The Day Before Christmas Barolo - 2011 Barolo Riserva Tenuta Pianpolvere, Fratelli Adriano

This years ginger bread house is dedicated to our dog Shiraz

2011 Barolo Riserva Tenuta Pianpolvere, Fratelli Adriano

An old school, deep nose with notes of undergrowth, dried cherries, shoe polish and violet licorice. Very, very good. A hint of maturity.

The taste is taut and somewhat backward with notes of dried cherries, rosehips, potato water, violets and gravel. Fine structured tannins in the finish. 5+ years. 

90p   (tasted 2021/12)

Barolista Turns Ten Years

On the 1th of December 2011 I published my first post on this blog. Now - ten years, 1.775 posts and 1.120.184 views later - I thought a celebration was in order. On the 1th of December I invited some friends and opened a bunch of bottles from the 2011 vintage.

Flight I

2011 Cuvée Edmond, E. Barnaut

Tasted earlier this year. Exact the same impressions on this night.

91p   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Amour de Deutz, Deutz

This Blanc de Blancs offers up a tight, complex nose with notes of grilled lemons, yellow plums, warm sand and dry vanilla fudge. Refined. Just lovely.

The taste is racy and elegant with notes of lemon cream, minerals, butter biscuits and a hint of saffron. A caressing acidity. Very long. Great wine.

96p   (tasted 2021/12)

Flight II

2011 Hubacher GG, Keller

Both Keller bottles were awesome wines. The Hubacher sports a still young, focused nose with notes of tangerines, wet asphalt, ripe oranges and oil cloth. Very deep and complex.

The taste is structured and compact with notes of almond paste, tangerines, wet rocks and assorted spices. Very, very long with a high, supporting acidity. 6+ years.

96p   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Morstein GG, Keller

The cork stickedvto the glass and was a #¤"% to get out. But then… Fantastic. The nose is bottomless deep with notes of dry lemon licorice, a rubber carpet, wet asphalt and decaying flowers. Very intense and utterly gorgeous.

The taste is intense and brilliant with notes of dry almonds, lemon peel, chrushed rocks, grass and sweet minerals. The finish goes on for minutes. Stunning.

98p   (tasted 2021/12)

Flight III

2011 Barolo Acclivi, Burlotto

Sadly corked.

No rating   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Mauro Veglio

A deeå, broad nose with notes of red beets, wet earth, ripe raspberries and tobacco. Very, very good. A touch of oak in the background.

The taste is somewhat mature with broad skouldered soft tannins and notes of chocolate covered raspberries, earth and tobacco. Long and fine.

92p   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Barolo Serra, Giovanni Rosso

A stern, iron filled nose with notes of black cherries, dry licorice, rosehips and asphalt. Deep and fine.

The taste is taut yet elegant with notes of ripe strawberries, iron, mushrooms and earth. Long with still noticable tannins. 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Barolo Tre Tine, Giuseppe Rinaldi

A beauty. The nose rises up from the glass with notes of red currants, earth, tar and spices. High and handsome.

The taste is tight and elegant with notes of red currant, red beets, red vinegar, forest floor and detergent. A long, polished finish. Sooo fine. 3+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Barolo Garblet Sue, Brovia

A very deep, taut nose with notes of sandel wood, hard cherry candy, rosehips and cool tobacco. Very fine.

The taste is structured and fine with notes of red cherries, asphalt, rosehip and cold coffee. Very,very long and distinct. 6+ years.

94p   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Barolo Bussia, Giacomo Fennochio

A restrained nose with notes of dried red fruits, herbs, earth and dried flowers. Needs time. Deep and fine.

The taste is very tight and backwards with notes of hard cherry candy, forest floor, asphalt and dried herbs. Some intense tannins ends the finish. 10+ years.

90p   (tasted 2021/12)

2014 Langhe Nebbiolo, Cav Cesare Canonica

2014 Langhe Nebbiolo, Cav Cesare Canonica

Old school, and I like it! The nose is characterful with notes of shoe polish, ripe raspberries, flower water, earth and a hint of meat. Complex and fine.

The taste is tight and wilful and dry with notes of dried strawberries, scorched earth, rosehips and asphalt. A long, dry finish. Highly gulpable. Need to get me more of this.

