Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Some Wines From Taylor´s

 
I was invited by Vinunic to taste some wines from Taylor´s with Eloise Opryszko, account manager at Taylor´s.

Fine White Port, Taylor´s 
A light, sweet nose with notes of dried strawberries, vanilla fudge and white raisins.
The taste is sweet and nice but lacks complexity. Notes of dried fruits and dried up vanilla ice cream.
85p   (tasted 2025/12)


2020 Late Bottles Vintage Port, Taylor´s
A deep, velvety nose with notes of cooked cherries, chocolate mousse and Finnish licorice. Open and friendly.
The taste is forward and fine with notes of dried up cherry jam, plums and milk chocolate. Long and fruity.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)

2009 Vintage Port, Taylor´s
A very deep, regal nose with notes of iron, blackberries, damsons and hot tiles. Very fine.
The taste is massive and intense with notes of dark chocolate, raisins cooked in brandy, sweet minerals and a finish that goes on and on and on. Give this 20+ years.
95p   (tasted 2025/12)

Fine Tawny Port, Taylor´s
A low keyed, sweet nose with notes of dark spices, dried fruits and diesel oil. A touch volatile.
The taste is medium bodied and semi sweet with notes of stale nuts, wet earth and old chocolate. 
86p   (tasted 2025/12)

Reserve Tawny Port "The Globe", Taylor´s
A deep, mature nose with notes of dried fruits, milk chocolate and assorted nuts. A nice oxidative note.
The taste is velvety and ample with notes of asphalt, fried nuts and raisins. A long, fine finish. A blend from Taylor´s tawny reserves.
92p   (tasted 2025/12)

20 Year Old Tawny, Taylor´s
A deep, sweet, perfumed nose with notes of dark caramel, autumn apples, figs and wet earth. Very fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of plums, figs and blackberry chocolate. Long and rewarding.
93p   (tasted 2025/12)


Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

2019 Langhe Nebbiolo, Margherita Otto


2019 Langhe Nebbiolo, Margherita Otto
An open, perfumed nose with notes of raspberries, licorice, sweet earth and incense. Very, very good.
The taste is nicely structured with a hint of maturity, sweet red fruit and a fine acidity. Drinking great now.
Alan thinks I have waited to long for this Langhe Nebbiolo but I beg to differ. :-)
90p   (tasted 2026/01)

Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, 18 January 2026

Six Bottles Of Madeira


The last tasting of 2025 in our monthly tasting group and as tradition calls for, fortified wines. H arranged and poured this nice line up.

5 Year Old Tinta Negra, d´Oliveiras
A deep, fine nose with notes of orange peel, nuts, iodine and old leather. A fine warmth.
The taste is medium bodied and rather elegant with a fine acidity and notes of tangerines, dry fudge and band aid. A long, warm finish.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)

10 Year Old Tinta Negra, d´Oliveiras
A high, intense nose with notes of stale nuts, green raisins, orange peel and detergent. Brilliant.
The taste is tight and focused with rich fruit, a piercing acidity and a length counted in minutes. Great wine.
94p   (tasted 2025/12)



NV Bastardo, Barbeito
This Bastardo offers up a dry, earthy nose with notes of iodine, assorted nuts and bakelite. A tad foursquare.
The taste is dry and warm with notes of orange peel, chrushed rocks and cardboard. The alcohol is noticable in the finish.
85p   (tasted 2025/12)

15 Year Old Tinta Negra, d´Oliveiras
A large scaled, deep nose with notes of dried apricots, fried nuts, furniture polish and band aid. Very fine.
The taste is tight and intense with notes of matchbox, dried oranges and nuts. Very, very long.
91p   (tasted 2025/12)



20 Year Old Tinta Negra, d´Oliveiras
A deep, layered nose with notes of dry caramel, autumn apples, sugared coffee and mosquito repellent. Very complex and fine.
The taste is forward, deep and concentrated with gorgeous dried fruit, a stunning acidity and a long, long finish. Lovely.
93p   (tasted 2025/12)

20 Year Old Terrantez, Blandy´s
A high, tight nose with notes of dried red fruits, hay, dark fudge, Christmas spices and iodine. Very deep and fine.
The taste is rich and intense with notes of caramel, orange peel, band aid and orange chocolate. The acidity is of the charts and the finish goes on forever.
94p   (tasted 2025/12)


Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vignoble Fabre


2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vignoble Fabre
A perky, stony nose with notes of thai basil, lemon peel and gravel. Medium deep and very likeable.
The taste is dry and weighty with notes of dry orange, herbs and chrushed rocks. A very fine warmth.
88p   (tasted 2026/01)

Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, 11 January 2026

2013 Barbaresco, La Ca´Növa


2013 Barbaresco, La Ca´Növa
A cool, elegant nose with notes of ripe lingonberries, red tea, bakelite and tobacco. Very nice in a laid back way.
The taste is crisp and fresh with notes of red currants, licorice and undergrowth. Silky tannins. Very, very good. 5+ years.
89p   (tasted 2026/01)




Posted by at No comments:

Friday, 9 January 2026

The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2025

Yet again, it is that time of the year, to look back on the last year and sum up the most memorable wines of 2025.
With a glass of 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo from Alan (Margherita Otto) the memories come forward.

