Wednesday 30 September 2020

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba Pian Delle Masche, Crissante


2019 Dolcetto d´Alba Pian Delle Masche, Crissante
A young, juicy nose with notes of cranberries, blueberries, iron and Lily of the Valley. Very good. A cool, meaty scent after some time.
The taste is tight and rather stern in its youth, with notes of iron, violets, juniper berries and bay leaves. Needs time. Perky tannins and a high acidity.
88p   (tasted 2020/09)

Monday 28 September 2020

2016 Baroli From Mauro Veglio


A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity through Wine Affair to taste almost all (no Rocche dell´Annunziata) 2016 Baroli from Mauro Veglio.
Since I only spent a minute or two with each wine, I give a indicative score below.

2016 Barolo, Mauro Veglio
A low keyed, balanced nose with lovely red fruit and a tight taste with sandy tannins. Very pretty.
~90p   (tasted 2020/09)

2016 Barolo Arborina, Mauro Veglio
An open, sweet, handsome nose with a long lasting, earthy taste. Pure and classy.
~93p   (tasted 2020/09)

2016 Barolo Gattera, Mauro Veglio
A gorgeously perfumed nose with lots of mushrooms and licorice. The palate is luscious and silky. Lovely. 
~94p   (tasted 2020/09)

2016 Barolo Paiagallo, Mauro Veglio
High and structured with depth, intensity and grace. Splendid. A must buy.
~95p   (tasted 2020/09)

2016 Barolo Castelletto, Mauro Veglio
The most taut and broad shouldered with iron, violets and bay leaves. Very long with stern tannins.
~92p   (tasted 2020/09)

Saturday 26 September 2020

2016 Barbaresco Starderi, Renato Fenocchio


2016 Barbaresco Starderi, Renato Fenocchio
A beauty. The nose is light, ethereal and intense with notes of red currants, diesel oil, shoe polish, roses and chrushed rocks. A laser like nerve. Stunning.
The taste is young, tight and focused with notes of red ski wax, red currants, orange peel and earth. Silky tannins. Long and lovely. Great now but wait 8+ years and see what happens... Glad I have some.
94p   (tasted 2020/09)

Friday 25 September 2020

A Mushroom Pasta & Two Bottles Of Wine


Is Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir better with a mushroom pasta? One of the eternal questions. The set up - a bowl of fine pasta, fried assorted mushrooms, olive oil and lots of parmesan. 

The Barolo won this contest...

2014 Barolo V. S. Caterina, Guido Porro
A high, pure, intense nose with notes of rowan berries, paint, dried roses and hard cherry candy. A very fine low key intensity.
The taste is tight and balanced with notes of ripe lingonberries, rosehips, shoe polish and asphalt. More restrained compared to when I tasted it at the estate two years ago - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2019/08/not-so-long-overdue-notes-barolo-boys.html
92p   (tasted 2020/09)

2012 Burkheimer Feurberg Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Bercher
A big, open, juicy nose with notes of toasted almonds, ripe raspberries, Finnish licorice and fir wood. Deep and fine. Red beets. Lively.
The taste is ripe and ready for action with notes of scorched earth, ripe raspberries, smoke and herbs. A very fine warmth. Long and fine. 
90p   (tasted 2020/09)

Wednesday 23 September 2020

Tasting Great Wines With Wine Affair


A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to attend a tasting arranged by Wine Affair and I tasted these gems.

