Tuesday 28 February 2023

The Barolo Boys At Grandi Langhe 2023



Finally - yet again the Barolo Boys attends Grandi Langhe. Last time was in 2020 just before the Covid outbreak. Last year, the first year since the pandemic, Grandi Langhe was moved from January to April and we couldn´t make it.

This year (and 2022) Grandi Langhe has been moved to Turin. The conference hall in Turin was much better then the place it was previously hold in Alba. A great arrangement, kudos to Matteo Ascheri!

Having now tasted 110 examples of the 2019 Baroli - what to say about the vintage? It is indeed a really fine vintage, with great fruit, a fine balance and bodies for aging.
But looking back ten years I prefer the 2013, 2016 and 2010 vintages, in that order. And in some cases, the 2018 vintage. And I´m really looking forward to the 2020 and 2021 vintages.





97-98p
2019 Barolo Mosconi, E. Pira

95-96p
2016 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell´Annunziata Bricco Francesco, Rocche Costamagna
2019 Barolo Brunate, Francesco Rinaldi
2019 Barolo Cannubi, Francesco Rinaldi
2016 Barolo Riserva Bussia, Silvano Bolmida
2019 Barolo Cannubi, Einaudi
2019 Barolo Cerretta, Schiavenza
2016 Barolo Riserva LaFoia, Marco Curto
2016 Barolo Riserva San Bernardo, Palladino
2016 Barolo Riserva Castelletto, Forte Masso
2019 Barolo Cannubi, E. Pira
2019 Barolo Via Nuova, E. Pira
2019 Barolo Bricco San Pietro, Sòt
2019 Barolo Bussia Vigna Pianpolvere, Chionetti






93-94p
2019 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Rocche Costamagna
2019 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Francesco Rinaldi
2019 Barolo Bussia Vigna Dei Fantini, Silvano Bolmida
2018 Barolo Bussia, Silvano Bolmida
2016 Barolo Bussia, Stroppiana
2016 Barolo Riserva Bussia, Stroppiana
2018 Barolo Capalot, Crissante Alessandria
2018 Barolo Galina, Crissante Alessandria
2018 Barolo Bricco Manescotto, Giovanni Corino
2019 Barolo Cannubi, Serio & Battista Borgogno
2019 Barolo Cerretta, Giovanni Rosso
2019 Barolo Monvigliero, Einaudi
2019 Barolo Bussia, Einaudi
2019 Barolo Broglio, Schiavenza
2019 Barolo Arborina, Marco Curto
2019 Barolo Cannubi, Arnaldo Rivera
2019 Barolo Brunate, Marcarini
2019 Barolo Prapo, Luigi Vico
2019 Barolo Prapo, Ettore Germano
2019 Barolo Cerretta, Ettore Germano
2017 Barolo Riserva Lazzarito, Ettore Germano
2019 Barolo Giachini, Carlo Revello
2019 Barolo Ornato, Palladino
2014 Barolo Riserva 7 Anni, Franco Conterno
2018 Barolo Ravera, Réva
2019 Barolo Cannubi, Réva
2019 Barolo Serradenari, Ratti
2019 Barolo Monvigliero, Diego Morra
2019 Barolo Pajana, Domenico Clerico
2019 Barolo Ciabot Mentin, Domenico Clerico
2019 Barolo Aeroplan Servaj, Domenico Clerico
2019 Barolo Villero, Oddero
2019 Barolo Cerretta, Fratelli Revello
2017 Barolo Riserva Bricco San Pietro, Sòt
2018 Barolo Cerrati, Tenuta Cucco
2019 Barolo Sorano, Claudio Alario
2019 Barolo Badarini, Bruna Grimaldi
2019 Barolo Castelletto, Raineri
2017 Barolo Castelletto, Castello di Perno
2018 Barolo Bricco San Pietro, Anna Maria Abbona
2015 Barolo Riserva Pressenda, Marziano Abbona
2007 Barolo, Famiglia Anselma/Adasi





