Massolino Barolo 2017

Armed with three fabulous Cru vineyards, Margheria, Parafada, and Vigna Rionda, the former is considered by most to be the crown jewel vineyard of Serralunga. Together, the three vineyards are like the Spanish Armada, consistently producing some of the best Barolo in single-vineyard bottlings and blends like today’s.

Massolino is a treasure. They’re one of the few wineries that can say they have almost 30(!) wines on Wine Spectator’s annual ‘Top 100 Wines of the Year’ list, including last year’s vintage, the 2016 which I offered a few weeks before its #7 placement. As you could imagine, that made getting an allocation this year infinitely more difficult, but I was able to do so if I took it right away before Wine Spectator scores it.

But after tasting a bottle it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve made in a while. This wine is so good already, and it’s only in the top of the first inning in terms of what is left to come. I figured I’d lock into everything I could and the scores would come. As it turns out, they already have.

Though Wine Spectator has yet to chime in, Wine Enthusiast has already equaled last year’s 95-point score for the Barolo and given it the prestigious “Editors’ Choice” tag. I’m sure that means they’ll be adding to their “Top 100 Wines of the Year” trophy case, but the wine will be long gone by then.