Mascarello/Bartolo Barolo 2013

98+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Maria Teresa's 2013 Barolo is a stunning, drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Vibrant, crystalline and exceptionally nuanced, the 2013 speaks to elegance above all else. There is an exotic quality to the aromatics that adds to the wine's total sense of seduction. As captivating as the 2013 is today, there is no shortage of underlying grip and structure. Dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol and licorice are some of the many notes that grace the palate. But the 2013 is a wine of completeness rather than elements. And the 2013 simply has it all. In 2013, Mascarello opted for short-ish fermentation with limited post-fermentation maceration because the skins were a bit fragile. The result is a delicate wine that shows just how finessed young Barolo can be. Drink: 2023-2053. (Feb 2017)"

98 points James Suckling: "An opulent Barolo with lots of dried berry, plum, caramel and hints of milk chocolate. Full-bodied, tannic and creamy textured. So long and intense. So beautiful. Drink in 2021. (9/3/20)"

96 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "Bartolo Mascarello's 2013 Barolo is made with the estate's traditional blend of vineyard sites. This includes the San Lorenzo cru that will go offline starting with the 2015 vintage. This is a classic and traditional interpretation of Nebbiolo with an absolutely pristine and polished flavor profile. The bouquet opens to pressed violet, cassis, licorice, wild sage and cola. There is an elegant mineral imprint as well with rusty iron and iodine. This edition is evermore solid and centered compared to the warmer 2012 vintage. It will also require extra bottle aging in order to bring out its natural, but nuanced intensity. Drink: 2019-2040. (Jun 2017)"

96 points Wine Spectator: "Round and smooth, with a core of cherry surrounded by leather, licorice and underbrush flavors. Tobacco and mineral accents mingle and add complexity as this cruises to a lingering aftertaste. Builds to an expansive finish. Best from 2020 through 2040. 1,350 cases made. (9/13/17)"

Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "The 2013 Barolo expresses brilliance and youth. Vibrant aromas of tobacco and licorice are followed by camphor and, especially, raspberries, making for extreme elegance and complexity. The mouth proves extraordinary for its tight-0knit tannic weave and harmonious palate. The finish is long and classy: it's a Tre Bicchieri in pursuit of a purely classical style. (2018)"