Barolo 2014 Bartolo Mascarello

Barolo 2014 Bartolo Mascarello

A true voice in a challenging vintage

The 2014 Barolo by Bartolo Mascarello stands as a quiet triumph of tradition over trend. In a cool, rainy year that tested many, this wine expresses remarkable finesse, transparency, and balance. It’s not about power, but about harmony and precision—a pure and honest expression of Nebbiolo in difficult conditions.

Historic vineyards blended with purpose

As always at Mascarello, this Barolo is not a single-vineyard wine but a blend of four historical crus: Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rue, and Rocche di La Morra. The grapes are co-fermented spontaneously in cement tanks, followed by a long maceration. Ageing takes place in large Slavonian oak casks for over 30 months. No barriques, no filtration, no modern manipulation.

Tasting notes

👁️ Colour
Transparent garnet red with a luminous rim.

👃 Nose
Elegant and expressive, offering scents of delicate red berries, dried rose petals, wild herbs, citrus peel and a hint of white pepper and crushed stones.

👄 Palate
Refined and linear. Silky tannins frame a bright, mineral structure. The wine flows with grace, finishing long and saline, with understated depth and poise.

Vineyard and cellar approach

The vineyards are farmed traditionally, without systemic chemicals. In the cellar, everything happens slowly and naturally: spontaneous fermentation, gentle extraction, no filtration, no oak masking. Patience and respect guide the entire process.

The 2014 vintage

2014 was a cool and rainy vintage with low yields and uneven ripening. But those who worked carefully, like the Mascarello family, produced wines of rare subtlety and freshness. This is a Barolo for purists—delicate, expressive, and built to age gracefully.

Technical sheet

• Producer: Bartolo Mascarello

• Appellation: Barolo DOCG

• Vintage: 2014

• Grape variety: 100% Nebbiolo (from Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rue, Rocche di La Morra)

• Vinification: spontaneous fermentation in cement, long maceration

• Aging: over 30 months in large Slavonian oak casks

• Alcohol content: 13.5% vol

• Serving temperature: 16–18°C

• Farming: traditional, no systemic chemicals

• Aging potential: 20+ years

Bartolo Mascarello: The Purest Voice of Traditional Barolo

A True Icon of the Langhe

Bartolo Mascarello isn’t just a name in Barolo’s history — he’s a legend. His winery, nestled in the heart of Barolo village, stands as a symbol of unwavering tradition in Piemonte. A rebellious yet poetic figure, Mascarello turned his deep-rooted beliefs into both wines and cultural statements. He didn’t just make Barolo — he stood for it.

Rejecting Modernity for Integrity

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, when many producers leaned into modern techniques and barriques, Bartolo Mascarello stayed fiercely committed to the old ways. His handwritten labels became iconic slogans: “No barrique, no Berlusconi,” “Barolo is tradition,” or simply “Liberty.” These were more than phrases — they were acts of resistance.

The Vineyard as Philosophy

His vineyards — Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rue, and Rocche di La Morra — are cultivated with the utmost respect for the land. No aggressive treatments, no systemic chemicals. And crucially, he never vinified parcels separately. For Bartolo, the essence of Barolo was found in blending, not in single cru expressions. That idea, now rare, was his signature.

Winemaking with Patience and Soul

Everything in the cellar is done slowly, by hand, and with heart. Spontaneous fermentations, long macerations of up to 40 days on the skins, and aging in large Slavonian oak casks. The wines are unfiltered, unfined, and uncompromising. Young Barolo Mascarello may seem austere — but give it time, and it reveals a depth and elegance that only tradition can produce.

The Legacy Lives On

When Bartolo passed away in 2005, his daughter Maria Teresa Mascarello took the reins. With quiet strength and exacting care, she has preserved her father’s philosophy, elevating the wines while keeping them true. Every vintage under her direction is a living expression of heritage, terroir, and time.

Why Bartolo Mascarello Matters

To drink a Mascarello Barolo is to step into a time capsule — not just of a place, but of a way of thinking. These are not flashy wines. They are profound, emotional, and intellectually honest. Each bottle tells a story of craft, courage, and cultural resistance, bottled without compromise.