Short Notes From A Dinner At Djuret

Last night we had dinner at Djuret, one of the wine friendliest restaurants in Stockholm. Daniel Crespi offers up a relaxing atmosphere where the food, service and of course! - the wines are in the forefront. 

Always a genuine pleasure to dine here!

2005 Cuvée Hemera, Henriot

While waiting for the others I had a glass of this beauty. A 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot it explodes out of the glass with notes of brioche, ripe apples, salted popcorn and yellow flowers. A silky, pure taste with salted caramel, iron and butter biscuits. Just lovely.

96p   (tasted 2021/03)

2019 Scharzhofberger Risling Kabinett, Egon Muller

This oooozes energy with notes of wet stones, grass and purity. The taste is racy, fresh and pure like a mountain river.

94p   (tasted 2021/03)

2016 Corton-Charlemagne, Vincent Girardin

This one escaped a photo, when poured by Daniel just passing by... :-) A gorgeous nose, deep, with sweet almonds, grilled lemons and ripe bananas, very complex, the taste goes on and on with a crisp acidity and finger licking great fruit.

95p   (tasted 2021/03)

2011 Clos de Vougeot, Jean Grivot

Oooooh boy, this is the real thing, exactly what a great Burgundy is all about - hedonistic, dripping, sweet fruit paired with a great backbone, a uplifting acidity, perfume and a finish that never ends. Absolutely fantastic.

98p   (tasted 2021/03)

2017 Beaune Gréves de l´Enfant Jésus, Bouchard

Again, Daniel swept by with a bottle and all of a sudden I got a generous pour of this upliftning Burgundy, fresh, juicy and full of luscious red currant and raspberry fruit. Lovely to drink now and the coming 20+ years (I vividly remembered a 1959 Baby Jesus drunk some 20 years ago that was heaven in a bottle!)

93p   (tasted 2021/03)

2010 Shadrach Cabernet Sauvignon, Grant Burge

In a other setting, without these stunning wines tasted before, which all were about nerve and tension, I would surely have liked this more, but now it seemed a bit heavy handed, albeit with a very good structure, a generous fruit and a long lasting finish.

91p   (tasted 2021/03)

2017 Barbera d´Alba Tre Vigne, Vietti

2017 Barbera d´Alba Tre Vigne, Vietti

It is always a pleasure drinking a Barbera from Vietti. The 17 Tre Vigne offers up a spicy, open for business nose with notes of black tea, a cherry pie, warm gravel and chocolate biscuits. Very, very good.

The taste is structured and fine with notes of raspberry truffles, Finnish licorice, gravel and leather. A very good acidity. Long and fine. For drinking now and the coming 5+ years.

88p   (tasted 2021/03)

2014 Barolo del Commune di Serralunga, Luigi Pira

2014 Barolo del Commune di Serralunga, Luigi Pira

In 2014 Giaonpaolo only made one Barolo, blending all the Cru´s into this regular Barolo. A huge mistake according to The Barolo Boys - read all about it in the links below... :-)

Now, seven years later it displays a still young, fresh nose with notes of hard cherry candy, asphalt, violets, orange peel and iron. A fine depth. High and fine.

The taste is cool and tight with notes of gravel, red currants, mushrooms and dry licorice. Fine grained tannins. Still needs 5+ years. Very, very good.

92p   (tasted 2021/02)

Visiting Luigi Pira in May of 2017

Visiting Luigi Pira in November of 2017

Visiting Luigi Pira in April of 2018

2017 Langhe Nebbiolo, Giovanni Rosso

 

2017 Langhe Nebbiolo, Giovanni Rosso

A upfront, medium deep, fine nose with notes of strawberry licorice, chrushed rocks, rosehips and asphalt. Very, very good.

The taste is young and spicy with a fine warmth and notes of licorice, rosehips, gravel and violets. Very good but not in the same leauge as the 2016.

89p   (tasted 2021/02)

2018 Langhe Nebbiolo, Franco Conterno

2018 Langhe Nebbiolo, Franco Conterno

A delicate, upfront, juicy nose with notes of red cherries, licorice, violets and Asian Spices. Very, very good. More delicate than the 2017, which I tasted at the estate.

The taste is young, pure and fresh with notes of red cherries, violets, fir wood and rosehips. Fine grained tannins. 4+ years.

90p   (tasted 2021/02)

2012 Barolo Roggeri, Crissante Alessandria

2012 Barolo Roggeri, Crissante Alessandria

This needed some serious time in the decanter and glass. After some intense swirling notes of hard cherry candy, tobacco, ripe raspberries and asphalt oozes up from the glass. Tight. Forest floor and candle grease after some more time. Deep. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and iron filled with notes of hard cherry candy, violets, dark flowers and asphalt. Shows exactly those rugged tannins that Masnaghetti mentions as a trademark of this MGA. 6+ years. Another notch in my MGA belt. Just 37 left...

91p   (tasted 2021/02)

1964 Barolo Riserva Cru Bussia di Monforte d´Alba, Prunotto

1964 Barolo Riserva Cru Bussia di Monforte d´Alba, Prunotto

A very low level. I had not much hope when I cut the foil. No cork? Well, it was at the bottom of the bottle.

Murky at first but after 30 minutes it showed a light, feeble nose with notes of red currants, gravel, glue and dried flowers. Not dead but on its last leg.

The taste is dry and thin with notes of dried red fruits, gravel and rosehips. Short. Not really bad but not enjoyable either.

71p   (tasted 2021/02)

2017 Dogliani Superiore Maioli, Anna Maria Abbona

2017 Dogliani Superiore Maioli, Anna Maria Abbona

Another winner from Anna Maria Abbona. This Dolcetto sport a young, tight, focused nose with notes of ink, ripe blueberries, bakelite, iron and a hint of raspberry coulis. Handsome. Very young and fine.

The taste is young and structured with notes of ink, asphalt, spices and ripe blueberries. Very long with silky tannins that will need 6+ years. Very, very good.

91p   (tasted 2021/02)

Other wines from Anna Maria Abbona tasted:

2015 Dogliani Superiore San Bernardo

2016 Dogliani Superiore Maiolo

2016 Barolo Castiglione Falletto & Bricco San Pietro

2015 100.000 Shiraz, Blankbottle (magnum)

2015 100.000 Shiraz, Blankbottle

Tasted for the first time five years ago. I was impressed then and bought a couple of botttles (magnums). This was the last bottle. 

The nose is open and peppery with notes of bakelite, blueberries, violets and dried meat. Very fine in a low key kind of way. Has character. 

The taste is more expressive then the nose with fresh herbs, violets, meat and ripe blueberries. A fine acidity and juicy tannins. Some fine tobacco. Long, fine and balanced. Lovely. Should have bought more, this was a bargain for 60 Euro per mag.

93p   (tasted 2021/02)

A Beauty - 2018 La Mateo Rioja Blanco, Bodegas D. Mateos

 
2018 La Mateo Rioja Blanco, Bodegas D. Mateos

A tasting sample from Wine World.

When I started to drink better white Burgundies in the middle of the 90´s - Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Corton Charlemagne, Batard-Montrachet et al - this was the character I loved - an outgoing, large scaled yet refined nose with notes of grilled lemons, spices, peach, matchbox and a field of yellow flowers. And yes, a healthy dose of fine oak, which only highlighted the other qualities. This Rioja reminds me of those days. Gotta love this.

The taste is a bit more restrained than the nose with notes of matchbox, dry lemon fudge, birch leaves, chrushed rocks and dried peach. A long, lingering finish with a refreshing acidity. Drinking great today and the coming 8+ years. This gem will be released on the monopoly on the 23d of February. All oak neurotics should give this one a pass and let me buy these bottles. A real bargain at 20 Euro.

Made out 100% Tempranillo Blanco, a natural nutation of Tempranillo.

