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)

Thursday, 15 May 2025

2021 & 2022 Dolcetto Di Diano d´Alba Superiore Sori´Pradurent, Claduio Alario


2021 Dolcetto Di Diano d´Alba Superiore Sori´Pradurent, Claduio Alario
A deep, restrained nose with notes of damsons, violets, shoe polish and fir wood. Very, very good in a straight-backed way.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of blueberries, iron, violets and fir wood. A very good structure for aging. 8+ years.
90p   (tasted 2025/05)

2022 Dolcetto Di Diano d´Alba Superiore Sori´Pradurent, Claduio Alario
An open, warm nose with notes of dark raspberries, iron, fir wood and gravel. A very fine sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is young and forward with notes of violets, warm sand, licorice and a mix of blueberries and raspberries. Today more rewarding than the -21 but that one will age better.
91p   (tasted 2025/05)

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Four Bottles Of 1964 Bordeaux


1964 Château La Grace Dieu
A soft, mature nose with notes of dried plums, forest floor and coffee powder. Nice in a sparse way.
The taste is cool and dry with notes of dried mushrooms, earth and autumn leaves. Very good but a tad short on the finish.
86p   (tasted 2025/05)


1964 Château Grand Mayne
A smoky, warm nose with notes of vintage leather, damsons, bonfire smoke and old chocolate. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and fine with notes of dried black currants, sugared coffee and moist earth. A long, warm finish. Holding up fine.
A bottle ten years ago was even better - Barolista: Tasting Dinner With 12 Bottles Of 1964 St Emilion
90p   (tasted 2025/05)

1964 Château Monbousquet
A tad restrained on the nose, showing notes of dry wood, old herbs, bakelite and undergrowth.
The taste is tight and somewhat anonymous with some dried black fruit, fir wood and warm sand. Good with the food.
82p   (tasted 2025/05)


1964 Château Petit Faurie de Soutard
My WOTN. The nose is open and sweet with notes of cigarr smoke, plums, chocolate and autumn leaves. Very fine.
The taste is tight and still on the perky side of things, with notes of ripe plums, bonfire smoke, dried flowers and moist earth. Very long. Bottles like this could go on for 8+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)


Monday, 12 May 2025

2023 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, M. Marengo


2023  Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, M. Marengo
A high, delicate nose with notes of ripe red currants, wild strawberries, violets, sandelwood and incense. Just lovely on the nose.
The taste is structured and layered with notes of bay leaves, licorice and boatloads of ripe red fruits. A long, silky finish. 5+ years. Great wine.
Last tasted at the estate in January - Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Visit To M. Marengo
94p   (tasted 2025/05)

Friday, 9 May 2025

The Barolo Boys Meet Again - The Rest Of The Bottles

A couple of weeks ago The Barolo Boys met up. The Baroli bottles are posted here - Barolista: The Barolo Boys Meet Again - The Baroli.
Here are the rest of the wines, all tasted double blind.

2023 Dorsheim Pittermännchen Riesling Kabinett, Joh. Bapt. Schäfer
A young, fresh nose with notes of summer gravel, pear ice cream and thai basil. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and seedy with a hig acidity and notes of lemon licorice, grass and herbs.
90p   (tasted 2025/04)


2014 Scheurebe Kabinett, Keller
A very fine, layered nose with notes of white peach, grapefruit, fresh soap and cucumber. Very fine.
The taste is structured and very fine with notes of dried peach, rubber and dried up vanilla ice cream. Very long. Lovely.
94p   (tasted 2025/04)

2009 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese, Willi Schaefer
A deep, somewhat mature nose with notes of yellow apples, cap gun smoke  and dry caramel. High and fine.
The taste is tight and fine with notes of candied oranges, chrushed rock and fresh flowers. A very fine acidity. Feels younger on the palate than on the nose.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)

2022 Dolcetto d´Alba, Luigi Pira
A young, perky nose with notes of blueberries, iron and bakelite. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and crisp with broad tannins, lots of ripe black fruit and a long, balanced finish. 5+ years.
90p   (tasted 2025/04)


1971 Vino Dolcetto, Giovanni Altare
Too old, even for my taste. The nose is earthy and sparse with cooked fruit and dusty notes.
The taste is foursquare and tired with notes of old paint and earth. The label is pristine though.
60p   (tasted 2025/04)

2015 Rosso Vino (Barbaresco Pora), Coccinella
The house wine of Trattoria La Coocinella - Trattoria La Coccinella - my favourite restaurant in Langhe. And what a wine! The nose soars up from the glass with notes of black cherries, sandelwood, licorice and wet cement. Very handsome and focused.
The taste is tight and concentrated with silky tannins, boatloads of fresh cherry fruit and a long, dry finish. Soarsed from Pora in Barbaresco, this is a stunner.
96p   (tasted 2025/04)


Wednesday, 7 May 2025

Four Bottles Of Sauternes


These were the dessert wines from our latest tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. Me and M brought these so we knew the order of the wines.

1972 Château Filhot
A soft, mature nose with notes of nougat, dried apricots, wet hay and banan peels. 
The taste is now medium dry with some nice driep up fruit, sponge cake and detergent. Good but past its best.
84p   (tasted 2025/04)


1976 Château Suduiraut
A deep, saffron laden nose with additional notes of staled coca-cola, dried mango and vanilla cakes. Finely matured and interesting.
The taste is rich and nicely concentrated with boatloads of dried fruits, a very good acidity and a perfect maturity.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)

1980 Château Rieussec
A deep, layered nose with notes of dried apricots, rubber, sugared tea and a lovely sweet perfumed note. Very complex and fine.
The taste is big and luscious with notes of tangerines, almond paste, rubber and hay. Very long and fine.
93p   (tasted 2025/04)


1986 Château Suduiraut
A still young, high nose with notes of ripe oranges, dry coconut, detergent and moist grass. Pure and fine men still very adolescent.
The taste is young and concentrated with notes of crème brulée, oranges and hay. A good acidity. Needs 10+ years.
88p   (tasted 2025/04)

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

2021 Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena


2021 Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena
A high, transparent nose with notes of red cherries, incense, thyme and summer warm Tuscan gravel roads. Very fine.
The taste is luscious and elegant with finesse, a fine spiciness, bright red fruit and a long, juicy finish. For 30 Euro this is, as a more eloquent taster would put it, a no brainer.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)

Sunday, 4 May 2025

Four Stunning Reds


These were the reds from our latest tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. Tasted double blind.

2015 Assymetry, Rodney Strong
A Sonoma Barrel auction wine, only 10 cases made. A deep, velvety nose with notes of plums, herbs, coffee powder and sweet minerals. Very, very good.
The taste is open and steady with a very fine warmth and notes of vanilla coated plums, smoke and tobacco. A long, lingering finish with some sandy tannins. 5+ years. 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)



2012 Clos Apalta
The grapes comes from prephylloxera vines and they have fashioned a wine with a deep, sweet nose with notes of violets, dark chocolate, smoke and a hint of asphalt. Very fine.
The taste is tight and refined with gorgeous plum fruit, polished tannins and a long, long structured finish. Lovely. 66% Carmenere, 19% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
94p   (tasted 2025/04)

2013 La Magdalena, Favia
A stunningly beautiful, layered nose with notes of ripe black currants, leather, chocolate biscuits and birch leaves. 
The taste is regal and concentrated with notes of iron, ripe black currants, graphite and expensive tobacco. The finish goes on for a minute. World class wine. 6+ years. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Cabernet Franc.
97p   (tasted 2025/04)



2013 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Dunn
A very deep, restrained nose with notes of tobacco, chrushed rocks, black currant leaves and dried black flowers. Very elegant in a laid back, adolescent way.
The taste is seedy and structured with lots of dormant black currants, leather and a hint of veal meat. Very aristocratic. Needs 10+ years.
96p   (tasted 2025/04)

Saturday, 3 May 2025

2018 Mâcon-Loché Les Longues Terres, Marcel Couturier


2018 Mâcon-Loché Les Longues Terres, Marcel Couturier
A deep, creamy nose with notes of grilled lemons, butter cookies, yellow flowers and smoke. Very fine.
The taste is finely tuned with opulent yellow fruit paired with a cleansing acidity and a fine structure. Very long, and ends on a fine dry note.
92p   (tasted 2025/05)

Friday, 2 May 2025

Four Whites


These were the whites from our latest tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. Tasted double blind.

