Wednesday 31 July 2024

A Bottle of Bubbly - 2012 L´Âme de Millésime, Bertrand-Delespierre


2012 L´Âme de Millésime, Bertrand-Delespierre
An open, flowery nose with notes of yellow apples, chrushed rocks, ripe flowers and grass. Very lively and fine.
The taste is creamy and fine with a lovely acidity and oodles of ripe yellow fruits. Long and luscious.
92p   (tasted 2024/07)

Monday 29 July 2024

Two Bottles Of Pinot

1996 Pommard 1er Cru Les Saussilles, Bernard & Louis Glantenay
The Glantenay brothers have produced a Pommard with a deep, meaty and mature nose with notes of autumn leaves, dried raspberries, dog fur and mushrooms. Very, very good.
The taste is mature and dry with notes of cranberries, fir wood, tobacco and bonfire smoke. A medium long finish with a fine dried up sweetness.
88p   (tasted 2024/07)


2020 Kupe Pinot Noir, Escarpment
This youngster from Martinborough offers up a large scaled, wide open nose with gorgeous notes of wild raspberries, red beet juice, licorice, rhubarbs, bonfire smoke and mosquito repellent - very complex and fine.
The taste is tight yet jucy with lots of ripe raspberries, a brilliant acidity and a long, structured finish. 6+ years. 
94p   (tasted 2024/07)

Friday 26 July 2024

2019 Dogliani Superiore Maioli, Anna Maria Abbona


2019 Dogliani Superiore Maioli, Anna Maria Abbona
Last tasted two years ago - Barolista: 2019 Dogliani Superiore Maioli, Anna Maria Abbona - this beauty has opened up and put on some weight. The nose is deep and smoky with notes of plums, damsons, iron and dried meat. Very, very good.
The taste is young and tight with notes of plums, charcoal, dried blueberries and dried flowers. A fine warmth. 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2024/07)

Other vintages of Maioli tasted:

Notes from my visit to Anna Maria Abbona:

Tuesday 23 July 2024

2004 Barolo San Rocco, Azelia


2004 Barolo San Rocco, Azelia
A finely tuned, rich nose with sugar dusted black cherries, licorice, warm asphalt and darkly perfumed. Very deep and fine.
The taste is big and bold with some maturity and notes of dried up cherry jam, tobacco, asphalt and violets. A very long, iron clad finish. Drinking great now and the coming 10+ years.
94p   (tasted 2024/07)

Other vintages of San Rocco tasted:

Earlier tasting notes of the 2004:

Monday 22 July 2024

2018 Langhe Nebbiolo la Chiusa, Chionetti


2018 Langhe Nebbiolo la Chiusa, Chionetti
Two years since I last popped one of these - Barolista: 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo La Chiusa, Chionetti - and it has opened up nicely. The nose is finely tuned and elegant with notes of red cherries, wild strawberries, iron and dry licorice. Very fine.
The taste is tight and fine with salivating tannins, gorgeous red cherry fruit and notes of violets and asphalt. 4+ years.
92p   (tasted 2024/07)

Friday 19 July 2024

2019 Vigna Alta Terre di Pisa, Badia di Morrona


2019 Vigna Alta Terre di Pisa, Badia di Morrona
The 2018 was great - Barolista: 2018 Vigna Alta Terre di Pisa, Badia di Morrona - but the 2019 has turned up the dials even further - a deep, etheral, beautiful nose with notes of sour/sweet cherries, polished mahogany furniture, dried meat, rosemary and charcoal. Stunning.
The taste is pure, tight and complex with notes of hard cherry candy, Tuscan gravel, mocha and expensive leather. Long, lingering and luscious. Truly great. 5+ years.
96p   (tasted 2024/07)

Wednesday 17 July 2024

NV Blanc de Blancs, Fernand Lemaire


NV Blanc de Blancs, Fernand Lemaire
This Hautvillers Blanc de Blancs offers up an upfront, creamy nose with notes of toasted bread, peaches, flint, orange peel and a  touch of chamomile. 
The taste is crisp and pure with notes of lemon cream, oranges, chrushed rock and matchbox. A very fine acidity. Yummy and ready for prime time drinking.
92p   (tasted 2024/06)

