2011 Barolo Arborina, Mauro Veglio

2011 Barolo Arborina, Mauro Veglio

It was almost three years ago I last drank a bottle of this fine Nebbiolo. During those years it has become more focused and the fruit more concentrated. The nose is deep and structured with notes of sour and sweet cherries, asphalt, forest floor and a hint of shoe cream. Very fine.

The taste is taut and racy with notes of fresh mushrooms, ripe cherries, licorice and rosehips. A long finish with some still perky tannins. Lovely. 3+ years. 

93p   (tasted 2021/03)

Other vintages tasted:

2008 Arborina

2013 Arborina

2016 Arborina

2006 Barolo Bricco Luciani, Silvio Grasso

2006 Barolo Bricco Luciani, Silvio Grasso

After visiting this estate I bought some bottles from different vintages. I recently tasted 2004 & 2010 Bricco Luciani and tonight is was time for the 2006.

The nose is deep and somewhat mature with notes of a moist forest floor, ceps, dried cherries, roses & asphalt and a ever so slight hint of mint. Open and delectable.

The taste is seedy and fine with notes of dried cherries with a salty touch, dried flowers, asphalt and rosehips. A very fine acidity and polished tannins. Very long and fine. 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/03)

2004 Bouzy Rouge, Barnaut

2004 Bouzy Rouge, Barnaut

This 17 year olf red wine from Barnaut hasn´t aged well. The nose is mature and murky with notes of model clay, dried raspberries, old red apples and wet wood. Some VA. 

The taste is cool and dry with notes of dry herbs, some raspberries and a high acidity. Rather short. Drinkable but I would pass on another bottle.

79p   (tasted 2021/3)

Two More Spätburgunder From Weingut Ehrhart

A couple of weeks ago I tasted two bottles from Weingut Ehrhart and now it was time for two more!

2016 Eschbach "R" Spätburgunder, Weingut Ehrhart 

The 16 is not as great as the 15 (see tasting note in the link above) with its warmer and more outgoing nose, with notes of spices, orange blossom, raspberries and sugared coffee. Very good though.

The taste is better with a tighter structure, a fine raspberry dominated fruit and a long, warm finish. A fine acidity. Very, very good.

88p   (tasted 2021/3)

2015 Sonnenberg Spätburgunder, Weingut Ehrhart

The 15 Sonnenberg is a stunner, with a deep, spicy nose with notes of rhubarb, raspberries, blood orange, cinnamon and furniture polish. Complex and fine. 

The taste is cool, spicy and multi layered with notes of orange zest, raspberries, forest floor and rhubarb licorice. A very fine acidity. Long and lingering. Very fine.

92p   (tasted 2021/3)

1988 Barbaresco Sorì Ciabot, Traversa & A Desert Island Album

1988 Barbaresco Sorì Ciabot, Traversa

A deep, mature nose with notes of raspberry candy, forest floor, dried flowers and fried nuts. A rough refinement.

The taste is dry and mature with notes of dried raspberries, herbs, gravel and dry licorice. Medium long. Very good but I guess it was even better 5-8 years ago.

87p   (tasted 2021/03)

Queensryche / Operation Mindcrime /1988

This is not a desert island album, this is the desert island album. The best album ever made. Period.

Just listen to the perfect songs below, everyone is 100p. Never equeled, never surpassed.

Revolution Calling

Operation Mindcrime

Speak

Spreading The Disease

The Mission

Suite Sister Mary

The Needle Lies

Breaking The Silence

I Don´t Believe In Love

Eyes Of A Stranger

A Blast From A Not So Distant Past - 2013 Pas Petite, Landin

2013 Pas Petite, Landin

It seems like ages ago I had a bottle of this 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Zinfandel blend made by a Swedish wine journalist - Erica Landin - but it was in fact only three years ago a drank a bottle.

It has kept well, added some maturity and is in a great drinking phase right now. The nose displays a dark, focused fruit with notes of plums, blackberries, asphalt and fir smoke. Very, very good.

The taste is balanced and fine with notes of blackberries, smoke, fried herbs and hot gravel. A long, dry finish with a fine dried up warmth. Really good. I would say on top of its game. 300 bottles made and this was my last of four bought (1,3% of the total production, the equivalent of 3.120 bottles of Mouton-Rothschild in a normal year...)

91p   (tasted 2021/03)

Vingruppens Tasting Of New Releases - Part Two - Whites

The second part from the tasting of Vingruppens new releases.

2019 Riesling Heimbourg, Zind-Humbrecht

A large scaled, deep and fine with notes of ripe peach, chrushed rocks and diesel oil. A fine sweetness in the background.

The taste is rich and stony with notes of ripe lemons, chalk, dried apricots. Intense. A fine acidity. Ends dry.

Will be released April 6.

90p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2015 Riesling Heiligenstein 1ÖTW, Bründlmayer

A finely tuned, elegant nose with notes of star fruit, wet asphalt, steel and a hint of rubber. Very, very good.

