Tuesday 20 March 2018

A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - Visit To Giovanni Corino & Sordo


Only 15 days before The Barolo Boys yet again descends on Barolo. But there are still notes to be posted from my visit in Janyary.

Giovanni Corino
My first visit to Giovanni Corino. I was met by Andrea Corino who showed me the cellar and opened these fine bottles for me to taste.




2016 Dolcetto d´Alba
A fine, sporty Dolcetto with notes of blueberries, ink, forest floor and spices. Fresh and fine.
The taste is juicy and light with a fine purity, salivating tannins and a medium long finish. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2018/01)


2016 Barbera d´Alba
An upfront, juicy nose with notes of ripe raspberries, asphalt and a hint of tobacco. Round and fine.
The taste is racy, tight and fine with notes of raspberry licorice, gravel and warm herbs. A fine acidity.
88p   (tasted 2018/01)



2015 Barbera Ciabot Dù Re
The 15 Ciabot Dù Re has a deep, gorgeous nose with lots of ripe raspberries and additional notes of Christmas spices, scorched earth and leather. Really good.
The taste is warm and spicy with a cery good grip and plenty of raspberry fruit with some asphalt - and licorice notes tossed in. Lovely.
91p   (tasted 2018/01)

2016 Langhe Nebbiolo
A high, fine nose with notes of cool cherries, hard licorice, violets and forest floor. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and structured with notes of hard cherry candy, licorice and mushrooms. Sandy tannins. Another glimpse of what 2016 will have in store for us when the Baroli will be released.
90p   (tasted 2018/01)


2014 Barolo
The 14 Normale has a light, high nose with notes of red cherries, licorice and smoke. A fine earthiness.
The taste is young and tight with notes of dried up raspberry jam. mushrooms and asphalt. A good grip. Some dry tannins at the end. 3+ years.
88p   (tasted 2018/01)



2013 Barolo
The 13 Barolo shows a deep, spicy nose with notes of dark cherry fruit, Finnish licorice and smoke. Very, very good.
The taste is structured and fine with silky tannins, a lovely cherry fruit and a long, tobacco filled finish. A really fine 13 Normale. 6+ years.
91p   (tasted 2018/01)

2014 Barolo Giachini
A deep, herbal, smoky nose with notes of ripe red cherries, asphalt and violets. Very fine.
The taste is cool and layered with notes of hard cherry candy, smoke, tobacco and some dry chocolate at the end of the long finish. This is good! 4+ years.
92p   (tasted 2018/01)


2014 Barolo Arborina
The Arborina has a somewhat restrained nose with notes of ripening red fruits, cool tobacco, gravel and a hint of mint. A good depth.
The taste is more open with notes of dried strawberries, smoke, rosehips and gravel. A long, lingering finish. Silky tannins. 4+ years.
91p   (tasted 2018/01)

2012 Barolo Riserva
Here we can talk about depth! A refined, complex nose with notes of dried cherries, fir smoke, meat and dried flowers. Perfumed and very fine.
The taste is big and structured yet with a fine balance and lovely notes of dried cherries, forest floor, paint and roses. An old vine feeling. Very long. Great wine.
94p   (tasted 2018/01)



2013 L´Insieme
Corino´s L´Insieme is a blend of 40% Nebbiolo, 30% Barbera and 15% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is open and warm with notes of herbs, tobacco, spices and a mix of raspberries and red currants. Very good.
The taste is big and smoky with notes of bonfire smoke, red and black currants and spices. Long and warm. Good but lacks the refinement of the Nebbiolo´s.
86p   (tasted 2018/01)



Sordo
I visited Sordo last summer and really liked the 2013 line up so I was eager to taste the 14´s. Arriving at the estate the glasses are prepared and so am I!


Sordo has an impressive range of Barolo cru´s, eight of them and including the Normale I was going to taste nine Baroli here, nice for my Barolo count :-)
Paolo took care of me as last time but I also got to meet Giorgio Sordo, the head of the family and owner, justifiable proud of the wines of this estate.


2014 Barolo
A tad restrained with an earthy character and notes of lingonberries, dry licorice and road dust.
The taste is light and fine with crisp red fruit, snappy tannins and a medium long finish. 2+ years.
88p   (tasted 2018/01)

2014 Barolo Monvigliero
First out of the cru´s is the Monvigliero which shows a light, delicate nose with notes of Christmas spices, dried strawberries and chrushed rocks. Very fine.
The taste is cool and spicy with notes of dried strawberries, herbs and a hint of dark fudge. Long and fine with juicy tannins. 4+ years.
91p   (tasted 2018/01)

2014 Barolo Ravera
The Ravera is warm and spicy with notes of cherries, coffee grounds and a hint of mint. Very fine.
The taste is dry and tight with notes of cherries, violets and undergrowth. A fine warmth. Sandy tannins. Very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2018/01)


2014 Barolo Gabutti
A laid back, almost shy nose at first and it needed some swirling to let of notes of lingonberries, cocoa, Christmas spices and forest floor. Very young.
The taste is tight and restrained with notes of red currants, cranberries, rosehips and gravel. Will need 5+ years.
90p   (tasted 2018/01)

2014 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione
The Rocche always delivers and gets special with age, as as the 04 proved a couple of months ago. The ten year younger version displays a rocky, intense nose with notes of roses, ripening raspberries, tobacco and asphalt. Very deep and promising.
The taste is tight and polished with notes of red cherries, red tea, rosehips, mushrooms and a hint of tar. Very classic and very fine. 6+ years.
93p   (tasted 2018/01)

2014 Barolo Villero
The Villero has a high, concentrated nose with notes of earth, licorice, ripe lingonberries and bakelite. Deep and fine.
The taste is structured and fine with notes of hard cherry candy, fried herbs, undergrowth and a hint of tobacco. Very long and distinct. 5+ years.
92p   (tasted 2018/01)


2014 Barolo Parussi
There is lots of ripe cherries on the nose of the Parussi, alongside notes of tar, violets and incense. Very fine.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of spices, undergrowth, hard cherry candy and asphalt. Very, very long. 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2018/01)

2014 Barolo Monprivato
From hallowed ground the Sordo Monprivato has a deep, concentrated nose with notes of sweet tobacco, raspberry licorice, forest floor and chrushed rocks. Some balsamic scents are also there, in this complex and multi layered nose.
The taste is very tight and intense with notes of ripe cherries, asphalt, tobacco and dried mushrooms. The wave of sandy tannins that comes in the finish is impressing. For the long haul. 8+ years.
93p   (tasted 2018/01)

2014 Barolo Perno
The Perno has a deep and restrained nose with notes of violets, black cherries, smoke and bakelite. Very deep. Will need time.
The taste is concentrated and taut with stern tannins and a locked up dark cherry fruit, alongside notes of dry tobacco, asphalt and violets. Very long. 8+ years.
91p   (tasted 2018/01)

The cellar masters at Sordo

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