93p   (tasted 2021/02)

1982 Barolo Castellero, Fratelli Barale

1982 Barolo Castellero, Fratelli Barale

A rather, large scaled, burly nose with notes of a dried up cherry pie, tobacco, a moist forest floor, dark sponge cake, diesel oil and leather. Complex, a bit rough around the edges but with a rugged charm. 

The taste is more structured and refined with notes of dried strawberries, dry licorice, forest floor and dried flowers. A very fine length with some silky tannins at the end. Very fine. Fully mature but in no hurry to drink any remaining bottles.

I visited Fratelli Barale in August of 2019 and meet Eleonora who was a gracious and kind host. 

Castellero is a 13,07 ha large MGA in Barolo and there are only four producers that bottle wines from here - Fratelli Barale, Francesco Borgogno, Giacomo Fenocchio and Brezza (which I visited on the same trip and tasted their 2013 Castellero).

92p   (tasted 2021/02)

One Million Page Views - A Fine Barolo Needs To Be Opened!

Today I reached one million (1.000.000!) page views in the nine years and two months that this blog has existed. I posted my first tasting notes on the 2nd of November 2011. 

That makes approximately 296 views per day. And a total of 1.649 posts. 1.279 comments.

Is this cause for a celebration? Of course, and of course with a bottle of the best grape juice in the world - Barolo!

1989 Barolo Vigna Cicala, Aldo Conterno

Just woooow! From the first pour this gorgeous creature just got better and better, with air - it expresses a regal character with stunning notes of dried red fruits, linoleum, red tea, rosehips, allspice and truffle. Spine tingling. Harmonious. Ethereal. After three hours as good as a Barolo can get.

The taste is all about silk, velvet and, again, harmony. Perfectly mature. Notes of hard cherry candy, red tea, iron, dried flowers and autumn leaves. The finish goes on and on and on. A hint of cardamon in the finish. There is some structured tannins at the very end, suggesting that bottles like this would go on for another 6+ years.

98p   (tasted 2021/02)

Two Spätburgunder From Weingut Ehrhart

2015 Spätburgunder "R", Weingut Ehrhart

A deep, warm nose with notes of chrushed wild raspberries, scorched earth, red tea and some balsamsic scents. A touch of oak. Very fine.

The taste is silky and structured with notes of raspberries, bakelite, red licorice and warm herbs. A very good acidity. Long and fine. Drink now and the coming 7 years.

91p   (tasted 2020/01)

2012 Leinsweiler Sonnenberg Spätburgunder Trocken, Weingut Ehrhart

A big, open, mature nose with notes of ripe red apples, raspberry licorice, smoke and moist earth. Tight and very good. A good depth. Sweet fruit.

The taste is tight and dry with notes of dried raspberries, rhubarb pie, bonfire smoke and herbs. A fine dryness in the finish. Fully mature. Very, very good.

89p   (tasted 2020/01)

1980 Barolo, Fratelli Ferrero & A Desert Island Album

1980 Barolo, Fratelli Ferrero

An old scool, barnyardy, rustic nose with notes of dried red fruits, shoe cream, dried flowers and old leather. Somewhat heavy on the nose for a La Morra (or maybe the fruit comes from other parts in Barolo?).

The taste is mature and steady with notes of black olives, asphalt, leather and dried flowers. A long, taut finish with some unresolved tannins. A bit foursquare but with character and a high likeability.

88p   (tasted 2021/01)

Angel Witch / Angel Witch / 1980

1980. IMHO the best vintage ever for metal, just check out the list of releases below. But as the say in the movie Highlander - there can be only one!

And that one is Angel Witch with their self titled first album. Kevin Heybourne, lead singer and lead guitar has written all songs on the album. He is still very active, touring with the band where he is the only original member (I saw them in Stockholm a couple of years ago).

The album opens with the title track and from there this not a weak song, although my favourites are the title song, Confused and Angel of Death.