1038 wines tasted and drunk. 
Here they are in vintage order. A toast to a equal great 2026!

1952 Barolo Riserva, Giacomo Contero
One of my favourite old vintages - Cappellano and Borgogno comes to mind - and from Giacomo Conterno, great things was anticipated, and this bottle lived up to my hype- aristocratic, lively and with a great structure.
95p   (tasted 2025/12)


1982 Château Latour
One of my perennial favourites, this was my last bottle of this nectar, bought in 1991 for 50 Euros. This bottle was not as perfect as previous bottles have been, but darned close, still, a wine to remenber.
98p   (tasted 2025/07)


1999 Barolo Cascina Francia, Giacomo Conterno
When S invites to a Barolo Boys evening, you know that you are in for a treat. On this night bottles of Burlotto, Bartolo Mascarello and Giacomo Conterno was poured and this -99 was the shining star.
99p   (tasted 2025/11)


2002 Astralis, Clarendon Hills
M poured a cornucopia of fine wines on a July evening, blind I want to point out, and this wine floored them all. And some say that Aussie wines don´t age well...
99p   (tasted 2025/07)


2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, Dunn
We taste a lot of great wines in our monthly tasting group, and on one night we drank this stunner from Howell Mountain, 12 years but still young and very, very vital.
96p   (tasted 2025/04)


2016 Barolo Vignarionda, Luigi Pira
When I tasted the -16 Vignarionda with Gianpaolo upon release I scored it on a measly 99p. Five years later it is a bit locked up but all ingredients for future perfection is there, just wait 10+ more years. Thanks M!
97p   (tasted 2025/04)


2017 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico, Produttori di Barbaresco
When Produttori hits it out of the park, like with this bottle, you get world class wines for (nearly) a song. This -97 was all that and then some. Thanks M!
97p   (tasted 2025/05)


2018 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes, PYCM
PYCM always delivers the goods! This beauty was racy, forward and juicy, happiness in a bottle. Thanks H!
97p   (tasted 2025/11)


2019 Barolo Galina, San Biagio
The -19 Galina is only the second vintage San Biagio have made from this MGA. The -18 was a stunner (96p) but the -19 is what dreams (at least mine) are made of. A candidate for perfection in 10+ years.
97p   (tasted 2025/09)


2021 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Melia, E. Molino
One of my most interesting and fascinating visits I have done in Piedmont (121 cantinas visited so far). Sergio and Alena showed me a great time and poured fine wines, and this Barbera stood out as one of the finest Barbera´s I have ever tasted.
96p   (tasted 2025/09)





Posted by at No comments:

20 Year Old Terrantez, Henriques & Henriques


20 Year Old Terrantez, Henriques & Henriques
A very deep, nutty nose with notes of polished mahogany, bonfire smoke, diesel oil and green raisins. Very complex.
The taste is high and intense with notes of toasted almonds, banana peel, detergent and dried hay. A high acidity. A long, lingering finish. Very fine.
93p   (tasted 2026/01)

Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

Some Bottles Of Barolo

These were tasted at the end of our latest Barolo Boys get together when we drank ancient Baroli - 1900 - 1959 Barolo.
Tasted double blind.

2016 Barolo, Burlotto
A high, pure nose with notes of wet cement, hard cherry candy and forest floor. Light on its feet. Very fine.
The taste is young and tight with a handsome structure, notes of of wild strawberries and violets. 5+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/12)



1977 Barolo, Dott. G. Damilano
A warm, mature nose with notes of cooked red berries, dried flowers and vintage leather.
The taste is rich and warm with notes of chalk, dried fruit and licorice. A hint of bitterness in the finish.
86p   (tasted 2025/12)

1988 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda, Massolino
A large scaled, compact nose with notes of sugared coffee, fir wood, licorice and dark cherries. Very structured.
The taste is concentrated and a bit rugged with lots of sweet fruit, broad tannins and a long, dry finish.
89p   (tasted 2025/12)



1996 Barolo Prapó, Ceretto
An open, large scaled nose with notes of smoke, violets, ripe cherries and licorice. Deep and very fine.
The taste is taut and structured with gorgeous fruit, polished tannins and a long, juicy finish with a fine warmth. Starting to hit maturity.
94p   (tasted 2025/12)

1996 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc, Paolo Scavino
A elegant, handsome nose with notes of dried cherries, ginger bread, dried flowers and a gorgeous perfumed note.
The taste is tight yet velvety and rich with notes of hard cherry candy, tobacco and Langhe earth. Very long.
94p   (tasted 2025/12)