The Whites

2018 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Guigal
A fine, delicate nose with notes of peach, white currants and hay. A fine flowery scent.
The taste is medium bodied and dry with notes of oranges, peach and gravel. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2020/09)

2017 Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu, La Chablisienne
A spicy, smoky nose with notes of mineral, lemon licorice and yellow apples. Fine.
The taste is high and dry with notes of white peppers, white currants and smoke. Very long and fine.
90p   (tasted 2020/09)

2018 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot, Louis Jadot¨
A deep, concentrated nose with notes of grilled lemons, red basil and matchbox. Intense and fine.
The taste is handsome and balanced with notes of sage, lemon cream and smoke. Very fine.
92p   (tasted 2020/09)

2018 Condrieu La Doriane, Guigal
I am normally not a fan of Condrieu (I am a acid junkie) but this bottle from Guigal is the real thing. The nose is deep and down right gorgeous with a sea of ripe flowers, apricots, peach and sweet minerals. Very deep.
The taste is multi layered and fine with a silky character, paired with notes of grilled lemons, yellow flowers, apricots and hot earth. Very, very long. 
93p   (tasted 2020/09)


2016 Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc, Guigal
This 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne Ermitage jumps out of the glass with notes of ripe lemons, bay leaves, incense, peach and linoleum, Very intense. Just gorgeous.
The taste is pure and powerful with notes of apricots, spices, lemon peel, dried flowers and a hint of band aid. Rich and balanced. Loooong. Great wine.
96p   (tasted 2020/09)

The Reds

2016 Santenay 1er Cru Maladière, Domaine Prieur. Brunet
A cool, red berry nose with notes of earth, herbs and ripening raspberries. Light and fine.
The taste is dry and seedy with a fine acidity and notes of dried raspberries, earth and some balsamic notes. Very good.
87p   (tasted 2020/09)

2018 Corton-Pougets, Loius Jadot
A deep, tight nose with notes of red beets, rhubarb licorice, Christmas spices and forest floor. Lots of depth. Very fine.
The taste is refined and racy with notes of sandal wood, ripe raspberries, smoke and fresh herbs. Very long. Distinct. 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/09)

2018 Chapelle-Chambertin, Louis Jadot
A lovely, focused nose with notes of ripe raspberries, rich earth, fresh herbs and warm sand. Very deep and fine.
The taste is refined and racy with great fruit, a fine backbone, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Very handsome. Great wine! 8+ years.
95p   (tasted 2020/09)


2017 Barbaresco Vigna Loreto, Albino Rocca
I tasted three Barbaresco´s from Albino Rocca earlier the same day, I will be back with a separate post on those.

2016 Barolo Gattera. Mauro Veglio
Same as above, I tasted through the whole Baroli range from Mauro Veglio, a separate post will follow.

2017 Tabuerniga, Bodega Lanzaga
A rich, spicy nose with notes of Christmas spices, cooked red fruit, asphalt and heather. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and concentrerad with notes of cranberries, asphalt and some meaty notes. Long, sturdy and warm. Very young. 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/09)

2017 Château Lavabre La Closerie du Pic, Château Peuch-Haut
A plummy, warm nose with notes of undergrowth, tobacco and herbs. Compact and fine.
The taste is juicy and concentrated with notes of cooked fruit, scorched earth and tobacco. Very long. 6+ years
90p   (tasted 2020/09)


2017 Blue Label, Bodegas Juan Gil
A very deep, focused nose with notes of rosemary, assorted black fruits, earth and a lovely perfumed note. Very fine.
The taste is stern and steady with notes of blackberries, violets, fried nuts and moist eerth. Very balanced. Long. Really fine.
94p   (tasted 2020/09)

2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Le Riche
A young, upfront nose with notes of black currants, gravel and some clean stables. Very good.
The taste is medium bodied with notes of black currants, ink and dusty earth. Fine grained tannins.
89p   (tasted 2020/09)

2016 Galius, Union de Producteurs de Saint-Emilion
This 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc blend offers up a handsome, balanced nose with notes of plums, herbs, earth and cold coffee. Very, very good.
The taste is focused and fine with notes of plums, green raisins, forest floor and chrushed rocks. Silky tannins. A very fine mouthfeel. 5+ years.
92p   (tasted 2020/09)


2016 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, Guigal
Oooh boy, this is good! The nose explodes from the glass with notes of plums, blackberries, black earth, matchbox, meat and a hint of toothpaste. Very complex. Just gorgeous. Very young.
The taste has everything except the added complexity that comes from maturity. Inky, irony, peppery with masses of ripe bluberries, violets and licorice. Taut tannins. Perfection in the making, just give it 10+ years.
98p   (tasted 2020/09)


