In November of 2018 and March of 2019, the Barolo Boys spent a total of eight hours with Elisa, tasting some extraordinary wines.
How about 2014 & 2015 Baroli, a couple of 2016 Baroli from tank and the 2017 Barolo range from cask? Life is surely good!
A big thanks to Elisa for spending the time with us, pouring these great wines and talking with us about everything between heaven and earth!
November 2018
Upon arriving at the estate we directly headed down in the cellar to taste the 17´s from the big, beautiful casks. These were, in this state of their lives, very forward and easy tasted, showing no heat from the vintage.
2017 Barolo Monvigliero
A handsome, elegant, spicy nose with the typical Monvigliero lightness yet with a fine intensity and floral notes.
The taste is spicy and refined with easy going tannins and lovely red fruit.
~92p (tasted 2018/11)
2017 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio
Expressive and lovely with full frontal raspberry licorice, flowers and rosehips. Very fine.
The taste is deep and taut with sweet minerals, red fruits and licorice. Very, very long.
~94p (tasted 2018/11)
2017 Barolo Ravera
A deep, forest floor nose with notes of Christmas spices, root vegetables and a hint of dog fur. Complex and fine.
The taste is tight and spicy with tobacco, spices and red cherries. The first that shows some really noticable tannins.
~92p (tasted 2018/11)
2017 Barolo Prapó
Seven year old vines has produced an open, fine nose with notes of earth, pepper, smoke and lots of ripe red fruit. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of nutmeg, sweet minerals, mushrooms and dried strawberries. Very fine.
~93p (tasted 2018/11)
2017 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc
What a nose! Deep and beautiful with muscovado sugared red apples, moist earth, ceps and coffee. Balsamic and refined.
The taste is concentrated and multi layered with notes of morelles, licorice, leather and rosehips. A long, long finish. Great wine.
~95p (tasted 2018/11)
2017 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata
Thick, deep and complex on the nose with notes of hard cherry candy, ripe lingonberries, floral and sweet/sour cherries. Just lovely.
The taste is sandy and concentrated with notes of hard cherry candy, fresh mushrooms, dried flowers and roses. Pure and long. Something to look forward too...
~97p (tasted 2018/11)
After this impressive tasting we headed to the tasting room and tasted the following.
2016 Barolo Ravera
The 16 Ravera displays a cool, spicy nose with notes of ripening strawberries, herbs, earth and paint. Very fine.
The taste shows a restrained elegance with spicy red fruit and polished tannins. Very long and fine.
~93p (tasted 2018/11)
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| Elisa with the Ravera label, first vintage 2015 (which we tasted in March 2019, see below) |
A deep, fine nose with notes of gingerbread, hard cherry candy, rosehips and licorice. Refined. Lovely.
The taste is seedy and strong with notes of dried flowers, ripe cherries and nutmeg. Very, very long and distinct.
~95p (tasted 2018/11)
Aaaah, the Bric! A deep and concentrated nose with notes of dark cherries, asphalt, candle grease and rosehips. Expressive and taut.
The taste is large-scaled and intense with notes of dark cherries, rosehips, leather and forest floor. Very, very fine. A touch balsamic. Stunning.
~96p (tasted 2018/11)
2014 Barolo
Aaah, the 14´s - a vintage that were written of by some cretin journalists before the harvest! Ok, it is not the greatest of vintages, it has a lighter touch than the 13 and certainly the 15, but there is lot of fine bottles out there.
The 14 Normale shows of a balanced, fine nose with notes of spices, red cherries and rosehips. Very good.
The taste is pleasant and light with notes of ripening cherries, spices and earth. Finely polished, easy going tannins. 2+ years.
88p (tasted 2018/11)
2014 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio
A fine, elegant nose with notes of wild strawberries, damsons and earth. A tad lighter than usual but with a low keyed intensity.
The taste is medium bodied and seedy with notes of cool cherries, a hint of tobacco and perfume. A fine finish with soft tannins. 3+ years.
90p (tasted 2018/11)
2014 Barolo Monvigliero
The 14 Monvigliero is delicate and juicy with notes of candle grease, incense and hints of tobacco. A fine lightness.
