i do not recall ever having drunk a Barbera of such age. Earthier notes, the fruit having lost its youthful gleam. A loss of freshness, which may be barbera's most appealing characteristic. Never in a particularly exuberant style. But still holding up well, with a structure now dependent entirely on its strong acidity. Drink soon. This will not improve. Bought on release.
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If you are looking for the finest bottle of Barbera on the market, in my opinion, stop searching - you have it right here. I wouldn't have imagined Barbera could sing so regally as this bottle showed last night. Symphonic balance of elements, and (for Barbera) ever important acidity. Served initially at cellar temperature, and opening up nicely afterward. All the stitches in the right place. Meisterstück.
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Nose of liquorice, forest floor and a touch of lavender. Palate has a lovely balance of dark sweet fruit, good acidity and just slightly bitter herbs. The '13 was green and edgy whereas the '11 was fat and juicy, the '10 seems to split the the difference. I know I'm biased towards Piedmont and especially MT's wine, but this is seriously delicious juice and (to me) the essence of barbera. Love it.
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Dark core with garnet rim; deep, meaty plum and dark cherry, sweet dark fruit, roasted meat, vanilla but not from new oak; palate is high acid, very fresh, great depth and nobility, sweet finish; delicious, still a baby I would love to see this with 5 more years.
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Smakstart pĺ Sturköbaren: Textbook barbera dark forest-berry aromas, assisted by noble-wood furniture and an elegant botti-volatility. Really harmonious and well-balanced on the palate - not that easy with this grape - it excels with food-friendly acidity, lovely extract and light spicy tannins. Not many producers deliver barbera at this level of quality and style. Tasted blind, it is quite easy to recognise this Mascarello's signature (the other one makes a more red-fruity expression) as the '10 is quite similar to the '08. A great wine for the table, now and several years on.
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Klassisk barbera på nesa med moden rød frukt i moreller. På den animalske siden er det hint av lakris. Behagelig fylde. Friske undertoner gjør den balansert og gir den det typiske barbera-stikket på duft. Svært tilgjengelig. På paletten er den svært elegang og utrolig balansert. Herlig frukt, nydelig syre og bra konsentrasjon. Fullstendig i balanse med lang saftig finish.
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Mature, dark cherries. Dark chocolate, sweet licorice, olives and some truffle. Beautiful and elegant nose. Taste like nose plus a hint of grapefruit in the aftertaste. Cool and soft mouthfeel with softening tannins. High acid which really works well with food. Love the structure of this wine. Probably the best Barbera I've hade to date.
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Bold aromas on the nose at opening. Placed in a decanter and consumed over the next several hours and into the next day. This bottle really benefits from prolonged air time, with brambly cherry, earthy elements and a touch of tobacco leaf coming to the fore. Nicely crafted in a traditional style. Probably the best Barbera on the market, that will reward those who seek this out from year to year.
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Very similar structure to Bartolo's Dolcetto d'Alba with a lengthier after-taste and less acidity and tannin (after 45min of air), red fruit on the nose and palate, smooth and simple. But given the price difference (HKD$ 280 vs HKD$ 190) and drinkability, I'll probably opt for Dolcetto than Barbera.
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Medium to light ruby. Some VA. Light, tart red fruit. High acidity, little tannin. This was tough to taste after the much broader, lusher Brovia Dolcetto but still seemed typical and good.
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Drunk over dinner, no formal TN. Intense purple red, very young looking. Vinous on the nose with rich and intense red fruit, cherries. Lively and intense on the palate, with great freshness. It drinks very well. ***
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Red and black fruit on the nose, slightly minty, interesting. Very fresh on the palate, fruity and elegant. Superb acidity. Blackcurrants, redcurrants. Chocolate and redcurrant aftertaste, very long, very moderately tannic. Wonderful now and should keep for a few years.
