Wednesday 29 June 2022

Lunch Tasting With Wines From Stag´s Leap


Vinunic recently invited to a tasting lunch at the ever great Operakällaren, with Marcus Notaro from the eponymous Stag´s Leap estate.
Founded in 1970 Stag´s Leap rose to fame when they "won" the 1976´s judgement of Paris. Today its owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Marcus joined Stag´s Leap in 2013.


2019 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
A tight and concentrated nose with lovely notes of ripe black currants, graphite, ink and bakelite. Structured. Very fine.
The taste is young and refined with notes of expensive tobacco, ripening blackberries, leather and hot earth. Silky tannins. Very long. 6+ years.
93p   (tasted 2022/06)



2012 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
The 10 year old Artemis shoes of a deep, maturing nose with notes of fir wood, dried black currants, undergrowth and assorted herbs. Very, very good.
The taste is round and elegant with a beginning maturity and notes of dried black currants, earth, bonfire smoke and tobacco. A very fine dryness in the finish. For drinking now and the coming 7+ years.
90p   (tasted 2022/06)

2018 Fay Cabernet Sauvignon
A gorgeous nose with lots of depth and fantastic notes of perfect mature black currants, graphite, wet stones and a salty, mineral scent. Ripe, velvety. Great.
The taste is luscious and silky with notes of sweet/sour/salt black currants, moist earth, expensive leather and some chocolaty notes. Very, very long. Brilliant. 8+ years.
96p   (tasted 2022/06)



2013 Fay Cabernet Sauvignon
The 5 year older Fay offers up a somewhat mature, silky nose with notes of red and black currants, fir wood, fresh stables and undergrowth. Very Bordeaux like.
The taste is very fine and racy with notes of plums, sugared coffee, forest floor and smoke. Finely polished tannins. A very fine warmth. 3+ years.
92p   (tasted 2022/06)

1996 Fay Cabernet Sauvignon
The 1996 Fay is a dead ringer for a mature Bordeaux, with fine notes of tobacco, dried black currants, earth and lead pencil shavings. The only thing that differs is a touch of sun dried tomatoes at the bottom of the nose. Very fine.
The taste is round and soft but still with a healthy vigour and notes of dried black currants, moist earth, dry leather and cocoa. Long, dry and very fine. 
91p   (tasted 2022/06)

2009 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon
A very deep, focused nose with notes of perfectly mature black currants, dark chocolate, iron, thyme and chalk. Gorgeous.
The taste is still very young and seedy with notes of ink, dried up black currant jam, herbs and sun warm earth. Very, very long. 6+ years.
93p   (tasted 2022/06)



1996 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon
This is what dreams (at least mine) are made of. Poured blind, I would have guessed a Palmer or Margaux from a great vintage. The nose is perfect with gorgeous notes of red tea, dried black currants, forest floor, tobacco, warm tiles and a deep perfumed scent. Stunning.
The taste is seamless with fruit, tannins and acidity in perfect harmony. Every knot and bolt in place. I could drink this all day every day. 
99p   (tasted 2022/06)

2018 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon
A very restrained, promising nose with notes of graphite, black olives, iron and fine tobacco. A lovely purity. Very, very deep. 
The taste is rich and concentrated with a wealth of ripe black fruits, stern tannins and a finish that goes on for minutes. 10+ years. Great wine.
96p   (tasted 2022/06)



2009 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon
A very deep, maturing nose with notes of cooked black cherries, undergrowth, cigarette smoke and chrushed rocks. More mature than the SLV from the same vintage. Lovely.
The taste is big, warm and really yummy with notes of chocolate covered raspberries, forest floor, tobacco and sweet minerals. Very long. For drinking now and the coming 8+ years.
93p   (tasted 2022/06)

Friday 24 June 2022

2012 Amour, Brigitte Beaufort


2012 Amour, Brigitte Beaufort
70% Pinot Noir & 30% Chardonnay. 4 gr dosage. The nose is deep and multi layered with notes of red currants, smoke, geranium, fresh linen and chrushed rocks. Very fine.
The taste is young, tight yet forward with lovely notes of fries bread, red currants, blood grape and wet rocks. Salivating. Long. 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2022/06)

