Two 2015 Nebbiolo

2015 Valtellina Superiore Ca Morei, Sandro Fay

A medium deep, focused nose with notes of dried cherries, earth, herbs, rosehips and paint. Very fine in a restrained way. Needs time in the glass to open up. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and dry with fine notes of red cherries, dried strawberries, asphalt and dried roses. Not as open and inviting as three years ago. Needs another 5+ years in the cellar, but ooooh so good.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2015 Barolo Bricco Rocche, Roccheviberti

A very deep, tight, complex nose with notes of violets, ripe black cherries, rosehips, licorice and bay leaves. Very fine. Lovely. 

The taste is rich and multi layered with notes of licorice, hard cherry candy, coffee powder and dark flowers. Very long. Silky tannins. Not as expressive as tasted at my visit to the estate two years ago. Needs another 7+ years in the cellar. Great wine!

95p   (tasted 2021/07)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Marc Hebrart

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Marc Hebrart

My first bottle from Marc Hebrart but definitely not my last! This beauty showcases a deep, focused nose with notes of salted caramel, yellow plums, thyme, red apples and chalk. Very fine. Classy.

The taste is crisp and fine with notes of dried up limoncello, red apples, warm gravel and chrushed rocks. A very fine acidity. Long and fresh. Gotta get me more of this (have already ordered bottles of this and other wines from Marc Hebrart…).

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Le Ragnaie

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Le Ragnaie

What a nose! From the first pour this gorgeous creature deliever the goods with stunning notes of perfectly ripe black cherries, paint, warm tiles, tobacco, Tuscan gravel and sun warm rosemary. Very deep. Entering maturity.

The taste is structured and seamless with notes of leather, sweet/sour cherries, herbs, fir wood and fine tobacco. Very, very long. Silky tannins. Great wine that is in a perfect drinking phase now and the coming 8+ years.

96p   (tasted 2021/07)

Tasted before - here and here.

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Blanc de Blancs Eclat de Chardonnay, Barnaut

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Blanc de Blancs Eclat de Chardonnay, Barnaut

A fine smoky nose with notes of almond cakes, grilled lemons, white flowers and chrushed rocks. Deep and fine. On day two it shows a lot of white peaches, more fruity.

The taste is cool and elegant with notes of lemon cream, flower water, almond paste and minerals. A high, fine acidity. The same character on the palate on day two. Very, very good.

91p   (tasted 2021/07)

2016 Schist Syrah Roundstone, Mullineux

2016 Schist Syrah Roundstone, Mullineux

A lovely smoky, meaty nose with notes of violets, plums, green peppers, blood/iron and dark earth. Very complex and very fine.

The taste is cool, tight and refined with notes of raw meat, violets, asphalt and fresh herbs. Very long, fresh and with polished, silky tannins. Great wine. 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2016 Barbera d’Alba, Giuseppe Rinaldi

2016 Barbera d’Alba, Giuseppe Rinaldi

The nose has definitely broaden itself and got deeper since three years ago. Now its full of moist forest floor, licorice, a fine mix of blueberries and raspberries, fir wood and bonfire smoke. At the same time a fresh note of mint and a deep barnyardy aroma - very complex.

The taste is high, intense and multi layered with notes of ripe wild raspberries - just like the ones I found this morning after taking the dog for a walk - licorice, bonfire smoke and red beets. Very fine. Long with a fine cleansing acidity. Great now and for the coming 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2018 Ried Kellerberg Smaragd Riesling, F. X. Pichler

2018 Ried Kellerberg Smaragd Riesling, F. X. Pichler

A high, racy, energetic nose with notes of chives, candied lemons, dry passionfruit, lime peel and loads of chrushed rocks. Very fine. Just lovely. 

The taste is electric, tight and pure as a mountain river with notes of fennel, grass, white currants and slate. Very, very long. Intense. Just great now and will be for the coming 10+ years.

94p   (tasted 2021/07)

First Vacation Day - Champagne & Barolo

NV Rose, Regis Fliniaux

I have found memories of bottles from Fliniaux from the 90’s but haven’t tasted anything after that. This Rose displays a cool, pure nose with notes of fennel, blood oranges, iron and rhubarb licorice. Complex and fine. Young and tight.

