2011 Massolino Barolo Margheria Cru

Serralunga Limestone: Wine Spectator’s #1 Barolo of the Year

At least for the time being, Piedmont’s 2011 vintage has been overshadowed by the extraordinary 2010 harvest. But, as The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Barolo specialist Antonio Galloni have noted in recent months, certain 2011s eclipse the 2010s when it comes to dark-fruit concentration, raciness, and suppleness.

While 2010 gave birth to beautifully structured Barolos in every village, 2011 was like a logical combination of 2007 and 2009, warm vintages where ripeness and New World concentration trumped tannic structure. As a result, during our weeklong visit to Piedmont in November, we turned our attention almost exclusively towards the limestone hillsides of Monforte D’Alba and Serralunga, the villages that consistently give birth to the most muscular and firmly structured Barolos.

At a number of superstar Barolo estates — especially the single-vineyard bottling from the best crus — we discovered 2011 Nebbiolos that were as soft, pliant, and voluptuous as the much-ballyhooed 2007s, but with far better focus and purity than the 2009s.

Not surprisingly, Giuseppe Massolino’s 2011 Barolo Margheria Cru again ran away from the field, earning top honors not only on our scorecards, but also from Wine Spectator.

Named Wine Spectator’s “Top Collectible,” the 2011 Margheria unusually deep in color for a Massolino Barolo — brilliant dark-ruby, almost PURPLE. Explosive wild-berry aromas of black cherry, crushed raspberry, tobacco, and cloves. Rich, fleshy, pliant, and voluptuous on the attack — almost as much New World as Old — filled with sweet black raspberry and black cherry, finishing with textbook Serralunga tannin and structure. Drink now — if you can’t help yourself — or lay down for the next 10-15 years, when all the fireworks will begin.

Wine Spectator’s #1 Barolo of 2011. $99 on release. $80 today on WineAccess. Just 600 bottles made it stateside, 300 of which have been earmarked for our membership.

• ABV 14.50%
• Enjoy right away
• % Nebbiolo