2016 Barolo Riserva Monprivato Ca' d'Morissio

The last time we saw this wine was in 2014, and I remember that vintage as magical. The Giuseppe Mascarello 2016 Barolo Monprivato Riserva Cà d'Morissio is the estate's benchmark wine. Thanks to this epic growing season, we have a clear window onto the excellence of Castiglione Falletto, where Monprivato is located, and the current state of affairs at this historic winery. I found this wine to be quite beautiful and profound, with dried fruit, cassis, earthy tones and pressed violet. It is also quite generous in terms of mouthfeel, with integrated tannins that are finely woven with hints of dried mint and bitter plum. The vineyards were planted with a massal selection of Mascarello family vines. The wine is persistent, especially at the back end of the palate, showing firm structure and power.

The 2016 Barolo Riserva Monprivato Ca' d'Morissio will soon takes its place among the great vintages ever made, and I say that having tasted every vintage back to the inaugural 1993 and the 1970 Monprivato that was the genesis for this wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, licorice, dried herbs and graphite are some of the many notes that build over time. The long, sustained finish is eternally beautiful. What a wine!