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One of the finest Barbera's I've had. Wonderfully expressive, pure earthy fruit aromas that feel quite lithe. The palate texture is pleasing, offering moderate intensity and nice sweet fruit on a mid-weight body. Wonderful acidic attack on the finish that lingers for some time, with tight bright fruits as well. With so many over done Barberas these days, it's absolutely wonderful to see this wine out there. Now, at around $40, I don't really think it's a very good QPR... but it is certainly a wonderful expression of Barbera. 90-91
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Rovello 18, Milan: Fresh Blackberry fruit, wet earth, medium body, medium plus acidity. Good, somewhat soft, easy drinking fruity Barbera. Worked well with my veal cutlet Milanese and the Sicilian tuna. Very nice, mid-priced hidden gem of a restaurant.
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12/24/2023 - Johannes Kottonau Likes this wine: 92 Points
Finally!! This wine has integrated and lost its harsh tannins. Two years ago that was not the case. Patience brings roses.
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1/5/2023 - MuddyBoots wrote:
i do not recall ever having drunk a Barbera of such age. Earthier notes, the fruit having lost its youthful gleam. A loss of freshness, which may be barbera's most appealing characteristic. Never in a particularly exuberant style. But still holding up well, with a structure now dependent entirely on its strong acidity. Drink soon. This will not improve. Bought on release.
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5/16/2020 - mbidder954 wrote: 87 Points
Spiking on alcohol for me and had to ignore that. Cherry liquor, fairly high acid, floral, but can't get past the heat from the alcohol.
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4/1/2018 - Ultimatewinekick_Andreas wrote: 90 Points
Nice Barbera from Mascarello with high levels of acidity and a nice but rather slim fruit profile.
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12/28/2017 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Surprisingly rich for Barbera, with signature acidity tamed by a lot floralality and fruit. Still, a little edgy and slightly high in alcohol.
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6/22/2016 - gilrbo Likes this wine:
Drunk in good company over a pizza.
Wonderful now, lively, juicy, tasty, with the right body.
Drinking very well.
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6/3/2016 - s******n Likes this wine: 89 Points
Schöner, solider Barbera. Etwas viel Säure für meinen Geschmack. Aber geht schon.
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5/7/2016 - Chaz Bham wrote: 92 Points
If you are looking for the finest bottle of Barbera on the market, in my opinion, stop searching - you have it right here.
I wouldn't have imagined Barbera could sing so regally as this bottle showed last night. Symphonic balance of elements, and (for Barbera) ever important acidity. Served initially at cellar temperature, and opening up nicely afterward. All the stitches in the right place. Meisterstück.
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2/18/2016 - ChazGeorgetown14 wrote:
Nose of liquorice, forest floor and a touch of lavender. Palate has a lovely balance of dark sweet fruit, good acidity and just slightly bitter herbs. The '13 was green and edgy whereas the '11 was fat and juicy, the '10 seems to split the the difference. I know I'm biased towards Piedmont and especially MT's wine, but this is seriously delicious juice and (to me) the essence of barbera. Love it.
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11/7/2015 - JohanPe wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous notes. Totally agree with FINARE VINARE a few comments down.
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3/28/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Dark core with garnet rim; deep, meaty plum and dark cherry, sweet dark fruit, roasted meat, vanilla but not from new oak; palate is high acid, very fresh, great depth and nobility, sweet finish; delicious, still a baby I would love to see this with 5 more years.
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11/13/2014 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Pop n’pour. As good as previous bottle. Kept evolving in the glass.
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6/17/2014 - Finare Vinare wrote: 91 Points
Smakstart pĺ Sturköbaren: Textbook barbera dark forest-berry aromas, assisted by noble-wood furniture and an elegant botti-volatility. Really harmonious and well-balanced on the palate - not that easy with this grape - it excels with food-friendly acidity, lovely extract and light spicy tannins. Not many producers deliver barbera at this level of quality and style. Tasted blind, it is quite easy to recognise this Mascarello's signature (the other one makes a more red-fruity expression) as the '10 is quite similar to the '08. A great wine for the table, now and several years on.
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4/20/2014 - Axone wrote: 89 Points
Vin agréable mais encore un peu jeune et avec pas mal d'acidité.
Meilleur le lendemain, avec un vin plus fondu et une acidité mieux intégrée.
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3/16/2014 - eivindpeivind Likes this wine: 90 Points
Klassisk barbera på nesa med moden rød frukt i moreller. På den animalske siden er det hint av lakris. Behagelig fylde. Friske undertoner gjør den balansert og gir den det typiske barbera-stikket på duft. Svært tilgjengelig. På paletten er den svært elegang og utrolig balansert. Herlig frukt, nydelig syre og bra konsentrasjon. Fullstendig i balanse med lang saftig finish.
