Two 2015 Nebbiolo

2015 Valtellina Superiore Ca Morei, Sandro Fay

A medium deep, focused nose with notes of dried cherries, earth, herbs, rosehips and paint. Very fine in a restrained way. Needs time in the glass to open up. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and dry with fine notes of red cherries, dried strawberries, asphalt and dried roses. Not as open and inviting as three years ago. Needs another 5+ years in the cellar, but ooooh so good.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2015 Barolo Bricco Rocche, Roccheviberti

A very deep, tight, complex nose with notes of violets, ripe black cherries, rosehips, licorice and bay leaves. Very fine. Lovely. 

The taste is rich and multi layered with notes of licorice, hard cherry candy, coffee powder and dark flowers. Very long. Silky tannins. Not as expressive as tasted at my visit to the estate two years ago. Needs another 7+ years in the cellar. Great wine!

95p   (tasted 2021/07)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Marc Hebrart

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Marc Hebrart

My first bottle from Marc Hebrart but definitely not my last! This beauty showcases a deep, focused nose with notes of salted caramel, yellow plums, thyme, red apples and chalk. Very fine. Classy.

The taste is crisp and fine with notes of dried up limoncello, red apples, warm gravel and chrushed rocks. A very fine acidity. Long and fresh. Gotta get me more of this (have already ordered bottles of this and other wines from Marc Hebrart…).

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Le Ragnaie

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Le Ragnaie

What a nose! From the first pour this gorgeous creature deliever the goods with stunning notes of perfectly ripe black cherries, paint, warm tiles, tobacco, Tuscan gravel and sun warm rosemary. Very deep. Entering maturity.

The taste is structured and seamless with notes of leather, sweet/sour cherries, herbs, fir wood and fine tobacco. Very, very long. Silky tannins. Great wine that is in a perfect drinking phase now and the coming 8+ years.

96p   (tasted 2021/07)

Tasted before - here and here.

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Blanc de Blancs Eclat de Chardonnay, Barnaut

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Blanc de Blancs Eclat de Chardonnay, Barnaut

A fine smoky nose with notes of almond cakes, grilled lemons, white flowers and chrushed rocks. Deep and fine. On day two it shows a lot of white peaches, more fruity.

The taste is cool and elegant with notes of lemon cream, flower water, almond paste and minerals. A high, fine acidity. The same character on the palate on day two. Very, very good.

91p   (tasted 2021/07)

2016 Schist Syrah Roundstone, Mullineux

2016 Schist Syrah Roundstone, Mullineux

A lovely smoky, meaty nose with notes of violets, plums, green peppers, blood/iron and dark earth. Very complex and very fine.

The taste is cool, tight and refined with notes of raw meat, violets, asphalt and fresh herbs. Very long, fresh and with polished, silky tannins. Great wine. 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2016 Barbera d’Alba, Giuseppe Rinaldi

2016 Barbera d’Alba, Giuseppe Rinaldi

The nose has definitely broaden itself and got deeper since three years ago. Now its full of moist forest floor, licorice, a fine mix of blueberries and raspberries, fir wood and bonfire smoke. At the same time a fresh note of mint and a deep barnyardy aroma - very complex.

The taste is high, intense and multi layered with notes of ripe wild raspberries - just like the ones I found this morning after taking the dog for a walk - licorice, bonfire smoke and red beets. Very fine. Long with a fine cleansing acidity. Great now and for the coming 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2018 Ried Kellerberg Smaragd Riesling, F. X. Pichler

2018 Ried Kellerberg Smaragd Riesling, F. X. Pichler

A high, racy, energetic nose with notes of chives, candied lemons, dry passionfruit, lime peel and loads of chrushed rocks. Very fine. Just lovely. 

The taste is electric, tight and pure as a mountain river with notes of fennel, grass, white currants and slate. Very, very long. Intense. Just great now and will be for the coming 10+ years.

