2017 Dogliani Superiore Vigna Tecc, Luigi Einaudi

2017 Dogliani Superiore Vigna Tecc, Luigi Einaudi
A very young, seedy, focused nose with notes of ripe blueberries, iron, violets and herbs. A fine energy to it. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and invigorating with notes of blueberries, damsons, asphalt and candle grease. An uplifting acidity. Long. 4+ years. Better than the 2016 tasted at the estate.
90p   (tasted 2020/05)

2009 Gran Reserva 904, La Rioja Alta

2009 Gran Reserva 904, La Rioja Alta
An open, warm, fine nose with notes of cranberries, red apples, chocolate wafers and that tell tale dill aroma. Very, very good,
The taste is dry and mature with notes of dried strawberries, cranberries, tobacco and fir wood. A fine dry finish. Maybe a tad marked by this hot vintage but there is no problem finishing the bottle with a chicken and sage pasta.
88p   (tasted 2020/05)

2001 Gran Reserva 904

1964 Gran Reserva 904

2004 Barolo Bricco Viole, M. Marengo

2004 Barolo Bricco Viole, M. Marengo
An open, somewhat mature nose with fine notes of tar, tobacco, herbs, undergrowth, roses and, of course, violet pastilles! Very deep and fine. A fine warmth.
The taste is round and fine with notes of asphalt, mint, dried cherries and incense. A long, warm finish with a fine dry twist. Very, very good. Drink now and the coming 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/05)

The 2004 tasted in 2012
2013 Bricco Viole
2014 Bricco Viole
2015 Bricco Viole
2016 Bricco Viole

2015 Spätburgunder Grande Réserve, Weingut Bietighöfer

2015 Spätburgunder Grande Réserve, Weingut Bietighöfer
A high, interesting nose with notes of fir wood, red currants, Finninsh licorice, Lily of the valley and a touch of cinnamon. Idiosyncratic and fine.
The taste is structured and fine with notes of dried raspberries, plywood, forest floor and violets. A very fine warmth. Very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2020/05)

2017 Barbaresco Ronchi, Albino Rocca

2017 Barbaresco Ronchi, Albino Rocca
I remember vividly the Barolo Boys visit to Albino Rocca some 10+ years ago where Angelo poured us some great wines before taking us to lunch in the Barbaresco square, bringing two bottles and one magnum for four... Angelo is very much missed.
The 17 Ronchi flows elegantly up from the glass with fine notes of red currants, rhubarb licorice, asphalt and tons of rose petals. Really fine.
The taste is restrained and handsome wirh notes of red currants and cherries, violets, sage and a hint of fine tobacco. Stony. Very long and refined. 6+ years. A tasting sample from Wine Affair.
93p   (tasted 2020/05)

One Old Sherry & One Old Madeira

NV Don Estepha Amontillado, Bodegas Pastranilla
A nutty, intense nose with notes of white rasisins, old nougat, detergent, white chocolate and mahogny wood. Very deep and complex.
The taste is luscious and tigth with notes of fried nuts, dried sage, old chocolate and shoe polish. A very long finish with a fine acidity. Ends semi dry. High and fine. Bought two bottles for 10 Euros...
92p   (tasted 2020/05)

NV Fine Madeira Wine, Justino Henriques
The neck lable says "Sweet" but on the nose there is more restrained, dry scents that come up from the glass, in the shape of dried nuts, old wrinkled red apples, dry biscuits and model clay. Medium deep.
The taste is expressive and long but dry and a tad empty in the middle. Notes of dry nougat, raisins, nuts and earth. Its good but nothing too write home about.
84p   (tasted 2020/05)

New Vintages From Wine Affair - Part Three - Five La La´s From Guigal

Last part of tasting notes from the tasting of recent releases from Wine Affair. And what a lineup!

