Sunday 28 August 2022

2015 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling GG Im Laychen "Reserve" Alte Reben, Dr Loosen


2015 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling GG Im Laychen "Reserve" Alte Reben, Dr Loosen
A long name for a long lasting wine. The nose is dream with stunning notes of lime peel, flint, rain wet asphalt, hints of dried apricots and hay. Very deep and fine.
The taste is deep and grassy with a brilliant acidity and notes of lime cream, flint, birch sap, white flowers and chrushed rocks. Very fine. 6+ years. From a 25 cl bottle.
93p   (tasted 2022/08)

Thursday 18 August 2022

2011 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina & Montestefano, La Cà Növa


2011 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina, La Cà Növa
These two beauties were last tasted six years ago, see link below. The Vigna Bric Mentiva is a part of Montefico that La Cà Növa is the single owner of. 
The nose is very deep and perfumed with some maturity and gorgeous notes of autumn leaves, lavender, violets, Langhe soil and hints of tried meat. Very complex. Floral.
The taste is silky and fine with notes of dried red cherries, dry tobacco, forest floor and lots of rosehips. A very fine acidity. Long. I would say that it has reach its peak but will stay here for 6+ years. Great wine.
95p   (tasted 2022/08)

2011 Barbaresco Montestefano, La Cà Növa
The Montestefano is bigger, darker and younger than the Montefico. The nose is very deep, taut and broad with notes of hard cherry candy, iron, asphalt, dark flowers and furniture polish. Just lovely.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of hard cherry candy, bay leaves, asphalt, minerals and lots of dried roses. Very, very long. Impressive. Needs 5+ years to reach full maturity. Stunning wine.
97p   (tasted 2022/08)


Saturday 13 August 2022

2017 Dolcetto Di Diano d’Alba Sori’ Costa Fiore, Claudio Alario


2017 Dolcetto Di Diano d’Alba Sori’ Costa Fiore, Claudio Alario
A fine, spicy nose with notes of bay leaves, red currants, blueberries, violets and ink. Red beets after some time in the glass. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and structured with notes of asphalt, blueberries, gravel and ink. Like chewing on a black cherry pip, in a positive sense. Long. 6+ years.
91p   (tasted 2022/08)

Wednesday 10 August 2022

2018 Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Hartford Court


2018 Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Hartford Court
A large scaled, silky nose with notes of butter fudge, smoke, lemon licorice, ripe oranges and white flowers. Deep and concentrated. Very fine.
The taste is rich and creamy with a fine acidity and great balance. Lovely notes of blood oranges, lemon cream, fudge and matchbox. Long and lingering. 3+ years.
93p   (tasted 2022/08)

Monday 8 August 2022

2010 Special Club, Marc Hebrart


2010 Special Club, Marc Hebrart
A gorgeous, ethereal nose with notes of honeysuckle, ripe lemons, hay, a touch of ginger and gravel. Very complex and fine. Some maturity.
The taste is racy and refined with notes of lemon cream, birch sap, dried up passion fruit ice cream and lemon licorice. Perfect acidity. Long and lingering. Great wine. 4+ years.
95p   (tasted 2022/08)

Sunday 7 August 2022

A BYOB Barbeque Evening

A couple of weeks ago it was time for a barbeque at our place - friends arrived carrying bottles. This is how it went.

The Champagne´s
2008 Saint-Vincent, R&L Legras
A very deep, complex nose with notes of nuts, lemon caramel, orange peel and newly washed linens. Really fine.
The taste is racy and rich with notes of almond, oranges, lots of minerals and a touch of ginger. A salivating acidity. Very long. Still young, 6+ years.
94p   (tasted 2022/07)


2008 La Grande Cuvée, Jeeper
A cool, stony nose with notes of lemon peel, dry lemon fudge, dried flowers and chrushed rocks. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and linear with lots of dry yellow fruits, a fine acidity and long, creamy finish. Got better with air. 3+ years.
91p   (tasted 2022/07)

The Whites
2014 Corton-Charlemagne, Louis Baisinbert
A handsome, mineral laden nose with notes of melon, lemon cream, shellfish and matchbox. Very fine.
The taste is velvety and elegant with notes of grilled lemons, warm grass, fudge and assorted nuts. Very long. 4+ years. A rather tacky blue bottle though - limited edition of 300 bottles for Palm Beach...
92p   (tasted 2022/07)



2012 Montus Blanc
A large, mature nose with some fiery yellow fruit, dried apricots and earth. Note as good as I remembered it.
The taste is better with nicely concentrated yellow fruit, a warm character and a fine maturity. But still, better a couple of years ago. 
87p   (tasted 2022/07)

2014 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot, Domaine Ramonet
A high, intense, focused nose with everything but maturity in place. Just lovely. The freshest lemons, freshly cut grass, some buttery aromas and cap gun smoke. Very. very deep.
The taste is racy and refined with notes of chalk, lemon fudge, incense, minerals and chives. Very complex. Electric. Needs 10+ years.
96p   (tasted 2022/07)

The Reds
1953 Château Haut-Brion
From magnum. Very ullaged and very old. There are some tell tale signs of an aged Bordeaux but this has, alas, gone too far. Not undrinkable though.
62p   (tasted 2022/07)


2001 Château Charmail
From magnum. A finely mature nose with notes of earth, tobacco and ripe red and black currants.
The taste is round, somewhat mature and easy going with nice fruit and a long, earthy finish.
87p   (tasted 2022/07)

