"Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted.
Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans."
Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another.
The Massolino 2021 Barolo Margheria draws its fruit from Serralunga d'Alba. It reveals aromas of forest berry and wild cherry with candied orange, flint and crushed granite. I also find toasted aniseed at the back. The team at Massolino has done great work managing the tannins that feel quite silky and long, rendering a glossy sheen to the finish.
96 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Jun 2025)
This has lovely aromas of blueberries, pine resin, orange rind and a touch of lavender. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with supple tannins in the context of the vintage. It has a seductive, tender, well-integrated fruit profile that makes it very attractive. Drink or hold.
96 points, Jacobo García Andrade, James Suckling (Jan 2025)
Always the most elegant of the Massolino Barolos, the fragrant 2021 Margheria stuns with enticing scents of wild roses, perfumed berries, botanical herbs and whiffs of freshly tilled soil. Classy and utterly delicious, the radiant palate is loaded with weightless finesse that wraps around raspberry compote, crushed strawberries, star anise and crushed mint while a hint of blood orange lingers on the close. Refined tannins and fresh acidity keep it beautifully balanced.
96 points, Kerin O'Keefe (Jan 2025)
Enticing cherry and raspberry fruit is framed by rose and mineral flavors, all wrapped in a dense texture. There’s a vibrant beam of acidity, and this red is beautifully balanced and well-supported by refined tannins. Shows excellent succulence and length. Best from 2029 through 2049. 716 cases made, 150 cases imported.
95 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Jan 2026)
The 2021 Barolo Margheria has a transparent red hue and reveals a sweetly perfumed bouquet of preserved strawberries, purple flowers, herbes de Provence, and sweet herbs. The palate has more tension than the nose would suggest and has fine, coiled tannins, even acidity, and a refreshing feel with a chalky texture through its balanced and elegant finish. This is a lovely medium-bodied and weightless feeling wine from Massolino to drink over the coming 12-15 years.
94 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (May 2025)
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