Bartolo Mascarello Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml

Product Info

96pts Vinous Media
The 2021 Barolo is a wine of delicacy and finesse. Its understated depth emerges with a bit of time in the glass, making a strong impression. Firm yet polished tannins are the signature of wine that is going to need time to come into its own. In some ways, the 2021 reminds me of the 2019, but with more mid-palate pliancy and greater overall depth. Floral notes lift a core of red-toned fruit in a wine that offers many of the contrasts that make Barolo so appealing, chief among them the marriage of power and finesse. 

Maria Teresa Mascarello's 2021 Barolo is a quintessential wine for the vintage in its pliant fruit and understated depth. Harvest took place between the first and second week of October. The 2021 saw 48 days on the skins with submerged cap maceration before being racked into cask in November. Mascarello's entry-level wines are equally inviting, although small production makes them hard to find and pricier in the market than they really should be. - By Antonio Galloni on January 2025 12/31/25  

98+ pts Wine Advocate
This wine was bottled in the fall of 2024 and will hit the market in September 2025. The Bartolo Mascarello 2021 Barolo sees the same blend of five vineyards as the 2020 vintage, but this edition shines with brighter clarity and focus thanks to the excellent growing conditions of the growing season. The 2021 is beautifully lifted and vertical; however, it reveals growing complexity even at this nascent stage. Winemaking counted a long and careful 48 days of submerged cap, marking a traditional fermentation. The summer season was not too hot, but September saw above average temperatures for easy ripening. There was adequate water and the grapes showed no signs of stress or suffering, Maria Teresa Mascarello tells me. The wine is classic, crisp and linear with present tannins and a very long mouthfeel that continues with freshness and energy. It is terrific now, and we can expect more to come from this epic bottle. Drink Date: 2027 - 2055

Nebbiolo harvest dates at the Bartolo Mascarello estate occurred October 4–8, 2020 and October 6–10, 2021, which is perfectly in line with the norm. In comparison, the 2024 harvest lasted a very long 12 days from October third to the 15th. Hail on August 2, 2024 hit the Rue vineyard, doing some damage, part of San Lorenzo and a small part of the higher half of Cannubi (the lower part was fine). The 2024 harvest required extensive fruit selection as a result. Overall, the 2024 vintage was cooler than average, despite the severe heat spikes seen in August. Published: Jan 30, 2025 Reviewed by: Monica Larner

Terroir
Bartolo Mascarello’s Barolo is not a single-vineyard expression but rather a deliberate, historic assemblage of crus, drawn from some of the most revered sites in the Barolo zone, including parcels in Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rue, and Rocche dell’Annunziata. This blending philosophy—maintained for generations—aims to capture the complete voice of Barolo rather than the idiosyncrasies of one site alone. The vineyards sit on classic Tortonian and Helvetian marl soils, rich in limestone and clay, which are fundamental to Nebbiolo’s aromatic lift, structural tannins, and long aging potential. Elevations and exposures vary across the holdings, contributing layers of floral perfume, red fruit clarity, savory depth, and mineral tension.

The 2021 vintage is widely regarded as one of exceptional balance in Barolo. A temperate growing season with warm days and cool nights allowed Nebbiolo to ripen slowly and evenly, preserving acidity while achieving full phenolic maturity. The result is a wine that marries precision and power—classical in profile, yet endowed with remarkable purity and energy.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
Bartolo Mascarello remains one of the most steadfast traditionalists in Piedmont, and the 2021 Barolo follows the estate’s uncompromising philosophy.

The wine is made from 100% Nebbiolo, harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks. Macerations are long and gentle, extracting structure and aromatic depth without force. Aging takes place exclusively in large, neutral Slavonian oak botti for an extended period, allowing slow oxygen exchange while avoiding any overt oak influence. There is no new wood, no barrique, and no technological embellishment. The intent is singular: to allow Nebbiolo, vintage, and terroir to speak with clarity and honesty. The wine is bottled without filtration or cosmetic manipulation, preserving its natural texture and evolution.

Tasting Notes
The 2021 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo opens with an immediately captivating aromatic profile that is both lifted and profound. Notes of rose petal, dried violet, and crushed raspberry rise first, followed by classic Nebbiolo markers of sour cherry, blood orange peel, and anise. With air, deeper layers emerge—tar, dried herbs, iron-rich earth, and subtle balsamic tones—all woven together with remarkable finesse.

On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, built more on structure and tension than sheer weight. The fruit profile is precise and red-toned: cherry skin, wild strawberry, and red currant, accented by savory nuances of licorice root, dried thyme, and tea leaf. Acidity is vibrant and finely etched, driving the wine forward and giving it remarkable clarity and lift.

The tannins are unmistakably Barolo—firm, long, and architectural—yet exceptionally refined for such a young wine. They frame the fruit without aggression, promising a long and graceful evolution. The finish is persistent and complex, echoing floral notes, mineral undertones, and a gentle, earthy bitterness that lingers with poise. This is a Barolo of restraint and depth rather than immediate opulence—classical, transparent, and quietly powerful.

Food Pairing & Service
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 2021 demands food of substance and respect for tradition. Ideal pairings include braised beef, osso buco, veal shank, and slow-cooked lamb, where richness and collagen soften the wine’s tannic structure. White truffle dishes, porcini mushrooms, and simple preparations of fresh pasta with butter or meat-based sauces highlight the wine’s aromatic complexity without overwhelming it.Aged cheeses—particularly Parmigiano-Reggiano or aged Pecorino—also pair beautifully, echoing the wine’s savory depth.

Serve at 60–64°F (15–18°C) in a large, wide-bowled glass. Decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended in its youth to allow the aromatics to fully unfurl. While compelling now with air, this wine is built for long aging and will continue to develop complexity over 20–30 years, evolving toward notes of dried flowers, leather, forest floor, and spice while retaining its core of elegance and vitality.