2009 Barolo Dai Vigneti di Proprieta

(a blend of Villero, Monprivato and Santo Stefano di Perno, which Mascarello previously made during the 1990s; Mascarello compares it in structure to the Villero but notes that he kept the best fruit for that bottling to showcase the Villero terroir): Palish medium red. Enticing aromas of raspberry, pomegranate, licorice, graphite and mint. In a leaner but fresh, even pungent, style, with good spine to its flavors of red berries, mint, spices and flowers. Not deep but nicely juicy. Mascarello makes this wines to improve his crus (the Monfortino grapes in here, for example, were picked after a day of rain), but though this wine shows only modest complexity, I find its tannins less dry than those of the 2009 Villero.