Thursday, 5 February 2026

The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - A Visit To E. Molino


I visited Sergio and Alena in September last year - Barolista: A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - A Visit To E. Molino - and had to get back on this trip. Visiting Sergio and Alena and talk wine and lots of other stuff is a true privilege. Can´t wait to get back!

2020 Wilson
100% Nebbiolo. A cool, fresh nose with notes of pears, flowers and gravel.
The taste is tight yet forward with nice yellow fruit and a good acidity. Very good.
87p   (tasted 2026/01)


2025 Langhe Nebbiolo
Sergio fetched this sample from tank. A juicy, perky nose with notes of ripe raspberries, licorice and violets. Very, very good.
The taste is pure and direct with notes of raspberry licorice, tobacco and Langhe earth.
~89p   (tasted 2026/01)

2022 Barolo Bricco Rocca
A finely tuned nose with notes of herbs, raspberries, rosehips and new leather. Very fine.
The taste is young and forward with silky tannins and a beautiful raspberry fruit. A hint of warmth in the finish.
92p   (tasted 2026/01)

2022 Langhe Terraze del Peloroso
This has put on weight and intensity since I tasted it in September, gorgeous fruit, a lovely forests floor note and cherry pips. Great wine. 
10-15% is foot pressed. From 2023 this will be a Barolo instead. 
94p   (tasted 2026/01)



2020 Barolo Riserva del Fico
Only 950 bottles made. The nose is very deep and complex with notes of dried raspberries, Langhe earth, rosehips and red tea. Open and with a gorgeous sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is pure and linear with stunning fruit, a lovely perfumed note, silky tannins and a long, layered finish. Nearly as fine as the 2021. 5+ years.
94p   (tasted 2026/01)

2023 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Mèlia
The 2021 version I tasted in September was a monster (the kind, generous sort). The 2023 is a stunner but a tad more rough around the edges. The nose oozes up from the glass with notes of sugared coffee, asphalt, fir smoke and ripe plums. Very intense.
The taste is broad and rich with boatloads of ripe raspberries, scorched earth, Finnish licorice and smoke. Very, very long. The 16% isn´t noticable at all.
93p   (tasted 2026/01)

2025 Sauvignon Blanc
When I visited in September there were something bubbling in a corner. Sergio has some rows of Sauvignon Blanc and we was of course eager to try it. From tank.
The nose is upfront and grassy with notes of white currants, gooseberries and summer gravel.
The taste is racy and elegant with a fresh acidity and lovely fruit. Very fine. But - it won´t be released, its for family only. But if Sergio and Alena adopts me...? 
~90p   (tasted 2026/01)


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Wednesday, 4 February 2026

2013 Barolo, Costa di Bussia - Tenuta Arnulfo


2013 Barolo Bussia, Costa di Bussia - Tenuta Arnulfo
A cool, fresh nose with notes of hard cherry candy, violets, its finely perfumed and has with some balsamic notes. Very fine.
The taste is young and taut with notes of dried cherries, licorice, violets and mushrooms. A very fine structure for aging. 
I tasted the 1900 Barolo from this cantina a while back - Barolista: The Barolo Boys Does Mature Barolo - 1900 - 1959 - lets see it this will age for that long...
92p   (tasted 2026/01)

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Monday, 2 February 2026

2004 Barolo Pressenda, Marziano Abbona


2004 Barolo Pressenda, Marziano Abbona
A deep, mature and lovely nose with notes of dried cherries, paint, ceps and sun warm asphalt. Very fine.
The taste is round and silky with notes of balsamic cooked strawberries, rosehips and fried herbs. Long, complex and perfectly mature.
93p   (tasted 2026/01)

Previous notes:

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Sunday, 1 February 2026

A Very Nice Line Up Of Mostly Mature Bottles


M invited to a nice tasting between Christmas and New Year. A lot of interesting bottles - thanks!
All tasted double blind.

2004 Coeour de Cuvée, Vilmart & Co
80% Chardonnay, 20% PInot Noir. An open, fresh nose with notes of freshly washed clothes, dried up lemon curd and birch leaves. A lovely nose.
The taste is creamy and dine with notes of grilled lemons, elderberries and dried flowers. A very fine acidity. Very fine.
94p   (tasted 2025/12)


Flight I
2008 Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume, Brocard
A somewhat mature, linear nose with notes of matchbox, dried tangerines and some waxy notes.
The taste is broad and mature with notes of yellow apples, dried peaches and gravel. A tad short on the finish.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)

2008 Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Perriéres, Domaine du Fouler
A large scaled, smoky nose with notes of candied lemons, dry fudge, red apples and hay. Very, very good.
The taste is rich and concentrated with lots of ripe lemon fruit, a fine acidity and a long, ripe finish.
91p   (tasted 2025/12)



2008 Meursault-Charmes, Henri Germain
A high, pure nose with notes of lemon licorice, summer warm gravel and ripe flowers. Very fine.
The taste is elegant and focused with notes of lemon cream, lemon fudge and chrushed rocks. Very long and structured. Lovely.
93p   (tasted 2025/12)

