2019 Barolo, Massara, Cascina Massara Burlotto, Piedmont, Italy
About this WINE
Cascina Massara Burlotto
Cascina Massara, made up of father and son team Giancarlo and Gianluca, is a third of the split Burlotto family. While Giancarlo and Gianluca are much more understated than Castello di Verduno or G.B. Burlotto, they are slowly realising their potential, and have both the expertise and vineyards to match their relatives’ fame.
Their 100% Verduno vineyards span the various altitudes, aspects and soils of the village, and their co-fermented Barolo Classico is testament to this outstanding, varied terroir. Massara is the name of both the family’s Cascina, and their most iconic single vineyard. A rare gem, this old-vine plot yields wines with high-toned aromatics, gripping energy and cool-fruit charisma. It’s unusual in Barolo for a significant vineyard to be owned by such few people, but while the Massara cru is little-known, this will not remain the case for very long.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is the grape behind the Barolo and Barbaresco wines and is hardly ever seen outside the confines of Piedmont. It takes its name from "nebbia" which is Italian for fog, a frequent phenomenon in the region.
A notoriously pernickety grape, it requires sheltered south-facing sites and performs best on the well-drained calcareous marls to the north and south of Alba in the DOCG zones of Barbaresco and Barolo.
Langhe Nebbiolo is effectively the ‘second wine’ of Piedmont’s great Barolo & Barbarescos. This DOC is the only way Langhe producers can declassify their Barolo or Barbaresco fruit or wines to make an early-drinking style. Unlike Nebbiolo d’Alba, Langhe Nebbiolo can be cut with 15% other red indigenous varieties, such as Barbera or Dolcetto.
Nebbiolo flowers early and ripens late, so a long hang time, producing high levels of sugar, acidity and tannins; the challenge being to harvest the fruit with these three elements ripe and in balance. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are perfumed with aromas of tar, rose, mint, chocolate, liquorice and truffles. They age brilliantly and the very best need ten years to show at their best.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
This single vineyard Barolo comes from the eponymous Massara vineyard, high up in the Verduno at around 320m altitude. The vines here were originally planted in 1969, on infertile soils of blue mar, gypsum and chalk. As a result, the wine itself has incredible depth, structure and length, with plush red fruits tinged by a risp, peppery note. It’s almost reminiscent of a spicy Côte-Rôtie, although it retains a leaner style from its east-facing vineyards. The tannins are coiled and earthy, but the high-toned wild rose aromatics linger on the finish, perfectly balancing delicacy and power.
Drink 2025 – 2037
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee