"Built on grace and perfume"
2008 G. Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
"Mauro Mascarello has handcrafted some of the most elegant, refined and brilliant wines in all of Piemonte..."
-John Gilman
Mascarello's Monprivato is a singular expression of Nebbiolo; it's also one of the great monuments of the Piedmont, on the same level as Giacosa's Riservas or Conterno's Monfortino.
What makes Monprivato stand out is its elegance, its clarity of expression and its purity of fruit, earth and flower. Very few producers (the world over, nevermind Piedmont) achieve the Burgundy-like finesse Mascarello coaxes from the Nebbiolo of this top site.
Every year since Crush opened, we've proudly campaigned for Mascarello's Monprivato as a must-buy Barolo. And 2008 is likely the first vintage that approaches the clarity of terroir and elegance of Mascarello's incredible 2001 Monprivato.
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Even though word has gotten out on Mascarello's Monprivato and prices have crept up a bit, Monprivato remains one of the best values out there for top Barolo.
2008 is a vintage of, above all else, classical proportions and purity. The comparison to 2008 Burgundy is helpful here because Barolos from this vintage share a similar precision and terroir expression.
The vintage really played into Mascarello's hands. As Antonio Galloni notes, Mascarello's "2008s are mid-weight wines built on grace and perfume."
These are exactly the qualities that we find so compelling about Mascarello's wines. For all its gracefulness, 08 Monprivato isn't shy on substance either. Galloni notes the 2008 "possesses serious depth, power and structure"
This gets to the heart of Mascarello's Monprivato in 2008 - it's a focused and fresh wine that still possesses power and resonance. The 2008 Monprivato may not have the flash or flamboyance of previous years like 06 and 07, but it hits an undeniable sweet spot with a generous dose of vivid fruit and pulverized flowers (roses, violets, etc.) with crystalline purity and mingled with spices and cooling minerals.
Monprivato is a distance runner - it continues to improve for decades after release. Over time, it shows its breeding to an even greater extent and gets even more beautifully aromatic and more transparent. It can see its 30th or 40th birthday without any problems.
I say this every year, but if you have not yet gotten to experience Mascarello’s Monprivato, I strongly urge you to check this out and definitely toss some in the cellar.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits