I have reviewed 10 wines from Bartolo Mascarello, from the 1961 to 2021 vintages, all from Barolo. All are Nebbiolo. Scores range from 94 to 98, averaging 96; the highest is the 1978 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (98 points). Bartolo Mascarello also features in one journal article on this site.
In an era of shifting trends and modernization, Cantina Bartolo Mascarello remains the steadfast guardian of traditional Barolo. Bartolo himself was the fiercest defender of that tradition: he refused barrique and refused single-vineyard bottlings, believing that the perfect Barolo is a blend of the best sites. The estate, now led by his daughter Maria Teresa, still makes a single Barolo from its four crus — Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rué and Rocche dell’Annunziata — fermented in concrete and aged in large Slavonian oak botti.
Looking across the vintages, it is hard to argue with him. The wines move from rose petal, dried cherry and tar in youth to pure earth and ethereal sweetness with age. 1961 is one of the greatest post-war vintages in Piedmont; 1967 is warm, silky and aromatic; 1971 is the old-timers’ favourite, balancing power and elegance; 1978 is the monument, still nervous and alive after nearly fifty years; 1982 is its generous counterpoint; 1983 and 1988 are classically structured and savory; and 1986, a hail year of tiny yields, is dark and brooding. The 2021 is already singing — ethereal and aromatic on a firm, linear frame — and built for decades.
These are wines that reward patience and large formats more than almost any other in Barolo, and for me they are the clearest expression of what the village of Barolo tastes like.
We just secured a cellar that frankly shouldn’t exist. This is a rare glimpse into the golden era of traditional Barolo, featuring pristine verticals of Bartolo Mascarello (including the legendary 1961 and 1978 Magnums), Bruno Giacosa’s Red Labels, and Giuseppe Rinaldi. Plus, we found a “miracle” parcel of 1976 & 1978 Borgogno Riserva—perfectly aged history at an unbeatable price. These are not just wines; they are survivors.