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2/12/2014 - JohanPe wrote: 91 Points
Mature, dark cherries. Dark chocolate, sweet licorice, olives and some truffle. Beautiful and elegant nose. Taste like nose plus a hint of grapefruit in the aftertaste. Cool and soft mouthfeel with softening tannins. High acid which really works well with food. Love the structure of this wine. Probably the best Barbera I've hade to date.
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2/8/2014 - Chaz Bham wrote: 92 Points
Bold aromas on the nose at opening. Placed in a decanter and consumed over the next several hours and into the next day. This bottle really benefits from prolonged air time, with brambly cherry, earthy elements and a touch of tobacco leaf coming to the fore. Nicely crafted in a traditional style. Probably the best Barbera on the market, that will reward those who seek this out from year to year.
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9/7/2013 - chrishsh Likes this wine: 86 Points
Very similar structure to Bartolo's Dolcetto d'Alba with a lengthier after-taste and less acidity and tannin (after 45min of air), red fruit on the nose and palate, smooth and simple. But given the price difference (HKD$ 280 vs HKD$ 190) and drinkability, I'll probably opt for Dolcetto than Barbera.
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8/10/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium to light ruby. Some VA. Light, tart red fruit. High acidity, little tannin. This was tough to taste after the much broader, lusher Brovia Dolcetto but still seemed typical and good.
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8/7/2013 - gilrbo Likes this wine:
Drunk over dinner, no formal TN.
Intense purple red, very young looking.
Vinous on the nose with rich and intense red fruit, cherries.
Lively and intense on the palate, with great freshness.
It drinks very well.
***
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7/30/2013 - igaf wrote:
Red and black fruit on the nose, slightly minty, interesting. Very fresh on the palate, fruity and elegant. Superb acidity. Blackcurrants, redcurrants. Chocolate and redcurrant aftertaste, very long, very moderately tannic. Wonderful now and should keep for a few years.
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7/30/2013 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Decanted for 2 hours. Enticing bouquet and ripe and balanced fruit. The wine began to open in hour three. A terrific Barbera.
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7/27/2013 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 90 Points
One of the finest Barbera's I've had. Wonderfully expressive, pure earthy fruit aromas that feel quite lithe. The palate texture is pleasing, offering moderate intensity and nice sweet fruit on a mid-weight body. Wonderful acidic attack on the finish that lingers for some time, with tight bright fruits as well. With so many over done Barberas these days, it's absolutely wonderful to see this wine out there. Now, at around $40, I don't really think it's a very good QPR... but it is certainly a wonderful expression of Barbera. 90-91
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7/4/2013 - JOsgood wrote:
Great bottle of wine. So elegant and expressive on the palate. Worth the price.
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7/4/2013 - the godfather wrote:
What a killer barbers, so well rounded
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7/2/2013 - JOsgood wrote: 92 Points
Wow, this was amazing. Pop and pour. Great nose. So plush, juicy and velvety on the palate with black fruit, tar and spices. Awesome juice.
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6/14/2013 - FredrikL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Seriously delish.
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3/11/2013 - peternelson wrote: 89 Points
Rovello 18, Milan: Fresh Blackberry fruit, wet earth, medium body, medium plus acidity. Good, somewhat soft, easy drinking fruity Barbera. Worked well with my veal cutlet Milanese and the Sicilian tuna. Very nice, mid-priced hidden gem of a restaurant.
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2/7/2013 - bendid wrote: 89 Points
Three Barolo traditionalists: G. Rinaldi, B. Mascarello, Cappellano (Scopri): Perhaps it was the company it kept tonight, but this was another of the Mascarello wines that looked very bright with a strong fruit focus. Raspberry and licorice, even a little sweet, high acid. Super young really.
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11/16/2012 - JOsgood wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic. Pure, very traditional tasting. Earthy and rich with good acidity. Need to own this.
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11/9/2012 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Darker nose; Bright - great acid; Clean finish; Could use a bit more secondary
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