2004 Barolo Lazzarito, Vietti

2004 Barolo Lazzarito, Vietti
Still not mature, this gorgeous creature needed two hours before opening up. The nose is deep and refined with notes of ripe black cherries sprinkled with some mint, shoe polish, fir wood, ceps and Christmas spices. Very complex. Just lovely. But still on the young side of things.
The taste is multi layered and tight with notes of black cherries, mushrooms, licorice, tobacco ashes and fried spices. Some balsamic notes. Very, very, very long. Silky tannins. I would give this beauty another 6+ years in the cellar.
95p   (tasted 2020/07)

2010 Chateau Angludet

2010 Chateau Angludet
A favourite ”minor” Chateau of mine from the 80’s. I have very fine memories of the 1982, 1985 and 1989 vintages. I have only tasted a few vintages since then.
This 2010 shows of a incipient maturity, with notes of polished mature black currants, plums, cedar and fine tobacco. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and sandy with velvety tannins and notes of red and black currants, warm tiles, red pepper and graphite. 3+ years.
89p   (tasted 2020/07)

2017 Arbe Garbe

2017 Arbe Garde
From Sonoma, this blend of 55% Malvasia Bianca, 30% Ribolla Gialla and 15% Tocai Friulano, shows of a big, open, beautiful nose with notes of passionfruit, white flowers, nutmeg and dry fudge. Very deep and fine.
The taste is creamy and rich with a fine tightness and notes of dried pine apples, fried nuts, sand, minerals and dried flowers. Very long with a fine warmth. A fine acidity. For drinking now and the coming 5+ years. Went perfectly with some fresh seafood and cheese from the the West coast of Sweden.
91p   (tasted 2020/07)

2014 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Serraboella, Paitin

2014 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Serraboella, Paitin
Tasted two years ago at the estate - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2019/03/long-overdue-notes-barolo-boys-in.html - this has not budged at all since then. The nose is still young and fresh with notes of hard cherry candy, dry licorice, sun warm gravel and birch wood. High and handsome.
The taste is cool and refined with notes of fresh mushrooms, ripe red currants, iron and asphalt. Very long and fine. This still needs 6+ years. Great wine.
93p   (tasted 2020/07)

2015 Barbera d’Alba Vigna Francia, Giacomo Conterno

2015 Barbera d’Alba Vigna Francia, Giacomo Conterno
This is a stunning Barbera. Tasted twice before, see below. On this night it displays a nose filled with notes of ripe dark raspberries, sweet licorice, juniper berries and polished wooden floors. Very deep and fine.
The taste is ripe and steady with notes of raspberry licorice, blackberries, violets and fir wood. Sporting a brilliant Barbera acidity. Very long and fine. Great juice!
93p   (tasted 2020/07)

https://barolista.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-barolo-boys-visits-bartolo.html

https://barolista.blogspot.com/2018/01/2010-anas-cetta-elvio-cogno-2015.html

2009 Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d’Or, La Pousse d’Or

2009 Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d’Or, La Pousse d’Or
This beauty needed an hour or two before really opening up, but then...just wooow! The nose is deep, complex and utterly delicious with notes of sweet red currants, forest floor, dark flowers, smoke and a stunning balsamic note. Awesome is the right word on this occasion.
The taste is handsome and tight with notes of ripe red currants, rasberry candy, bakelite and loads of minerals. Sand and silk. Sooo balanced. Very, very long. Has started its way to maturity but I would love to drink this gorgeous creature from now and the coming 15 years. A truly great wine. Grand Cru level and then some.
97p   (tasted 2020/07)

1998 Barolo Monprivato, Giuseppe Mascarello

1998 Barolo Monprivato, Giuseppe Mascarello
Monprivato can in my experience be kind of a hit or miss, but this is a classic Barolo. The nose of this 98 is deep, finely tuned and multi layered with notes of dried mushrooms, violets, (over)ripe strawberries, dark candle grease and old asphalt. Very complex. Mature. Very fine.
The taste is round, velvety and fine but with a supporting dry tannin structure at the end. Fine notes of dried orange peel, dried strawberries, expensive tobacco and violets. A restrained elegance. Very, very fine. If the label have said 1989 or 1990 I would have been glad, for that is what I would have guessed if I was poured this blind. A tad advanced for a 98, but all the same a very fine Barolo.
94p   (tasted 2020/07)

2003 Montevetrano

2003 Montevetrano
The nose is deep and rugged, like a Bordeaux from a not a really great vintage, a little rustic, dark and warm. But it displays fine notes of dried plums, black currants, asphalt and fried herbs. A very fine sweetness to the fruit. A very fine depth.
The taste is taut and tight with notes of black currants, warm sand, bonfire smoke and dark tobacco. Very long and dry. Racy. Very, very good. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years.
91p   (tasted 2020/07)

2015 Cuvee Victor, Schlossgut Diel

2015 Cuvee Victor, Schlossgut Diel
This gorgeous Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc blend sports an outgoing, energetic nose with notes of passionfruit, sage, white pepper, wet asphalt and white flowers. Very deep. Just lovely.
The taste is handsome and refined with notes of white currants, peach, white pepper, sage and loads of sweet minerals. Very long with a fine cleansing acidity. Really fine.
94p   (tasted 2020/07)

Two 85p 93´s

It is no secret that I have a special kinship when it comes to the overlooked vintage of 1993. I have even called myself The Cape Crusader Of The Forgotten Vintage Of 1993...
I buy them whenever I see them! Often for a song.