2011 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, Guigal
The first La Mouline (usually my favourite of the three La La´s) dispalys a laid back, smoky nose with notes of veal meat, velcro, violets, white pepper and dark flowers. Really fine.
The taste is intense and multi layered with notes of chrushed rocks, ripe blueberries, violets and a hint of tobacco. A gorgeous mouthfeel. Stunning. 8+ years.
97p   (tasted 2020/04)

2012 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, Guigal
The 2012 is more muted on the nose compared with the two other vintages of La Mouline, with notes of flower earth, dried meat, damsons and fir wood. Deep. Very, very good.
The taste is more expressive with notes of sage, damsons, forest floor and some lovely meaty notes. Very, very long. Very fine. 5+ years.
94p   (tasted 2020/04)

2013 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, Guigal
Dark and restrained on the nose, this beauty reveals scents of violet pastilles, raw meat, iron and flower water when you swirl the glass energetically. Really deep and intense.
The taste is young, tight and concentrated with notes of model clay, black pepper, violets and graphite. Long, long, long. Lovely. 10+ years.
96p   (tasted 2020/04)

2012 Côte-Rôtie La Turque, Guigal
A candidate for perfection - just give it 8+ years - the 2012 La Turque oozes up from the glass with stunning notes of asphalt, perfectly mature blueberries, peppered meat and ripe flowers. Very, very deep. Hauntlingly beautiful.
The taste follows the nose with a taut structure and lovely notes of allspice, asphalt, incense, blueberries and ink. The finish goes on for minutes. Great wine.
98p   (tasted 2020/04)

2013 Côte-Rôtie La Turque, Guigal
Last but not least, the 13 La Turque offers up a dark, tight nose with notes of violets, scorched earth, damsons and that distinctive smell of a fresh hockey puck. Very, very deep and promising.
The taste is taut and steady with notes of damsons, violets, asphalt, beef stock and dried flowers. Intense, sandy tannins. This will need time in the cellar, 10+ years. Very fine.
96p   (tasted 2020/04)

2016 Blaufränkisch, Weingut Heinrich

2016 Blaufränkisch, Weingut Heinrich
A earthy, spicy nose with notes of blueberries, lavender, bay leaves, ink and gravel. Very good. A touch of iron and clay.
The taste is tight and structured with notes of damsons, iron, violets and scorched earth. Dry. Fastidious and fine.
87p   (tasted 2020/05)

1996 Barolo, Costa di Bussia - Tenuta Arnulfo

1996 Barolo, Costa di Bussia - Tenuta Arnulfo
From Bussia this 1996 shows a fine. mature nose with notes of dried cherries, mushrooms, shoe polish, aspahlt and a autumn fir forest. Very, very good.
The taste is round and warm but still with a tannin bite and notes of tobacco, dry licorice, mushrooms and violets. A fine lenght with a dry finish. Fully mature, as most 96 are by now. Info here.
89p   (tasted 2020/05)

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection, Raymond

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection, Raymond
This is so yummy it is hard to keep my hand of my decreasing stash of bottles...
The nose jumps from the glass with notes of ripe black currants, coffee powder, fine tobacco and ink. Very deep. Just lovely.
The taste is refined and structured showing no age but fine notes of spicy black currants, warm tiles, tobacco and asphalt. Very, very long. Yet again, impressive. 6+ years.
95p   (tasted 2020/05)


Earlier tasting notes: From March 2018 & March 2017

New Vintages From Wine Affair - Part Two

This was the reds tasted the other day from Wine Affair, except for five bottles of La La´s from Guigal. Those notes will come in the last part.

2018 Limonte, Braida
This young, perky Grignolino jumps out of the glass with notes of chrushed cherry pips, gravel and fresh herbs.
The taste is fresh with a racy acidity and notes of red cherries, cranberries and herbs. Drink now with a bowl of pasta or with some Crudo and Reggiano.
86p   (tasted 2020/04)

2016 Chianti Classico Storia di Famiglio, Cecchi
A young, crisp nose with notes of red cherries, violets and rosemary.
The taste is dry, sandy and taut with a fine, juicy cherry fruit and some violet pastilles. Very good.
87p   (tasted 2020/04)

2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Villa Rosa, Cecchi
The one year older Gran Selezione is a more serious creature with notes of ripe black cherries and some black currants tossed in, Tuscan gravel and dried leather. Deep and complex.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of dried cherries, rosemary, warm tiles and furniture polish. Very long and fine. 5+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/04)