2021 L´Avion, Stolpman
This 100% Rousanne offers up a spicy nose with notes of violets and lemon but the overwhelming aroma is cap gun smoke, that never really blows of.
The taste is cool and fresh but the fruit is a tad green and the acidity is too low for my liking.
80p   (tasted 2025/04)


2019 Alchemia, Rombeau
A fine, flowery nose with notes of grass, fresh herbs and assorted yellow fruits.
The taste is low keyed with notes of wet cement, hay and dried flowers. A medium long finish.
87p   (tasted 2025/04)

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rotem & Mounir Saouma
A rich, fine nose with notes of candied lemons, smoke and chrushed rocks. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and nicely concentrated with lots of ripe fruit, a fine acidity and a long, warm finish.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)



2015 Côtes-du-Rhone Grande Réserve, Chateau des Tours
A round, somewhat mature nose with notes of dried apricots, dried up vanilla ice cream, smoke and wool. Very fine.
The taste is warm and fine with notes of oranges, smoke and sweet minerals. Long and fine. 
92p   (tasted 2025/04)

Wednesday, 30 April 2025

2019 & 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino


2019 Langhe Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino
From a half bottle. A pure, handsome nose with notes of ripening raspberries, red currants and a touch of wet asphalt. Some spicy notes after a while.
The taste is tight and refined with a very fine structure, red fruit in spades and a long, silky finish. A very fine bottle of Nebbiolo from this stunning vintage. Will go on drinking beautifully for 8+ years.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)

2023 Langhe Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino
From a half bottle. A high, elegant nose with notes of violets, dried strawberries and a fine balsamic note. Very, very good.
The taste is spicy and fresh with lovely red fruit, silky tannins a long, dry finish. Should get even better with some bottle age.
89p   (tasted 2025/04)


Monday, 28 April 2025

Four Bottles Of Bubbly


These were the Champagne´s from our latest tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. Tasted double blind.

2008 Millésime, Rochet-Bocart
A tight, chalky nose with notes of lemon zest, wet cement and cap gun smoke. Very, very good.
The taste is finely tuned, low keyed with notes of chalk, white currants, smoke and chrushed rocks. A long, very dry finish.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)


2008 Empreinte Meunier, Gaizoz Forget
A high, stony nose with notes of oranges, birch leaves and gravel. Very good in a ascetic way.
The taste is cool and grassy with notes of lemon zest, hay and dried flowers. The finish is very, very dry, I often find these non dosage wines lacking a bit of body and frankly, enjoyment.
87p   (tasted 2025/04)

PN AYC18, Bollinger
Base year 2018 with reserve wines from 2011 and up. The nose is deep and fine with lots of ripe red apples, gunpowder smoke and summer warm gravel. Very fine.
The taste is dry and crisp with lovely fruit, a cleansing acidity and a long, distinct finish. 8+ years.
93p   (tasted 2025/04)



2008 Cuvée Nicole Vieilles Vignes, Pierre Moncuit
A deep, viscous nose with notes of violets, birch sap, apples and dried flowers. High and very fine.
The taste is layered and balanced with everything in place, gorgeous fruit, intensity and elegance. A lovely wine for drinking now and the coming 6+ years.
95p   (tasted 2025/04)

Thursday, 24 April 2025

Two Easter Bordeaux Bottles

2000 Château Verdignan
A soft, almost fully mature nose with notes of black currants, tobacco, autumn leaves and saw dust. Very good in a low key way.
The taste is medium bodied with a fine warmth and dried up black fruit. A fine, dry finish.
85p   (tasted 2025/04)


2004 Château de Bel-Air
A spicy, fine nose with notes of plums, sweet tobacco, leather and dried flowers. Very, very good.
The taste is sandy and fine with notes of licorice, plums and cigarr smoke. A long, dry finish.
89p   (tasted 2025/04)

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Six Bottles Of 2007 Burgundy


At our latest monthly tasting group meeting, M poured these Burgundies. All tasted double blind as ususal.