91-92p
2018 Barolo Bricco Cogni, Stroppiana
2019 Barolo San Giacomo, Stroppiana
2018 Barolo Cascina Nuova, Elvio Cogno
2018 Barolo Ravera, Elvio Cogno
2019 Barolo Del Commune di La Morra, Crissante Alessandria
2019 Barolo Giachini, Giovanno Corino
2019 Barolo Albarella, Serio & Battista Borgogno
2019 Barolo Giovanni Rosso
2019 Barolo Del Commune di Serralunga, Schiavenza
2019 Barolo Villero, Arnaldo Rivera
2019 Barolo La Serra, Marcarini
2019 Barolo Del Commune di Serralunga, Luigi Vico
2017 Barolo Prapo, Luigi Vico
2019 Barolo, Carlo Revello
2019 Barolo Boiolo, Carlo Revello
2019 Barolo Del Commune di Serralunga, Palladino
2019 Barolo Parafada, Palladino
2016 Barolo Riserva Bussia, Franco Conterno
2019 Barolo Castelletto, Forte Masso
2019 Barolo, Oddero
2019 Barolo Gattera, Fratelli Revello
2019 Barolo Conca, Fratelli Revello
2018 Barolo Bricco Voghera, Tenuta Cucco
2016 Barolo Riserva Cerrati Vigna Cucco, Tenuta Cucco
2019 Barolo Riva Rocche, Claudio Alario
2019 Barolo Roncaglie, Chionetti
2019 Barolo Camilla, Bruna Grimaldi
2019 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio, Bruna Grimaldi
2019 Barolo Perno, Raineri
2019 Barolo Parusso, Bovio
2018 Barolo, Castello di Perno
2018 Barolo Ravera, Giovanni Abrigo
2019 Barolo, Marrone
2019 Barolo Bussia, Marrone
2018 Barolo Pressenda, Marziano Abbona
2017 Barolo Bussia Pianpolvere, Famiglia Anselma/Adasi
2017 Barolo Riserva, Famiglia Anselma/Adasi






89-90p
2019 Barolo, Rocche Costamagna
2017 Barolo Bricco Manescotto, Giovanni Corino
2019 Barolo, Serio & Battista Borgogno
2019 Barolo, Einaudi
2019 Barolo Perno, Schiavenza
2019 Barolo LaFoia, Marco Curto
2019 Barolo Ravera, Arnaldo Rivera
2019 Barolo Bussia, Arnaldo Rivera
2019 Barolo, Marcarini
2019 Barolo Del Commune di Serralunga, Ettore Germano
2019 Barolo, Réva
2019 Barolo Marcenasco, Ratti
2019 Barolo, Diego Morra
2019 Barolo San Lorenzo Di Verduno, Diego Morra
2019 Barolo, Domenico Clerico
2017 Barolo Riserva Bussia, Oddero
2019 Barolo Del Commune di Monforte d´Alba, Sòt
2018 Barolo, Tenuta Cucco
2019 Barolo, Raineri
2019 Barolo Arborina, Bovio
2018 Barolo, Cascina Fontana
2018 Barolo, Marrone
2018 Barolo Pichemej, Marrone
2019 Barolo Pichemej, Marrone






87-88p
2019 Barolo Leonardo, Stroppiana
2019 Barolo Undicci, Arnaldo Rivera
2019 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Arnaldo Rivera
2019 Barolo Pietrin, Franco Conterno
2019 Barolo, Fratelli Revello
2019 Barolo, Bovio
2019 Barolo, Gianfranco Alessandria
2019 Barolo San Giovanni, Gianfranco Alessandria
2019 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Aurelio Settimo
2017 Barolo, Famiglia Anselma/Adasi

85-86p
2019 Barolo Perarmando, Parusso
2019 Barolo Monrobiolo di Bussia, Fratelli Barale
2019 Barolo Castelletto, Fratelli Barale

