2021 Massolino Barolo
Often, the true measure of an estate is found in its normale. Massolino’s classic Barolo is a masterclass in traditional
Producer
Massolino
I have reviewed six wines from Massolino, from the 2016 to 2021 vintages, all from Barolo. All are Nebbiolo. Scores range from 94 to 97, averaging 96; the highest is the 2019 Massolino “Vigna Rionda” Barolo Riserva (97 points). Massolino also features in one journal article on this site.
Massolino is a cornerstone of Serralunga d’Alba. Founded in 1896 and one of the oldest continuously operating producers in Piedmont, the estate is led by Franco and Roberto Massolino, who have modernized the winery carefully while staying fiercely loyal to tradition. The style is the epitome of Serralunga — power, structure and depth, with the iron-rich earthiness of the commune — made with a touch that ensures elegance rather than rusticity. The wines are fermented in cement and aged only in large Slavonian oak.
The Barolo is a traditional blend of several outstanding Serralunga sites, including Briccolina, Collaretto and Broglio, and is the perfect introduction to the house. Margheria, with a streak of sand in its soils, offers fragrance and silky finesse on a Serralunga backbone. Parussi is the outlier, the estate’s only cru outside Serralunga, in Castiglione Falletto, where sand and limestone produce a racy, precise and highly aromatic Barolo.
At the summit is Vigna Rionda, which would sit at the very top of any formal Barolo classification. Massolino is one of the historic owners of this sheltered, perfectly exposed slope of calcareous marl, and its Riserva is legendary for its monumental structure, dark fruit and aromas of crushed roses, tar and iron — a wine of tension and muscle that evolves for decades.
2019 Massolino “Vigna Rionda” Barolo Riserva
If Barolo possessed a formal Grand Cru classification, Vigna Rionda would unequivocally sit at the very top. Massolino is one
2021 Massolino “Parussi” Barolo
Parussi is a fascinating outlier in the Massolino portfolio—it is their sole cru located outside of Serralunga, situated across the
2021 Massolino “Margheria” Barolo
While located firmly within Serralunga, Margheria offers a brilliant counterpoint to the commune’s typical density. The soils in this MGA
2021 Barolo – Vintage Report
After a series of warmer, solar vintages, 2021 marks a majestic return to the “Alpine” soul of Nebbiolo. Defined by a long, snowy winter and a perfectly paced autumn, this is a vintage of noble austerity and breathtaking precision. These are not the open-knit wines of 2020; they are tension-filled, vertical, and built for the long haul. With “crunchy” red fruit, savory minerality, and a spine of vibrant acidity, 2021 is being hailed as the most complete and “classic” vintage since 2016—a year where the distinct terroir of each commune is rendered in high definition.
2016 Massolino Barolo
The 2016 vintage is widely considered a modern legend in Barolo, and finding pristine parcels of top producers like Massolino
2020 Massolino Barolo
Massolino is a staple producer for us at K&L, delivering amazing value at an incredible price.Founded in 1896, Massolino is