Monday 15 July 2024

2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ruspoli, Tenuta Lilliano


2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ruspoli, Tenuta Lilliano
The nose is gorgeous with depth, character and fine notes of cherries, violets, tobacco and thyme. Dark incense. Complex and fine.
The taste is still young and structured with notes of dark wood, fried herbs, ripe cherries and tobacco. Long and fine. 5+ years. Last tasted in 2021 - Barolista: Some Chianti´s Of Late
93p   (tasted 2024/07)

Saturday 13 July 2024

1989 Château Doisy-Védrines


1989 Château Doisy-Védrines
From a half bottle. The nose is deep and yummy with notes of orange jam, detergents, dried tangerines and milk chocolate cookies. Lovely.
The taste is rich and concentrated with gorgeous candied orange fruit, notes of orange honey, caramel, fried nuts and wet paint. The lenght is counted in minutes. A beautiful wine. Mature (from a half bottle) but will go on for 10+ years.
94p   (tasted 2024/06)

Friday 12 July 2024

The Barolo Boys Does Brunate


Brunate! One of the best MGA´s, IMHO. 
28,34 ha planted with 99,7%nebbiolo and a and 0,3% of Barbera! The major part of Brunate lies in La Morra (68%) and the rest in Barolo (32%). 

There are currently 14 producers that makes a Brunate and a week ago The Barolo Boys tasted one Brunate from all producers. The only Brunate that wasn´t poured was Marengo´s Riserva, but their classico was present.

This is how it went.

Below I have supplemented notes from my visits to the nine producers of the fourteen I have visited.


Flight I - all wines except Marcarini got a vote for the wine in the flight. Marengo got two. I had Rinaldi as my favourite (the others tasted semi blind, I tasted open).

2006 Barolo Brunate, Marcarini
A big, warm, forest filled nose with notes of Finnish licorice, rosehips, leather and mushrooms. Very, very good.
The taste is round and mature with notes of dried cherries, licorice, ink and leather. A very fine warmth.
90p   (tasted 2024/07)



2010 Barolo Brunate, Francesco Rinaldi
A high, energetic nose with notes of hard cherry candy, roses, iron and bakelite. Very intense and fine.
The taste is young and structured with silky tannins and a beautiful cherry fruit. Seedy and very fine. 6+ years. My number 2 Brunate of all.
96p   (tasted 2024/07)

2004 Barolo Brunate, Vietti
An open, warm, rich nose with notes of sugared coffee, ripe cherries, tobacco and stables. Steady and very fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with polished tannins, plush cherry fruit, scorched earth and a long, yummy finish. Starting to mature. Great wine.
95p   (tasted 2024/07)



2004 Barolo Brunate, M. Marengo
An open for business nose with depth, ripe cherry fruit and additional notes of sugared coffee, rosehips and lots ot moist forest floor.
The taste is tighter than the leads on, with notes of iron, powder coffee, paint and fir wood. Very long and fine.
93p   (tasted 2024/07)

2011 Barolo Brunate, Roberto Voerzio
A tight, restrained nose with notes of scorched earth, hard cherry candy, a touch of mint and new leather.
The taste is tight and intense with a fine focus and concentration. Some oak in the finish. The oak disappeared to day two. Very fine.
93p   (tasted 2024/07)



Flight II - Rinaldi got all five votes for best wine in this flight.

2013 Barolo Brunate, Flavio Saglietti
A fine, open nose with notes of orange peel, coffee powder, forest floor and dried cherries. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and elegant with notes of hard cherry candy, black tea and forest floor. Balanced and fine. 5+ years.
92p   (tasted 2024/07)

2013 Barolo Brunate, Oddero
A young, tight nose with notes of sweet/sour cherries, fir wood, rosehips and a touch of mint. Definitely som new oak aroma.
The taste is seedy and structured with notes of iron, ripe cherries and fir wood. Stern tannins. 8+ years.
89p   (tasted 2024/07)


2013 Barolo Brunate, Damilano
A darkly perfumed, restrained nose with notes of damsons, licorice, mushrooms and hints of tobacco.
The taste is seedy and a tad foursquare with notes of dried cherries, ink, rosehips and tobacco. Maybe a few years in the cellar will help.
86p   (tasted 2024/07)

2013 Barolo Brunate, Giuseppe Rinaldi
A tight, handsome nose with notes of hard cherry candy, rosehips, paint and cap gun smoke. Layered and very fine.
The taste is racy and refined with gorgeous cherry fruit, silky tannins and a perfect balance. This is brilliant. Still young, 7+ years. Great wine. Best wine of all in my opion.
97p   (tasted 2024/07)



Flight III - Cerretto got three and Boglietti two votes for best wine in this flight.

