The fourth and final chapter of The Barolo Boys last tour to Piedmont.
Disclaimer - the importer of Marengo and Pira to Sweden (Origo Wines) are friends of mine and co founders of the illustrious Barolo Boys. I, however, have no financial interests in these wines, I just call them as I see them.
M. Marengo
2015 Dolcetto d´Alba
A warm, spicy nose with a bit more depth and vigour than you average Dolcetto, more dark cherries, bay leaves and smoke.
The taste is juicy and fresh with a mix of wild strawberries and red currants and a fine dryness at the end of the medium long finish. Very, very good.
88p (tasted 2016/12)
2015 Barbera d´Alba Vigna Pugnane
An open, fruity nose with notes of liquorice, raspberries and some autumn scents. A fine spicy aroma.
The taste is young and tight with a very good acidity and lots of chocolate covered cherries. This is good!
90p (tasted 2016/12)
2015 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore
A earthy, somewhat reductive nose with notes of ripe lingonberries, smoke and rosehips. A fine depth.
The taste is tight and rather stern with notes of hard cherry candy, spices and mushrooms. Almost ascetic, but in a very fine, laid back way.
90p (tasted 2016/12)
2012 Barolo
The 12 Normale shows of a finely perfumed nose with notes of strawberries, Christmas spices and liquorice. Very, very good.
The taste is young and seedy with notes of ripe red cherries, raspberry liquorice and crushed rocks. Long and fine. This have a nice potential, give it 5+ years.
92p (tasted 2016/12)
2012 Barolo Brunate
The Brunate has a deep, dark, spicy nose with notes of ripe cherries, dark almond paste, forest floor and liquorice. Very fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of sweet red cherries, Christmas spices and lots of minerals. Very finely polished tannins. A great wine in the making, give it 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2016/12)
2013 Barolo
The 13 Normale has a warm, focused nose with notes of spicy cherries, some bonfire scents and boatloads of rose petals. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of ripe cherries, asphalt and roses. Seedy, with broader tannins than the 12. Needs some time. Very, very good.
92p (tasted 2016/12)
2013 Barolo Bricco Viole
The Bricco Viole is a charmer, with a deep, refined nose with nose of ripe strawberries, violets (!), dark flowers and a fine spicy scent. Really fine.
The taste is pure and balanced with notes of ripe red cherries, liquorice, violet pastills and mushrooms. A long, fine finish with polished tannins. Lovely.
94p (tasted 2016/12)
2013 Barolo Brunate
The Brunate is darker and deeper than the Bricco Viole, with nice notes of black cherries, forest floor and blood and iron. Roses after a while. Very, very fine.
The taste is tight and intense with notes of dark cherries, some balsamic notes, forest floor and iron. Very long, tight and fantastic.
94p (tasted 2016/12)
The 2013 had been bottled in july but not, of course, released yet. The 2014´s below were tasted from barrel.
2014 Barolo
The 14 Normale has a young, open nose with notes of cool cherries, mushrooms, sun warm rocks and road dust. A very fine warmth.
The taste is young and tight with juicy tannins and notes of freshly pressed cherries with some raspberries mixed in, some smoky notes and liquorice. Very, very good.
90p (tasted 2016/12)
2014 Barolo Bricco Viole
This is a beauty with a young, handsome nose with notes of chrushed cherries, liquorice, sweet minerals and, of course, lots of violets. High and fine.
The taste is elegant and fine with notes of ripe red cherries, sun warm rocks, violets and forest floor. A very fine structure, This will turn out great.
93p (tasted 2016/12)
2014 Barolo Brunate
A deep, spicy nose with notes of cool meat, liquorice, hot cherries and some balsamic notes. Big and very fine. Some animalic notes. Ripe.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of very ripe cherries, dark liquorice and undergrowth. Some rugged tannins in the finish. Very long. Give it time.
92p (tasted 2016/12)
2014 Barolo Brunate Riserva
The Riserva version has a higher, deeper and more pure nose with a fine spiciness and lots of cool liquorice. This is really fine.
The taste is seedy and lovingly firm with notes of dark cherries, forest floor, a whiff of tobacco and rosehips. Very, very long and intense. A great wine in the making.
95p (tasted 2016/12)
Luigi Pira
2015 Dolcetto d´Alba
The Dolcetto is young and vibrant with notes of almond paste, cool strawberries and some violets. Very nice.
The taste dry and fresh with notes of red currants, almonds and herbs. Sappy and fine.
87p (tasted 2016/12)
2014 Barbera d´Alba
The 14 Barbera sports a tight, dark nose with notes of ripe raspberries, scorched earth and smoke. Rich and good.
The taste is young, tight and warm with notes of juicy raspberries, cherry pips and forest floor. More restrained than the nose leads you to belive. A very fine acidity.
88p (tasted 2016/12)
2014 Langhe Nebbiolo
This shows a cool, refined nose with notes of ripening wild strawberries, mushrooms and some animal aromas in a distance. This is really good.
The taste is seedy and young with notes of sun warm roses, red cherries and moist mushrooms. Fine, structured tannins. Give it 3+ years. Very, very good.
91p (tasted 2016/12)
2012 Barolo Marenca
A deep, open nose with notes of spicy strawberries, rosehips and forest floor. Tight and very fine.
The taste is young and sturdy with tons of liquorice and sweet red cherries. A long, intense finish with sweet minerals. This is good!
93p (tasted 2016/12)
2012 Barolo Vigna Rionda
The Vigna Rionda is a stunner, with a refined, deep nose with notes of wild strawberries, Christmas spices, autumn leaves and asphalt. Complex. Really fine.
The taste is tight and intense with lots of red berries - raspberries, wild strawberries, red cherries. The finish is long, long and long. Sandy tannins. Great wine.
96p (tasted 2016/12)
2013 Barolo Serralunga
A dense, tight nose with notes of a mix of rapsberries and blueberries, some model clay and undergrowth. Very, very good. Deep and fine.
The taste is young and steady with notes of red cherries, rosehips and tar. Very classic and fine. A long finish with cool tannins. Drink in 5+ years. All 2013 Barolo will be bottled in January 2017.
92p (tasted 2016/12)
2013 Barolo Marenca
A deep, beautiful nose with notes of cool tobacco, hard cherry candy, forest floor and dried flowers. Very lively and fine.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of ripe red cherries, dark minerals, rosehips and fir wood. Some finely polished tannins in the long, long finish. Impressive.
95p (tasted 2016/12)
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| The new bottle line from Pira! :-) |
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| My scribbling notes through Vigna Rionda! |
2013 Barolo Margheria
The Margheria is a beauty. It has a deep, high, fantastic nose with notes of ripe black cherries, rose petals, dried strawberries and a hint of coffee powder. Concentrated. Very, very fine.
The taste is pure and refined with notes of strawberries, iron, earth and some dried meat. Tight and aristocratic. Very long. Just lovely. 7+ years.
95p (tasted 2016/12)
2013 Barolo Vigna Rionda
A very cool, tight and withdrawn nose that requires a lot of swirling to get some aromas out of the glass. But then some forest floor, black cherries and mushrooms rises from the glass. Very deep and promising.
The taste is very tight, intense and structured. There is more potential here than pure enjoyment right now. But you can feel that the parts for something really great are there, just give it 7+ years.
94p (tasted 2016/12)
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| Gianpaolo Pira & Marco Marengo |
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