94p   (tasted 2021/07)

First Vacation Day - Champagne & Barolo

NV Rose, Regis Fliniaux

I have found memories of bottles from Fliniaux from the 90’s but haven’t tasted anything after that. This Rose displays a cool, pure nose with notes of fennel, blood oranges, iron and rhubarb licorice. Complex and fine. Young and tight.

The taste is racy and fresh with notes of red currants, orange peeel, iron and gravel. A very fine acidity. Long and very fine. Got to get me more of this.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2017 Barolo Brunate, Claudio Boggione

Actually my first 17 Barolo, go figure. The nose is rather high spirited with a hint of VA and notes of sweet red currant, asphalt, rubber and tobacco. More subdued and structured on day two. Needs time.

The taste is taut and energetic with notes of asphalt, dried red berries, rosehips and tobacco. Silky tannins. A hint of warmth in the finish. Very, very good. Will need 8+ years.

90p   (tasted 2021/07)

1990 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de Beaurenard

1990 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de Beaurenard

This is not what I drink every day (not even every year...) - white Ch-du-Pape, especially with age. It has hold up nicely, presenting a mature, broad, somewhat oily nose with notes of white currants, dried up honey, gravel and a hint of a dry vanilla pod. Very good.

The taste is dry and more linear than the nose with notes of hay, gravel and dried peaches. A tad short. Holding up well over two days.

85p   (tasted 2021/07)

Guigal´s La-La Wines From The 2017 Vintage

I was invited by Wine Affair to meet Philippe (through Zoom) and to taste the recent vintages from the great Guigal estate. A lot of fine wines but as always (see below), these three Côte-Rôtie´s towers over rest - world class wines that (still) isn´t absurdly priced as most of the wines at this level.

2017 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline

Usually my favourite in this stellar lineup, the La Mouline offers up a deep, perfumed nose with notes of violets, white flowers, white peppar and boatloads of ripe red currants and blueberries. Lovely.

The taste is cool, seamless and refined with fruit, structure, tannins and acidity in perfect harmony. Just give this beauty 10+ years and the perfect score is a given. Better than 2016.

98p   (tasted 2021/06)

2017 Côte-Rôtie La Turque

The 17 La Turque is the most backwards of the three, with restrained, deep notes of bakelite, plums, blueberries, meat and earth. Very, very deep.

The taste is very tight and concentrated with notes of violets, bay leaves, ripe blueberries, scorched earth and dry licorice. Very, very long. The 2016 was IMHO opion, at least at this stage. 15+ years.

96p   (tasted 2021/06)

2017 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

Usually the most taut and broad shouldered, in 2017 La Landonne showcases a smoky, deep, fantastic nose with notes of asphalt, fried peppar, rubber, plums and the petrol scent at a gas station. Great wine.

The taste is just brilliant with notes of ripe blueberries, scorched earth, meat stock, green peppars and sweet violets. Rolls over the tongue like a Lamborghini steamroller. On the same level as the 2016.

98p   (tasted 2021/06)

Other wines tasted:

2020 Côtes du Rhone Rosé (88p)

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château de Nalys (white) (91p)

2019 Condrieu La Doriane (96p)

2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château de Nalys (89p)

2018 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l´Hospice (93p)

2017 Côte-Rôtie Château de Ampuis (95p)

1962 Barolo, Marchese Fracassi di Torre Rossano

1962 Barolo, Marchese Fracassi di Torre Rossano

A truly fascinating nose that only bottle age can produce - high, intense, airy and captivating. It reminded me of the 1947 Marchesi di Barolo tasted a couple of years ago.

There are aromas of incense, dried red currants and strawberries, chives, old church benches, mosquito repellent and much more. Lovely. Doesn´t budge to the next day.

The taste is not as lively as the 47 Marchesi but it still got plenty of vigour, with notes of earth, dried red berries, old leather, rosehips and gravel. Proof that old Barolo needs time to open up - it was better on the palate day two. A great 59 year old!

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

Eight Bottles Of Burgundy

An impromptu tasting at Mikke with some nice bottles opened. And great food! All tasted double blind.

