2012 Giuseppi Mascarello, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Vigna Santo Stefano de Perno (RT90) I came across this bottle hiding in my cellar, a wine that is generally intended to be drunk at a far younger age. This is now a gentle Dolcetto with early-to-mid-term cellaring potential and at age 12 isn’t going to improve. In fact, I find it to be on the downhill slope. Showing a soft overall aromatic profile that still defines itself as Dolcetto, with its soft persona, the aromatic lift is gentle and sublime as round notes of spiced blackberry, hints of soft leather, crushed stones and dried violets lead to an even softer palate of evolved fruit, caressing acidity and faded tannins. From a master of the Piedmont and fine single vineyard at that. If you’ve by chance hung on to any, drink now before it loses any further vibrancy Tasted January 2025
This bottling is crafted from vines that were planted in 1994 from the Santo Stefano vineyard in the commune of Monforte d’Alba, in the heart of the Barolo DOCG. 25% of this vineyard is planted with Dolcetto with the majority being planted with Barbera and the remaining 15% in Nebbiolo. This wine is produced from estate grown grapes with a traditional style of floating cap fermentation at controlled temperature in neutral tanks. That is followed by aging in large Slavonian oak casks for 36 months and wrapped up with a year in bottle. Today this vineyard is known as simply Perno.
