Not So Long Overdue Notes - The Barolo Boys Visit Giacomo Conterno

I am starting to catch up with my notes... These are from last November when two unrelenting Barolo Boys headed to Piedmont and ate and drank well. First stop - Roberto!

Ciacomo Conterno
When we left, despite all great wines tasted at this visit (as usual), we couldn´t stop talking about the glass Roberto has created - Sensory
What about it, you could say, just another wine glass? No, no, no. Tasting is believing and I urge everyone interested in getting the most from your wines, to try it.

Roberto is happy when we have surrended to his glass. A white wine? Read on...

2016 Barbera d´Alba
Bottled june 18. The nose is luscious and refined with notes of red plums, incense, dry licorice and dried flowers. Very fine.
The taste is mouth coating and juciy with notes of raspberrry licorice, earth and spices. A long finish with a fine warmth. Lovely. I bet that 17 will be even better.
92p   (tasted 2018/11)

The new glass - Sensory - soon in my cupboard...

2015 Gattinara, Nervi
Robertos new project. He has been involved for some years but for these vintages he has been more of a consulting wine maker. From 2018 he has bought the estate and has full control.
The nose is cool and fresh with notes of lingonberries, chrushed rocks, rosehips and dried strawberries. Light and fine.
The taste is tight and seedy with a fine acidity, strappy tannins and dried red berries - lingonberries, raspberry and currants. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2018/11)

2014 Gattinara Vigna Valferana, Nervi
A very deep, restrained and spicy nose with notes of dry licorice, cool red cherries. asphalt and rosehips. A fine nerve.
The taste is laid bacl, tight and complex with notes of dried strawberries, herbs, asphalt and dried roses. Long and very fine.
91p   (tasted 2018/11)

2014 Gattinara Vigna Molsino, Nervi
The Vigna Molsino is a stunner, with a sandy, herbal and stony nose with notes of dried strawberries, fresh roses, sun warm rocks and a hint of tobacco. Very pure and fine.
The taste is racy, pure and seedy with notes of ripening strawberries, sand, iron and earth. The proverbial "iron fist in a velvet glove". Great wine. Maybe it is time to open the 1964 Gattinara Riserva from Luigi Nervi that I have...
93p   (tasted 2018/11)

2014 Barolo Cerretta
A very deep, balanced, gorgeous nose with notes of rose petals, bricks, a touch of bonfire, sweet/sour cherries and cigarette ashes. There is lots going on here and all is good. Just stunning.
The taste is very tight and complex with notes of rosehips, cherry licorice, warm tiles, asphalt and tobacco. Every knot and bolt in the right place, but ooh so young. Even better than the 13. Give it 6+ years and then...
96p   (tasted 2018/11)

Roberto pouring Monfortino...

2013 Barolo Monfortino
Tasted a year ago - with a then perfect score - it has now tightened up and show more structure, depth and restraint. Brilliant fruit, awesome balance and a finish that goes on and on and on. Will get that perfect score again, in 15+ years time. Too bad its out of my price range now.
98p   (tasted 2018/11)

2007 Kirchspiel, Keller
Roberto had by now proved that for Barbera and Nebbiolo his glass outshined the Zalto (from which we always have tasted when visiting), but then he mentioned that his glass was the best for Cabernet, Merlot, Riesling... Riesling we said! No way! Not with this shape!
Roberto was up to the challenge and fetched a Keller bottle and now we were poured this wine in four different glassed - Zalto Universal, Zalto Bordeaux, Zalto Burgundy and Sensory.
And the outcome - the Sensory glass was vastly superior to the others. No match.
And the Kirchspiel? Great wine!
94p   (tasted 2018/11)