Flight II
2015 Spätburgunder -S-, Keller
A earthy, dry nose with notes of rowan berries, autumn leaves and root vegetables. 
The taste is mature and quite juicy with notes of dried red berries, earth and dried flowers.
87p   (tasted 2025/12)


2015 Bougogne, Meo-Camuzet
A balanced, fine nose with notes of dried raspberries, vegetable stock and warm earth. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and fine with hints of maturity, ripe lingonberries and a fine acidity. Long and perky.
91p   (tasted 2025/12)

1999 Beaune Vigne de l´Enfant Jesus, Bouchard
A deep, seedy nose with notes of smoke, undergrowth, tobacco and some tarry notes. A bit grumpy on the nose.
The taste is better with a nice concentration, dried red fruit and a long, warm finish.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)



1999 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Au-Dessus des Malconsorts, Henri & Gilles Remorquet
A deep, tight nose with notes of licorice, raspberry candy, bakelite and forest floor. 
The taste is warm and linear with notes of dried up raspberry jam, tobacco, earth and some dry tannins in the finish. Very, very good.
89p   (tasted 2025/12)

Flight III
1998 Hermitage La Sizeranne, Chapoutier
A deep, meaty nose with notes of freshly grounded pepper, tobacco and undergrowth. A nice warmth.
The taste is round and mature with notes of dried red and black berries, violets and tobacco. Long but a  tad dry on the finish.
88p   (tasted 2025/12)


2001 Côte-Rôtie Cote Blonde, R. Rostaing
A cool, refined nose with notes of dried flowers, veal stock, violets and scorched earth. Complex and lovely.
The taste is tight, seedy and forward with gorgeous black fruit, a taut structure and a long, long finish. Hints of maturity but this a long way to go.
93p   (tasted 2025/12)

2010 Saint-Joseph Les Granits, Chapoutier
A deep, peppery nose with notes of ripe blackberries, chocolate biscuits and dark flowers. Very fine.
The taste is young and structured with a fine warmth, lovely red and black fruits and a peppery finish. 6+ years.
91p   (tasted 2025/12)

Flight IV
1966 Château Poujeaux
A fine, low keyed nose with notes of dry chocolate, dried red currants, autumn leaves and cigarette ash.
The taste is medium bodied and dry with a fine dried up fruit and a silky finish. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2025/12)


1970 Château Poujeaux
A deep, velvety nose with notes of smoke, dried up black currant jam and autumn leaves.
The taste is round and inviting with a fine warmth, dried up black fruit and a medium long finish.
89p   (tasted 2025/12)

1986 Château Poujeaux
An open, forward nose with notes of vintage leather, smoke, autumn leaves and tobacco.
The taste is seedy and a tad foursquare with warm black fruit and a long, dry finish.
86p   (tasted 2025/12)



1990 Château Poujeaux
A deep, smoky nose with notes of undergrowth, ripe black currants, graphite and iron. Very fine.
The taste is tight and refined with a lovely black currant fruit, silky tannins and a long, taut finish.
92p   (tasted 2025/12)

2009 Château Poujeaux
A cool, lightly meaty nose with notes of plums, smoke, ink and sandelwood. Very young.
The taste is structured and tight with locked up fruit, polished tannins and a long, seedy finish. Needs 7+ years.
89p   (tasted 2025/12)


1979 Kopke Colheita Port
To finish the evening of, a stunner of a Port. The nose is deep, sweet and layered with notes of roasted nuts, dark fudge, candied orange peel and almond cream. Very fine.
The taste is big and brawny with a lovely structure and notes of raisins, fried nuts, milk chocolate and damons. Very, very long.
93p   (tasted 2025/12)


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Saturday, 31 January 2026

Collection 242 Brut , Louis Roederer


Collection 242 Brut, Louis Roederer
From magnum. A smoky, bread filled nose with notes of lemon peel, dried apricots, butter biscuits and chrushed rocks. Very fine.
The taste is dry and linear with notes of grilled lemons, sweet mineral, smoke and dried flowers. A long finish with a cleansing acidity.
56% of the blend is from the 2017 vintage, the rest is 34% from Roederer´s perpetual reserve and 10% oak aged reserve wines from the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages.
92p   (tasted 2025/12)

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Friday, 30 January 2026

Two Bottles Of 1982 Bordeaux


1982 Château Gravieres de Marsac
A mature, muffled nose with notes of wet autumn leaves, dried black fruit and soya sauce.
The taste shows a nice warmth with notes of undergrowth, dried up creme de cassis and dry tobacco. Fresher on the palate than on the nose.
81p   (tasted 2025/12)

1982 Château Meyene
This Fronsac is a beauty. A deep, round nose with notes of sugared coffee, dried black currants, warm tiles and tobacco. Very, very good.
The taste is perky and fine with notes of charcoal, leather and black currants. A fine dried up sweetness. Dtinking great on this winter day.
90p   (tasted 2025/12)

A recent tasting of 12 other minor 82´s -  Barolista: 1982 Bordeaux - Twelve Bottles

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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)


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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)

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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)


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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)

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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)




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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)





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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)

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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)

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