The taste is racy and fresh with notes of red currants, orange peeel, iron and gravel. A very fine acidity. Long and very fine. Got to get me more of this.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2017 Barolo Brunate, Claudio Boggione

Actually my first 17 Barolo, go figure. The nose is rather high spirited with a hint of VA and notes of sweet red currant, asphalt, rubber and tobacco. More subdued and structured on day two. Needs time.

The taste is taut and energetic with notes of asphalt, dried red berries, rosehips and tobacco. Silky tannins. A hint of warmth in the finish. Very, very good. Will need 8+ years.

90p   (tasted 2021/07)

1990 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de Beaurenard

1990 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de Beaurenard

This is not what I drink every day (not even every year...) - white Ch-du-Pape, especially with age. It has hold up nicely, presenting a mature, broad, somewhat oily nose with notes of white currants, dried up honey, gravel and a hint of a dry vanilla pod. Very good.

The taste is dry and more linear than the nose with notes of hay, gravel and dried peaches. A tad short. Holding up well over two days.

85p   (tasted 2021/07)

Guigal´s La-La Wines From The 2017 Vintage

I was invited by Wine Affair to meet Philippe (through Zoom) and to taste the recent vintages from the great Guigal estate. A lot of fine wines but as always (see below), these three Côte-Rôtie´s towers over rest - world class wines that (still) isn´t absurdly priced as most of the wines at this level.

2017 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline

Usually my favourite in this stellar lineup, the La Mouline offers up a deep, perfumed nose with notes of violets, white flowers, white peppar and boatloads of ripe red currants and blueberries. Lovely.

The taste is cool, seamless and refined with fruit, structure, tannins and acidity in perfect harmony. Just give this beauty 10+ years and the perfect score is a given. Better than 2016.

98p   (tasted 2021/06)

2017 Côte-Rôtie La Turque

The 17 La Turque is the most backwards of the three, with restrained, deep notes of bakelite, plums, blueberries, meat and earth. Very, very deep.

The taste is very tight and concentrated with notes of violets, bay leaves, ripe blueberries, scorched earth and dry licorice. Very, very long. The 2016 was IMHO opion, at least at this stage. 15+ years.

96p   (tasted 2021/06)

2017 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

Usually the most taut and broad shouldered, in 2017 La Landonne showcases a smoky, deep, fantastic nose with notes of asphalt, fried peppar, rubber, plums and the petrol scent at a gas station. Great wine.

The taste is just brilliant with notes of ripe blueberries, scorched earth, meat stock, green peppars and sweet violets. Rolls over the tongue like a Lamborghini steamroller. On the same level as the 2016.

98p   (tasted 2021/06)

Other wines tasted:

2020 Côtes du Rhone Rosé (88p)

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château de Nalys (white) (91p)

2019 Condrieu La Doriane (96p)

2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château de Nalys (89p)

2018 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l´Hospice (93p)

2017 Côte-Rôtie Château de Ampuis (95p)

1962 Barolo, Marchese Fracassi di Torre Rossano

1962 Barolo, Marchese Fracassi di Torre Rossano

A truly fascinating nose that only bottle age can produce - high, intense, airy and captivating. It reminded me of the 1947 Marchesi di Barolo tasted a couple of years ago.

There are aromas of incense, dried red currants and strawberries, chives, old church benches, mosquito repellent and much more. Lovely. Doesn´t budge to the next day.

The taste is not as lively as the 47 Marchesi but it still got plenty of vigour, with notes of earth, dried red berries, old leather, rosehips and gravel. Proof that old Barolo needs time to open up - it was better on the palate day two. A great 59 year old!

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

Eight Bottles Of Burgundy

An impromptu tasting at Mikke with some nice bottles opened. And great food! All tasted double blind.

1971 Beaune-Marconnets Tête de Cuvée, Remoissenet

A pretty reliable source when it comes to older Burgundy´s, this Remoissenet displays a soft, round nose with fine notes of undergrowth, dry licorice, stale Coca-Cola and dried strawberries. Very good.

The taste is dry and earthy with notes of worn leather, dried strawberries and some mushrooms. A tad foursquare, better on the nose.

86p   (tasted 2021/07)

2005 Puligny-Montrachet Les Champ Canet, Louis Carillon

Fat and tight, the nose soars up from the glass with notes of wet cement, butter cookies, hay, honey and dried red apples. Very fine. Only hints of maturity.

