Barolo 'Santo Stefano di Perno' Giuseppe Mascarello 2013

Barolo "Santo Stefano di Perno" from the Giuseppe Mascarello winery is a delicious, rich and elegant red wine produced in the commune of Monforte d'Alba, in the beautiful landscape of the Langhe, Piedmont. This label is made from pure Nebbiolo grapes from the Santo Stefano vineyard, in the Perno subzone, on a hillside located about 300 meters above sea level with western, southwestern exposure. The vines, which are espalier-trained with guyot pruning, are on soils characterized by clay-limestone soils rich in grey sand of marine origin. The winery, which owns about 13 hectares under vine, is a historic family business that has been active in the area for more than a century and a half and is now run by Mauro Mascarello, great-grandson of the founder, who takes care of all stages of production with great accuracy, rigour and respect for tradition.

"Santo Stefano di Perno" is a Barolo made from carefully selected grapes harvested by hand around the first decade of October. The clusters undergo destemming and soft crushing in the winery and then undergo traditional alcoholic fermentation with a cap in suspension and maceration on the skins for about 15-20 days. This is followed by racking with skin pressing, after which the wine is aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for at least 36 months before being bottled for future release.

Giuseppe Mascarello's Barolo Perno "Vigna Santo Stefano" shows a beautiful bright garnet red colour with light orange highlights. On the nose appear rich and intense aromas of small red berries and ripe fruit, including cherry, black cherry and raspberry, floral notes of rose and dried flowers, spicy hints of sweet spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, liquorice and white pepper and then close on notes of leather and with slight balsamic and herbal hints. In the mouth, it is deep, full-bodied and structured, with a fine, well-integrated tannic texture and very long persistence. This by Giuseppe Mascarello is a Barolo in the traditionalist style, endowed with backbone, texture and excellent balance.