2020 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc, Paolo Scavino
This youngster sports a deep, open nose with notes of rosehips, ripe cherries, sun dried tomatoes and licorice. Lovely.
The taste is round and generous with silky tannins, lots of ripe cherries, salmiak and ripe flowers. A very fine laid back warmth in the finish. 6+ years.
95p   (tasted 2025/12)

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, 5 January 2026

1964 Bordeaux Blanc, Calvet


1964 Bordeaux Blanc, Calvet
This could have labeled - The thing that should not be. I had absolute no hope when opening this bottle and was thinking of using it as a sauce wine. I poured a sip and sniffed it. What the fuck!?
The nose is deep and vital with notes of dry fudge, dried tangerines, smoke and wet earth. Lively.
The taste is perky and upfront with a very fine warmth, notes of dry oranges, butter cookies and dusty earth. From a not so great year for white Bordeaux (even if it The Greates Vintage Ever...) and from a big negociant, this was not supposed to perform like this. But it did. Wine is fun.
88p   (tasted 2026/01)


Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, 4 January 2026

1996 Barbaresco, Produttori di Barbaresco

A previous pic of the 96 with the 90 (forgot to take a pic this time...)

1996 Barbaresco, Produttori di Barbaresco
A low keyed, earthy nose with notes of hard cherry candy, herbs, gravel and paint. Nicely matured.
The taste still shows some perky tannins alongside notes of rowan berries, dry licorice and earth. Very, very good. Almost fully mature.
89p   (tasted 2025/12)

Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, 3 January 2026

The Barolo Boys Does Mature Barolo - 1900 - 1959


I assembled the Barolo Boys with some hangarounds to taste all of my old Baroli. Now I have a bunch of 64:s (The Greatest Vintage Ever) as the oldest Baroli in the cellar.

Flight I
1900 Barolo, Luigi Arnulfo
Some cooked fruit, a damp forest floor, paint and hints of VA. Tired but still alive.
The taste is better than the nose with dried fruit, earth and a Sherry like character. A dried up warmth. Not great by any means but drinkable.
80p   (tasted 2025/12)



1935 Barbaresco, Cappellano
Sadly mildly corked. Too bad, beneath we could sense a great wine.
Not rated   (tasted 2025/12)

1937 Barolo Riserva Speciale, Borgogno
A very fine, laid back nose with notes of cinnamon, earth, smoke and stables. Mature of course but it doesn´t feel 88 years old.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of dried fruit, dried flowers, band aid and gravel. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)



1938 Barolo, Fontanafredda
A pretty large scaled nose with notes of dried herbs, Christmas spices and vintage leather. Open and fine.
The taste is long and spicy with a nice structure and lots of dried fruit. Ends on a dry note.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)

Flight II
1947 Barolo Riserva Speciale, Borgogno
A very, deep, complex nose with notes of dried red berries, warm tiles, candle grease and smoke. Very, very good and very much alive.
The taste is nicely focused with dried up red fruit, notes of paint, leather and a hint of VA. Long and fine. Bottles like this would surely go on for 10 years.
91p   (tasted 2025/12)



1947 Barolo, Franco Fiorina
A very deep, spicy nose with notes of cold coffee, mushrooms, undergrowth and dried flowers. Complex and fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with lovely red fruit, vintage leather, tobacco and still some tannins in the finish. Very fine. Could go on for 10+ years.
94p   (tasted 2025/12)

1947 Barolo, Marchesi di Barolo
A deep, warm nose with notes of paint, ink, dried strawberries and forest floor. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and seedy with notes of dried red berries, old leather and earth. Long and warm. Holding up nicely.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)




1947 Barolo Riserva Stravecchio, Luigi Pistone
An old, all over the place nose with notes of fir wood, rubber, dried flowers and hard cherry candy.
The taste is seedy and dry with a fine warmth and notes of dried currants, old herbs and warm sand.
82p   (tasted 2025/12)

Flight III
1952 Barolo Riserva, Giacomo Conterno
My WOTN. An open, layered nose with notes of rowan berries, Langhe earth, vintage leather, dry ginger and incense. Lovely.
The taste is refined and restrained with lovely red fruit, dried herbs, roses and a salty note. Very long. Behaved exactly the same on day two.
95p   (tasted 2025/12)



1952 Barolo, Franco Fiorina
Very dark in colour with notes of mushrooms, violet licorice, sugared coffee and ink. A dried up sweetness.
The taste is rich and concentrated with burly sweet fruit, very warm and long. If I would venture a guess, some Barbera in the mix?
87p   (tasted 2025/12)

1954 Barolo, Fontanafredda
A earthy, smoky nose with notes of dried srawberries, autumn leaves, dried flower and leather. Very much alive.
The taste is medium bodied and dry with lots of dried red fruits and notes of violets and leather. Very elegant.
92p   (tasted 2025/12)




1959 Barolo, Marchesi di Barolo
A somewhat rustic nose with notes of canned mushrooms, dried red fruits and undergrowth. 
The taste is warm and blunt with notes of gravel, dried flowers and vintage leather. A dry finish.
86p   (tasted 2025/12)

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)