Other great releases in 1980:

AC/DC - Back in Black

Accept - I´m a Rebel

Blackfoot - Tomcattin´

Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell

Budgie - Power Supply

Diamond Head - Lighning to the Nations

Gillan - Glory Road

Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

Judas Priest - British Steel

Motörhead - Ace of Spades

Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Oz

Rush - Permanent Waves

Samson - Head On

Saxon - Wheels of Steel and Strong Arm of the Law

Scorpions - Animal Magnetism

Thin Lizzy - Chinatown

Triumph - Progressions of Power

Trust - Repression

Van Halen - Women and Children First

Whitesnake - Ready an´ Willing

and many, many more...

The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2020

2020 goes down in modern history as the pandemic year. Which has mean, of course, less tasted wines, less tasting dinners and less wine travels. 

652 wines tasted. Many young wines makes the list this year. And only four Baroli! :-)

A toast to a better 2021! 

1997 Bourriquot, Havens

Two California bottles with some age makes the list. This Cheval Blanc look a like showed a perfect maturity with seamless fruit and that great character of aged Cabernet Franc. 

95p   (tasted 2020/06)

1997 Profile, Merryvale

The label looks like leaf gold and in all fairness a bit tacky, but what´s in the bottle is pure gold, a gorgeously mature Cabernet Sauvignon with everything in place.

95p   (tasted 2020/08)

2000 Château Pichon-Baron

Aaah, Bordeaux, my first love, and tasting a great specimen like this makes my spine tingle. This beauty showed why Bordeaux is one of the worlds greatest wines.

97p   (2020/03)

2001 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldcap, Joh. Jos. Prüm

Even a leaking bottle from Prüm makes the list of the most memorable bottles tasted, so great are these wines. But I will restraine myself from open another for at least 10 years...

97p   (tasted 2020/11)

2001 Barolo Pajana, Domenico Clerico

Great Barolo needs time. Even with 19 years under the cork this Pajana needed lots of hours of breathing before really open up. With a cheap pizza it delivered the goods.

95p   (tasted 2020/08)

2009 Volnay Clos de la Bousse d´Or, Pousse d´Or

Summer, a great chicken dish (as I recall) and a awesome Burgundy - life could be worse,  sitting outside on a warm evening, finishing this bottle of.

97p   (tasted 2020/07)

2010 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Paolo Scavino

This wine made The Ten Most Memorable list of 2016 with a perfect score. On location in Langhe, eating a great meal with friends at Il Centro, it didn´t reach that height but almost, just give it 10+ years.

97p   (tasted 2020/02)

2016 Barolo Vigna Rionda, Luigi Pira

One of the few highlights of this miserable year was The Barolo Boys visit to Grandi Langhe in January. We also had time for a few visits. Tasting the 2016 Barolo from the hands of Gianpaolo was a real treat, with the Vigna Rionda a sure candidate for perfection.

99p   (tasted 2020/01)

2016 Barolo Romirasco, Aldo Conterno

Another candidate for perfection is the 16 Romirasco. Spending some hours with Giacomo is really the best of times.

98p   (tasted 2020/01)

2016 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline/La Turque/La Landonne, Guigal

A little cheating here - three in one! Three worlds class wines that I had the privilige to taste over a splendid lunch with Philippe Guigal present through Zoom. If I was forced to choose I would pick La Turque today but who knows what my pick would be in 10, 20 or 30 years time...

97/98/98p   (tasted 2020/10)

Earlier years:
The Ten Most Memorable Of 2011

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2012

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2013

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2014

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2015

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2016

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2017

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2018

The Ten Most Memorable Of 2019

2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, Jaboulet

2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, Jaboulet

Almost three years since I tasted this wine. On this night it displays a refined, low keyed nose with notes of blueberries, damsons, blue ski wax, violets and road dust. Very fine, even delicate. Very young still.

The taste is cool, multi layered and fine with notes of a dried up blueberry pie, violets, dried meat and Lily of the Valley. Silky tannins. Long and fine. Not as expressive as on the previous occasions. Needs time, lets say 8+ years.