2015 Syrah, Lilian
A very deep, rich nose with notes of blackberries, fried herbs, sweet violets and asphalt. A very fine intensity. Gorgeous.
The taste is taut and complex with notes of blackberries, plums, pipe tobacco, asphalt and cured meat. The finish goes on for minutes. Great wine. 8+ years. Last tasted - Barolista: Drinking Tonight - 2015 Syrah, Lilian
94p   (tasted 2022/07)


2007 I Sodi Di S. Niccolo, Castellare
85% Sangiovese, 15% Malvasia Nera. A very fine, cool nose with notes of charcoal, black cherries, tobacco and white pepper. Intense and yet delicate. Very fine.
The taste is seedy and somewhat mature with notes of cool black currants, earth, herbs and dried flowers. Soft tannins. Drinking perfect today and the next 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2022/07)


2008 Finca Altamira, Achava Ferrer
A big, juicy nose with notes of sugared coffee, ripe plums, dark chocolate and diesel oil. Very deep. 
The taste is big and brawny with fiery tannins, lots of ripe black fruit and stern tannins. Bold. 6+ years.
91p   (tasted 2022/07)

2008 Estate Cuvée, Kapcsándy
A tight, concentrated nose with notes of ripe black currants, blackberries, new leather, expensive tobacco and violets. Very fine.
The taste is tight, concentrated and rich with gorgeous black fruits, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Really fine. 5+ years. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.
94p   (tasted 2022/07)


1983 Château de la Riviére
From magnum. A round, mature nose with notes of dried up black currant jam, plums, earth and dry tobacco. Very, very good.
The taste is velvety and warm with all the right mature Bordeaux trade marks. On top of its game.
90p   (tasted 2022/07)

2004 Flaccianello, Fontodi
A deep, maturing nose with lovely notes of ripe black cherries, some meaty aromas, herbs and dusty earth. Very complex.
The taste is tight and concentrated with silky tannins, gorgeous cherry fruit and a one minute long finish. Almost fully mature. Great wine.
95p   (tasted 2022/07)


Saturday 6 August 2022

2019 Chianti Classico Vigna Doghesia Casanuova Di Nittardi, Nittardi


2019 Chianti Classico Vigna Doghesia Casanuova Di Nittardi, Nittardi
A young, floral and handsome nose with notes of rowan berries, red cherries, dry licorice, gravel and furniture polish. Very complex in a restrained way. Needs time to open up.
The taste is young and seedy with notes of ripening red cherries, licorice, herbs, gravel and a fine bitter note in the finish. Silky tannins. This is going places in 5-8 years. Need to stock up. Best vintage tasted of the Vigna Doghesia.
92p   (tasted 2022/08)

Thursday 4 August 2022

Six Bottles Of Chardonnay

These Chard´s were tasted as a warm up to the 75 Bordeaux tasting - Barolista: 1975 Bordeaux - Finally Dried Out?
All tasted double blind.

2012 Chardonnay James Berry Vineyard, Wind Gap
A cool, fine nose with notes of shellfish, lemon, smoke and lemon licorice. A fine salty touch.
The taste is tight and crisp with notes of chalk, lemon peel, gravel and minerals. A tad short in the finish. Very, very good.
89p   (tasted 2022/07)


2012 Meursault Charmes, Philippe Chavy
A deep, finely tuned nose with notes of flint, grilled lemons, smoke and hints of ripening strawberries. Very fine.
The taste is tight and smoky with notes of lemon cream, white flowers and chrushed rocks. A very fine acidity. Long.
92p   (tasted 2022/07)

2012 Chardonnay Gnesa, Brewer-Clifton
A bit restrained on the nose with a good depth and notes of earth, dried apricots, dried flowers and ripe lemons.
The taste is dry and a bit foursquare with notes of oranges, earth and warm gravel. A tad warm in the finish. 
87p   (tasted 2022/07)


2012 Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain, Kistler
A deep, tight, smoky nose with notes of ripe tangerines, lemon fudge, cap gun smoke and sweet minerals. My kind of Chard!
The taste is structured and fine with a fine acidity, creamy fruit and a long, balanced finish. Great juice.
93p   (tasted 2022/07)

2012 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Murgers des Dents de Chien, Jean Chartron
A cool, elegant, fresh nose with notes of dry lemon caramels, smoke, lemon peel and minerals. Very fine.
The taste is refined and racy with notes of sweet lime, tangerines, smoke and chalk. A very fine acidity.  
92p   (tasted 2022/07)



2008 Bourgogne, Arnaud Ente
2.330 bottles made. A perky, cool nose with notes of lemon meringue, rubber, yellow apple and birch leaves. High and interesting.
The taste is pure and tight with a high acidity and some green notes. Concentrated yet slightly one dimensional. Still young?
87p   (tasted 2022/07)



Tuesday 2 August 2022

2015 Barbera d’Alba Vigna Francia, Giacomo Conterno


2015 Barbera d’Alba Vigna Francia, Giacomo Conterno
Two years since last tasted - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2020/07/2015-barbera-dalba-vigna-francia.html - and this beauty keeps evolving. The nose is deep, almost meaty with notes of ripe raspberries, blackberries, violets, fir wood and fried herbs. Very, very fine.
The taste is rich and tight with brilliant fruit, a strapping acidity, cool tannins and a length that is counted in minutes. Very finely balanced. Great wine. 5+ years.
95p   (tasted 2022/08)

Monday 1 August 2022

2018 Fort Ross - Seaview Chardonnay, Ramey


2018 Fort Ross - Seaview Chardonnay, Ramey
A young, focused nose with notes of lime fudge, cap gun smoke, ripe oranges and sweet minerals. Very fine.
The taste is racy and creamy with notes of dried up vanilla ice cream, fudge, lemon cream and minerals. Very long. Handsome. 4+ years.
93p   (tasted 2022/07)