1993 Raunthaler Baiken Riesling Spätlese, Kloster Eberbach
A lovely, deep nose with notes of tangerines, orange peel, linoleum and some dried up honey. It feels like it has been sweeter than your normal Spätlese, a long time ago.
The taste is dry and sandy with notes of dried orange peel, rubber and clay. A dry acidity. Somewhat short. Good.
85p   (tasted 2020/07)

1993 Barbaresco, Gli Ori di Alba
A nicely matured nose with notes of autumn leaves, red currants, dried dark flowers and hint of wet asphalt. A low keyed intensity. Very good.
The taste is dry and fine with notes of rowan berries, gravel, dry licorice and gravel. A tad one dimensional though.
85p   (tasted 2020/07)

2017 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino

2017 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino
This single vineyard Dolcetto is sooo young and promising, and with a few bottles I thought I will have a test drive. The nose is tight and concentrated with notes of fresh blueberries, damson, minerals, ink and blood. High and structured. Restrained. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and steady with notes of blueberries, iron, salt licorice and violets. Very long and distinct. This needs 8+ years. Very fine. A great Dolcetto.
92p   (tasted 2020/07)

Who Said That Dolcetto Can´t Age? Three Bottles From 1990

Dolcetto Boys & Girls. In this illustrious association I am number three. Elisa Scavino is number two and my friend S is number one, and also the founder.
We take Dolcetto serious. As it should be.

1990 Dolcetto d´Alba, Parusso
At first, a bit foursquare on the nose but with a couple of hours air it displays notes of dry leather, damson, earth, dried up lingonberry jam and linseed oil. Very good.
The taste is dry and linear with notes of dried red currants, earth, dry leather and ink. A bit short. Nice enough, fully alive but in the end a tad one dimensional.
84p   (tasted 2020/07)

1990 Dolcetto d´Alba Vigneto Sorj Canta, Eredi Lodali
A high, spicy nose with notes of red currants, band aid, forest floor, linoleum and dry tobacco. Very interesting. Changes over the evening with added red fruits and a furniture polish aroma.
The taste is tight and still perky with notes of red currants, lingonberries, dried herbs and tobacco. A high acidity. Long. A fine dryness. Very, very good. Mature but bottles like this will go on for 5+ years.
87p   (tasted 2020/07)

1990 Dolcetto d´Alba San Rümu, La Spinetta
1990 was the heyday of barriques in Langhe. But to use barriques on Dolcetto? I´m not sure but I could wage a bet or two that this wine has seen the inside of a barrique. The nose is large scaled and concentrated with notes of chocolate bisquits, dried raspberries, old wood, tobacco and incense. Very deep and fine.
The taste is big and dry with a mix of dried raspberries and blueberries, earth, tobacco and dry chocolate. Very long. Intense. Mature, yes, but I would say barely so, drink this now and the coming 10+ years. Who said that Dolcetto can´t age?
90p   (tasted 2020/07)

1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Jean Leon

1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Jean Leon
In the late nineties this was kind of a favourite, inexpensive and great tasting. How about now, twenty years later?
The nose is a bit shy, even with airing, and displaying notes of fresh stables, dried black curants and old leather. Soft. Fully mature but not overly so.
The taste is cool, mature and dry with notes of dried red and black currants, autumn leaves, gravel and tobacco. Good. Very much alive but a tad boring compared to my memory of it.
84p   (tasted 2020/07)

2016 The Dead Arm Shiraz, d´Arenberg

2016 The Dead Arm Shiraz, d´Arenberg
A deep, high strung, lightly meaty nose with notes of blueberry pie, blackberries, lots of violet and björnklister (a kind of glue that every Swede over 40 years of age is familiar with...). Very fine.
The taste is broad and structured with notes of ripe blueberries, violet, flower water and some fried bacon notes. A long, long finish with a fine warmth (the 15% alcohol doesn´t show). Intense. 8+ years,
94p   (tasted 2020/07)

2002 Reserva, Castillo Perelada

2002 Reserva, Castillo Perelada
This 18 year old Reserva has an outgoing, mature nose with notes of ripe black currants, plums, fresh rosemary, warm clay and asphalt. A fine depth. Very good.
The taste is big and steady with a round warmth and notes of blackberries, rosemary, gravel and sweet tobacco. Long. Fully mature and in a great drinking phase. More impressions of the wines from Castillo Perelada below.
88p   (tasted 2020/06)


A visit to Castillo Perelada in 2015
A lunch tasting with wines from Castillo Perelada in 2016