92p   (tasted 2021/01)

1993 Barolo Arione Sôrì Dell´Ulivo, Gigi Rosso & By Now Wines From 106 MGA´s Tasted

1993 Barolo Arione Sôrì Dell´Ulivo, Gigi Rosso

This -93 Barolo offers up a deep, mature nose with notes of dried black cherries, forest floor, iron and violets. A very fine dried up sweetness. Velvety and fine.

The taste is harsher than the nose leads you to believe. Some rough tannins still. Notes of hard cherry candy, asphalt, violets and gravel. A bit unbending. A good length. Fully mature.

89p   (tasted 2021/01)

Gigi Rosso has owned the vineyard since the 60´s but started to bottle it as such in 1974, after Bruno Giacosa who made Arione famous in the early 70´s. The last vintage from Gigi Rosso was 2014. Roberto Conterno (Giacomo Conterno) bought the Gigi Rosso´s part of Arione and made his first Arione in 2015. The only other producer that bottles a Arione is Enzo Boglietti.

There are 170 official MGA´s (Menziono Geografiche Aggiuntive). I have gone through my Barolo tasting notes and I seemingly have tasted wines from 106 of them. Furthermore there are 26 MGA´s from whick no wines are made, at least with that name on the label. 

That leaves 38 MGA´s left to taste wines from. The hunt is on!

Two Bottles Of Chardonnay, One With Bubbles

NV Blanc de Blancs, Ruinart

Last drunk with Giacomo (Conterno, from Aldo Conterno), this is a great Blanc de Blancs with a spicy, nutty nose with notes of lemon peel, vanilla fudge, birch leaves and summer flowers. Very deep and fine.

The taste is tight and racy with lovely notes of grilled lemons, assorted nuts, grass and spices. Very long. A very fine acidity. 

93p   (tasted 2021/01)

2015 Chardonnay Mate´s Vineyard, Kumeu River

Drunk three years ago and it hasn´t budged at all. Still refined and gorgeous with a lovely grilled lemon character and a palate cleansing acidity. Great wine. 6+ years.

94p   (tasted 2021/01)

A Bottle From The Greatest Vintage Ever & A 1974 Barolo

These two bottles was drunk yesterday with a great dish - red beets with a goat cheese cream, sallad and a herb vinaigrette.

1964 Valdepeñas Tinto Especial, Bodegas Morenito

A deep, soft, mature nose with notes of dried strawberries, old leather, autumn leaves and some hints of VA. But still with a fine vigour. A very good dried up sweetness.

The taste is dry and elegant with notes of earth, dried strawberries, leather and tiles. A fine dried up warmth. Medium long and balanced. Very, very good.

88p   (tasted 2021/01)

1974 Barolo Riserva, Guasti Clementi

This needed a couple of hours to come around, and even then is showed some restraint, with a deep, cool nose with notes of hard cherry candy, rosehips, mushrooms and shoe cream. A fine depth. Not fully mature.

The taste is structured with a fine warmth and notes of cherries, damsons, dried flowers and tobacco. A long, taut finish with some sturdy tannins. 5+ years. Very fine.

90p   (tasted 2021/01)

1978 Barolo, Ang. Cappa & A Desert Island Album

1978 Barolo, Ang. Cappa

After some hours in a decanter this Barolo wakes up and offers up a fine, mature nose with notes of undergrowth, cold coffee, tobacco and rosehips. Gets better and better. A fine scent of dried up raspberry jam. Very, very good.

The taste is medium bodied and dry with notes of raspberry licorice, mushrooms, tobacco and dried flowers. A fine warmth in the finish. Not at least dry. Bottles like this will go on for 8+ years. Another fine bottle from the great 1978 vintage.

90p   (tasted 2021/01)

Stained Class / Judas Priest / 1978

I would want to take the whole Priest discography to a desert island but forced (by myself...) to choose only one, it has to be Stained Class from 1978. 

I love all songs on the album but one of the greatest - Better By You, Better Than Me - is a coverr originally made by by Spooky Tooth, and the song that got Priest in a American lawsuit (where else...) when two boys allegedly was influenced by the song and made a suicide pact. Priest were acquited.