The taste is more earthy and sandy with notes of herbs, dried red fruit and minerals. A medium long, balanced finish.
89p (tasted 2018/11)
2014 Barolo Carobric
A dense, earthy nose with notes of tobacco, ripening cherries and rosehips. A classic, handsome nose,
The taste is dry and tight with notes of rosehips, violets and asphalt. A long, cool finish. Very, very good. 5+ years.
92p (tasted 2018/11)
2014 Barolo Cannubi
A high, deep nose with notes of ripe red cherries, pipe tobacco, dark flowers and a ever so slight hint of mint. Uplifting and very fine.
The taste is structured and fine with notes of ripe cherries, damp earth, leather and rosehips. A long, lingering finish. Very fine. 6+ years.
93p (tasted 2018/11)
2014 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc
Next up, a trio of Bric dël Fiasc, my favourite wine in the Scavino line up. I arranged a vertical tasting seven years ago with twelve vintages who showed the aging potential of this wine.
The nose of the 14 is nicely concentrated with notes of chrushed cherries, mushrooms, licorice and cool tobacco. Deep and refined.
The taste is structured and elegant with notes of ripe cherries, undergrowth, mushrooms, rosehips and a touch of cocoa. Very, very long. Really fine. 6+ years.
93p (tasted 2018/11)
2013 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc
The 13 Bric is a stunner. Even in this early age it showcases everything that makes a wine great - refinement, intensity, depth, vigour, balance etc. The nose just smells of the earth of Langhe, the roses and tar, the cherries and strawberries, the violets and floral high notes. So young but oooh so fine.
The taste follows suit with everything in place, perfect harmony between fruit, acidity and tannins. This will perhaps deserve a perfect score in 10+ years, but I would drink it every day of the week. I´m glad I have some.
97p (tasted 2018/11)
2012 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc
It is not easy to come after the 13 but the 12 is no slouch, with a deep, warm, earthy nose with notes of pipe tobacco, cherry jam and mushrooms. Outgoing and fine.
The taste is taut and seedy with notes of ripe black cherries, tobacco and warm undergrowth. The finish is long and structured. A very fine, ripe fruit. Dense. Very fine. 5+ years.
93p (tasted 2018/11)
March 2019
It was only a week ago we visited Elisa again and yet again we were greated like friends and got to taste the fabolous wines below. But even more important, the solemn occasion to spend four hours with Elisa, talking about the wines and more of Langhe.
2018 Sorriso
Bottled two weeks ago. This 40% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Viognier blend flows up from the glass with delicate notes of lemon soap, chrushed stones, summer flowers and a hint of black currant leaves. Very, very good. If there is one grape that stands out it is the Sauvignon.
The taste is cool and crisp with notes of dried up lemoncello, minerals and grass. A fresh and uplifting acidity. Dry and fine.
89p (tasted 2019/03)
2017 Sorriso
In the 17 it is the Chardonnay who taked the front seat on the nose, with notes of almonds, dried flowers, dry pineapple and chrushed rocks. Very, very good. Evolves nicely in the glass.
The taste is spicy and broader than the 18 with notes of sage, dried flowers and almond paste. A blood grape bitterness in the end. Very, very good.
88p (tasted 2019/03)
2017 Pinot Noir
This you wont find on any wine shop shelf, no matter how hard you try. Elisa came with a no label bottle and poured. We liked but had no clue (I thought it to be a Dolcetto...).
Some rowes of Pinot in a vineyard in Alta Langhe which Paolo Scavino got to make some bottles for the family. A privilege to taste and a very good wine.
The nose is fresh and berry with notes of blueberries with some raspberries tossed in, spicy licorice and gravel. High and fine.
The taste is cool and linear with notes of spice, a touch of cardamon, a fine mix of blue- and raspberries and gravel. A high acidity. Very, very good. Got better and better in the glass.
91p (tasted 2019/03)
2018 Dolcetto d´Alba
Grapes from Bricco Borgia. The nose is upfront and juicy with notes of damsons, iron and gingerbread spices.
