Description

“This is a fabulous set of Baroli from brothers Roberto and Franco Massolino. The wines capture the essence of the vintage – while not being excessively marked by the year – in the house’s classic, firm style. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are done in cement and the wines are aged exclusively in large, neutral casks.” Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Feb 2011
Founded in 1896, Massolino Winery, is based in and around the town of Serralunga, one of the prime sub-zones of the Barolo DOC.
The Massolino family’s greatest asset is of course their 23 hectares of (mostly) Serralunga vineyards, including choice parcels of such famous sites as; Margheria, Parafada and the legendary Vigna Rionda. We say ‘mostly’ as the Massolino clan recently purchased a slice of the Parussi cru in Castiglione Falletto. Serrralunga, on the eastern edge of the Barolo DOCG, produces some of most profound and long lived Barolo. It is the home of great names such as Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa’s Falletto vineyard. The wines often have an extra stuffing of intense Nebbiolo fruit as well as a remarkable minerality that plays on both the freshness of the tannins and gives the wines a certain ferrous edge when young.
It is fair to say that Massolino holds the most remarkable collection of vineyards in Serralunga, amongst the smaller, quality focused producers anyway. The quality strides at this estate over the last 10-15 years have been remarkable with significant advances made, particularly in the vineyards. Certainly there has also been refinements in the cellars, firstly by Franco Massolino and then by current winemaker Giovanni Angeli (ex Vajra) who has been working with Franco since the 2005 harvest. As always however, it has been the work in the vineyards and the search for expressive and perfectly ripe fruit that has driven the rise in quality at this estate. The resultant improvement here has been very good news for both the commune and Barolo in general. Today the wines of Massolino sit comfortably among the finest of the region – they are wines of wonderful purity and elegance. They are exclusively aged in large casks, so they are ‘traditional’ and yet they offer the best of the “old” and “new” worlds: pure, aromatic, textural, deeply flavoured wines that are at the same time precise, vibrant and distinctly regional. These are wines that score extremely highly on our deliciousness scale. Equally important, these wines are remarkably well priced when compared to the other top producers of the area.

As of 2019, the Langhe Nebbiolo includes fruit from Monforte d’Alba also traditional source in Serralunga d’Alba and also from Alba with white soils. The Cascina I Maschi vineyard lies really close to the border of the Barolo area where the soils are calcareous marls. The Serralunga fruit comes from Massolino’s younger Barolo vines–covering approximately 2 hectares. When these vines are old enough they will help produce the Barolo proper. Like all Massolino Nebbiolo, it is aged in large Slavonian oak casks, although the Langhe only spends 12 months in wood, compared with the Barolo’s 24+ months. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the style is like a scaled-down Massolino Barolo, one with more immediate fragrance and finesse and less tannin. It is crafted for early enjoyment. Built on perfume and finesse, it’s a suave, fragrant, plum-and-lavender-noted Nebbiolo with the salty, chalky undertow that’s so typical of Massolino and Serralunga in general.

Reviews of 2017:

92 points, James Suckling – “Aromas of cherries, cedar and strawberries with some subtle cream follow through to a medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh and flavorful finish. Very pretty.”
91 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate #243 “This is an elegant, refined take on Nebbiolo, with bright and tonic fruit that just makes it a fun wine. There’s an easy structure to the Langhe Nebbiolo, a freshness and very bright appearance that are easy to love. For this one, see if you can get your hands on some Bra sausage.”

90 points, Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – “The 2017 Langhe Nebbiolo is a clear, direct and immediate wine. It offers those characteristic varietal tones of dried berry fruit, rose hip and licorice with a cheerful and informal approach. This bouquet is mild in terms of intensity, but all the main components are there. There is a very subtle note of sweetness or softness in the mouth that makes this wine a good choice to drink within the next two or three years.”

92 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review “This is the entry-level Massolino nebb, which is like a junior Barolo—lighter and more fruit-driven. Indeed, it really showcases nebbiolo’s varietal character. The colour is a beautifully bright light to medium red-purple: this is a delicious soft and fruity red wine that belies the reputation of nebbiolo for hard tannins. There are fresh cherry and briary aromas and the gentle tannins contribute to a supple, medium-bodied palate. Dashes of brandied-cherry typical of fruit-driven nebbiolo. (Cork)”

RRP $68 **Special 6 pack Buy … Only $58.99