Weinwisser Magazine:
First Barbaresco vintage for this well-known Barolo winery from Serralunga. With earthy spice and a hint of truffle, it reflects the warmth of the location well, has power, sweet fruit and plenty of grainy tannins, plus blood and iron on the finish.
Rating: 17.5/20
A few years ago, the Massolino brothers leased a 2-hectare plot on the prestigious Albesani vineyard in the municipality of Neive. With the 2019 vintage, they produced a Barbaresco single-vineyard wine for the first time, which is seamlessly integrated into the chain of great Massolino wines.
Franco Massolino says of this wine: "From the first moment this wine began to ferment, we knew we were dealing with a great Nebbiolo."
After the hand-picked harvest in October, the grapes are carefully selected for further processing. The long fermentation and maceration takes place in oak barrels at a temperature of around 30°C. Thereafter, aging takes place in large Slovenian oak barrels for 18 months, followed by a further 24 months of aging in the bottle, carried out in special cool, dark cellars.
This Barbaresco Albesani offers highly complex, frank and very pleasant aromas; Flowers and scents of red fruits dominate, but notes of hay, spices and tobacco also provide great depth and richness!
Rich, elegant, sometimes tart on the palate, it is able to combine great pleasure and excellent aging potential. A small number of bottles of a very special Barbaresco!
This wine is best paired with red meat, especially game, and truffles. It also goes well with pasta dishes with meat sauces or risotto, but also with medium-ripened cow's and goat's milk.
Drinking recommendation: 2022-2034, decant before drinking