Bartolo Mascarello Barbera d'Alba 2020

Bartolo Mascarello is one of the iconic producers of the Piedmont, its eponymous winemaker renowned for decades thanks to his championing of traditional techniques. Headed by his daughter - Maria Teresa - since his passing in 2005, the winery continues to produce some of the most exceptional bottlings of Piedmontese grapes. This Barbera is no exception, impressing with its rich and complex bouquet of dark red fruit and floral notes. 

93/100 - The 2020 Barbera d'Alba shows a lovely appearance with a rich, blackish color. Aromas recall dried fruit and raisin, generously played over a full-bodied texture. An unfortunate outbreak of the floral disease Flavescence dorée in the San Lorenzo vineyard damaged one-third of the 30-year-old Barbera vines. Faced with few options, the plants were ripped out in 2020 and replanted two years later after the soils had a chance to rest. The 2019 vintage is the last estate expression of Barbera, and we won’t see it again until 2028, if you add in winemaking years and the time needed for young vines to reach maturity. In the interim, Maria Teresa Mascarello buys fruit from the Treiso area of Barbaresco and Diano d'Alba to make this wine. - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

95/100 - The 2020 Barbera d'Alba is outrageously beautiful. Rich, pliant and expressive, the 2020 races across the palate with stunning depth. Plush and sumptuous, the 2020 is fabulous to drink now for its primary fruit, but it should also age gracefully. The 2020 is sublime. Red purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, blood orange and mint linger on the creamy, textured finish. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous 

17+/20 - Deep youthful crimson. Spice-laced blueberry and cherry nose and with a savoury edge. Vibrant acidity and long, fragrant blueberry fruit. Real freshness and substance. Fine, long tannins on the finish. - Walter Speller, JancisRobinson.com