Barolo Bartolo Mascarello 2011 (1.5L)

94 Points, Monica Larner, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2011 Barolo is a very expressive wine with more determination and muscle than you usually get in the wines of Bartolo Mascarello. The bouquet opens to plush flavors of red fruit and cherry with grilled herb, tobacco and mineral delineation. Its structure is yielding and round and the finish is ripe with soft fruit flavors. Make no mistake, it doles out complexity and an ethereal sense of balsam herb, cola and licorice that is the hallmark of this historic estate with a tiny garage winery in the town of Barolo. The alcohol reading here is 14.5% compared to 14% in the 2010 vintage." 06/15

93+ Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "Maria-Theresa Mascarello's 2011 Barolo is one of the more refined wines of the year, with less size than many other 2011s, and plenty of immediacy. Racy and giving on the palate, but with good underlying structure, the 2011 impresses for its juxtaposition of the riper elements of the vintage and more classic attributes that are such signatures at this address. Bright red stone fruits, strawberries and crushed flowers are some of the notes that grace the exquisite finish. The 2011 is an excellent choice to drink while some of the more ageworthy recent vintages sleep in the cellar. I will not be surprised to see the 2011 improve from where it is today." 03/15

93 Points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator: "A delicate, aromatic style, with floral, sandalwood, cherry, tea and spice flavors. Beautifully balanced and long, with a firm underlying structure. Best from 2018 through 2030. 1,400 cases made." 02/16