2014 Barolo Brunate, Batasiolo
A tad compact but nice enough nose with notes of dried cherries, dried flowers and banana peel.
The taste is cool and fine with some maturity, dried strawberries, gravel and rosehips. 
85p   (tasted 2024/07)


2015 Barolo Brunate, Enzo Boglietti
A deep, velvety nose with notes of ripe red currants, smoke, asphalt and a fine balsamic note. Very fine.
The taste is tight and structured with lovely cherry fruit, polished tannins and a long, juicy finish. A very fine balance.
94p   (tasted 2024/07)

2017 Barolo Brunate, Claudio Boggione
A fine, open nose with notes of sage, red currants, paint and tobacco. Very, very good in a upfront way.
The taste is medium bodied, nicely structured but a tad light in the finish. Very good red fruit. 
89p   (tasted 2024/07)



2018 Barolo Brunate, Ceretto
A silky, layered, almost Burgundian nose with notes of ripe strawberries, matchbox, earth and rosehips. Very fine.
The taste is racy and refined with notes of smoke, wild strawberries, ripe flowers and tobacco. Very long and lingering. Beautiful.
94p   (tasted 2024/07)

2019 Barolo Brunate, Francesco Borgogno
A large scaled, warm nose with notes of cooked cherries, asphalt, iron and Lange earth. Very young.
The taste is tight and nicely concentrated with sandy tannins, warm cherry fruit and some oaky notes, which had disappeared the next day. Needs 6+ years.
89p   (tasted 2024/07)

Notes from visits:








Tuesday 9 July 2024

A Bottle of Bubbly - 2012 Le Nombre d´Or Sablé Blanc de Blancs, Aubry


2012 Le Nombre d´Or Sablé Blanc de Blancs, Aubry
This beauty consists of 40% Chardonnay, 25% Arbanne, 25% Petit Meslier and 10% Pinot Blanc. The nose is smoky and refined with notes of candied lemons, flint, grass, white flowers and cap gun smoke. Very fine.
The taste is crisp and racy with a gorgeous acidity, fresh lemon fruit and a long, lively finish. Still on the young side of things. Lovely.
94p   (tasted 2024/06)

Monday 8 July 2024

Tasting Dinner With Krug, Dauvissat, Salvioni & Much More!


Our semi annual tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. All wines tasted double blind except for the one I opened (the 1921 Bual Solera).

Flight I
2008 Brut, Louis Roederer
A cool, stony nose with notes of slate, fresh bread, almond paste and some pickled ginger notes. Very, very good.
The taste is smoky and fine with notes of lemon fudge, smoke and almonds. Again, very, very good but I was surprised when it was revealed, I have had much better bottles.
91p   (tasted 2024/06)



1989 Blanc de Blancs, Pierre Peters
This 35 year old bubbly offers up a soft, mature nose with notes of cellar apples, potatoe water, dried orange peel and earth. 
The taste is more perky than the nose leads you to believe, with notes of apricots, smoke and fresh apples. Long with a very fine acidity.
91p   (tasted 2024/06)

1995 Brut, Krug
A gorgeous nose with notes of sunwarm rocks, red apples, orange blossom honey and ripe flowers. Very complex and fine.
The taste is tight and intense with notes of red currants, chrushed rocks, orange peel and smoke. A very fine bitter note in the finish, which goes on and on. Lovely.
95p   (tasted 2024/06)



2010 Jadiz 1er Cru Extra Brut, Caillez Lemaire
A deep, earthy nose with notes of dry caramel, brioche, red apples and smoke. Very balanced and fine.
The taste is young and focused with notes of red apples, butter biscuits and sweet minerals. Very long and fine.
94p   (tasted 2024/06)