The taste is high and fresh with notes of lemon peel, minerals, lemon licorice and steel. A racy acidity. Long.

Will be released April 13.

91p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2017 Pouilly-Fuiseé, Jules Desjourneys

I swirl the glass vigorously and get some discrete notes of chrushed rocks, birch leaves and gravel. Very pure and balanced. Needs lots of time.

The taste is tight, crisp and displays a low key intensity with structure and acidity in the driver seat. The fruit is tied up in the trunk. Needs at least 8 years.

Will be released March 16.

90p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2017 Beaujolais-Villages Blanc, Jules Desjourneys

Same as the above, acidity and structure are the treats that show themselves, but this isn´t as coherent and racy as the Pouilly-Fuisée. The acidity is dialed up to eleven...

Will be released March 16.

87p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2019 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Kutch

Peaches, smoke and pecan nuts fills the nose of this finely built Chardonnay. A fine depth. Very, very good.

The taste is smoky and fine with notes of grilled lemons, hand cream and yellow flowers. A very fine acidity. Very fine.

Will be released March 16.

92p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2018 Morey-St-Denis 1er Cru Monts Luisants, Domaine Dujac

A gorgeously perfumed nose with notes of lemon cream, matchbox, lavender and summer flowers. A very fine depth. Lovely.

The taste is refined and racy with acidity, fruit and structure in a beautiful balance. Very long. Candied lemons, flint, nuts and an array of flowers. Great wine. 6+ years.

Will be released March 18.

94p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes, Domaine Dujac

The PM from Dujac have everything that the Morey-St-Denis have but the intensity is higher, the fruit is more concentrated and the balance is exquisite. A stunning wine that needs 8+ years in the cellar.

Will be released March 18.

96p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2018 Meursault Village, Arnaud Ente

A Meursault Village that cost 50% more than a Premier Cru from Dujac? Worth it? No.

The nose is very deep and handsome with notes of yellow apples, paint, sun warm gravel and smoke. Heavier than the Dujac´s. 

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of candied lemons, gravel, smoke and ripe yellow pears. Focused. Very, very good but the price (175 Euro) reflects Arnaud Ente´s reputation rather than the quality in the bottle.

Will be released April 8.

92p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Dog Point

A very juicy, typical Sauvignon Blanc with notes of freshly cut grass, gooseberries and white currants. Fresh and fine.

The taste is dry and fine with notes of grass, hay, grey pears and gravel. Upfront and fine.

Will be released April 27.

88p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2018 Chardonnay, Dog Point

A fine, smoky nose with notes of grilled lemons, grass, butter biscuits and hand cream. Very, very good.

The taste is fresh and balanced with notes of ripe lemons, biscuits, gravel and yellow flowers. Long and fine. A very good Chard for immediate consumption.

Will be released April 20.

90p   (tasted 2021/03) 

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa

As Number Three (I am not a number, I am a free man!) in the exclusive  Dolcetto Boys & Girls group my mission is to taste as many Dolcetto´s as possible. Hard work.

The 2019 from Bruno Giacosa is a fine example with a young, spicy nose with notes of ripe blueberries, bakelite, shoe cream, warm rocks and Langhe earth. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of blueberries, damsons, red tea and dusty earth. Perky tannins. A fine length. This is really good. I need more bottles of this.

91p   (tasted 2021/03)

Vingruppens Tasting Of New Releases - Part One - Champagne

Vingruppen invited to a tasting of upcoming releases on the monopoly. 

2010 Clos Nostre Seynor, Mestres Cava

A very nice, somewhat mature nose with notes of tangerines, gravel and assorted flowers. 

The taste is dry and fine with notes of grilled lemons, tangerines and gravel. Very, very good.

Will be relesead March 9.

90p  (tasted 2021/03)

NV Les Précimes Brut, Egly-Ouriet

A cool, fresh nose with notes of smoke, lemon peel, lavender and chrushed flint. High and fine.

The taste is finely tuned and balanced with notes of lemon cream, steel and white flowers. A fine intensity. Very fine.

Will be released April 20.

92p  (tasted 2021/03)

NV Grand Cru VP Extra Brut, Egly-Ouiret

A restrained, classy nose with notes of lemon peel, dried flowers, biscuits and chrushed rocks. Old viney. Stunning.

The taste is tight and structured with notes of summer flowers, tangerines, biscuits and sweet minerals. A very fine acidity. Long and lingering. Great wine.

Will be relesead March 11.

94p  (tasted 2021/03)

2011 Grand Cru Millesime, Egly-Ouiret

A light, elegant, somewhat mature nose with notes of oranges, birch leaves, wet stones and gravel. Very fine.

The taste is pure and refined with notes of grapefruit, chrushed rocks, lavender and grass. Very long and very delicate.

Will be relesead March 11.

