Bartolo Mascarello
A revered traditionalist Barolo estate famed for its blended, single-label Barolo and Bartolo Mascarello's defiant 'No Barrique, No Berlusconi' philosophy.
About Bartolo
Cantina Bartolo Mascarello is a small, fiercely traditional estate in the village of Barolo, one of the most revered names in classic Nebbiolo winemaking. Founded in 1918 by Giulio Mascarello on his return from the First World War, the cantina passed to his son Bartolo, who joined in 1945 and made it legendary. Bartolo rejected the modernist turn toward single-vineyard bottlings and French barriques, instead blending fruit from four prized crus, Cannubi, San Lorenzo and Rué in Barolo and Rocche in La Morra, into a single Barolo aged in large Slavonian casks. A former wartime partisan, he was dubbed one of the 'Last of the Mohicans' and famously made a hand-painted 'No Barrique, No Berlusconi' label. Since his death in 2005, his daughter Maria Teresa Mascarello has continued the estate's methods with great precision. With roughly five hectares producing under 15,000 bottles a year, the wines are scarce and sought after worldwide.
Flagship wines
- Barolo (classic blend of Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rué, Rocche)
- Barbera d'Alba
- Dolcetto d'Alba
Editorial notes
Tiny production makes the Barolo hard to find and allocation-driven; buy from reputable merchants. A traditionalist benchmark that rewards patient cellaring; serve with Piedmontese dishes such as truffle pasta.