Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Monprivato Barolo 2017

Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Monprivato Barolo 2017 is a single-vineyard Barolo from Piedmont, Italy, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This 2017 vintage earned 97 points from Falstaff, reinforcing Monprivato's standing among the most revered crus in all of Barolo. The wine is sourced exclusively from the Monprivato vineyard in Castiglione Falletto and produced using methods that have barely changed in generations.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Castiglione Falletto, Piedmont, Italy  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Producer: Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio

Production & Heritage

Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio is one of Barolo's most traditional estates, consistently ranked alongside a small handful of producers at the pinnacle of the denomination. What distinguishes Monprivato from nearly every other Barolo is its reliance on the rare Nebbiolo Michét clone, originally planted in 1921 by the family's patriarch. Michét is widely considered superior to the more common Nebbiolo Lampia but yields are extremely small, making the Mascarellos nearly alone in their commitment to it. Fermentation follows the ancient cappello sommerso (submerged cap) technique, and the wine is aged for over 30 months in large Slavonian oak casks — no barriques, no new oak influence — allowing the vineyard's character to speak without interference.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with delicate scarlet strawberry and raspberry, layered with wild rose petals and lilac. Hints of mint, bay leaf, and wildflowers emerge with time in the glass, adding a savory, almost herbal complexity.

Taste: On entry, crushed red berry fruit and blood orange lead into a mid-palate of fine spice and cassis. The texture is taut yet graceful, with mineral intensity building steadily toward a core of wild cherry. The 2017 vintage shows a warmth that rounds out the estate's typically austere structure, while retaining the hallmark transparency of site.

Finish: Long and finely grained, with lingering floral and mineral notes. A whisper of tar and dried herbs appears at the very end, classic signatures of traditionally made Nebbiolo.

How to Drink Monprivato Barolo 2017

This is a wine built for contemplative drinking. Serve it at 60–64°F in large-bowled glasses, and decant for at least an hour — two hours is better — to allow its layered aromatics to fully unfold. While Monprivato rewards patience on its own, it is also a profound food wine. A classic Piedmontese pairing is braised beef with Barolo sauce, where the wine's acidity and tannin cut through the richness. Tajarin pasta with butter and white truffle mirrors the wine's earthy, floral character. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano brings out the mineral and savory undertones on the finish.

Best For

• Cellaring for long-term aging — Monprivato has a proven track record of evolving beautifully over 20+ years
• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector or Barolo devotee
• Anchoring a tasting flight of single-vineyard Barolos from the 2017 vintage
• A milestone dinner or special celebration that calls for an iconic Piedmontese wine

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Monprivato 2017 taste like? It leads with crushed red berry fruit, wild cherry, and blood orange, supported by floral notes of rose and lilac, fine spice, and a persistent mineral undercurrent. The 2017 vintage is slightly more approachable in youth than cooler years but retains the estate's signature elegance and structure.

How does Monprivato compare to Giacomo Conterno Barolo? Both producers are consistently placed in the top tier of Barolo, but they represent different stylistic poles: Monprivato from Castiglione Falletto tends toward aromatic finesse and transparency, while Conterno's Monfortino and Cascina Francia from Serralunga d'Alba are known for deeper power and tannic density. The choice often comes down to whether a drinker favors elegance or concentration.

Is Monprivato 2017 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is first and foremost a wine to drink on its own, with ample decanting time. Its layered aromatics and long finish reward slow, attentive sipping without any need for food.

Where is Monprivato made? It is produced by Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio in Castiglione Falletto, one of the eleven communes of the Barolo DOCG in Piedmont, northwestern Italy. The Monprivato vineyard is a south-facing cru entirely owned by the Mascarello family.

What foods pair well with Monprivato 2017? Braised short ribs or osso buco complement its tannin and acidity. Tajarin pasta with butter and white truffle echoes its earthy aromatics. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano highlights the wine's savory, mineral side. Roasted duck breast with cherry reduction bridges its fruit character. Porcini mushroom risotto brings out the wine's Piedmontese terroir.

What sizes does Monprivato come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. Larger format bottles such as magnums may be available in select vintages, though the 750ml is the most widely distributed.

Is Monprivato 2017 worth the price? Monprivato positions firmly in the premium-to-ultra-premium tier of Barolo, and its pricing reflects both the rarity of the Nebbiolo Michét clone and the estate's elite reputation. With 97 points from Falstaff and 94 from Wine Spectator, the 2017 vintage delivers critical validation that aligns with its market position.

Why Monprivato 2017?

Few Barolos are made from the Nebbiolo Michét clone, and virtually no other estate has committed to it as completely as Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio. That rare genetic material, planted a century ago, is the foundation of everything distinctive about this wine. The cappello sommerso fermentation and extended aging in large Slavonian oak preserve that distinction rather than masking it with winemaker intervention. The 2017 vintage, scored 97 points by Falstaff, captures the warmth of the year while maintaining the transparency and aromatic precision that have defined Monprivato across decades — a wine that belongs in the conversation whenever the greatest expressions of Nebbiolo are discussed.