Saturday, 14 June 2025

1982 Bordeaux - Twelve Bottles


"Nineteen-eighty-two is a vintage of legendary proportions for all levels of the Bordeaux hierarchy."
(Robert Parker)

"this was also a year when the crus bourgeois made some exceptional wines; indeed there were delicious wines at the humblest level."
(David Peppercorn)

A few weeks ago we tasted a line up of some of those wines at a more humble level. They proved to be, for the most part, alive and kicking, and offered up fine drinking pleasure.

Flight I
1982 Château Lalande (Listrac)
A light, fine nose with notes of tobacco, dried black currants, coffee powder and fresh stables. 
The taste is dry and seedy with a fine matured structure, some autumn leaves and a nice warmth in the finish.
87p   (tasted 2025/05)



1982 Château La Graviére Grand Poujeaux (Moulis)
Opens a tad dusty but that blows away and notes of damsons, red apple, tobacco and old furniture emerges.
The taste is dry and fine with notes of dried red and black currants, vintage leather and undergrowth. A very fine warmth.
89p   (tasted 2025/05)

1982 Château Larose- Trintaudon (Haut-Medoc)
A delicate, warm nose with notes of autumn leaves, plums, sugared coffee and stables.
The taste is round and fine with notes of sweet tobacco, leather and charcoal. A long, distinct finish. This is still on the young side of things.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)


1982 Château Brie-Caillou (Medoc)
Corked #¤%&#¤!
Not rated   (tasted 2025/05)

Flight II
1982 Château Carbonnieux (Pessac Leognan)
A damp. earthy nose with notes of green tea, dry tobacco and bakelite. 
The taste is dry and angular with some dry red fruit, a hint of bitterness and a short finish.
78p   (tasted 2025/05)

1982 Le Crock (St. Estephe)
A cool, fine nose with notes of coffee, ripe black currants and autumn leaves. A very fine maturity.
The taste is dry and warm with notes of moist earth, dried black currants and sugared coffee. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2025/05)

1982 Château Les Ormes de Pez (St. Estephe)
A deep, forest filled nose with notes of tobacco, smoke and fir wood. Plums and black currants in spades. Very fine.
The taste is tight and fine with purity and finesse. Lovely fruit and a long, silky finish.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)


1982 Château Lynch-Moussas (Pauillac)
A somehat dusty nose that got a bit better with air, dried red currants, gravel and dry tobacco.
The taste is better with still some perky tannins, dried red and black currants and forest floor.
86p   (tasted 2025/05)

Flight III
1982 Château La Grace Dieu (Saint-Emilion)
A deep, mature, almost meaty nose with notes of dried plums, fir wood, sweet tobacco and undergrowth. Very fine.
The taste is nicely concentrated, perfectly mature with ripe plummy fruit and a long, warm finish.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)


1982 Château La Grace Dieu Des Prieurs (Saint-Emilion)
A nice, earthy nose with notes of graphite, damsons and violets. A nice sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is dry and mature with notes of dried plums, dusty earth and a medium long, warm finish.
89p   (tasted 2025/05)

1982 Château du Mignon (Saint-Emilion)
A fine, mature nose with notes of tobacco, charcoal, plums and autumn leaves. Very fine.
The taste is rustic yet elegant with lovely fruit, a very fine warmth and still some perky tannins.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)


1982 Château Grand Corbin (Saint-Emilion)
A somewhat dusty nose with notes of dried black currants, gravel and dry tobacco.
The taste is dry and seedy with notes of violets, dried plums and cigarette ashes. A long warm finish.
85p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Thursday, 12 June 2025

1977 Château Coutet


1977 Château Coutet
Broadbent on the 77 Sauternes vintage - "poor crop, poor wines". But as always, the proof is in the bottle.
The nose is deep, gorgeously mature with notes of detergent, dried mango, wet hay and orange peel.
The taste is medium bodied and elegant with notes of band aid, moist earth and candied orange peel. Ends on a semi dry note. A lovely drink.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Tuesday, 10 June 2025

1982 - 2021 Barbaresco, La Ca Növa


M invited to a tasting recently. The hidden theme (there were other bottles in the line up that will be posted separately) was nine bottles from La Ca' Növa.  Tasted double blind.

