Mauro Mascarello
Mauro Mascarello took over the family wine company and vineyards from his father Giuseppe with his first vintage in 1967. He is most famous for his legendary individual Barolo from the great 16-hectare Monprivato vineyard in Castiglione Falletto, which became his exclusively after a series of extra purhases in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1990. This is a wine traditionally made using a significant proportion of the scented michet nebbiolo clone, which typically maintains a plateau of perfection from 7 to 25 years after the vintage. The western edge of the south-east facing slope, called Codana, produces exceptional Barbera from 100-year-old vines. He also grows dolcetto on the Bricco, or top, of the Monprivato slope. He owns just over half a hectare of nebbiolo in the Villero vineyard in the same commune, and 3 hectares of the Santo Stefano vineyard in Monforte d'Alba, planted in 1988 with barbera, dolcetto and a little nebbiolo. Mauro's cellar by the Tanaro river in Monchiero is strictly traditional, with only large wooden casks and concrete vats. His wife Maria Teresa and son Giuseppe, born 1964, assist him.