Massolino Barolo Parafada 2020

Massolino Barolo Parafada 2020 is a powerful yet finely etched expression of Serralunga d’Alba, drawn from one of the village’s most revered single vineyards. This is Nebbiolo at its most serious and sculpted, delivering intensity, minerality, and elegance in equal measure. Produced from just 1.2 hectares and yielding roughly 4,800 bottles, it is a limited, site-specific Barolo that captures the iron-tinged soul of Parafada in a warm, concentrated vintage.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Parafada shows a deep yet luminous garnet, with the classic pale rim that hints at Nebbiolo’s transparency and age-worthiness. The nose is immediately complex and evocative: iron filings, rusted metal and warm stone mingle with blood orange, lavender, dried rose petals and a touch of balsamic spice. Subtle notes of red cherry, pomegranate, tobacco leaf and anise emerge with air, underpinned by a distinct, savory mineral tone. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and intense, with a polished, almost glossy texture that belies its structural power. Firm, finely grained tannins frame flavors of sour cherry, redcurrant and orange peel, layered with hints of leather, licorice, dried herbs and a saline, ferrous finish that clearly speaks of Serralunga. The 15% alcohol is present but well-integrated into the wine’s dense core of fruit and tannin. While already impressive in its youth, this Barolo is built for the long haul and should evolve beautifully over 15–20 years or more, gaining even greater complexity and tertiary depth.

Production
Parafada is a sun-drenched, steeply sloping cru in Serralunga d’Alba, known for its calcareous marl and iron-rich soils that produce Barolo of notable structure and minerality. Massolino farms this 1.2-hectare parcel with meticulous attention, harvesting Nebbiolo by hand at optimal ripeness to preserve both the vineyard’s hallmark tension and the generosity of the 2020 vintage. In the cellar, the wine is made in a resolutely traditional style: extended maceration on the skins to extract fine tannins and aromatic complexity, followed by long aging in large, neutral Slavonian oak casks. This gentle, time-honored approach allows the character of Parafada and Serralunga’s terroir to shine through without excessive oak influence.

Food & Serving
This is a Barolo that calls for serious, flavorful cuisine. It pairs beautifully with braised meats such as ossobuco, brasato al Barolo, slow-cooked lamb shank or short ribs, as well as game birds, truffle dishes, mushroom risotto, and aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight both its aromatics and structure. In its youth, decanting for 2–3 hours is strongly recommended to soften the tannins and allow the more intricate notes of iron, spice and florals to fully unfold; as it matures in bottle, a shorter decant will be sufficient.

Producer
Founded in 1896, Massolino is one of the benchmark, family-run estates of Serralunga d’Alba and a key reference point for traditionally made Barolo. Now led by Franco and Roberto Massolino, the winery has built its reputation on faithful, site-driven expressions of some of the Langhe’s most prestigious crus, including Parafada, Margheria and Vigna Rionda. Their commitment to careful vineyard work, restrained yields and classic long-aging methods has earned Massolino international acclaim and firmly established the estate as a standard-bearer for the structured, age-worthy style of Barolo that Serralunga is famed for.

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