Wine Advisor
Massolino, Barolo Parafada 2004
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
2004 Barolo Parafada—As I wrote in Issue 3-4, Massolino is working to bring the Parafada bottling closer in style to the more traditional and classic Margheria and Vigna Rionda. 2004 is the first vintage in which the wine is aged in 40% barriques and 60% tonneaux. Although the final wine has not yet been blended I was able to taste wine from both sizes of barrel. I was amazed at how much of a difference there was. The tonneaux-aged wine is breathtakingly beautiful and it is a shame that in the great 2004 vintage this wine will ultimately be blended with the barrique-aged wine, but at least going forward readers will have one more great choice from this producer. I would expect a hypothetical blend of the two wines to score in the low to mid 90s. From tonneaux: Shows a captivating, perfumed nose of violets, minerals, and menthol, along with layers of sweet dark fruit, fine tannins, and superb length. The oak is totally transparent. All class and elegance. 11/05 From barrique: The smaller barrel has produced a more explosive wine, packed with notable concentration, and much more overt oak flavors, but less detail and nuance as well as a shorter finish. 11/05 Maria Theresa Mascarello has two beautiful wines in her cellar with these 2003 and 2004 Barolos. In particular her 2003 Barolo could turn out to be one of the vintage’s top wines….if she can capture the magic of what she has in cask when these wines are ultimately bottled. My cautious scores reflect some skepticism that these wines will be as good in the bottle as they are in cask, but I hope to be wrong. Today these are gorgeous wines and scores could eventually be higher.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The estate’s 2004 Barolo Parafada is the most accessible of these 2004 Barolos. It possesses a fat, unctuous texture, with superb ripeness, poise and balance. A note of sweetness from the French oak lingers on the finish. In 2004 the Parafada is aged in a mix of 40% cask , 30% 500 liter barrels and 30% 225 liter barrels. The use of French oak gives this wine its full-bodied, soft, fruit-driven texture. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. Brothers Franco and Roberto Massolino have a top-flight set of wines with their 2004 Barolos. The wines are fermented in cement, then undergo malolactic fermentation in a combination of cement and steel prior to being racked into large Slavonian oak casks for roughly two and half years. The Parafada is the only Barolo that sees French oak. Readers who want to learn more about the estate can re-visit my recent feature on www.erobertparker.com. mporter: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2004 Barolo Parafada is the softest and most open-knit of Massolino's Barolos. At the time, the Parafada was done partly in French oak, so it has sleeker contours than the other wines in the range, yet it also retains a lovely sense of freshness. Crushed flowers, licorice and spices meld into a core of supple, nicely layered fruit. The 2004 should drink well for at least another decade. This is a strong showing, especially considering Massolino was making the Parafada in a slightly different style that was not really their strongest suit.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The estate's 2004 Barolo Parafada is the most accessible of these 2004 Barolos. It possesses a fat, unctuous texture, with superb ripeness, poise and balance. A note of sweetness from the French oak lingers on the finish. In 2004 the Parafada is aged in a mix of 40% cask , 30% 500 liter barrels and 30% 225 liter barrels. The use of French oak gives this wine its full-bodied, soft, fruit-driven texture.
About the Producer
Marsolin Winery has 4 vineyards, covering a total area of 23 hectares, including three vineyards: Vigna Rionda, Margheria and Parafada. Best quality. The vineyards are planted with Barbera, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Moscato and Chardonnay. An important reason for the delicate quality of Marsolin wines is the close relationship with the vineyard, which has deepened over time, from the vineyard to the cellar, from the fermentation tank to the bottling and packaging line. became a tight chain. The taste of grapes produced in different regions is also very different. There are traditional grapes, and there are grapes with sweeter taste and stronger floral aroma. The wines produced by Marsolin Winery mainly include Marsolin Ronda Garden Reserve Barolo red wine, Marsolim Barolo red wine and many other wines, among which the classic Barolo wine is carefully crafted by high-quality Nebbiolo. It is brewed and has a rich fruity aroma, which has been well received by consumers.
