Giuseppe Mascarello

History of Domaine Giuseppe Mascarello

The history of Domaine Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio dates back to the mid-19th century, when Giuseppe Mascarello, the first of that name, made a name for himself managing the vineyards of several Langhe landowners. In 1881, he acquired his own plots and his first cellar in the village of Monforte d'Alba, marking the official founding of the estate, whose date is today inscribed on the labels. His son Maurizio Mascarello, known as Gepin, took a decisive step in 1904 by purchasing the famous Monprivato plot in the neighbouring village of Castiglione Falletto, and by transferring the estate's headquarters in 1921 to a former ice house, which still serves as the winery today.

Mauro Mascarello, the fourth generation, took charge of winemaking in 1967, after having long worked alongside his father. A visionary, in 1970 he decided to bottle a Barolo sourced exclusively from Monprivato, thus becoming one of the very first Barolo producers to produce a single-vineyard wine — a tradition now widespread throughout the appellation. In 1979, upon the passing of his uncle Natale, Mauro bought back the family plots and reunified the original estate. He also introduced the Cà d'Morissio Riserva cuvée, a tribute to his grandfather Maurizio. Today, Mauro is supported by his wife Maria Teresa and his children Elena and Giuseppe, who are gradually taking over the running of the estate, ensuring the transmission of a traditionalist know-how recognized the world over.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Giuseppe Mascarello

The vineyard of Domaine Giuseppe Mascarello extends over approximately 15 hectares, spread across some of the greatest crus of the Barolo appellation. The jewel of the estate is undoubtedly Monprivato, a 6-hectare monopole plot located in Castiglione Falletto, facing full south-west at 280 metres above sea level, with Miocene soils of clay-silt marls rich in active limestone, reminiscent of the great Burgundian terroirs. To this monument are added other exceptional plots: Villero (just over half a hectare in Castiglione Falletto), Bricco (0.7 ha in Castiglione Falletto), Codana, as well as Santo Stefano di Perno (two-thirds of a hectare in Monforte d'Alba).

The king grape variety is naturally Nebbiolo, expressed in several sub-varieties. The Mascarello family has distinguished itself in particular through its loyalty to Nebbiolo Michét, a rare sub-variety with low yields but exceptionally concentrated grapes, planted by Maurizio in the 1920s and largely replanted by Mauro across 2.5 hectares of Monprivato. The estate also cultivates Barbera, Dolcetto and Freisa, traditional grape varieties of Piedmont. Viticulture is resolutely sustainable, with no herbicides or synthetic chemical products, controlled yields (60 to 65 quintals per hectare at most) and entirely manual harvesting. Part of the production from each plot is sometimes declassified into the Langhe Nebbiolo, a testament to quality standards.

Winemaking at Domaine Giuseppe Mascarello

In the cellar, Mauro Mascarello applies deeply traditionalist methods, inherited from four generations of Piedmontese winegrowers. Each plot is vinified separately, allowing the unique signature of each cru to be expressed on the label. Fermentations are carried out using only indigenous yeasts, in traditional vats, followed by long macerations that can last several weeks for the Barolos, in order to gently extract colour, tannins and aromas from the Nebbiolo.

The ageing process takes place entirely in large Slavonian oak casks (botti grandi), a tradition perpetuated since the 1950s, when Giuseppe (Gepin) replaced his old barrels with these large, neutral containers. No new wood is used, so as never to mask the character of the grape and the plot. The Barolos age for several years in large casks before being bottled, then further refined in the cellar before release. This philosophy produces wines of austere elegance, with a silky tannic structure, crystalline aromatic purity and exceptional longevity, often exceeding thirty or forty years.

The Cuvées of Domaine Giuseppe Mascarello

Barolo Monprivato: The estate's signature cuvée and flagship wine, made from 100% Nebbiolo sourced from the Monprivato monopole plot in Castiglione Falletto. Clear ruby colour evolving towards orange-tinged garnet, complex bouquet of faded roses, cherry, orange peel, tar, dried herbs and mint, palate of rare finesse and nuance, with a silky tannic structure and saline freshness. An absolutely benchmark Barolo, built to age for thirty years and beyond.