93p  (tasted 2021/03)

NV Grand Cru Blanc de Noir Vieilles Vignes, Egly-Ouiret

Ooooh boy, this is a stunner. The nose oozes up from the glass with gorgeous notes of dried raspberries, smoke, dark flowers, a hint of nougat and a lovely perfumed note. Very, very deep. Just awesome.

The taste is everything the nose promise to be, light as a feather and stings like a bee. Beautiful notes of ripe red curranrs, chocolate biscuits, sun warm rocks and dark flowers. The finish goes on for minutes. A truly great wine. A heady tariff but worth its prize.

Will be relesead March 11.

97p  (tasted 2021/03)

2012 Fleur de Passion, Diebolt- Vallois

Usually a favorite of mine but this bottle didn´t really, really impressed me. Make no mistake, its a really fine wine, but not really up there. The nose is open, forward and direct with notes of peach, yellow flowers and gravel. Very, very good but not that complex.

The taste is better though, with a firm grip and notes of of ripe lemons, peach and chalk. A very good acidity. Again, very, very good but I´m usually floored but Fleur de Passion, but not this time. 

Will be released March 9.

90p  (tasted 2021/03)

2013 Cristal, Louis Roederer

Finishing the Champagne line up with Cristal is not a bad thing... The 2013 offers up a young, handsome, pure and balanced nose with notes of dried up lemon jam, elderberries, yellow apples and a whole summer meadow with ripe flowers. Just great.

The taste is tight and refined with notes of lemon peel, steel, yellow apples, smoke and a fine saline touch. Very, very long. Needs time. A stunning (as always...) Cristal, almost as good as the 2012.

Will be released March 16.

96p  (tasted 2021/03)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Cuvée Blanc de Blancs, Claude Cazal

NV Cuvée Blanc de Blancs, Claude Cazal

A delicate, finely tuned nose with notes of white flowers, butter cookies, brioche and some smoky scents. Very, very good. A ever so slight touch of mint.

The taste is creamy and silky with notes of lemon fudge, sweet minerals, smoke and earth. A very fine acidity. Ends on a very fine dry note.

Went perfectly with grilled catfish, grilled vegetables and a roe sauce.

91p   (tasted 2021/03)

Short Notes From A Dinner At Djuret

Last night we had dinner at Djuret, one of the wine friendliest restaurants in Stockholm. Daniel Crespi offers up a relaxing atmosphere where the food, service and of course! - the wines are in the forefront. 

Always a genuine pleasure to dine here!

2005 Cuvée Hemera, Henriot

While waiting for the others I had a glass of this beauty. A 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot it explodes out of the glass with notes of brioche, ripe apples, salted popcorn and yellow flowers. A silky, pure taste with salted caramel, iron and butter biscuits. Just lovely.

96p   (tasted 2021/03)

2019 Scharzhofberger Risling Kabinett, Egon Muller

This oooozes energy with notes of wet stones, grass and purity. The taste is racy, fresh and pure like a mountain river.

94p   (tasted 2021/03)

2016 Corton-Charlemagne, Vincent Girardin

This one escaped a photo, when poured by Daniel just passing by... :-) A gorgeous nose, deep, with sweet almonds, grilled lemons and ripe bananas, very complex, the taste goes on and on with a crisp acidity and finger licking great fruit.

95p   (tasted 2021/03)

2011 Clos de Vougeot, Jean Grivot

Oooooh boy, this is the real thing, exactly what a great Burgundy is all about - hedonistic, dripping, sweet fruit paired with a great backbone, a uplifting acidity, perfume and a finish that never ends. Absolutely fantastic.

98p   (tasted 2021/03)

2017 Beaune Gréves de l´Enfant Jésus, Bouchard

Again, Daniel swept by with a bottle and all of a sudden I got a generous pour of this upliftning Burgundy, fresh, juicy and full of luscious red currant and raspberry fruit. Lovely to drink now and the coming 20+ years (I vividly remembered a 1959 Baby Jesus drunk some 20 years ago that was heaven in a bottle!)

93p   (tasted 2021/03)

2010 Shadrach Cabernet Sauvignon, Grant Burge

In a other setting, without these stunning wines tasted before, which all were about nerve and tension, I would surely have liked this more, but now it seemed a bit heavy handed, albeit with a very good structure, a generous fruit and a long lasting finish.

91p   (tasted 2021/03)

2017 Barbera d´Alba Tre Vigne, Vietti

2017 Barbera d´Alba Tre Vigne, Vietti

It is always a pleasure drinking a Barbera from Vietti. The 17 Tre Vigne offers up a spicy, open for business nose with notes of black tea, a cherry pie, warm gravel and chocolate biscuits. Very, very good.

The taste is structured and fine with notes of raspberry truffles, Finnish licorice, gravel and leather. A very good acidity. Long and fine. For drinking now and the coming 5+ years.

88p   (tasted 2021/03)