On this, there fourth studio album Rob Halford, aka The Metal God, sings like the god he is.

Info about the album here.

A Glass Test With 2013 Antikythera Pinot Noir, Antica Terra

One on the most visited post is this one, where I tasted a Barolo from different glasses. Here is a follow up with a Pinot Noir. The reason was that I was lended a glass from a fellow wine afficionado.

A very ugly glass. But the curiosity got the better of me, so I lined up five glasses, drew the cork and got on with it.

The wine - 2013 Antikythera, Antica Terra - a great Pinot from the capable hands of Maggie Harrison.

The glasses and how they performed:

The ISO glass: If you not are forced, why would anyone taste wine from this sub par glass? A light, red fruited nose with some spicy elements. A medium bodied taste with raspberries and herbs. From this glass this is a good wine but it definitely doesn´t show its true character (88p).

The Riedel Vinum Burgundy glass: Much better! A deep, balsamic nose with ripe raspberries, licorice and fresh herbs. The taste is tight and focused with a fine acidity, ripe raspberries and a smoky note (92p).

The Riedel New World Pinot glass: Even greater! My favourite glass for Nebbiolo. This glass takes this Pinot to another level. A deep, complex and generous nose with wild raspberries, fresh herbs, clay and licorice. Crisp and very fine. The taste flows over your palate with great harmony and lovely fruit. Very fine (94p).

The Riedel Sommelier Pinot glass: I use this big, big glass more seldom. The nose is more fleeting but with very good fruit and depth. The taste is better with a fine intensity and great fruit (92p)

The Riedel Wings Pinot glass: And what about the new kid on the block? Again, very ugly, but very, very good. The impressions are the same as for the New World Pinot glass but the fruit appears a tad darker and richer. Not better, bit slightly different. A very good glass, but I´m not buying (94p).

Riedel Wings Pinot

2013 No 2 Syrah, Andremily

 

2013 No 2 Syrah, Andremily

When popped and poured it was all over the place with a grain alcohol touch in the finish (15,2%). But after six hours in a decanter, the beast has turned into a beauty. The nose is deep, taut and complex with notes of blackberries, freshly laid asphalt, violets, geranium, hard toasted bread and iron. Very fine. A lovely sweetness to the fruit.

The taste is packing a punch but a elegant one, with notes of a blueberry pie, tar, smoke, flower water and a balsamic touch. Very, very long with a fine warmth. Structured. Just lovely. Great wine. 6+ years. 89% Syrah and 11% Mourvedre.

97p   (tasted 2021/01)

2019 Langhe Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino

2019 Langhe Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino

This will be a tough job. It seems that this halfbottle is avaible in 143 state monopoly stores all over the country. Well, I just have to tank the car full and start driving...

For 10 Euros a half bottle this is an extreme value, one of the top Langhe Nebbiolo´s ever tasted. The nose soars up from the glass with gorgeous notes of ripe red currants, red cherries, violets, incense, raspberry licorice and leather. High and pure. Just great.

The taste is fresh as a daisy with great character and notes of cherries, violets, licorice, spices and a fine peppery note. Silky, perky, caressing tannins. Impossible to resist, drink this now and the coming 10 years. 

93p   (tasted 2021/01)

2015 & 2016 Langhe Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino

2017 Langhe Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino

2012 Dogliani Superiore, San Fereole

 

2012 Dogliani Superiore, San Fereole

A deep, somewhat mature nose with notes of damsons, dry blueberries, cured meat, rust and  bonfire smoke. Rustic. Very good.

The taste is restrained and foursquare with notes of Christmas spices, damsons, dried blueberries and iron. Very good but not a charmer. A tad to barnyardy and rustic for my delicate palate... 

I prefer the Dogliani´s from Chionetti, Anna Maria Abbona, Pecchenino & Luigi Einaudi.