90p   (tasted 2021/12)

2015 Dogliani San Luigi, Pecchenino

2015 Dogliani San Luigi, Pecchenino

A very fine, tight nose with notes of ripe blueberries, dried blackberries, violets, ink and ripe flowers. Very, very fine.

The taste is finely structured with silky tannins and lovely blueberry fruit intermingled with notes of iron, damsons, violets and a hint of tobacco. A great Dolcetto! 5+ years.

92p   (tasted 2021/12)

2011 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Murgers des Dents de Chien, Alex Gambal

2011 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Murgers des Dents de Chien, Alex Gambal

This 10 year old Burgundy displays a lovely, spicylwith a hint of maturity and notes of ripe yellow apples, dry fudge, a hint of ginger and dried up vanilla ice cream. A very fine depth.

The taste is dry and mineral laden with notes of ginger spiced orange juice, birch leaves, salt caramel and chrushed rocks. A very fine acidity. Long and lovely. 

93p   (tasted 2021/12)

Birthday Wines - Part Two

There were some other wines poured but that will be a separate post. The bottles that counts are of course the ones from The Greatest Vintage Ever.

1964 Barolo Collina Cannubio, Serio & Battista Borgogno

Open and fine with notes of dried red berries, autumn apples, forest floor, fir wood and rosehips. Very, very goood.

The taste is seedy and mature with notes of earth, mushrooms, dried cherries and asphalt. Silky tannins. A fine lenght. Drink now and the coming 5+ years. Great.

88p   (tasted 2021/12)

1964 Barolo Riserva Speciale, Carlo Macardi

A large scaled but very harmonious, mature nose with notes of cold coffee, dried strawberries, red beets and ceps. A very fine dried up sweetness.

The taste has a lovely balance between fruit, tannins and acidity, with notes of dried strawberries, earth, rosehips, dry licorice and iron. Fully mature but bottles like this will go on for another 10 years.

92p   (tasted 2021/12)

Birthday Wines - Part One

On my actual birthday - a bottle of Champagne & a bottle of Barolo - simple and gorgeous. 

On Sunday there will be a family dinner with some 64´s - The Greatest Vintage Ever!

2012 Grand Cru Prestige Brut, Benoit Beaufort

50% each of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The nose is open and spicy with notes of cookie dough, red apples, ripe oranges, smoke and wet ashalt. Very fine.

The taste is pure and fresh, a younger feel compared to the nose, with notes of lemon, ripening oranges, smoke and iron. A very fine acidity. 6+ years.

92p   (tasted 2012/12)

1996 Barolo, Burlotto

This needed a couple of hours in the decanter to awaken from its slumber. The nose is round and mature with notes of undergrowth, Christmas spices, ripe raspberries, bay leaves and a hint of tobacco. 

The taste is taut and mature with notes of dried cherris, gravel, earth and dried herbs. Long and fine. Mature but there is no hurry to drink any remaining bottles. Very fine.

92p   (tasted 2021/12)

An Evening Of Chardonnay

H invited to a tasting dinner with a Chardonnay theme. We were told that it would be USA dominated with some dark horses. We had a great evening!

All wines tasted double blind.

Flight I

2014 Sta Rita Hills White Hill Chardonnay, Liquid Farm

A cool, high nose with notes of shellfish, lemon zest, grass, flint and some fresh herbs. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and a bit warmer than the nose leads you to believe. Fine notes of lemon cream, dried apricot and hay. A fine length.

90p   (tasted 2021/11)

2016 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Kutch

A handsome nose with notes of lemon cream, grilled lemons, fudge and some oak notes. 

The taste is stony and fine with notes of elderberries, lemon cream and crushed rocks. Very, very good.

88p   (tasted 2021/11)

2016 Sonoma Coast Marema Chardonnay, Ceritas

A tight, fresh nose with notes of star fruit, scallops, chives and sun warm rocks. After some time in the glass scents of ripe lemons. Very fine.