2015 Barbaresco Montestefano, La Ca' Növa
A very nice, forest filled nose with additional notes of dried wild strawberries, licorice and sun warm gravel.
The taste is spicy and fine with a very fine red fruit, sweet tannins and a long, balanced finish.
90p   (tasted 2025/05)


1982 Barbaresco, La Ca' Növa
A handsome, elegant, mature nose with notes of undergrowth, dried strawberries and dried roses.
The taste is medium bodied and silky with notes of dried strawberries, smoke and violets. A tad light in the middle taste.
88p   (tasted 2025/05)

1987 Barbaresco Montefico Bric Mentina, La Ca' Növa
A deep, rich nose with notes of sweet/sour raspberries, blue ski wax, veal stock and dried flowers. Very complex and fine.
The taste is tight yet silky and generous with notes of asphalt, violets, raspberries and assorted spices. Very long and lingering. A stunning bottle from a mediocre vintage.
94p   (tasted 2025/05)


1993 Barbaresco Montefico Bric Mentina
A restrained, mature nose with notes of tobacco, moist earth and pomegranate. Very, very good.
The taste is more open than the nose with lovely notes of res cherries, salmiak and violets. Still some nibbling tannins. 
90p   (tasted 2025/05)

2019 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina, La Ca' Növa
A deep, elegant nose with notes of smoke, ripe red currants, rosehips and Langhe earth. High and fine.
The taste is young and structured with assorted red berries, notes of tobacco and leather, very long and fine. 7+ years.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)


2020 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina, La Ca' Növa
An open, inviting nose with notes of ripe raspberries, Finnish licorice, smoke and warm gravel. Very complex and fine.
The taste is tight and forward with gorgeous fruit, silky tannins and a finish that goes on and on and on. Great wine. 5+ years.
95p   (tasted 2025/05)

2021 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina, La Ca' Növa
A deep, layered nose with notes of ripe red cherries, asphalt, leather and rosehips. Very solid and fine.
The taste is young and tight with notes of hard cherry candy, cigarette smoke and earth. Taut tannins, this will need 8+ years in the cellar.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)

2021 Barbaresco Montestefano, La Ca' Növa
Corked! #¤&#%¤&%¤!!
Not rated   (tasted 2025/05)

2020 Barbaresco Montestefano, La Ca' Növa
A high, intense nose with notes of ripening strawberries, rosehips, a hint of tar and tobacco. Very fine.
The taste is warm and structured with gorgeous fruit, silky tannins and a long, long finish. 6+ years.
94p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Monday, 9 June 2025

1994 Vintage Port, Croft


1994 Vintage Port, Croft
A deep, velvety nose with notes of charcoal, fried nuts, blackberries and asphalt. Very fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of blueberry pie, asphalt, iron and damsons. Very long. Still on the young side of things, 8+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Thursday, 5 June 2025

2019 Brunello di Montalcino, Col d´Orcia


2019 Brunello di Montalcino, Col d´Orcia
A tight, herbal nose with notes of ripe cherries, violet pastilles, warm Tuscan gravel and smoke. A very fine depth. Opens up nicely in the glass.
The taste is young and strapping with lovely sweet cherry fruit, polished tannins and a long, warm finish. For the price, Col d´Orcia is a reliable, often very good Brunello, sometimes even great.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)

More bottles from Col d´Orcia tasted over the years:


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Tuesday, 3 June 2025

Nine Bottles Of Barolo - Rocche di Castiglione


T invited to a fascinating tasting, consisting of nine different expressions of Rocche di Castiglione. T & P had amassed the bottles and an evening a couple of weeks ago it was time to taste them.
Great company, stellar food and nine bottles of Barolo, the recipe for a fantastic evening!