Barolo Monprivato Cà d'Morissio Riserva: An exceptional cuvée and tribute to Maurizio Mascarello, produced only in the finest vintages from the oldest Nebbiolo Michét vines planted by Maurizio in the 1920s. Vinified and aged separately in very large Slavonian casks for several years, it represents the absolute pinnacle of production. Notes of dried flowers, wild fruits, orange peel, mint and white pepper, a palate of refined sensuality, sublime balance and infinite length. A legendary rarity.

Barolo Villero: A single-vineyard cuvée from approximately 0.5 hectares on the Villero cru in Castiglione Falletto. First bottled in 1978, this Barolo is distinguished by deeply spiced, balsamic aromas, dark fruits and a firm tannic structure. An austere and powerful wine that requires several years of cellaring to reveal its full complexity.

Barolo Bricco: A single-vineyard cuvée from 0.7 hectares on the Bricco cru, also in Castiglione Falletto. An elegant and structured expression of Nebbiolo, where the depth of the terroir combines with the aromatic finesse typical of the Mascarello signature.

Barolo Codana: Another single-vineyard cru in Castiglione Falletto, which brings its own distinctive aromatic signature. Vinified and aged according to the same principles as the other single-vineyard wines, it completes the Castiglione Falletto mosaic within the range.

Barolo Santo Stefano di Perno: A single-vineyard cuvée from approximately two-thirds of a hectare on the Santo Stefano di Perno cru in Monforte d'Alba. Notes of pine, menthol, spices, graphite and dark fruits, chalky, incisive and pronounced tannins. A Barolo of class and personality, built for long ageing.

Barbera d'Alba Codana: A single-vineyard Barbera from the Codana cru in Castiglione Falletto, vinified and aged in large oak casks. Bright ruby colour, nose of red and black fruits, fresh and juicy palate with the marked acidity typical of the grape variety and a moreish finish.

Barbera d'Alba Santo Stefano di Perno: A Barbera from the Santo Stefano di Perno cru in Monforte d'Alba, with a more structured and deep character. A noble and complex expression of the grape variety, with a spiced and mouth-watering finish.

Barbera d'Alba Scudetto Superiore: The superior version of the Barbera range, made from a selection of the finest grapes. Aged for longer, it gains in concentration, depth and complexity, while retaining the estate's signature freshness.

Dolcetto d'Alba Bricco: A single-vineyard Dolcetto from the Bricco cru in Castiglione Falletto, an authentic and joyful expression of the grape variety. Dense purple colour, nose of dark fruits and bitter almond, supple, fresh and moreish palate. An ideal Piedmontese table wine for discovering the estate's signature.

Dolcetto d'Alba Santo Stefano: A Dolcetto from the Santo Stefano di Perno cru in Monforte d'Alba, with a deeper and more structured character. Notes of black cherry, plum, a light touch of spice, long and saline finish.

Freisa Langhe Toetto: A confidential cuvée made from the native Freisa grape variety, long forgotten and passionately championed by the Mascarello family. Purple colour, nose of dried roses, raspberry and cherry, taut palate with a slight spritz in its youth, delicate tannic structure, capable of ageing gracefully for around ten years.

Nebbiolo Langhe: A more accessible cuvée made from Nebbiolo sourced from young vines or declassified berries from the Barolo plots in certain vintages. An exceptional entry point into the Mascarello universe, offering an airy, fruity and precise expression of the great Piedmontese grape variety at a much more affordable price.

Nebbiolo d'Alba San Rocco: A single-vineyard Nebbiolo in the Nebbiolo d'Alba appellation, from the San Rocco cru. An elegant and nuanced cuvée that extends the Mascarello philosophy beyond the strict boundaries of Barolo.

Langhe Rosso: A blended cuvée in Langhe DOC, made from several traditional grape varieties of the estate. A moreish and accessible cuvée that expresses the diversity of Piedmontese grape varieties in a more immediate style.