The taste is broad and crisp with notes of dry vanilla fudge, warm grass, red apples and minerals. A very fine acidity. Fresh and fine. 4+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2005 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatiéres, Etienne Sauzet

A cool, smoky nose with notes of grey pears, peach, lemon cream and gravel. Very, very good in a restrained way.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of yellow apples, lemon cream, peach and chrushed rocks. A tad light on the finish. A question mark if this will improve.

88p   (tasted 2021/07)

2005 Corton-Charlemagne, Bertrand Ambroise

A deep, focused nose with lovely notes of cap gun smoke, grilled lemons, white peach and butter cookies. High and pure. Very fine.

The taste is tight and refined with stunning fruit, a razor sharp acidity and a length that is counted in minutes. Great wine. 6+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Clos de Vougeot, Domaine Tortochot

It is good that we apply strict Omerta rules when it comes to these double blind tasting... These 2003 Burgundies really tricked us.

The Tortochot has a medium bodied, kind of meaty nose with notes of violets, bakelite, smoke and a hint of mint. Very, very good.

The taste shows maturity and notes of plums, smoke, undergrowth and gravel. A high acidity. Long and fine. Not for keeping longer.

89p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Corton Le Rognet, Bertrand Ambroise

A deep, peppery nose with notes of ripe blueberries and raspberries alongside gravel, coffee powder and fir wood. Tight. Fine.

The taste is cool and structured with notes of raspberries, blackberries, gravel and cold coffee. Very long. A very good mouthfeel. Could be cellared 4+ years but I don´t think it will improve further.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes, Nicolas Potel

A deep, intense nose with notes of bonfire smoke, dark raspberries, tobacco and forest floor. Lovely.

The taste is seedy and structures with a nix of ripe red and black fruits alongside notes of undergrowth, tobacco and violets. Very long with still noticable tannins. Very fine. 5+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/07)

2003 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes, Domaine Meo-Camuzet

A deep, willful nose with interesting notes of rosehips, sausage, stables, fir wood and dark perfume! Complex. Very, very good.

The taste is taut and concentrated with plenty of dark fruit, tannins, acidity and character. Very long and intense. 5+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2013 Brut, Olivier & Laetitia Marteaux

2013 Brut, Olivier & Laetitia Marteaux

A blend of 50% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir with a 5g dosage. A high, fine nose with lots of freshly baked bread, yellow plums, dried orange peel and chrushed rocks. A fine intensity, Very, very good.

The taste is cool and fresh with notes of red currants, orange, minerals and dried flowers. A very fine acidity. Long. Will benefit from 5+ years in the cellar. For 38 Euro, a real bargain.

92p   (tasted 2021/07)

2010 Barolo Ascheri, Ascheri

2010 Barolo Ascheri, Ascheri

This 11 year old Barolo needed some hours in the decanter to open, with to a deep, focused nose with lovely notes of sweet/sour cherries, rosehips, saw dust, violet licorice, hoisin sauce and sun warm asphalt. Complex and fine. 

The taste is still young and taut with notes of hard cherry candy, bakelite, dark flowers and lots of minerals. Very long with sturdy tannins. 8+ years. Really fine and promising.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

Notes from a visit to the Ascheri estate

1989 Barolo Vigna Farina, Ascheri

1990 Barolo Coste & Bricco, Ascheri

The 2015 Baroli at Ba&Ba

The 2016 Baroli at Grandi Langhe

1975 & 1985 Chianti Classico, Castello dei Rampolla

1975 Chianti Classico, Castello dei Rampolla

A fine mature nose with notes of dry leather, tobacco, violets and dried rosemary. Delicate. A fine elderly gentleman.

The taste is cool, soft and highly drinkable with notes of autumn leaves, dried cherries, earth and herbs. A fine dried up warmth.

87p   (tasted 2021/06)

1985 Chianti Classico, Castello dei Rampolla

The 10 year younger Rampolla displays a fine, concentrated, somewhat mature nose with fine notes of dried up cherry jam, expensive tobacco, violets and fresh rosemary. Lively and very fine.

The taste is tight, dry and classic with notes of sweet/sour cherries, rosemary, tobacco and iron. Just lovely. Some maturity. Bottles like this will go for another 7+ years.

