2004 Barolo, Monprivato, G. Mascarello (750ml)

Vintage: 2004
Format: 750ml
Wine Name: Barolo
Vineyard: Monprivato
Designation:
Appellation: Barolo
Producer: G. Mascarello
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Type: Red
Country: Italy
Region: Piedmont
Sub-Region: Langhe
Alcohol:

Tasting note: Mascarello’s 2004 Barolo Monprivato is an explosive wine with an almost Pinot-like expression of purity in its fruit. This round, sweet Barolo is extremely primary at this stage, with tons of dense fruit that almost cover the wine’s tannins completely. Subtle overtones of roses and tar develop in the glass, rounding out this majestic wine. Monprivato is one of the world’s very finest values in collectible, age-worthy wine, and the 2004 is another classic in the making. I was blown away by this wine’s sheer balance and harmony, both of which are remarkable considering the wine’s age. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2034.  (96pts. AG, Wine Advocate)

Tasted: Oct 2008
Score: 96
Drink: 2014-2034

Tasting note: Medium red with some amber at the rim. Complex, soil-inflected nose offers strawberry, dried flowers, minerals, licorice, sage and porcini mushroom. Suave and sweet in the mouth, like a maturing Burgundy, with highly perfumed flavors of strawberry, coffee, mocha and minerals framed by a surprising spine of acidity. The most complex of these 2004s today by a wide margin, this wine also seemed to grow fresher with aeration. Finishes juicy and firmly tannic but not hard, although I couldn't help thinking that the tannins of the 2001 version were riper.  (92(+?) pts. Stephen Tanzer, IWC)

Tasted: Nov./Dec. 2009
Score: 92(+?)
Drink: N/A