2007 Corton Le Rognet, Bernard Ambroise
A round, mostly mature nose with notes of red currants, worn leather and smoke. A fine warmth.
The taste is open and fine with notes of plums, herbs and a touch of dog fur. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years.
86p   (tasted 2025/04)



2007 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots, Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot
A deep, fine nose with notes of dried raspberries, red tea, herbs and flowers. Very fine.
The taste is cool and layered with notes of forest floor, assorted red fruits and coffee powder. A very fine structure. 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2025/04)

2007 Vosne- Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts V.V., Domaine Perrot-Minot
A tight, fine nose with some maturity and notes of nougat, earth and dried raspberries. A fine dried up sweetness.
The taste is spicy and fine with a cleansing acidity and ripe red fruit. A fine dryness in the finish.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)

2007 Clos de la Roche, Lucie & Auguste Lignier
A round, generous nose with notes of plums, moist earth and sweet tobacco. Very, very good.
The taste is warm and mature with notes of red currants, herbs and dried flowers. Very long and handsome.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)


2007 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaut Saint-Jacques, Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot
A warm, fine nose with notes of forest floor, tobacco and dried red berries. A fine depth.
The taste is tight and earthy with notes of leather, tobacco and assorted red fruits. A elegant, dry finish.
89p   (tasted 2025/04)

2007 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers, Lucien le Moine
A very deep, layered nose with notes of incense, ripe raspberries, cigarr smoke and fresh herbs. Very, very good.
The taste is ripe and structured showing some maturity, ripe red fruit and a long, warm finish. Some oak in the finish. 3+ years.
90p   (tasted 2025/04)


Tuesday, 22 April 2025

2015 Chianti Classico Vigna Doghessa, Casanuova Di Nittardi


2015 Chianti Classico Vigna Doghessa, Casanuova Di Nittardi
A cool, herbal nose with notes of red currants, earth and a hint of tobacco. It had a volatil touch when first poured but that soon disappeared.
The taste is laid back and elegant with notes of hard cherry candy, gravel and tobacco. A fine acidity. A hint of warmth in the finish. 3+ years.
87p   (tasted 2025/04)

Thursday, 17 April 2025

1978 Barolo, Cav. L. Brero


1978 Barolo, Cav. L. Brero
A nicely matured, deep nose with notes of violets, forest floor and sugared coffee. A fine dried up sweetness.
The taste is dry and polished with notes of tobacco, dried red fruits, rosehips and iron. A fine, dry finish.
89p   (tasted 2025/04)

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

The Barolo Boys Meet Again - The Baroli


M called to a Barolo Boys tasting. Lots of great wines, food and talk. All wines tasted double blind.

2014 Barolo, Sergio Giudice
A high, fine nose with notes of leather, red apples, rosehips and iron. A hint of maturity. Very, very good.
The taste is on the bring of maturity with soft red fruit, silky tannins and a fine minerality.
91p   (tasted 2025/04)


2008 Barolo Le Coste-Moscone, Parusso
A big, all over the place nose with notes of Finnish licorice, coconut, ripe cherries and moist earth. 
The taste is rich and concentrated, lots of oak tannins and a bitter finish. Not to my liking.
Notes from my visit to the cantina - Barolista: The Barolo Boys Visit Parusso, Vietti & Aldo Conterno - 
82p   (tasted 2025/04)

2017 Barolo Bricco San Pietro, Anna Maria Abbona
A deep, warm nose with notes of dried flowers, ripe cherries, smoke and moccha. Open and fine.
The taste is elegant and fine with notes of red beets, leather, cigarette ashes and Lange earth. 
90p   (tasted 2025/04)


2019 Barolo Cascina Tiole, Massimo Grasso
A high, fine nose with notes of violets, ripe flowers, red currants and a fine balsamic note.
The taste is tight and seedy with fine red fruit, steady tannins and a long, lingering finish. This is fine. 8+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)

