Just Bought

Domenico started his estate with the 1979 vintage, so this is only the third vintage made. In 1982 he began to bottle the Ciabot Mentin Ginestra separately and in 1990 Pajana was born.
I have only met Domenico once, some ten years ago, and only briefly because he had a toothache. That didn´t help to understand his Piedmontese accent...
In recent years I have met Oscar, who now is in charge of the winemaking since Domenicos passing, two times - at the estate in 2017 and at Ba&Ba in 2018.

Mini Vertical Of Oberrotweiler Eichsberg Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Salwey

2011 Oberrotweiler Eichsberg Spätburgunder GG
The 2011 shows signs of maturity, more forest floor and dried red fruits than the two younger vintages. Strawberry jam, smoke and rhubarb licorice. A fine warmth.
The taste is broad and nicely concentrated with notes of dry licorice, earth, dried strawberries and bonfire smoke. A high acidity. Ends on a dry note. Very, very good.
89p   (tasted 2020/06)

2012 Oberrotweiler Eichsberg Spätburgunder GG
The best one in this line up. It has a deep, balanced nose with notes of ripe red cherries, wild strawberries, herbs and smoke. Very fine. Pipe tobacco after a while.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of red cherries, dried raspberries, herbs and tobacco. Silky tannins. Long and fine. 3+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/06)

2014 Oberrotweiler Eichsberg Spätburgunder GG
A restrained, mineral laden nose with notes of ripening red currants, sandelwood and herbs. Shy. Needs time.
The taste is young and medium bodied with notes of red currants, gravel, herbs and tobacco. A high acidity. Somewhat sparse in the finish. 5+ years.
87p   (tasted 2020/06)

1997 Bourriquot, Havens

1997 Bourriquot, Havens
A brilliant, perfectly mature Napa wine made up of two-thirds Cabernet Franc and one-third Merlot. The nose is deep, round and intoxicating with notes of warm tiles, red and black currants, fresh stables, leather and a hint of mint. Very, very fine.
The taste is seamless, perfectly balanced and mature with notes of red and black currants, gravel, tobacco and band aid. Long and refined. Lovely.
The last bottle out of three bought twenty years ago in London.
95p   (tasted 2020/06)

Lunch Tasting With Stunning Blaufränkisch From Dorli Muhr

The Wine Agency invited to an unsual tasting. We sat with great distances apart, the wines poured before we entered the room and Dorli Muhr was with us through Zoom from her home i Austria.
But all in all, a great tasting.

2015 Cuvée vom Berg
Damson, bramble and wet cement defines the nose on this blend of 60% Blaufränkisch, 20% Syrah and 10% Merlot/Cabernet Franc. Some peppery notes after a while indicating the Syrah presence. Very good.
The taste is cool and linear with notes of blueberries, sand and model clay. Good balance. Slender tannins. Dry and fine. 3+ years.
87p   (tasted 2020/06)

2017 Carnuntum
From 2017 Cuvée vom Berg has switched names to Carnuntum. The 2017 consists of 65% Blaufränkisch and 35% Syrah. The nose is more restrained than the 2015 but share the aroma profile. Very good.
The taste is young and seedy with notes of damson, blueberries, cement and smoke. A good structure. A high acidity. Needs 5+ years.
87p   (tasted 2020/06)

2017 Samt & Seide
A fine, deep nose with notes of fried herbs, minerals, dry licorice and dried raspberries. Wilful. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and dry with a fine concentration and notes of blueberries, sloeberries, bakelite, and herbs. A fine length. Structured tannins. 5+ years.
90p   (tasted 2020/06)

2017 Ried Roterd
A very tight, aristocratic nose with notes of warm sand, ripe blueberries, herbs and hints of black pepper. Very balanced and fine.
The taste is tight and intense with notes of herbs, sloeberries and minerals. Very long and promising. 8+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/06)

2015 Liebkind
Aaaah, what a wine. The nose is deep, old viney (yet the vines were only seven years old when this wine was made) and multi layered with notes of ripe blueberries, freeze dried raspberries, model clay and green pepper. Brilliant.
The Liebkind flows effortless over the tongue with a high density, intensity and richness. Gorgeous fruit. Wilful. A lovely wine, maybe not for everyone, it demands attention. 6+ years.
94p   (tasted 2020/06)

Mature grapes at Liebkind!

2015 Spitzerberg
A deep, restrained, concentrated nose with notes of dry asphalt, blueberries, bakelite and assorted herbs. Very handsome.
The taste is refined and intense with notes of blueberries, gravel, herbs and bakelite. The finish goes on and on and on. High-pitched. Old viney, made from grapes from vines with 45, 55 and 65 years of age. This will need time, 10+ years. Impressive.
93p   (tasted 2020/06)

2011 Rossese di Dolceacqua Galeae, Ka*Mancine

2011 Rossese di Dolceacqua Galeae, Ka*Mancine
Like a hypothetical blend of a fine Dolcetto and a Crozes-Hermitage, this Rossese sports a upfront, juicy nose with notes of blueberries, red currants, iron, black pepper, herbs and violets. Very, very good. At nine years of age, not showing any signs of maturity.
The taste is cool and fresh with notes of blueberries, bakelite, dried herbs, forest floor and violets. Light on its feet yet with a fine intensity. Drinking lovely now and the coming 6+ years. As good as tasting it at the estate with Maurizio seven years ago.
91p   (tasted 2020/06)