2018 Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Newton Johnson
A fine, smoky Pinot nose with notes of wild raspberries, forest floor and some light meaty aromas. A very fine sweetness.
The taste is earthy and fine with notes of ripe raspberries, salt licorice, leather and red beets. Long and lingering. Lovely.
92p   (tasted 2020/04)

2017 Sojourner Vineyard Pinot Noir, Walter Scott
This is a stunner. The same lovely Pinot fruit as the above but darker, more structured and with added depth. Really fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with gorgeous Pinot fruit and notes of smoke, incense and dark tobacco. Very, very long. Great wine.
95p   (tasted 2020/04)

2017 Geyserville Zinfandel, Ridge
The Geyserville sports a high, direct nose with some VA and additional notes of sweet licorice, blackberries and birch sap. Very interesting.
The taste is big, complex and  a bit all over the place with dark fruit, a high acidity, hints of VA and a fine warmth. Would love to taste this again.
90p   (tasted 2020/04)

2017 Lytton Springs Zinfandel, Ridge
The Lytton Springs on the other hand is a role model for this kind of Zinfandel - dark, suave and perfumed with notes of ripe blueberries, damsons and asphalt. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and warm with ripe black fruit, a dense structure and long, long finish with notes of blueberry pie, smoke and scorched earth. Very fine.
92p   (tasted 2020/04)

2015 Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde, Guigal
The regular Côte-Rôtie shows of a light meaty nose with notes of red currants, blueberries and black pepper. Spicy and fine.
The taste is cool and structured with notes of violets, dried blueberries and warm sand. Medium long and balanced. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2020/04)

2014 Côte-Rôtie Château d´Ampuis, Guigal
From a cool vintage, this d´Ampuis has a high, flowery nose with notes of assorted spices, red currants, damsons and forest floor. Very fine.
The taste is cool and fresh with notes of white pepper, a dried up blueberry pie, violets and a hint of tobacco. On the lighter side but very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2020/04)

2015 Côte-Rôtie Château d´Ampuis, Guigal
A very deep, tight, concentrated nose with notes of ripe blueberries, hand pounded meat, dark flowers and black pepper. Very, very fine.
The taste is pure and handsome with a lovely focus and intense fruit. Layer upon layer. Bay leaves, ripe blueberries, spices and tobacco. Stunning. 8+ years.
95p   (tasted 2020/04)

2016 Barolo, Mauro Veglio
A finely tuned nose with notes of ripe red cherries, some strawberries, Finnish licorice and rosehips. Very, very good.
The taste is young and tight with notes of dried strawberries, rosehips, earth and leather. 6+ years.
90p   (tasted 2020/04)

2016 Barolo Paiagallo, Mauro Veglio
The Paiagallo has a refined, balanced nose with notes of fresh herbs, ripe red cherries, asphalt and some flowery aromas. Very fine.
The taste is elegant and concentrated with silky tannins and a assortment of red and black fruits. Herbs, rosehips and asphalt is noticable in the long finish. Lovely. 8+ years.
These two Veglio wines made me remember the Barolo Boys visit to the estate some two years ago.
93p   (tasted 2020/04)

2015 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa

2015 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa
Being member no 3 in the illustrative association of "Dolcetto Boys & Girls" (of which Elisa Scavino in member no 2) you gotta drink some great Dolcetto from time to time!
The nose is stony and fresh with notes of rowan berries, blueberries, violets, chrushed rocks and a fine salty scent. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and tasty with notes of green peppers, violets and dried blueberries. Sandy. A long finish with silky tannins. Very fine.
90p   (tasted 2020/05)

2011 Iphöfer Kronsberg Spätburgunder Erste Lage, Weingut Hans Wirsching

2011 Iphöfer Kronsberg Spätburgunder Erste Lage, Weingut Hans Wirsching
The nose is open, smoky and direct with notes of ripe strawberries, red beets, earth and smoke. Very fine. Rhubarb licorice after a while.
The taste is cool and fine with notes of ripe lingonberries, red currants and dried strawberries, smoke, licorice and earth. A very fine, dry finish. Very fine.
91p   (tasted 2020/05)