Flight I
2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Oddero
A handsome, balanced nose with notes of dried strawberries, black tea and, with air, some toffee notes. Very fine.
The taste is young and forward with a fine structure for medium aging, polished tannins and a long, silky finish. 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2025/05)

2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Paolo Scavino
A big, tight nose with notes of fir wood, asphalt, ski wax and a hint of dark chocolate. 
The taste is rich and plentiful with notes of ripe cherries, chocolate biscuits and asphalt. A tad angular in the finish, I guess that this needs some time in the cellar.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)


2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Ceretto
A young, restrained nose with notes of cement, candle grease, ripe cherries and some balsamic notes.
The taste is is tight and seedy with notes of cherry pips, fir wood, forest floor and iron. Very long. 6+ years.
90p   (tasted 2025/05)

Flight II
2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Roccheviberti
A deep, light meaty nose with notes of dried flowers, rust, orange peel and ripe cherries. Complex and fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with sandy tannine, ripe cherry fruit and a long, intense finish. Needs more time in the cellar, 7+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)

2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Fratelli Monchiero
A damp cellar note came and vent, so it was not corked but something wasn´t right with this bottle.
Not rated   (tasted 2025/05)



2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Vietti
A deep, velvety nose with notes of smoke, roses, dried raspberries and Lange earth. Very fine.
The taste is structured and fine with silky tannins, assorted ripe red berries and a long, juicy finish. 4+ years.
93p   (tasted 2025/05)

Flight III
2013 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Arnaldo Rivera
Oak, oak and then some notes of hard cherry candy, tobacco, rosehips and....oak. I can stand a healthy dose of oak but the line up from Arnaldi Rivera contains too much. Too bad, they have access to lots of great raw material.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of leather, ripening cherries and undergrowth. And oak. Maybe 10+ years in the cellar will integrate the oak (as with Clerico´s wines), but I wouldn´t bet on it.
82p   (tasted 2025/05)



2013 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Sordo
A deep, forward nose with notes of dried up cherry jam, ripe herbs, minerals and rosehip. Very, very good.
The taste is still young and perky with notes of hard cherry candy, sweet minerals, dried flowers and licorice. Long and fine. 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)

2013 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Brovia
My WOTN. A restrained, refined nose with notes of ripe cherries, licorice, violets and Langhe earth. Lovely.
The taste is rich and concentrated with brilliant fruit, a fantastic balance and a structure for longevity. Great wine.
95p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Sunday, 1 June 2025

2018 Barolo Gramolere, Giovanni Manzone


2018 Barolo Gramolere, Giovanni Manzone
A high, pure and intense nose with notes of roses, orange peel, violet pastilles and paint. Very handsome and truly fine.
The taste is tight and layered with notes of ripe red currants, bay leaves, violets and rosehips. Salivating tannins. Just gorgeous. Given the rise of Barolo prices the last 10 years, this beauty is a no brainer at 40 Euro.
96p   (tasted 2025/05)


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Friday, 30 May 2025

2021 & 2022 Immelen, Kullabergs Vingård

2021 Immelen, Kullabergs Vingård
A crisp, pure nose with notes of grass, sweet lime, candle grease and birch sap. Very fine.
The taste is open and fresh with notes of oranges, grass and chalk. A hint of maturity. I tasted this from tank when I visited Kullabergs in 2022 - Barolista: A Visit To Kullabergs Vineyard.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)


2022 Immelen, Kullabergs Vingård
A high, delicate nose with notes of yellow flowers, grass and churshed rocks. More restrained than the -21.
The taste is young and structured with notes of white currants, grass and unripe herbs. Needs time, 5+ years.
89p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Thursday, 29 May 2025

2006 Côte-Rôtie Echandols, Michel Mourier


2006 Côte-Rôtie Echandols, Michel Mourier
A mature, low-keyed nose with notes of scorched earth, dried meat, violets and dried flowers. Not the lift on the nose I had expected.
The taste is soft and mature with notes of dried blueberries, violets and some light peppery aromas. A medium long finish. Drinking nicely.
87p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Monday, 26 May 2025

2016 Barolo, Margherita Otto


2016 Barolo, Margherita Otto
It was three years since I last tasted this gem - Barolista: 2016 Barolo, Margherita Otto. Now it displays a high, intense nose with notes of dried raspberries, red apple skin, paint, wet asphalt and red tea. Very, very fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of hard cherry candy, ink, dry licorice and bakelite. Very fine polished tannins. This needs 10+ years. Glad I have more.
94p   (tasted 2025/05)


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Sunday, 25 May 2025

Bin End Tasting Dinner

There will be a special post for the first five "bottles"...

Cleaning out my closet. Or my cellar to be precise. I made an inventory a couple of weeks ago, I have slipped on updating my excel file when I have been taking bottles out and put bottles in. 
Hence I couldn´t find a bottle I was looking for, but I also found bottles I hade forgotten I had, and bottles I thought - why do I have these? 
So I invited some friends to a bin end dinner, to drink some of these lost and found bottles.