The taste is crisp and steely with notes of iron, blueberry skins, violets and rust. Salivating. Fresh and fine.
88p (tasted 2019/03)
2017 Langhe Nebbiolo
A warm, earthy nose with notes of root vegetables, rosehips and dry raspberries. A hint of dry dark fudge after a while. Very good.
The taste is warm and stony with notes of ripe raspberries, leather and warm tiles. A fine finish. Medium bodied.
87p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Barolo
A finely perfumed nose with notes of cool black currants, dark flowers and almond cookies.
The taste is balanced and fine with notes of ripe cherries, undergrowth and bakelite. Very, very good in a young, restrained way. 4+ years.
90p (tasted 2019/03)
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| A hard days work... |
A deep, spicy nose with notes of raspberry licorice, mushrooms and some asphalt scents. A fine depth and perfume.
The taste is warm and concentrated with notes of ripe red cherries, dried up perfume and minerals. Very long with a fine dryness at the end. 5+ years.
91p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Barolo Monvigliero
The Monvigliero is a beauty with a high, peculiar and gorgeous nose with notes of fresh herbs, violets, paint, sandel wood and shoe polish. Very fine. Earthy and polished.
The taste is refined and handsome with notes of ripe lingonberries, dry tobacco, earth and a hint of band aid. Very complex and fine. 5+ years.
94p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Barolo Ravera
2015 is the first vintage of Ravera at Scavino. It has a forward, spicy nose with notes of iron, roses, violets and dried strawberries. Very fine.
The taste is tight and handsome with notes of licorice, iron and dried red fruit. A long, seedy finish with some strapping tannins. This will need time - 8+ years. Very, very good.
92p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Barolo Prapó
As with the Ravera above, this is the first vintage of Prapó. And even more impressing, from 5 years old vines - planted ny Elisa herself! And that´s maybe why it is so beautiful. The nose soars up from the glass with notes of dark strawberries, candle grease, cigarette smoke and earth. Very pure, high and racy.
The taste is intense and concentrated with notes of damsons, iron, dried strawberries and chrushed rocks. Very, very fine. 6+ years.
95p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Barolo Carobric
Too bad, the last vintage of Cannubi and the of course, Carobric, will be the 2018. The Scavino´s lease of the parcel in Cannubi is no longer and therefore these two Cru´s will be no more.
The nose of the 15 Carobric is herbal and fine with notes of sweet/sour cherries, dried flowers and a hint of rubber, Very, very fine.
The taste is flowery and steady with notes of red and black cherries, hard cherry candy and leather. Racy tannins. Very long. Just lovely. 8+ years.
94p (tasted 2019/03)
2015 Barolo Cannubi
The Cannubi is a dream with a gorgeous, deep, structured nose with notes of raspberry licorice, fir wood, tobacco and rosehips. Very focused and fine. Some warm tiles after a while. Stunning.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of ripe violets, dark strawberries, licorice and tobacco. Very, very long and taut. Give this 8+ years and you will have something amazing in the glass.
96p (tasted 2019/03)
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| More Cannubi? Yes please! |
2015 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc
I can´t help it, I adore the Bric dël Fiasc! And the 15 is no exception. The nose rises from the glass with notes of tobacco, ripe black currants, ceps and rosehips. Very refined and multi layered. Great wine.
The taste is structured and rich with a perfect balance between fruit, acidity and tannins. Lovely notes of ripe black cherries, furniture polish, mushrooms and leather. The finish goes on and on and on. 10+ years.
97p (tasted 2019/03)
2013 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell´Annunziata
Since I love the 2013 vintage I had hopes that this bottle would rival the 2010. It is a fantastic wine but it doesn´t reach that heights. The nose is cool and balanced with notes of ripe herbs, model clay, dried cherries and red beets. Very complex and fine.
The taste is structured and high spirited with notes of dried cherries, tobacco, paint and some fine balsamic notes. Very, very long. A fine earthy note. 8+ years. Will I get it.....oooh yes!
95p (tasted 2019/03)
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| Elisa with The Barolo Boys |
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