Monday 21 September 2020

1995 Château Gressier Grand Poujeaux

 
1995 Château Gressier Grand Poujeaux
This 25 year old Moulis shows of a fine mature nose with notes of fresh stables, ripe black currants, tobacco and old wood furniture. Very, very good.
The taste is perky for its age with notes of graphite, dried red and black currants and undergrowth. A silky finish. Fresh and fine. Bottles like this will go on for another 10 years.
89p   (tasted 2020/09)

Sunday 20 September 2020

Three Fine Nebbiolo´s


Notes from a dinner last weekend at friends.

1999 Barolo Bricco Viole, G. D. Vajra
A deep, fine, autumly nose with notes of red beets, Christmas spices, violets and Langhe earth. A fine floral scent. Very, very good.
The taste is still tight but beginning to get some mature notes. Spicy tannins and notes of hard cherry candy, violets, rosehips and earth. Long and fine. For drinking now and the coming 8+ years.
91p   (tasted 2020/09)


2001 Barolo, Bruno Giacosa
This started out slow (all opened and decanted just before service) but had a forward momentum all night long. The nose is high and intense with notes of red currants, furniture polish, bakelite, asphalt and dried flowers. Very deep. Lovely.
The taste is seamless, dry and focused with notes of dried red cherries, wild strawberries, dry tobacco and gravel. A fine concentration. Very long. 6+ years.
94p   (tasted 2020/09)



2001 Barbaresco Currà, Sottimano
A deep, tight, herbal nose with notes of forest floor, ripe cherries, chocolate licorice and tobacco. A very fine sweetness to the fruit. Balsamic. Very deep.
The taste is taut and concentrated with notes of warm sand, ripe cherries, undergrowth and asphalt. Very long. Needs time, 8+ years. Great wine. The two of us that was forced to guess blind had this as a Barolo. 
93p   (tasted 2020/09)

Monday 14 September 2020

2018 Dolcetto From Bartolo Mascarello & Brovia

2018 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bartolo Mascarello
A direct, lovely nose with notes of fresh red currants, cranberries, incense and earth. Lively and very fine.
The taste is cool and dry with notes of spices, assorted red berries and candle grease. Silky tannins. Sooo drinkable from the get go. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2020/09)
Maria Teresa
Alex
2018 Dolcetto d´Alba Vignavillej, Brovia
Alex has fashioned a more sturdy Dolcetto with grapes from Serralunga. The nose is deep and focused with notes of blueberries, cranberries, licorice and asphalt. Very fine.
The taste is tight and structured with notes of ripe blueberries, bakelite, iron and herbs. Balanced and fine. Very fine tannins that show themselves in the finish. 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2020/09)

Saturday 12 September 2020

2016 Belguardo, Mazzei


2016 Belguardo, Mazzei
A big, rich nose with notes of ripe plums, bonfire smoke, sweet violets, lavender and polished mahogany. Very deep, upfront and satisfying.
The taste is tight and restrained with ripe black fruits, matchbox, graphite and fine tobacco. Very long. A fine structure. Need 6+ years.
Notes on 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015 Belguardo
92p   (tasted 2020/09)

Friday 11 September 2020

Two Older Riesling Spätlese

1993 Raunthaler Baiken Riesling Spätlese, Kloster Eberbach
A fine mature nose with notes of tangerines, rubber, linoleum and some dried up honey. Very good.
The taste is dry and somewhat linear with notes of orange peel, rubber and clay. A fine acidity. A tad short.
84p   (tasted 2020/08)


1990 Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Spätlese, Staatlische Weinbaudomäne
A mature, semi dry nose with notes of almond paste, orange peel, rubber boots and hints of sherry. Very good.
The taste is grassy and dry with notes of dried peaches, hay, tangerines and gravel. Medium bodied and fine.
86p   (tasted 2020/08)

Wednesday 9 September 2020

74 Wines On A Monday


Vingruppen arranged their semi annual sortiment tasting last Monday. I managed to taste 74 wines (out of several hundreds). These were my highlights.

