1997 Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio Barolo Monprivato
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The 1997 Barolo Monprivato (magnum) is fabulous. Exotic, rich and heady in the glass, the 1997 is a great example of the best this warm, dry vintage had to offer. Voluptuous, racy contours wrap around a core of dark red fruit. Interestingly, in this vintage and from magnum, the straight Monprivato and Cà d'Morissio are quite similar. The vintage marker is quite strong.
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Dark ruby. Mauro Mascarello's 1997s are among the most structured wines I have tasted from this vintage. Perhaps caught at an awkward moment, the 1997 did not enjoy a particularly strong showing, despite having been decanted for over five hours. It is a massively endowed, concentrated Barolo, packed with ripe dark fruit and fierce tannins that make it hard to fully evaluate. However, this wine's strong track record, as well as its aging potential (see Issue 3 and 4), gives me no cause for concern with regards the wine's future. In addition, Mascarello's 1997 Riserva Ca' d'Morissio has been nothing short of stunning on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.
A poor cask sample. (JR)
One of Piedmont's perennial stars, particularly in top vintages, Mauro Mascarello's 1997 Barolo Monprivato exhibits a dense ruby/garnet color as well as a sweet nose of cedar, black fruits, earth, tar, and rose petals. The explosive perfume is followed by a rich, seamless, full-bodied, unctuously-textured wine. One of the most precocious and accessible Monprivatos I have ever tasted, the 1997 is the finest since the glorious 1990. Anticipated maturity: now-2015. Importer: Fred Ek, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153