In 1990, Italy’s Noble Red Wines author Sheldon Wasserman called Bartolo Mascarello’s hand-crafted Barolo “the single finest Barolo made.” And in the years before his death, Bartolo was still considered a giant among barolisti—his wine a touchstone for those who prize the beauty of traditionally made Barolo.
The Cantina Bartolo Mascarello is one of the legendary and historic producers of the Barolo appellation. The winery has stood as a beacon of staunch Barolo traditionalism since its official inception in 1918.
94 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2011 Barolo is a very expressive wine with more determination and muscle than you usually get in the wines of Bartolo Mascarello. The bouquet opens to plush flavors of red fruit and cherry with grilled herb, tobacco and mineral delineation. Its structure is yielding and round and the finish is ripe with soft fruit flavors. Make no mistake, it doles out complexity and an ethereal sense of balsam herb, cola and licorice that is the hallmark of this historic estate with a tiny garage winery in the town of Barolo. The alcohol reading here is 14.5% compared to 14% in the 2010 vintage.
94+ Points Antonio Galloni
The just-bottled 2011 Barolo is sweet, round and sensual, as it has always been from barrel. Kirsch, rose petals, sweet red cherries, crushed flowers, mint and cinnamon are all laced together in the glass. The tannins are silky, round and beautifully ripe. I expect the 2011 will offer a long and wide drinking window of pure pleasure over the next 20 years or so. This is one of the more delicate, polished 2011 Barolos readers will come across.