1985 Meursault, Vaudoisey-Creusefond
A dry, old nose with notes of dried apricots, moist earth and dried flowers. Have gone a bit too far.
The taste is dry and and a tad angular with notes of dried tangerines, old grass and dried flowers. Has an interesting salty note.
80p   (tasted 2025/04)


1993 Rudesheim Berg Schlossberg Riesling, Georg Breuer
A deep, elegant nose with notes of oil cloth, sweet lime, wet asphalt and rubber. Very, very good.
The taste is seedy and dry with notes of candied lemons, band aid and rubber. A fine mature intensity.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)

1980 Saint-Aubin, Lamy-Pillot
A mature, earthy nose with notes of dried raspberries, undergrowth and old herbs. A fine dried up sweetness.
The taste is cool and fine with notes of dried red berries, forest floor and dry licorice. A tad short on the finish.
85p   (tasted 2025/04)


1982 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Guigal
A smoky, fine nose with notes of dried meat, dark flowers and dried blueberries. Very, very good.
The taste is rich and a tad fiery with notes of smoke, spices and scorched earth. Very perky given that its 43 years old.
90p   (tasted 2025/04)

1982 Mercurey Clos des Myglands, Faiveley
A cool, mature nose with notes of dried strawberries, forest floor, dried herbs and gravel.
The taste is a tad seedy but the strawberry fruit is fine. A medium long dry finish.
87p   (tasted 2025/04)

1953 Château Pichon Baron
Sadly over the hill and far away, a bottle tasted last year - Barolista: A Fantastic Tasting Dinner - 21 Vintages Of Château Pichon Baron - was much better.
Not rated   (tasted 2025/04)


1981 Château Cantemerle
A fine, mature Bordeaux with classic traits on the nose such as stables, leather, dried black currants and sugared coffee. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and fine with notes of ceder, leather, autumn leaves and dried black currants. 
89p   (tasted 2025/04)



2003 Château Pedesclaux
A large scaled, concentrated nose with notes of plums. new leather and blue ski wax. Very fine.
The taste is tight and seedy with lots of black fruit, silky tannins and a long, warm finish. 4+ years.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)

1986 Château de la Rivière
Usually a solid minor Bordeaux, this -86 offers up a rustic nose with notes of tobacco, dusty earth, black tea and dried black currants.
The taste is mature and nicely structured with notes of dried plums, undergrowth and tobacco. Tails of rather quick.
87p   (tasted 2025/04)


1977 Chianti Classico, Rocca Della Macia
A forest filled nose with notes of iron, old leather and fir wood. A tad foursquare.
The taste is dry and mature with notes of old licorice, earth and dried herbs. A nice warmth though.
84p   (tasted 2025/04)

1985 Brunello di Montalcino, Argiano
A round, velvety nose with notes of plums, sweet tobacco, dried thyme and warm road dust. Very fine.
The taste is rich and focused with lovely black fruit, polished tannins and a long, warm finish.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)


1993 Vigorello, San Felice
A deep, inky nose with notes of leather, fried herbs, dark flowers and paint. Very fine.
The taste is structured and fine with notes of ripe black cherries, moist earth and chocolate biscuits.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)

2010 Pianirossi
From magnum. The nose is young and warm with notes of rosemary, hard cherry candy, leather and asphalt.
The taste is forward and fine with a very good warmth and notes of sweet/sour cherries, licorice and tobacco. Long. 5+ years.
89p   (tasted 2025/04)


1993 Blanc de Raisins Blancs, Mas de Daumas Gassac
A medium dry, soapy nose with notes of orange peel, detergent and dried flowers.
The taste is dry and a tad foursquare with notes of almond paste, tangerines and moist autumn leaves.
80p   (tasted 2025/04)

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Friday, 23 May 2025

Four Bottles Of 1964 Spanna


1964 Spanna, E. Berteletti
I have had better bottles of this. The nose is old and earthy with notes of vintage leather, dark bread and some overripe strawberries.
The taste is good and still with some vigour but the fruit is faded and the finish is dry and warm.
80p   (tasted 2025/05)

