1996 Giuseppe Mascarello, Barolo, Monprivato 1x75cl

Robert Parker 94

The 1996 Barolo Monprivato shows a darker, more brooding side of Monprivato, with suggestions of tobacco, leather, scorched earth, licorice, iron and cocoa on the nose and tightly wound layers of sweet dark fruit with a big, powerful personality. It is a formidably structured, youthful Barolo that will require at least a few more years for the tannins to integrate. This is one of the least evolved bottles of this wine I have had and I imagine it will still be a compelling wine at age 30. Mauro Mascarello believes 1996 to be the best vintage of the last 50 years. Personally I find the tannins of the 1996 to still be quite hard and prefer the greater finesse of the 2001 and especially the 1999, which marries power with elegance. Both the 2001 and 1999 strike me as more elegant and better balanced wines, but ultimately time will tell. The 1996 is unquestionably an attractive wine that will find its greatest admirers among those who love firmly structured, classic Barolos built to age for decades. 94/Anticipated maturity: 2011-2026. [Antonio Galloni, 31/10/2006]

Anticipated maturity: 2011-2026