2021 Barbaresco
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The Massolino 2021 Barbaresco (in the bottle with the white label for the non-cru selections) has a lovely bouquet that admittedly leans toward the riper side of the Nebbiolo spectrum with mineral notes, redcurrant and dried flower. The wine feels fresh and tart on the palate, and you do get extra textural heft and fiber in this vintage. This is a blend of fruit from Serraboella, Albesani and Starderi (with 24,000 bottles created). At the end of 2023, Franco and Roberto Massolino acquired 1.6 hectares of vine in Roddi (in the Bricco Ambrogio) with 2,000 35-year-old plants that are registered for the production of Barolo. The rest of the site is planted to Chardonnay and Barbera. This property is next door to another 1.3-hectare parcel in Bricco Ambrogio that is under lease by this estate. In total, they count 30 hectares in Barolo, with 24 hectares in Serralunga d'Alba, two hectares in Castiglione Falletto and three hectares in Roddi.
Critic scores
Average Score
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The dark ruby/magenta 2021 Barbaresco is highly expressive on opening, with notes of crushed black raspberries, candied flowers, sweet sage, and wet stone. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate up front with a rounded feel, ripe tannins, and fresh acidity, and it has a nice lift of citrus on the finish. It has good length for an entry wine and will benefit from another 6-12 months in bottle. Drink 2025-2035.
The 2021 Barbaresco is a blend from parcels in Albesani, Serraboella and Starderi. Gracious and nuanced, the 2021 offers up hints of crushed flowers, orange peel, mint, sweet red berry fruit and spice. Readers will find a super-classic Barbaresco. Lifted aromatics, mid-weight structure and persistent yet fine tannins give the wine its shape. This is beautifully done.
Grapes come from the lower part of Albesani, Starderi and Serraboella. Fermented in 50- to 60-hl tronconic oak casks, and aged for 18 months in large 50- and 60-hl oak casks. Sample 1 : Stoppered with Diam 5. Lustrous mid crimson. Inky cherry that becomes minerally and salty with aeration. Lifted and a little balsamic with a hint of liquorice. Fresh cherry and raspberry charged with gripping tannins. Sample 2 : Stoppered with Nomacork Green 100. A little dusty but with energetic raspberry fruit. Succulent raspberry fruit with expressive, long tannins. (WS)