The taste is refined and tight with a fine salty note, lemon zest, flint and steel. Laid back and very fine. 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2021/11)

2015 Sta Rita Hills Juliet Chardonnay, Domaine de la Cote

An open, creamy nose with notes of dry fudge, cool mango, flint, red basil and red apples. Just lovely.

The taste is steady and structured with notes of ripe oranges, flint, lemon fudge and sandelwood. Very long. Very fine.

94p   (tasted 2021/11)

2017 Sta Rita Hills Sandford & Benedict Chardonnay, Sandhi

A cool, elegant nose with notes of lime peel, fish skin, grey pears and warm grass. Complex and fine.

The taste is tight and seedy with notes of lemon peel, hay, ripe pears and a fine salty note. Very fine.

92p   (tasted 2021/11)

Flight II

2018 Russian River Valley Peugh Vineyard Chardonnay, Anthill Farms

A high, pure nose with notes of warm grass, ripening oranges, grape and sweet minerals. Very fine.

The taste is tight and refined with notes of lemon peel, grass, oyster juice and a fine salty note. High and fine.

93p   (tasted 2021/11)

2016 Santa Cruz Mountains Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay, Ceritas

A very deep nose with notes of apple juice, sand, grass and a slight metallic scent. Handsome in a strict way.

The taste is tight and seedy with a very high acidity that almost takes over the fruit, but it is there in the shape of ripe lemons and yellow apples. 4+ years.

90p   (tasted 2021/11)

2016 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay, Chanin

A deep, spicy nose with notes of yellow apples, lemon licorice, lemon candy and minerals. Very fine.

The taste is racy and focused with notes of ripe lemons, sweet minerals, licorice fudge and warm sand. A great mouthfeel with a cleansing acidity. Lovely.

94p   (tasted 2021/11)

2011 Puligny-Montrachet Champs Canet, Jacques Carillon

A cat amongst the ermines, or the other way around... A cool, pure nose with notes of dry butter biscuits, birch leaves, lemon cream and crushed rocks. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and nicely concentrated with notes of ripe lemons, dry fudge, minerals and warm grass. Long and very fine. Did anyone spot this as a non USA Chard..., well no.

92p   (tasted 2021/11)

2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay, Arnot-Roberts

A tight, stony nose with notes of grass, iron, ripening lemons and a metallic scent.

The taste is cool and dry with notes of lemon cream, iron, sand and minerals. Very dry in the finish. Fine fruit in a anemic way. Needs time, 4+ years.

88p   (tasted 2021/11)

Flight III

2018 Seven Strings Vineyard Chardonnay, Walter Scott

A stony, herbal nose with notes of dried orange peel, chive, freshly washed clothes and spices. Very, very good.

The taste is cool and elegant with notes of sweet/sour lemons, almond paste, herbs and chalk. Tight and fine. 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2021/11)

2011 Corton-Charlemagne, Henri Boillot

A fine, smoky nose with notes of grilled lemons, dry fudge, yellow apples and chrushed rocks. Deep and fine.

The taste is crisp and tight with notes of tangerines, grilled lemons, grass and minerals. A very fine acidity. Still on the young side of things. Nobody pegged this as a Burgundy...

91p   (tasted 2021/11)

2015 Sta Rita Hills Four Chardonnay, Liquid Farm

A beauty. A deep, taut, complex nose with notes of ripe oranges, smoke, butter cookies, fried scallops and almonds. Just lovely.

The taste is firm and focused with notes of oranges, grape, cap gun smoke, freshly cut grass and sweet minerals. Very long and distinct. Gorgeous now and gorgeous in 10 years.

95p   (tasted 2021/11)

    

2016 Santa Maria Bien Bien Chardonnay, Liquid Farm

A large scaled, tight nose with notes of grilled lemons, smoke, tangerines and wet earth. Very deep and fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of grilled lemons, orange juice, quince and sweet minerals. Very long. A tight, structured acidity. Not for the weak hearted.

93p   (tasted 2021/11)

2014 Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay, Rhys

A deep, open nose with notes of dried up orange jam, chalk, dry fudge and lots of sweet minerals. Very fine.

The taste is dry and tight with notes of dried oranges, gravel and chalk. Odd in a fascinating way. A high acidity. Stunning. 

93p   (tasted 2021/11)