Massolino Barolo Serralunga 2016

The greatest expression of Nebbiolo is found in one of the world’s most exclusive and drop dead gorgeous regions, Barolo. In it, five core towns that make the Piedmonte region so special. There’s La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto and Barolo itself. Some of the top wineries in the region are located in the small but precious Serralunga d’Alba where the unique soil type gives the wines even more agability than the others in Barolo.

With castles and wineries atop sweeping rolling hills, it’s the kind of place where if you got in early and knew what you were doing, your family is still reaping the benefits multiple generations later. That’s the case at Massolino, the star of Serralunga, where the work of Giovanni Massolino in the late 1800’s is still paying dividends today.

Elio Grasso once told me over dinner while we sipped on a bottle of Massolino Barolo, “I love my vineyards more than anything he said. But if I could trade vineyards with any producer in Barolo, it would be with Massolino.” There’s a great reason why.

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.