1964 Spanna, Fratelli Dellavalle
A deep, concentrated nose with notes of dried herbs, dried meat, old church benches and moist earth.
The taste is rich and seedy with a good structure, still some tannins and a medium long, warm finish.
87p   (tasted 2025/05)




1964 Spanna Riserva Del Castello, Marchesi Villadoria
A high, fine nose with notes of candle grease, dried raspberries, smoke and salmiak. Very, very good.
The taste is big and fresh with notes of sour/sweet raspberries, asphalt and sweet violets. Long and fine.
90p   (tasted 2025/05)

1964 Spanna Riserva Cantina Dei Santi, Agostino Brugo
A deep, steady nose with notes of mixed dark berries, incense, dried roses and sweet minerals. Very perky and fine.
The taste is rich and focused with notes of dried cherries, violets, licorice and scorched earth. Still on the young side of things, bottles like this would go on for 8+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)


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Thursday, 22 May 2025

2020 Barolo Angelo, Mauro Marengo


2020 Barolo Angelo, Mauro Marengo
A high, delicate nose with notes of red currants, fresh paint, violets, rosehips and a whiff of expensive tobacco. Very fine.
The taste is cool and fresh with notes of dried strawberries, roses and violets. Silky tannins. A medium long, perky finish. Drinking beautifully at this young age but could of course be cellared for 10+ years.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)

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Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Tasting Some Bottles From Louis Roederer Over A Yummy Lunch


I was invited by Vinunic to meet Alexis Deligny over lunch and taste a nice selection of wines from Louis Roederer. 
The food at Ett Hem Stockholm was sublime and complemented the wines perfectly - kudos to the kitchen!


NV Brut Premier
This was poured at our arrival, from a double magnum with base year 2006. A great start! The nose is round and mature with notes of dried lemons, smoke and sun warm rocks. Very, very good.
The taste is focused and fine with a gorgeous maturity and a perky acidity, giving the wine structure. A good length with lots of dried yellow fruits.
90p   (tasted 2025/05)


Collection 246
From a half bottle. The nose is cool and smoky with notes of dry apricots, oranges and ripe flowers. A fine depth.
The taste is young and tight with notes of yellow plums, lemons and some grassy notes. A medium long finish. A very fine acidity. Looking forward to taste this from magnum... Base year 2021.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)




Collection 245
Base year 2020. The nose is a tad withdrawn with notes of dried oranges, wet cement and dry biscuits. 
The taste is restrained and structured with more acidity than fruit at this stage, needs time. 6+ years.
88p   (tasted 2025/05)

Collection 243
From a magnum. You should always drink Champagne from this format! The nose is pure and high with notes of candle grease, dried apricots, lemon licorice and violets. 
The taste is structured and fine with notes of candied oranges, chrushed rocks and smoke. A very fine, layered finish. More evolved than two years ago, see below, and even better. Lovely. 
93p   (tasted 2025/05)

2016 Brut
A deep, spicy nose with notes of violet pastilles, birch sap, candied lemons and cap gun smoke. Very fine.
The taste is cool and restrained with a lovely focus, sweet fruit and a long, long finish. Needs 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2025/05)



2017 Brut Rosé
A beauty. The nose is deep and gorgeously forward with notes of red apples, dried raspberries, chalk and a hint of dry tobacco. 
The taste is tight and very handsome with notes of dried raspberries, smoke and decaying flowers. Intense and very fine. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay.
94p   (tasted 2025/05)

2016 Cristal
Cristal is Cristal. The 2016 version is a tight, restrained creature with notes of white peaches, fresh hay, lemon licorice and lots of chrushed rocks. 
The taste is deep and layered with notes of sweet minerals, almonds, candied lemons and fresh flowers. A lot of structure for aging. Very, very long. 10+ years.
96p   (tasted 2025/05)



More tasting notes of Louis Roederer wines:

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Tuesday, 20 May 2025

1964 Klosterdoctor Auslese, A. Weigand


1964 Klosterdoctor Auslese, A. Weigand
The label doesn´t say which grape the wine is made of, but it behaves like an mature Riesling. The nose is soft and mature with notes of dates, orange peel and moist earth.
The nose is low keyed and round with notes of dried apricots, orange peel and sweet minerals. A fine acidity and a decent length. 
83p   (tasted 2025/05)

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