The esteemed Jeremy came to the research rescue and just wrote in to clear up the confusion (see the previous entry) about a wine label bearing the name Guilio Mascarello on it. The question in need of an answer was: did Guilio actually vinify the wine?
Dr. J, as I refer to him in my book (chapter 6, Desperately Seeking Scanavino)
had this to say:
Considering how old Giulio must have been by 1971, (1895-1981--wine was bottled in 1978) it seems unlikely he was making wine.
In my research (Martinelli) I came across how Bartolo said his father Guilio, was a n�gociant for Fontanafredda "forty or fifty years ago." According to the anecdote's chronology -- which is imprecise -- that's probably the 1920s or 30s. The first Mascarello label appeared in 1918 according to Martinelli.
It seems that in 1978, the Cavalieri del Tartufo tasted and selected the Mascarello 1971 for their own label. The must have called it Giulio Mascarello as a homage to Bartolo's father.**
Dr. J, to the rescue. Many thanks. It's not a conclusive answer but it is grist for the mill or rather tannin for the barrel.