1993 Barolo Bricco Boschis Vigna S. Giuseppe, Cavallotto
A mature, earthy nose with notes of dried raspberries, clay and licorice. Soft and fine, although on the fragile side of things.
The taste has a dry velvety feeling about it, with fine tannins and nice dried up red fruit. Seemed a bit murky at first but it evolved nicely over the evening.
Notes from my last visit to the cantina - Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Part One
88p   (tasted 2025/04)

1979 Barolo Cannubi, Alfredo Prunotto
This 46 year old Barolo display a mature, soft nose with notes of sugared coffee, worn leather, dried flowers and fir smoke.
The taste is more linear and dry than the nose leads you to believe, some dried red fruit and road dust.
78p   (tasted 2025/04)


1993 Barolo Vigna Rionda, Massolino
An old, murky nose with notes of dried up vanilla ice cream, old furniture, gravel and dry rosehips. A tad hollow.
The taste is short and foursquare but the dried up fruit is nice and the finish is ok. 
80p   (tasted 2025/04)

2020 Barolo Brunate, Enzo Boglietto
A dark, nicely focused nose with notes of ripe cherries, Lily of the Valley, asphalt and leather. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of licorice, dried flowers, asphalt and rosehips. Long and fine. 6+ years.
90p   (tasted 2025/04)



2015 Barolo Riserva Gramolero, Manzone
A rich, high nose with notes of Finnish licorice, hard cherry candy, incense and ripe flowers. A touch of oak which adds to the complexity.
The taste is young and layered with lots of ripe red cherries, forets floor, minerals and rosehips. 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)

2018 Barolo Riserva Brunate, M. Marengo
A very deep, balsamic nose with notes of leather, red licorice, nutmeg and Langhe earth. Just lovely.
The taste is brilliant and perfectly balanced with fruit, tannins and acidity in harmony. Great wine. 8+ years.
Notes from my last visit to the cantina - Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Visit To M. Marengo
96p   (tasted 2025/04)



2016 Barolo Vignarionda, Luigi Pira
I scored this beauty 99p when I tasted it with Gianpaolo upon release. Now it has gone into hiding but every knot and bolt are in their right places. Gorgeous fruit, seamless, broad tannins and a minute long finish. Wait 10+ year for perfection.
Notes from my last visit to the cantina - Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Visit To Luigi Pira
97p   (tasted 2025/04)

2005 Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello
Somewhat of a disappointment, the nose is cool and tight but also linear and fleeting. Even with time in the glass it doesn´t evolve.
The taste is tight and rather elegant but the fruit is of the low keyed kind and the mouth feel is slender aking to anorectic. But then again, 2005 is far from a favourite vintage for me.
87p   (tasted 2025/04)



2015 Barolo Monvigliero, Burlotto
A delicate, finely tuned nose with notes of dried strawberries, smoke, incense and paint. Very fine.
The taste is racy and elegant with cool tannins and a fine red fruit. Very nicely balanced. 4+ years.
92p   (tasted 2025/04)

2004 Barolo Romirasco, Aldo Conterno
I have had even greater bottles of this fabolous juice, but this no slouch in any shape or form. The nose oozes up from the glass with notes of expensive tobacco, ripe cherries, asphalt and ripe flowers. Very fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with gorgeous black cherry fruit, silky tannins, a fine touch of mint and a long, juicy finish. 4+ years.
95p   (tasted 2025/04)



2013 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Brovia
As with most of the finer 13´s, this is locked up and need plenty of time. On the nose, when you vigoursly swirl the glass, there are fine notes of tar, violets, spices and Langhe earth.
The taste is taut and structured with plenty of black fruit, tobacco notes and wet asphalt. Very, very long. Needs 8+ years.

Friday, 11 April 2025

A Bottle Of Bubbly - 2009 Dream Vintage, André Clouet


2009 Dream Vintage, André Clouet
A fine, spicy nose with notes of toasted bread, oranges, smoke and white flowers. Very, very good.
The taste is stony and expressive with a very good yellow fruit, a fine acidity and a long dry finish with a nice bitter touch at the end.
90p   (tasted 2025/04)