Massolino is a staple producer for us at K&L, delivering amazing value at an incredible price.
Founded in 1896, Massolino is one of the oldest continuing operating producers in Piedmont. It has been known for producing classic, terroir-driven Barolo that balances structure with approachability. This bottle is their estate Barolo, made entirely by grapes grown in their different vineyards all over the town of Serralunga d’Alba.
Serralunga is known to have the most iron in its soil, this brings a touch more of finesse and an overwhelming earthiness to this Barolo. The 2020 vintage is great, it made Barolo that are accessible immediately. Of course you can age this baby, but honestly it is enjoyable right now, especially at this price point.
Massolino stays true to the traditional Barolo style, only Grandi Botti are used here (Italian traditional Slavonian oak) allowing Nebbiolo’s natural power and aromatic complexity to develop without excessive oak influence.
This is an incredible deal.
About the ProducerMassolino 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.
Vintage Context 2020 Vintage Released 2024
★★★★★
Released 2024 to acclaim: a warm, even vintage of ripe, perfumed, accessible Barolo with surprising freshness — drinking well young yet built to age.
