Barolo Boys Plan The Upcoming Tour To Nebbiolo Land

It is time again. To go to the land of tartufi, carne cruda, tajarin, risotto, coniglio, brasato and of course - Barolo!
The Barolo Boys will land on the 24th of May and for 5 days we will taste, drink and occasionally spit the greatest wines on this Earth - Barolo!

But such a daunting task has to be planned! So we met up a few days ago and drank these wines. I think we got some planning done as well...
M poured. All wines tasted double blind.

2012 Cuvée Bois, Les Crétes
This Italian Chardonnay got us fooled, first of to California, then Burgundy, then....ah, well. The nose is cool and mineral laden with notes of melon, yellow plums, smoke and hand cream. Very, very fine. Deep and refined.
The taste is young and tight with notes of lemon cream, white flowers, blood oranges and some butter cookies. A long, finely tuned finish with a great acidity. Really fine
93p   (tasted 2017/05)

2015 Nierstein Hipping Riesling Kabinett, Keller
A energetic, young, upfront nose with notes of white peach, ripe pears, fresh herbs and lots and lots of minerals. High and pure. A touch of saltiness. Salivating. Very, very fine.
The taste is young, cool with a hint of sparkle and notes of elderberries, gray pears, ginger and lemon peel. Chrushed slate to go around. It has a shine to it. You just want to take another sip and another and...
95p   (tasted 2017/05)

2005 Château L´Arrosée
A big, steady nose with a hint of maturity and notes of ripe black plums, sun warm leather, violets and rich earth. Deep and fine. This is really good.
The taste is tight and concentrated and feels younger than on the nose. Fine notes of chocolate covered cherries, leather, mocha and a touch of bonfire smoke. A long, classy finish. Finely polished tannins. Should get 5+ years in the cellar.
93p   (tasted 2017/05)

2004 Masseto
A warm, concentrated, open nose with stunningly gorgeous fruit in the shape of ripe red and black cherries, forest raspberries and some bluberries tossed in. Additionally notes of liquorice, charcoal, sugared coffee and mint. Very, very deep. Just stunning!
The taste is rich, tight and focused with notes of sour/sweet cherries, plums, violets, rosemary and dark chocolate. The finish goes on for minutes. Some still firm tannins. Will go being great for another 10+ years.
96p   (tasted 2017/05)

1996 Pahlmeyer Merlot
Tasted seven months ago and it is even better on this evening! Boatloads of ripe plums, pipe tobacco, undergrowth, worn leather and warm tiles. I don´t know if its fully mature but it is not far from. Very, very deep and totally yummy! Some scorched earth reveals itself with air.
The taste is deep, steady and with that iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove kind of feeling. Lots of ripe black plums, tobacco, asphalt and mocha. A long, complex finish. Will go on for 5+ years but this is prime time drinking right now.
97p   (tasted 2017/05)

2002 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese, Schaefer
Fuder 10. The nose is cool and a bit shy with notes of passiofruit, lemons, diesel and heather honey. Opens up nicely in the glass. Very, very good.
The taste is balanced and fine with notes of lemon cream, dried flowers, menthol and dried up honey. Starts of semi dry but ends completely dry. A fine acidity. Starting to mature but have years to go.
90p   (tasted 2017/05)

1988 Château d´Yquem
From a half bottle. The nose is big, deep and multi layered with notes of (over) ripe peaches, linoleum, ripe red apples, tangerines and a hint of detergents. Very complex and fine.
The taste is concentrated and looong with notes of dried apricots, hay, tangerines and hay. Even a hint of milk chocolate. This is really fine. Very long. From this half bottle it is starting to mature.
95p   (tasted 2017/05)

Planning Dinner From October 2016