Thursday 23 June 2022

2006 Barolo Poderi Scarrone, Terredavino


2006 Barolo Poderi Scarrone, Terredavino
Big is sometimes beautiful. From one of the biggest producer in Langhe, Terredavino, this 16 year old Barolo offers up a deep, mature nose with notes of dried flowers, sweet tobacco, violets and hard cherry candy. Very, very good.
The taste is round and mature with notes of dried cherries, rowan berries, dry violets, dry licorice and earth. Medium long. Perfectly mature.
90p   (tasted 2022/06)

Wednesday 22 June 2022

2019 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino


2019 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino
Deep, young and promising, the nose offers up notes of ink, blueberries, damsons, fir wood and violets. Handsome and very, very good.
The taste is tight and elegant with notes of ripe blueberries, iron, wet stones and salt minerals. Fresh tannins. Long. Needs 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2022/06)


Tuesday 21 June 2022

2007 - 2019 Côtes-du-Rhone Rouge, Guigal


These were tasted the other week, courtsey of Wine Affair. High quality wines that can be bought for a song, and cellared for many years.

2007 Côtes-du-Rhone Rouge, Guigal
A warm, slightly meaty nose with notes of forest floor, dried red berries, old leather and dusty earth. Reminds me of an aged Bordeaux. Very, very good.
The taste is cool and fine with notes of dried blackberries, undergrowth, cold coffee and earth. Some nice dusty tannins. Still hanging in there.
87p   (tasted 2022/05)

2012 Côtes-du-Rhone Rouge, Guigal
A cool, spicy nose with nots of old asphalt, some red currants and dried flowers. A tad hollow.
The taste is better with notes of red currants and dried blackberries alongside some earthy notes and seedy tannins. Should be drunk sooner than later.
81p   (tasted 2022/05)

2016 Côtes-du-Rhone Rouge, Guigal
A fine, peppery nose with notes of blueberries, bakelite, iron and moist earth. A tad monolithic. Needs time.
The taste is seedy and tight with a fine blueberry fruit and notes of iron, earth and bay leaves. A fine lenght. 3+ years.
87p   (tasted 2022/05)

2019 Côtes-du-Rhone Rouge, Guigal
A young, forward nose with notes of ripening blueberries, juniper berries, and a summerwarm gravel road. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and fine with notes of iron, blackberries, violets and dark flowers. A fine stuffing for aging. Long. 5+ years.
89p   (tasted 2022/05)

Monday 20 June 2022

2017 Barolo Bussia, Viglione


2017 Barolo Bussia, Viglione
After the tasting of Barolista: Seven Decades Of Barolo - 1958 - 2013 was finished, I opened this bottle for comparison. It didn´t fair well with the crowd.
The nose display on one hand pure fruit/flower aromas in the shape of dried cherries, plums and dried flowers. But in the other corner there are a melange of other scents - rubber carpet, training shoes (worn...), glue and VA. Two different characters and they are not in harmony. 
The taste is tight and dry with notes of dried up cherry jam, moist earth, bakelite and "björnklister". Bitter tannins and a noticable heat on the finish. I would say less than good winemaking. Not for me.
79p   (tasted 2022/05)

Sunday 19 June 2022

Two Bordeaux - Two Fine Vintages - Two Minor Château


1990 Château Magneau
Owned by the Ardurats family since the 18th century. According to David Peppercorn they only had 6 ha of red wine in the 80´s but now it have increased to 20 ha. About 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
The nose is earthy and mature with notes of warm tiles, cool black currant fruit, some plums and a hint of iron. Very good.
The taste is cool and mature with silky tannins and notes of dried black currants, earth and black lead. A tad short. Perfectly mature.
87p   (tasted 2022/06)


2000 Château Grand Merrain
Situated near St Julien this estate has almost the same cepage as the wine above - 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.
The nose is open and warm with notes of ripe black currants, sweet tobacco, charcoal and chrushed rocks. Very good.
The taste is tight and fine with notes of dried plums, dusty earth and dry tobacco. Good fruit but a tad one dimensional on the palate.
Both bottles bought recently for 15 Euro a piece..:-)
85p   (tasted 2022/06)