2017 Lurlibad Chardonnay Reserve, Cottinelli

2017 Lurlibad Chardonnay Reserve, Cottinelli
A deep, spicy, fine nose with notes of butter fudge, fennel, aniseed, flint and papay. Very complex and fine. Some smoky notes after a while.
The taste is concentrated and fine with notes of passionfruit, fudge, smoke and flint. Very long. A very fine acidity. Balanced. Really fine. A great swiss Chard.
92p   (tasted 2020/06)

1999 Barbaresco Rabaja, Produttori del Barbaresco

1999 Barbaresco Rabaja, Produttori del Barbaresco
From probably the best cooperative in the world, this 99 Rabaja needs an hour to unfold. Then it displays fine notes of forest floor, dried cherries, damson, mushrooms, fir wood and a hint of furniture polish. Some maturity. Very fine. A lovely depth.
The taste is tight and refined with silky tannins and notes of dried strawberries, undergrowth, sandel wood, bonfire smoke and asphalt. Very long. This is starting to drink great but I would wait 3+ years for the next bottle.
93p   (tasted 2020/06)

2005 & 2016 Goulée by Cos d´Estournel

2005 Goulée
Only the second vintage of this cuvée from Cos d`Estournel, the first vintage was 2003. The cepage has changed over the years, this is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (80%, and 20% Merlot) while the newer vintages, see below, is Merlot dominated.
The nose is deep and rich, with only some signs of maturity, and fine notes of dried up black currant jam, sandel wood, chocolate wafers, tobacco and fresh stables. Very, very good.
The taste is mature, tight and dry with notes of red and black currants, blueberries, cigarette ash, earth and graphite. Very long. Ends dry. Very fine, for drinking now and the coming 6+ years. The label of the 2005 is great, the 2016 not so much.
92p   (tasted 2020/06)

2005 Goulée by Cos d`Estournel
This 77% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot blend displays a upfront, juicy nose with notes of ripe plums, frehs herbs, leather, violets and bonfire smoke. Ripe, sweet, fresh fruit. Very deep. Needs time.
The taste is big and concentrated with notes of plums, graphite, dark chocolate and asphalt. Very long and promising. 8+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/06)

2016 Dolcetto d´Alba Barturot, Ca`Viola

2016 Dolcetto d´Alba Barturot, Ca`Viola
A young, lively nose with notes of ink, blueberries, violets, sage and blood. Very fine. Intense. Balanced.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of sour cherries, damson, iron and sage. Silky tannins. Long. Very, very good. 5+ years. A great Dolcetto. 14 Euro!
91p   (tasted 2020/06)

Two Summer Drinking Bottles From Villa Wolf

I recently attended a webinar (on my iPad that recently met with a concrete floor...) with Ernie Loosen about his estate in Pfalz, Villa Wolf. A couple of days later I tasted the wines below, courtsey of Vinunic.
Ernie had some very interesting info about the history and current state of Spätburgunder in Germany.

2019 Grauburgunder
A light, polished nose with notes of white peach, flint, lemon peel and lavender soap. Very good.
The taste is cool and fresh with notes of lemon licorice, chalk, gooseberries and the feeling of licking a wet rock. A fine acidity. Summer fresh drinking.
87p   (tasted 2020/06)

2019 Pinot Noir Rosé
A fine, pure nose with notes of wild strawberries, dried strawberries, chives and minerals. Very, very good. Light on its feet with a good intensity.
The taste is tight, dry and finely tuned with notes of dried raspberries, lingonberries, dry licorice and chrushed rocks. A fine structure.
90p   (tasted 2020/06)

2018 Teroldego, Cantina D´Isera

2018 Teroldego, Cantina D´Isera
A tasting sample from Wine World. The nose is crisp and pure with notes of violets, rubber, ink, tar and ripe blueberries. With some air in the glass it smells like summer warm asphalt. Highly likeable.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of blueberries, dry tobacco, tar and herbs. A fine length. Very, very good. For 10 Euro, this is a steal!
89p   (tasted 2020/06)

2011 Oberrotweiler Käsleberg Spätburgunder, Weingut Salwey

2011 Oberrotweiler Käsleberg Spätburgunder, Weingut Salwey
A round, mature, somewhat fiery nose - that calms with air - with notes of cooked strawberries, incense, dark candle grease and a fine perfumed scent. Very good but maybe a tad overmature.
The taste is mature, warm and dry with notes of dried raspberries, licorice, bay leaves and violets. Long and warm. Very good.
86p   (tasted 2020/05)

2015 Château Bouscassé, Brumont

2015 Château Bouscassé, Brumont
A fine, deep, sandy nose with notes of warm tiles, bonfire, herbs and a mix of black cherries, raspberries and blackberries. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of cool tobacco, matchbox, violets, herbs and a fine smoky note. Very fine, polished tannins. Had the opportunity to meet Alain Brumont and taste a wonderful line up a year ago.
90p   (tasted 2020/05)