1971 Beaune-Marconnets Tête de Cuvée, Remoissenet

A pretty reliable source when it comes to older Burgundy´s, this Remoissenet displays a soft, round nose with fine notes of undergrowth, dry licorice, stale Coca-Cola and dried strawberries. Very good.

The taste is dry and earthy with notes of worn leather, dried strawberries and some mushrooms. A tad foursquare, better on the nose.

86p   (tasted 2021/07)

2005 Puligny-Montrachet Les Champ Canet, Louis Carillon

Fat and tight, the nose soars up from the glass with notes of wet cement, butter cookies, hay, honey and dried red apples. Very fine. Only hints of maturity.

The taste is broad and crisp with notes of dry vanilla fudge, warm grass, red apples and minerals. A very fine acidity. Fresh and fine. 4+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2005 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatiéres, Etienne Sauzet

A cool, smoky nose with notes of grey pears, peach, lemon cream and gravel. Very, very good in a restrained way.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of yellow apples, lemon cream, peach and chrushed rocks. A tad light on the finish. A question mark if this will improve.

88p   (tasted 2021/07)

2005 Corton-Charlemagne, Bertrand Ambroise

A deep, focused nose with lovely notes of cap gun smoke, grilled lemons, white peach and butter cookies. High and pure. Very fine.

The taste is tight and refined with stunning fruit, a razor sharp acidity and a length that is counted in minutes. Great wine. 6+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Clos de Vougeot, Domaine Tortochot

It is good that we apply strict Omerta rules when it comes to these double blind tasting... These 2003 Burgundies really tricked us.

The Tortochot has a medium bodied, kind of meaty nose with notes of violets, bakelite, smoke and a hint of mint. Very, very good.

The taste shows maturity and notes of plums, smoke, undergrowth and gravel. A high acidity. Long and fine. Not for keeping longer.

89p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Corton Le Rognet, Bertrand Ambroise

A deep, peppery nose with notes of ripe blueberries and raspberries alongside gravel, coffee powder and fir wood. Tight. Fine.

The taste is cool and structured with notes of raspberries, blackberries, gravel and cold coffee. Very long. A very good mouthfeel. Could be cellared 4+ years but I don´t think it will improve further.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes, Nicolas Potel

A deep, intense nose with notes of bonfire smoke, dark raspberries, tobacco and forest floor. Lovely.

The taste is seedy and structures with a nix of ripe red and black fruits alongside notes of undergrowth, tobacco and violets. Very long with still noticable tannins. Very fine. 5+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes, Domaine Meo-Camuzet

A deep, willful nose with interesting notes of rosehips, sausage, stables, fir wood and dark perfume! Complex. Very, very good.

The taste is taut and concentrated with plenty of dark fruit, tannins, acidity and character. Very long and intense. 5+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2013 Brut, Olivier & Laetitia Marteaux

2013 Brut, Olivier & Laetitia Marteaux

A blend of 50% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir with a 5g dosage. A high, fine nose with lots of freshly baked bread, yellow plums, dried orange peel and chrushed rocks. A fine intensity, Very, very good.

The taste is cool and fresh with notes of red currants, orange, minerals and dried flowers. A very fine acidity. Long. Will benefit from 5+ years in the cellar. For 38 Euro, a real bargain.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2010 Barolo Ascheri, Ascheri

2010 Barolo Ascheri, Ascheri

This 11 year old Barolo needed some hours in the decanter to open, with to a deep, focused nose with lovely notes of sweet/sour cherries, rosehips, saw dust, violet licorice, hoisin sauce and sun warm asphalt. Complex and fine. 

The taste is still young and taut with notes of hard cherry candy, bakelite, dark flowers and lots of minerals. Very long with sturdy tannins. 8+ years. Really fine and promising.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

Notes from a visit to the Ascheri estate

1989 Barolo Vigna Farina, Ascheri

1990 Barolo Coste & Bricco, Ascheri

The 2015 Baroli at Ba&Ba

The 2016 Baroli at Grandi Langhe