92p   (tasted 2021/06)

2012 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, M. Cousinat

2012 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, M. Cousinat

A very fresh, stony nose with notes of dried up lemoncello, sage, almond paste and some smoky scents. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and racy with notes of chrushed rocks, yellow apples, smoke and gravel. A fine acidity. 5+ years.

89p   (tasted 2021/06)

Four Expressions Of Syrah

2001 Midnight Oil, Sine Qua Non

Not as good as 6 years ago but still a great drink. The nose is broad shouldered and very deep with hefty aromas of meat, iron and blood, blackberries, dark perfume and a hint of mint. Some maturity. Very fine.

The taste is concentrated and mouth filling with notes of ripe plums and blueberries, iron, datk chocolate and charcoal. Very, very long. Intense. Great wine but if I had more, which I don’t.., I would be drinking them the next 5+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/06)

2004 The Relic, The Standish Wine Company

Again, not as good as earlier bottles, last time 9 years ago, but also again, a great drink! This Aussie Shiraz/Viognier sports a deep, compact, focused nose with notes of sweet red beets, plums, meat and violets. Very tight. A minty touch. Lovely.

The taste is rich and concentrated but retain balance and focus, with great notes of ripe plums, raspberry licorice, asphalt and meat. Very, very long. Impressive. 5+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/06)

2006 Finca Garbet, Castillo Perelada

This 90% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon Emporda wine displays a more low keyed nose compared to the two previous bottles, with notes of ripe blueberries, sage, white pepper and earth. Very, very good.

The taste is finely tuned with notes of blueberries, toothpaste, violets and earth. A high acidity and fresh tannins. Long and fine. 5+ years. 

Notes from a visit to Castello Perelada

92p   (tasted 2021/06)

2006 Kobler Family Vineyards, Pax

A very deep, structured nose with notes of plums, scorched earth, asphalt, tobacco and furniture polish. High and fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of blackberries, violets, chrushed rocks and dark chocolate. Very long and intense. 7+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/06)

Then & Now - 1989 & 2015 Chateau La Tour de By

1989 Chateau La Tour de By

A finely matured nose with notes of clean stables, dried black currants, pipe tobacco and sugared coffee. Very, very good although a bit loose around the edges.

The taste is medium bodied and soft with notes of autumn leaves, dried black currants and old leather. Medium long. Very good. Fully mature and maybe a tad so.

86p   (tasted 2021/06)

2015 Chateau La Tour de By

A young, perky nose with notes of plums, black currant leaves, earth and diesel oil. Very, very good in a fresh, modern Bordeaux kind of way.

The taste is young and tight with notes of damsons, undergrowth and pencil shavings. A good structure for medium term aging. A fine dryness in the finish. 6+ years.

89p   (tasted 2021/06)

A Big Bottle Of 1964 Barolo

1964 Barolo, Schiavenza

This needed a couple of hours in two (!) decanters to really open up, and then revealing a deep, velvety nose with notes of dried figs, an autumn forest, fine tobacco and sun warm asphalt. A very fine dried up sweetness. Lovely.

The taste is equally velvety with notes of dried strawberries, gravel, rosehips, dry licorice and tobacco. Very much alive. Long and really fine.

I mailed with Walter - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-couple-of-days-in-piedmont-visits-to.html - regarding Giulio Garbi, who were a large negociant located in Alba, but obviously transparent enough to write on the label who the producer and bottler were.

1,75 liter of Barolo - a treat!

93p   (tasted 2021/06)

Three Bottles Of Bubbly From The 2012 Vintage

First get together in ages with some friends/wine aficionados. We started with three bottles of bubbly.

2012 Chouilly Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, A. R. Lenoble

A cool, elegant nose with lots of chrushed rocks, lemon peel, lavender and chalk. Very, very good. Still very young and a tad restrained.

The taste is tight and racy with notes of almonds, tangerines, chalk and a high, intense acidity. Long. Will need 7+ years in the cellar.

91p   (tasted 2021/07)

2012 Grand Cru Blancs de Blancs, Robert Moncuit

A deep, intense, fresh nose with notes of lemonfudge, oysters, minerals and smoke. Very fine. High and vivid. Lovely.

The taste is refined and multi layered with notes of lemon cream, chrushed rocks, yellow flowers and smoke. Perfect acidity. Long and lingering. Great wine. 5+ years.

