Disclaimer - the importer of Marengo and Luigi Pira to Sweden (Origo Wines) are friends of mine and cofounders of the illustrious Barolo Boys. I however, have no financial interests in these wines, I just call them as I see them.
Marengo
2018 Barbera d´Alba Vigna Pugnane
A fine, open nose with notes of smoky raspberries, earth and with a very fine warmth.
The taste is spicy and direct with notes of raspberry licorice, scorched earth and bonfire. Long and fine.
88p (tasted 2020/01)
2018 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore
Always a treat, the Valmaggiore offers up a deep, iron filled nose with notes of licorice, red and black cherries and gravel. Very fine.
The taste is tight and complex with notes of dried cherries, licorice and dark flowers. Very long and elegant. 6+ years.
91p (tasted 2020/01)
2016 Barolo
A fine, floral nose with notes of red cherries, rosehips and dry licorice. A low key elegance.
The taste is tight and balanced with notes of red cherries, warm sand and rosehips. Silky tannins. Very, very good. 6+ years.
91p (tasted 2020/01)
2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole
A high, pure nose with notes of cranberries, wild strawberries and earth. Very fine.
The taste is cool and refined with notes of dried strawberries, incense and minerals. A long, intense finish. 8+ years.
93p (tasted 2020/01)
2016 Barolo Brunate
A deep, balanced nose with notes of ripe strawberries, earth and licorice. Some mushroom notes after a while. Really fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of rosehips, ripe red cherries, forest floor and a hint of tobacco. A very long, crisp finish. Lovely. 8+ years.
95p (tasted 2020/01)
2015 Barolo Riserva Brunate
There are 700 bottles (699 now...) of this nectar and I want them all! A gorgeously complex nose with notes of dark roses, hard cherry candy, trumpet mushrooms and iron. A lovely purity.
The taste is seamless and focused with notes of black cherries, rosehips, dried flowers and violets. Perfectly polished tannins. Great wine. 7+ years.
97p (tasted 2020/01)
Luigi Pira
2019 Dolcetto d´Alba
A cool, stern nose with notes of blueberries, iron and violets. Strict and fine.
The taste is earthy and iron filled with notes of plums and spices. A very fine structure. A real Serralunga Dolcetto. Very, very good.
90p (tasted 2020/01)
2018 Dolcetto d´Alba
Gianpaolo opened the 2018 for comparison. This has a more backward, earthy nose with herbs and red currants.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of red currants, iron, herbs violets. Very, very good but tighter than the 19.
89p (tasted 2020/01)
2018 Barbera d´Alba Superiore
A fine, open, fruity nose with notes of raspberries, earth and bonfire. Some leathary aromas. Very, very good.
The taste is open and fresh with spicy, juicy raspberries and additional notes of bonfire, scorched earth and a hint of mint. A fine dryness in the finish. A stunning Barbera.
93p (tasted 2020/01)
2018 Langhe Nebbiolo
A cool dry nose with notes of paint, dried up cherry jam and iron. Some flowery elements after a while. Really good.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of red cherries, iron and violets. Sturdy but finely polished tannins. 3+ years.
91p (tasted 2020/01)
2016 Barolo Serralunga
The first vintage where grapes from the new 1 ha vineyard in Sorano is added to the blend. The nose is classic Serralunga with notes of cool red cherries, violets, iron and a hint of band aid. Complex and fine.
The taste is racy and refined with notes of rosehips, cranberries, iron and a hint of leather. Silky tannins. Balanced and fine. Very, very good. 6+ years.
92p (tasted 2020/01)
2016 Barolo Margheria
Both the Margheria and Marenca is stellar examples of Gianpaolo´s winemaking. The Margheria opens with a deep, refined nose with notes of cherry jam, smoke, rosehips and red ski wax. Complex and fine.
The taste is very pure and multi layered with notes of dried strawberries, minerals, dry licorice and fresh mushrooms. Silky tannins. Very long and rewarding. Lovely. 8+ years.
95p (tasted 2020/01)
2016 Barolo Marenca
The Marenca is more structured and restrained on the nose but with some swirling fine aromas of red beets, sand, iron and dry tobacco emerges from the glass. Very, very deep. Needs time.
The taste is taut and concentrated with notes of iron, red currants, hard cherry candy and earth. Very, very long. Some broad shouldered tannins. For the long haul. 10+ years.
95p (tasted 2020/01)
2016 Barolo Vigna Rionda
Virtually perfect. I have always loved the earlier vintages of Vigna Rionda, but the 2016 takes it to another level. When tasting perfect wines (and that´s how I can tell that they are, at least for my palate) is when I have trouble writing down my impressions,, it becomes only lonely adjectives. Give this 8+ years to achieve that last point.
99p (tasted 2020/01)
2015 Barolo Margheria
When asked if we would like to taste the 15 Margheria and Marenca, we said ok...
Tasted twice before, it has now tighten up somewhat but the core of the wine is the same. A pleasure to taste. 5+ years.
93p (tasted 2020/01)
2015 Barolo Marenca
Also tasted twice, see link above, but this on the other hand had opened up somewhat with a lovely warmth and complex notes of asphalt, cherry jam and iron. Great. 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2020/01)
2005 Barolo Vigna Rionda
By now Gianpaolo got feeling and went for more bottles. These were tasted blind. The first shows a deep, dry, complex nose with notes of dried cherries, sweet tobacco, earth and bonfire smoke. Some maturity. Very, very good.
The taste is structured and fine with some maturity and notes of dry licorice, asphalt, rosehips and iron. The tannins are a bit more rugged than the wines from 15 or 16. Very fine. I guessed a 08 Marenca...
93p (tasted 2020/01)
2001 Barolo Margheria
Next bottle displays a a lovely mature nose with notes of scorched earth, dried up cherry jam, leather, raisins and some dog fur for complexity. Old school and fine.
The taste is silky and multi layered with notes of sugared coffee, forest floor, dried flowers and tobacco. The tannins have melted into the wine in a fine way. I guessed it to be a 96. Maybe a bit precocious but very, very good.
No comments:
Post a Comment