Flight II
2014 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, Domaine Pinson
A cool, spicy nose with notes of candied lemons, ginger, white flowers and a touch of mint. Very, very good.
The taste is young and crisp with notes of lemon cream, pickled ginger and chalk. A very fine acidity.
92p   (tasted 2024/06)


2010 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses, Jean-Marc Brocard
A creamy, large scaled nose with notes of almond paste, lemon biscuits and freshly cut hay.
Very fine.
The taste is intense and fine with notes of candied lemons, varnish and ripe flowers. High and fine.
93p   (tasted 2024/06)

2008 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses, Dauvissat
A deep, somewhat mature nose with notes of ripe yellow apples, model clay and bonfire smoke.
The taste is taut and fine with notes of lime, chrushed rocks and star fruit. Very backward on the palate, needs time.
91p   (tasted 2024/06)



2008 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, Domaine Christian Moreau
A deep, layered nose with notes of ripe grey pears, ski wax, ripe flowers and chalk. Very complex.
The taste is tight and delicate with gorgeous lemon fruit, a cleansing acidity and a long, silky finish. Lovely.
95p   (tasted 2024/06)

Flight III
2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Cerbaiona
A deep, meaty n ose with notes of ripe blackberries, charcoal, herbs and tobacco. Intense and very fine.
The taste is forward and fine with silky tannins and sweet black fruit. The finish is long, lingering and full of finesse. Drinking beautifully today.
93p   (tasted 2024/06)


2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Salvioni
A plum filled nose with additional notes of moist earth, salt licorice, tobacco, violets and fresh stables. Very fine.
The taste is high and refined with notes of plums, sage, violets and cold coffee. A very long, fresh finish. Lovely.
94p   (tasted 2024/06)



2008 Brunello di Montalcino, Salvioni
A deep, layered nose with notes of thyme, Tuscan gravel, tobacco and boatloads of ripe cherry fruit. Character and concentration.
The taste is rich and concentrated with brilliant fruit, polished tannins and a long, distinct finish. Very balanced and fine. Great wine.
96p   (tasted 2024/06)

2004 Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione
A forest filled, somewhat mature nose with notes of dried black cherries, tobacco, fried herbs and a fine balsamic note.
The taste is rich and burly with lots of black fruit, sturdy tannins and a long, warm finish. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2024/06)


Flight IV
1980 Maury, Mas Amiel
A large scaled, sweet nose with notes of scorched earth, plum jam, orange peel, asphalt and nuts. Very deep.
The taste is rich and concentrated with lots of sweet black fruit, molasses, asphalt and fried nuts. A tad blunt in character.
89p   (tasted 2024/06)



1921 Bual Solera Reserva, Borges
A high, ethereal nose with notes of dried apricots, fried nuts, detergent, red tea, orange peel and paint. Very complex and fine.
The taste is perfectly balanced, layered and intense with notes of fried nuts, Christmas spices, incense and milk chocolate. A high, lip smacking acidity. The finish goes on for minutes. Great wine.
96p   (tasted 2024/06)

Sunday 7 July 2024

2020 Dolcetto d´Alba, Fratelli Adriani - Tenuta Pianpolvere


2020 Dolcetto d´Alba, Fratelli Adriani - Tenuta Pianpolvere
An open, fine nose with notes of damsons, bakelite, ink and a petrol station in the distance. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and iron filled with notes of blueberries, gravel and violets. A fine earthy note.
88p   (tasted 2024/06)

Thursday 4 July 2024

2015 Barolo Monvigliero, Diego Morra


2015 Barolo Monvigliero, Diego Morra
A young, finely tuned nose with notes of wild strawberries, pomegranate, rosehips, Lange earth and a hint of bandaid. Very, very good.
The taste is balanced and fine with fine red fruit, silky tannins and a medium long, fresh finish. A tad restrained, it showed better at the estate 5 years ago, see below. 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2024/06)

Note on the 2012 Monvigliero, Diego Morra - Barolista: 15 Bottles Of Monvigliero