95p   (tasted 2021/07)

2012 Sablé Blanc de Blancs Le Nombre d´Or, Aubry

A blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Arbanne and 30% Petit Meslier. 5 gr dosage. The nose is open and spicy with notes of oranges, dry ginger, ripe flowers and a hint of mint. Luscious and fine.

The taste is cool and crisp with notes of ginger, grilled lemons, minerals and a hint of dried up honey. Very, very good. 5+ years.

93p   (tasted 2021/07)

2018 Dolcetto d’Alba San Martino, Bruna Grimaldi

2018 Dolcetto d’Alba San Martino, Bruna Grimaldi

A very fine, old fashioned nose with notes of sweet/sour cherries, violets, iron and incense. Dry earth en masse. Very, very good.

The taste is dry, tight and seedy with a fine dark cherry/blueberry fruit and additional notes of almonds, iron, and dried flowers. This is gooood! 4+ years.

91p   (tasted 2021/06)

NV Rosé Brut, Émile Leclère

NV Rosé Brut, Émile Leclère

A fine, dry, multi layered nose with notes of red currants, rhubarb, smoke, red licorice and some ripe dark flowers in the background. A fine complexity.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of dried raspberries, red currants, earth and a fine salty touch. Crisp. Very fine. Should develop fine over the next 6+ years. Best on day two (as usual).

63% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir & 7% Vin Rouge Champenois. 8 gr dosage. At 33 Euro a bottle I’m loading up!

91p   (tasted 2021/06)

2019 Dolcetto d’Alba, Bel Colle

2019 Dolcetto d’Alba, Bel Colle

A young, fresh, herbal nose with notes of blueberry bushes, bakelite, black pepper, violets and earth. Very good in a upfront kind of way.

The taste is tight and earthy with notes of rhubarb licorice, violets, minerals and bakelite. Good tannins. Very enjoyable and highly drinkable but in a Dolcetto context a bit of a run of the mill wine. (and yes, that are ramsom flowering).

86p   (tasted 2021/06)

Two 2006 Baroli

2006 Barolo, Terre Dei Roveri

A let down compared to a bottle tasted three years ago. Not bad but this bottle is much more mature, soft and ripe with cooked fruit, a dry finish and notes of dried flowers, leather and iron. I hope the rest of the bottles more mirror the first one.

84p   (tasted 2021/06)

2006 Barolo Poderi Scarrone, Terredavino

This, on the other hand, is a winner. From one of the biggest producers in Langhe, they have fashioned a slightly mature, ripe, deep and floral wine with notes of tar & roses, licorice, ripe cherries and rosehips. Very long, juicy and fine. Highly drinkable now but I would wait 5+ years before the next bottle is uncorked.

91p   (tasted 2021/06)

Then & Now - 1993 & 2016 Chàteau Montus

1993 Château Montus Cuvée Prestige

My first bottle of 93 Montus Cuvée Prestige (have been fortunate to taste vintages back to 1985). From the get go this shows a fine, mature, round nose with notes of dried red and black currants, dry leather, cold coffee and fine barnyardy aromas. A very fine velvet maturity.

The taste is dry and fine with notes of dried herbs, red currants, old leather, iron and earth. Very, very good. If I was poured this blind I would have guessed a right bank Bordeaux from the mid 80´s ten times out of ten...

88p   (tasted 2021/05)

2016 Château Montus

A very deep, structured, laid back nose with notes of black currants, plums, herbs, violets and fir wood. Cool yet potent. Lovely.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of ripe black currants, dark chocolate, iron, earth and herbs. Very, very long. Very polished and fine. Long. Should have bought more.

92p   (tasted 2021/05)

Lots of other Montus wines tasted here, here, here. here & here

2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Ciacci Piccolimini d´Aragona

2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Ciacci Piccolimini d´Aragona

The first bottle I taste from this heralded vintage and to be honest a disappointment. The nose is deep, ripe and concentrated with notes of ripe black cherries, violet licorice, fir wood and smoke. Broad shouldered without the finesse that is needed.

The taste is firm, focused and ripe with notes of ripe cherries, sugared coffee, hot gravel and smoke. The 15% are noticeable in the finish. I have no doubt that great fruit that have gone into this wine and it will surely develop nicely but today its, for my palate, a bit ungainly and hot.