87p   (tasted 2021/01)

2017 Bussiador, Aldo Conterno

2017 Bussiador, Aldo Conterno

Its always a treat to taste the Bussiador from Giacomo, but for the last couple of years I have been used to do it on location in Monforte with Giacomo. Not so this crazy year...

Right out of the gate this beauty is wide open, with notes of grilled nuts, butter biscuits, ripe oranges, matchbox and dried mango. There is also a fine green note, like a blooming birch tree. Very fine.

The taste is ripe and steady with notes of lemon fudge, orange peel, matchbox and almond paste. A long, lingering finish with a very good acidity. In style similar to the 2015. Very, very good.

92p   (tasted 2021/01)

Earlier vintages tasted:

2005, 2007, 2008 & 2016

2013

2014

2015

1975 Barolo Montanello, Tenuta Montanello & A Desert Island Album

1975 Barolo Montanello, Tenuta Montanello

When Sabotage was relesead - 28th of June 1975 - the grapes of this wine was maturing on their vines. When opened 45 years later it needed a couple of hours to blow away the bottle funk, but then is starts to sing. 

A deep, still potent nose with notes of rosehips, dried up cherry jam, dried flowers, black olives and roses. Very much still alive. Evolved in the glass all evening long.

The taste is mature and velvety with notes of violet pastilles, hard cherry candy, tobacco and olives. Silky tannins. Very long. Bottles like this will go on for 10 more years. Very fine.

In 1975 there was only one producer of the now MGA Montanello. In 1986 the Monchiero family left and started their own label and now there is two producers of Montanello. 

I visited the Monchiero estate last year and tasted a stunning 2013 Riserva Montanello.

92p   (tasted 2020/12)

Sabotage / Black Sabbath / 1975

I hold Sabotage as the strongest album in Sabbaths discography, with Master of Reality as a close second. Their two first albums - Black Sabbath and Paranoid - usually tops all charts. 

But I am in good company! :-)

The crunching riff in Symptom of the Universe is one of the most heavy in metal history. The lyric on the other hand is...well cheesy. In this clip, playing Symptom of the Universe, Iommi looks like a happy hamster at 0:28

All info about the album here.

Wines of New Years Eve

This horrible year ended great though. Only yours truly and my better half, with great food and some decent wines... 

12 Ans de Cave, Gosset

First some info - 49% Chardonnay and 51% Pinot Noir. 12 years on the yeast, 7 gr sugar and the base year is 2006. On to the wine then. The nose is deep and delicate with notes of toasted bread, red currants, dry fudge and fennel. Very salivating, as great Champagne´s should be.

The taste is cool, dry and still young with notes of oranges, grilled lemons, red currants and bread. A creamy finish with a fine acidity. Very fine. 4+ years.

93p   (tasted 2020/12)

2018 Saint-Aubin La Princée, Hubert Lamy

Ooooh boy, this has potential but is soooo young today. The nose is racy and steely with notes of lime peel, white flowers, lemon licorice and hints of cap gun smoke. Just waiting to unfold. Very, very good.

The taste is young and concentrated with notes of unripe yellow apples, lemon peel and loads of chrushed rocks. A very fine acidity. Sweet minerals. Give this 6+ years and be amazed. Glad I have more.

92p   (tasted 2020/12)

2012 Barolo Acclivi, Burlotto

Last tasted summer of 2019, it behaves more or less in the same fashion - a lovely Nebbiolo for drinking now and the coming 6+ years.

92p   (tasted 2020/12)

2012 Barolo Cannubi, Burlotto

I write these tasting notes the day after I opened these bottles and the Cannubi has really gained of the extra air overnight. Yesterday the nose was deep and promising but closed. Now it  soars from the glass with lovely notes of ripe black cherries, violets, hard cherry candy, iron and tar. Almost a Serralunga touch to it. Really fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated even with 24 hours airing, displaying notes of rosehips, hard cherry candy, forest floor and iron. The finish goes on and on. Silky, yet firm tannins. Great wine. 8+ years.

95p   (tasted 2020/12)