Mascarello Giuseppe e Figlio - Barolo Monprivato 1987

Mascarello Giuseppe e Figlio - Barolo Monprivato 1987.

📜 Vintage conditions: A challenging vintage with surprises

The 1987 vintage was initially considered difficult in Piedmont. Rainfall during the harvest led to a lighter structure in many wines. Nevertheless, some top producers - including Mauro Mascarello and Giovanni Conterno - managed to produce remarkable wines. The late harvest favoured an unusually high natural residual sugar content in this Barolo.

🍇 Vinification & ageing

The 1987 Monprivato was traditionally vinified from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, predominantly from the vineyard'sprized Michet clone. After a maceration of around 20-25 days, the wine matured for around 30 months in large, neutral Slavonian oak barrels. This traditional method, which is still practised today, deliberately avoids small barriques.

👃 Sensory evaluation: the jewel of the vintage

Experts and the producer himself paint a consistent picture of a fully ripe, complex and long-lasting Barolo that reaches its peak in a very broad drinking window.

📅 Drinking maturity & ageing potential

The wine's original drinking window was from 1996 to 2016, but Antonio Galloni placed the peak in 2016 at 2016-2026. The wine is now fully developed and should not be kept any longer.

Food pairing: Excellent with mushroom dishes, game, mature hard cheese and truffles.

💶 Market prices & availability

Due to its age and limited production, the wine is mainly available at auctions or from premium specialist retailers. Prices vary greatly depending on condition and origin.

📝 Conclusion

The 1987 Barolo Monprivatoby Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio is a rare example of a wine that overcomes the adversities of a difficult vintage. With a glittering score of 94 points (Vinous) and consistently positive notes from the producer, this wine has reached its full potential. Its aromatic complexity (cherry, leather, mint, balsamic), coupled with the traditional structure typical of Mascarello, make it a fascinating collector's item and a testament to craftsmanship in difficult times.