Mascarello/Bartolo Barolo 1996

97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Tasted from magnum, the 1996 Barolo is absolutely stunning. Vibrant and wonderfully alive, the 1996 exudes class. Time has gently softened the 1996 tannins, rendering the 1996 super-expressive today. Balsamic, mentholated notes, along with scents of tobacco and dried stone fruit continue to open up with time in the glass. The 1996 is still firm and quite powerful, but not as austere as many wines are in this vintage. Tar, licorice and scorched earth add the closing shades of nuance in an impeccably balanced, vivid Barolo that captures the personality of the vintage at its best. Drink: 2016-2036. (Oct 2017)"

94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 1996 Barolo from Bartolo Mascarello has seemingly not evolved at all since I last tasted it a couple of years ago, and looks destined to be one of his classic vintages. The bouquet is deep, beautiful and very pure, as it offers up a wonderful mélange of underbrush, red and black cherries, camphor, road tar, a touch of gamebird, autumnal soil tones and a faint whiff of mint in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, powerful and completely backward at this time, with a firm spine of tannin, impeccable focus and balance and outstanding length and grip on the very pure finish. In the fullness of time this will be pure magic. 2020-2060. (Sep/Oct 2009)"