Saturday 18 June 2022

2017 Dolcetto d’Alba Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno, Giuseppe Mascarello


2017 Dolcetto d’Alba Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno, Giuseppe Mascarello
A deep, high and peculiar (in a good way) nose with notes of rose petals, dog fur, red currants, old rhubarb and sweet minerals. Very, very good and interesting.
The taste is refined and firm with silky tannins and notes of ripe lingonberries, asphalt, old vegetables and moist earth. Complex and fine.
92p   (tasted 2022/06)

Sunday 5 June 2022

Cuvee 744, Jacquesson


Cuvee 744, Jacquesson
A very fresh, open nose with notes of red apples, fried bread, birch sap and tons of minerals. Very fine.
The taste is cool and handsome with a fine smoky touch and additional notes of red currants, sweet lime and ripe flowers. Long and distinct. A lip smacking acidity. 6+ years.
93p   (tasted 2022/06)

Saturday 4 June 2022

2013 Pelaverga, Burlotto


2013 Pelaverga, Burlotto
Cool, herbal and mature, the nose showcases nice redcurrant fruit paired with white pepper, gravel and funny enough, a note of (over)ripe melon. Very good.
The taste is soft and fresher then the nose, with notes of white pepper, red currants, herbs and a fine acidity. Medium long. Very good.
86p   (tasted 2022/05)

Friday 3 June 2022

Seven Decades Of Barolo - 1958 - 2013


It was my turn to host our monthly tasting and I put these on the table. Tasted double blind most guesses gravitated towards Nebbiolo but that it was 55 years between the youngest and oldest no one guessed.

1958 Barolo Riserva, Borgogno
A deep, mature, round nose with notes of dried raspberries, old leather, rubber carpets and moist earth. A very fine dried up sweetness. Very, very good and very much alive.
The taste is soft and mature but still has a good bit of oomph. Notes of bonfire, dried raspberries, asphalt and cold coffee. Long, dry and fine.
90p   (tasted 2022/05)


1964 Barolo, Franco Fiorina
From the Greatest Vintage Ever and obvious enough a fantastic wine. The nose soars from the glass with notes of dried red cherries, orange peel, toasted almonds, mushrooms and coffee powder. Very complex. Gorgeous fruit.
The taste is broad and concentrated with notes of roses, asphalt, iron, dried cherries and rosehips. Very long. Still on the young side of things, bottles like this will go on for 20+ years.
96p   (tasted 2022/05)


1978 Barolo Riserva, Giovanni Sordo
Old school and dry, a tad so, with notes of smoke, dog fur, black te and hints of red apples. Warm.
The taste is tough and seedy with notes of bakelite, dried red fruits, ink and earth. Little like chewing on a cherry pip. 
85p   (tasted 2022/05)


1982 Barolo, Renato Ratti
A very handsome, perfectly mature and balanced nose with notes of wild strawberries, herbs, roses en masse and some leathery aromas. High and very fine.
The taste is mature and velvety with notes of fine tobacco, roses, red tea and rosehips. Silky tannins. Long and lovely.
94p   (tasted 2022/05)

1996 Barolo Brunate, Marengo
A deep, rather sturdy nose with notes of ripe black cherries, leather, orange peel and asphalt. Dark. Very good.
The taste is taut and still young with notes of salmiak, black cherries, asphalt and violets. Needs time. A fine warmth in the finish. 6+ years.
88p   (tasted 2022/05)


2001 Barolo Pie Rupestris, Cappellano
Very handsome and balanced, the nose flows up from the glass with notes of cranberries, red currants, forest floor, rosehips and dry licorice. Lovely.
The taste is silky and seductive with notes of red currants, dried flowers, rosehips and some tarry notes. Very long and lingering. 4+ years.
Since the late Theobaldo didn´t want his wines scored, I never do   (tasted 2022/05)


2013 Barolo Cannubi, Burlotto
A perennial favourite of mine (more than the Monvigliero to be honest), this 2013 has (as most 2013) locked up the fruit and gone into hiding. I guess we have to wait 8+ years before it show itself like this again. Glad I have more.
94p   (tasted 2022/05)