Back in Piedmont! Two years has passed since my last visit. Two Barolo Boys descended on Langhe in the beginning of January to taste, eat and drink well.
Stroppiana
The only wines I had tasted before from Stroppiana was a 1982 Riserva and a 2011 Bussia, both of whom I liked, so I was looking forward to this visit.
We left as two happy campers after three hours, having met the whole family and tasting a lot of fine bottles of wines.
Stefania, the mother of Altea and Leonardo, greeted us and started showing us the cellar. After a while Altea and Leonardo came along. Altea has other things to attend to on the estate so Leonardo took care of us and showed us a great time, opening bottle after bottle after bottle. At the end of our visit Dario, Altea and Leonardo´s father joined us. A great visit, I will be back!
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| Stefania |
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| Altea & Leonardo |
2020 Langhe Nascetta
I love Nascetta and the ones from Stroppiana is fine examples of the grape. The 2020 offers a stony, pear scented nose with notes of yellow flowers, lemon licorice and almond paste.. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and fine with notes of dry tangerines, almond paste and gravel. A fine acidity.
87p (tasted 2022/01)
2019 Langhe Nascetta Acacia
This 2019 has been aged in Acacia wood. The nose is larger than the regular Nascetta with notes of yellow plums, smoke, oil cloth and ripe summer flowers. Lovely.
The taste is ripe and creamy with notes of grilled lemons, yellow plums and warm sand. A very fine acidity.
90p (tasted 2022/01)
2017 Langhe Nascetta
Intrigued by our interest in Nascetta, Leonardo produced a bottle with some age. The -17 Nascetta oozes up from the glass with Riesling-like aromas in the shape of petrol, steel and dried yellow fruits. Very fine.
The taste is cool and steely with notes of dried up lemoncello, gravel and dried flowers. A very fine structure. Really fine.
90p (tasted 2022/01)
2020 Barbera d´Alba
An open, fruity Barbera with notes of raspberry licorice, herbs and warm asphalt. Sappy.
The taste is fine and earthy with a sweet raspberry fruit and a nice acidity.
87p (tasted 2022/01)
A deep, warm, fruity nose with notes of banana peel, raspberry jam and hot earth. Broad.
The taste is big and a tad fiery but the fruit is very fine and the acidity balances the sweet fruit. Very good.
87p (tasted 2022/01)
2020 Langhe Nebbiolo
A fresh, forward nose with notes of herbs, ripe cherries and earthy aromas. Very, very good.
The taste is pure and fine with notes of herbs, red cherries, blood orange and gravel. Silky tannins. 3+ years.
89p (tasted 2022/01)
2018 Barolo Leonardo
A deep, elegant nose with notes of ripe cherries, moist earth, hint of choolate and ripe flowers.
The taste is broad and tight with notes of candied cherries, licorice and dried flowers. Sweet tannins. Aged in 50% barrique and 50% 2,5 hl casks. 5+ years.
88p (tasted 2022/01)
2018 Barolo Bricco Cogni
This has only seen big casks during its upbringing. The nose is upfront and focused with notes of ripe raspberries, summer gravel, rosehips and some tobacco scents. Very fine.
The taste is tight and steady with notes of hard cherry candy, dried raspberries, shoe polish and licorice. Long and fine. 6+ years.
91p (tasted 2022/01)
2018 Barolo San Giacomo
This is a beauty with a outgoing, focused nose with notes of rosehips, Christmas spices, ripe cherries and dried flowers. Very fine.
The taste is concentrated and multi layered with notes of ripe cherries, rosehip and asphalt with an old viney feeling in the finish. Stern tannins. 8+ years. Stroppiana is the only producer of Barolo from the San Giacomo MGA.
93p (tasted 2022/01)
2017 Barolo San Giacomo
The -17 San Giacomo is rounder and warmer then the 18 with a deep nose with notes of bay leaves, hot asphalt and ripe cherries. Very, very good.
The taste is broad and finely concentrated with notes of tar, ripe cherries and hot gravel. Long and expressive. 4+ years. The 2017 celebrates 50 years since the family´s first vintage (before that they sold the grapes like many other grape growers at the time).
89p (tasted 2022/01)
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| Leonardo & Dario |
2015 Barolo Bussia
A finely tuned nose with notes of dark flowers, red apples, smoke, shoe cream and rosehips. Interesting and very fine.
The taste is tight and structured with notes of hard cherry candy, undergrowth, dried flowers and asphalt. Broadshouldered. Very long. 6+ years.
92p (tasted 2022/01)
2016 Barolo Bussia
The -16 Bussia is a stunner! The nose soars up from the glass with notes of fir wood, sweet/sour cherries, smoke, iron and spices. Lovely.
The taste is silky and concentrated with ripe cherry fruit, sandelwood, iron and rosehips. The tannins come forward in the long finish. Great wine. 8+ years.
94p (tasted 2022/01)
2015 Barolo Riserva Bussia
A very deep, laid back nose with notes of undergrowth, black cherries, tobacco and shoe polish. Very fine. Needs time to open up.
The taste is structured and refined with notes of dried cherries, iron, asphalt and dried herbs. A very long, taut finish. 10+ years.
93p (tasted 2022/01)
2013 Barolo Riserva Bussia
From my favourite vintage since 2001, this doesn´t disappoint. A very deep, focused and finely tuned nose oozes up from the glass with fine notes of sweet/sour cherries, sage, iron and rosehips. So fine.
The taste is taut yet refined and focused with notes of hard cherry candy, ink, dried flowers and asphalt. The finish goes on and on and on. Stunning. 8+ years.
95p (tasted 2022/01)
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