Vasse Felix always fashions a great Chardonnay, and the 2016 Heytesbury joins a long line of great wines (93p). The 2016 Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling, Yalumba showed a crisp, diesel scented nose and a fresh, stony taste (91p).



From Faiveley the 2017 Rully Les Villeranges was cool and refreshing (89p) while the regular 2017 Meursault impressed with a nutty, spicy character with a long lasting taste (92p). The 2017 Meursault Charmes was more withdrawn but the quality is there with notes of grilled lemons and lavender soap, very structured (93p).

From USA these performed well - 2017 Karia Chardonnay, Stag´s Leap always delivers the goods, creamy and inviting (90p). From Sandhi the 2016 Bentrock Chardonnay displayed a racy, stony nose and a luscious, fresh taste (92p). The youngish 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Kutch was my favourite with a deep, refined nose and a high, intense taste with a lovely lemon and pear note (93p)


When I poured the 2011 Casalferro I immediately noticed that the wine was cooked. It was swiftly replaced and it was singing with ripe cherries, Tuscan gravel and fresh rosemary (94p). The sad part was that one third of the first bottle had already been consumed... The 2016 Castello di Brolio displayed a cool, elegant character with serious stuffing for 6+ years of cellaring (92p).


Up next - Brunello! The 2013 Fuligni has a gorgeous sweetness to the fruit and a sturdy backbone of tannins and acidity (93p) while the 2014 Mastrojanni is willful, refined and just lovely (93p).



From USA, I was impressed by the 2016 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, Sandhi which has a lovely strawberry fruit, a fine acidity and elegance (91p). The 2018 Sonoma County Pinot Noir, Kutch was equally good a fine concentration and ripe strawberry fruit (91p).
The two wines from Dana Estates really pleased my palate. The 2015 Vaso is rich and concentrated and keeping it all together in a tight package (94p). The 2014 Onda is a stunner and a truly great wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and 100% pleasure (96p),


I finished things of with some nice Burgundies. From Lucien Le Moine I thoroughly enjoyed the 2016 Pommard Les Rugiens with its sturdy structure and a fine mix of red and black fruits (92p). The 2013 Clos de la Roche displayed a more refined Pinot character with lovely strawberryfruit, forest floor and fresh herbs (94p).
The 2015 Clos des Lambrays has a lovely sweetness to the fruit, a silky mouthfeel and a great length (94p).
I tasted two wines from Domaine Perrot-Minot. The 2013 Charmes-Chambertin is a deep, structured Grand Cru with dark fruit, violets and moist earth. Very long and fine (93p). Last but definitely not least, the 2017 Vosne-Romanée Orme des Chalandins is a beauty. Really handsome and silky with perfectly ripe wild strawberries, cranberries, earth and tobacco. A lovely balance. Really fine (96p).




Friday 4 September 2020

2017 Dolcetto d’Alba, Nada Fiorenzo


2017 Dolcetto d’Alba, Nada Fiorenzo
A deep, tight nose with a lovely sweetness to the fruit, a fine nerve and notes of violets, bonfire, ripe blueberries, smoke, matchbox and black tea. Very fine.
The taste is perfumed and handsome with notes of violets, rhubarb licorice, smoke and a sligth touch of mint. Serious. Long and fine. Perky tannins. 3+ years.
91p   (tasted 2020/09)

Thursday 3 September 2020

2017 Dolcetto d´Alba Contessa Rosalia, Mauro Sebaste


2017 Dolcetto d´Alba Contessa Rosalia, Mauro Sebaste
A earthy Dolcetto with notes of iron, blueberry bushes, bakelite and some dry tobacco notes. Structured. Very good.
The taste is dry and fine with notes of violets, blueberries, tobacco and earth. Medium bodied and long. A great pizza/pasta/salami wine.
87p   (tasted 2020/09)