit. We secured a small parcel of this icon, giving you a rare chance to taste the true power of classic Barolo at its absolute peak.
Biondi-Santi
We take a brief detour south to Montalcino for the family that invented Brunello.
- 1998 Biondi Santi (Tenuta Greppo) Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival): 1998 is often overshadowed by the hype of 1997, but true Sangiovese lovers know the truth: 1998 is often the better wine. It is cooler, more classic, and less “fruit-forward” than ’97. For a house like Biondi-Santi, which relies on acidity and structure for aging, 1998 is a stunning vintage.