87p   (tasted 2021/05)

Earlier bottles from this estate:

1995 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

1997 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso

1988 & 2003 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso

2001 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Riserva Santa Caterina d`Oro

2008 Brunello di Montalcino

Two Bottle Of Bubbly - A Leaker & A Stunner

Having lots of older bottles you sometimes get a leaker. That happened yesterday when I went to collect some bottles from the cellar. 

A small pool of wine on the floor. I took it home with a youngster I was eager to try.

NV Brut, Besserot de Bellefon

According to the seller, this was from the 60´s. I hadn´t much hope when I put my nose in the glass but it was more alive than I had thought. Lots of dried apricots, old wrinked apples, earth and mushrooms flows up from the glass. Still alive.

The taste is even fresher than the nose with tiny, tiny bubbles and notes of dry orange fudge, apricots, earth and gravel. A decent length. 

78p   (tasted 2021/05)

2010 Clos de Cazals, Claude Cazals

This wine comes from one of the few real Clos in Champagne, a closed in plot planted in the 50´s with Chardonnay. This is only the second vintage, the first was the 2003. Zero dosage.

The nose is deep, chalky and complex with notes of lemon peel, white currants, road dust, ripe Sevilla oranges (on day two) and a ever so slight hint of coconut. Very fine. Very young.

The taste is steely and fine with notes of lemon peel, star fruit, unripe grape fruit and sun warm gravel. A very high, finely tuned acidity. Very, very long. Impressive in a taut, high browed way. A really great wine, but - for my palate - if this have had 3-5 gr dosage, this would have been in the high 90´s.

Best on day two (as always...).

94p   (tasted 2021/05)

1998 Château Fonréaud

1998 Château Fonréaud

I have a very fond memory of a bottle of 1982 Fonréaud some 30 years ago, so when I spotted a 1998 for the ghastly price of 19 Euro (yes, Bordeaux is expensive, always)....I jumped at the chance and bought a bottle. Glad I did.

The nose is as classic as they come, with lovely notes of cedar wood, black currants, tobacco and hints of a fresh stable. A ever so small scent of warm grass. Very, very good.

The taste is more linear that the nose with notes of dried black currants, cold coffee, earth and dry tobacco. Silky initially with a dry ending. Classic. Fully mature.

89p   (tasted 2021/05)

2015 & 2019 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa

2015 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa

A deep, tight nose with notes of iron, damsons, bakelite and blueberry bushes. A good backbone. Very, very good.

The taste is concentrated and inky with notes of ripe blueberries, gravel, frsh herbs and licorice. Silky tannins. Still young. 6+ years.

91p   (tasted 2021/05)

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa

A young, spicy nose with notes of asphalt, gravel, smoke and damsons. Som dry tobacco aromas after a while. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and herbal with notes of a mix od ripe blueberries and raspberries alongside gravel, almond paste and tobacco. Taut tannins. 8+ years.

90p   (tasted 2021/05)

2020 Dogliani Bricco Mollea, Trediberri

2020 Dogliani Bricco Mollea, Trediberri

A young, energetic nose that jumps from the glass with notes of blueberry bushes, violets, spices and ink. A serious Dolcetto that needs time.

The taste is young and tight with notes of iron, ripe blueberries, bakelite and dry licorice. A fine tension. 5+ years. Has the energy of its maker, visiting Nicola is like going on a roller coaster ride!

89p   (tasted 2021/05)

Two 2019 Dolcetto - Elio Altare & Giuseppe Mascarello

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba, Elio Altare

A young, spicy nose flows up from the glass with notes of ripe blueberries, asphalt, violets and gravel. Pure and fine.

The taste is seedy and fresh with notes of minerals, blueberries, bakelite and a hint of tobacco. Silky tannins. Long and fine.

90p   (tasted 2021/05)

2015 Dolcetto d´Alba, Elio Altare

2017 Dolcetto d´Alba, Elio Altare

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba Vigna Bricco Mirasole, Giuseppe Mascarello

A stunning Dolcetto! A deep, cool, complex nose with notes of forest floor, ripe lingonberries, violets, fir wood and saw dust. Very fine.

The taste is young, tight and spicy with notes of lingonberries, rosehips, earth and birch sap. Very long with ripe tannins. Lovely.

93p   (tasted 2021/05)

2016 Dolcetto d´Alba Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno, Giuseppe Mascarello

2017 Dolcetto d´Alba Vigna Bricco Mirasole, Giuseppe Mascarello