Below 85p
2019 Barolo, Aurelio Settimo











Monday 27 February 2023

Checking Out The 2013 Barolo Vintage - Two Bottles

2013 Barolo, Paolo Scavino
A very fine nose with some maturity and notes of ripe cherries, Finnish licorice, rosehips, dark fudge and forest floor. Very, very good. Held up very well into the second day.
The taste is cool and elegant with a slim, maturing structure and notes of hard cherry candy, sand, forest floor and cherry licorice. Entering maturity, this will go on for 6+ years. 
90p   (tasted 2023/02)


2013 Barolo, Azelia
A large scaled, deep nose with notes of cooked cherries, lots of undergrowth, spices and dried flowers. Dark and dense.
The taste is taut and fine with notes of dried cherries, licorice, dried mushrooms and violets. Long and warm. Got better day two with a more restrained approach. Even better on day three! 4+ years.
90p   (tasted 2023/02)

Saturday 25 February 2023

2018 Barolo Ravera Di Monforte, Piero Benevelli


2018 Barolo Ravera Di Monforte, Piero Benevelli
After some hours in a decanter it reveals notes of hard cherry candy, licorice, Langhe earth and a light, fine peppery scent. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and finely structured with notes of wet asphalt, hard cherry candy, rosehips and herbs. If it wasn´t for a rather thin mid palate, this would have been a real stunner. 
91p   (tasted 2023/02)

Friday 24 February 2023

Tasting New Releases At Vingruppen


Some highlights from a recent tasting of new releaseas at Vingruppen.

2020 Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay, Sandhi
A fine, spicy nose with ripe lemons and peaches. The taste has a very fine acidity and lots of ripe lemons and white flowers. Salivating. Release date - 10/3.
91p   (tasted 2023/02)


2020 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Kutch
A elegant, cool nose that leads to a handsome, tight taste with notes of passionfruit and lemon cream. Very long. Release date - 10/3.
92p   (tasted 2023/02)

2016 Clos Serteaux, Eric Morgat
A stunner. Chenin Blanc doesn´t get much better than this. Gorgeous fruit, brilliant acidity and a lenght that is counted in minutes. Release date - 10/3.
96p   (tasted 2023/02)


2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Seuvrées, Robert Groffier
A very deep, old school Pinot nose and a tight, concentrated taste with all the stuffing for a great future, if you give this 10+ years.
93p   (tasted 2023/02)



2019 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Merry Edwards
Ripe raspberries, bay leaves and forest floor are to be found on the nose and on the palate this fine Pinot offers up spices, earth and assorted red fruits. Release date - 3/3.
92p   (tasted 2023/02)

2020 Crozes-Hermitage Les Amandiers, Domaine de Murinais
A real bargain for 20 Euro, this Crozes display a peppery, blackberry filled nose and a iron filled taste with great fruit and lenght. Release date - 10/3.
90p   (tasted 2023/02)


2019 Côte-Rôtie, Xavier Gérard
Classic Syrah from Côte-Rôtie with 4% Viognier. Elegant and racy with white pepper, ripe blackberries and bay leaves. There are tons of violet pastilles that hit the palate when you taste this beauty. Very fine. Release date - 3/3.
93p   (tasted 2023/02)

2020 El Escolladero, Artuke
A deep, dark, refined nose and a tight concentrated taste, both with ripe wild raspberries, hints of dark chocolate and lots of fresh herbs. Release date - 30/3.
92p   (tasted 2023/02)


2020 La Condenada, Artuke
A gorgeous wine, with stunning notes of plums, licorice, herbs and asphalt. The finish goes on and on and on. Release date - 30/3.
95p   (tasted 2023/02)

2016 Château La Grâce
A forward, deep nose with classic left bank Bordeaux aromas in the shape of plums, fresh stables and new leather. On the palate there is a hint of oak but there is plenty of fruit to manage it.
91p   (tasted 2023/02)


2016 Barolo Cannubi, Giacomo Borgogno
A high, pure nose with notes of cherries, rosehips, earth and some balsamic notes. The taste is young and structured with a fine aging potential. 8+ years. Release date - 9/3.
91p   (tasted 2023/02)

2016 Barolo Fossati, Giacomo Borgogno
The Fossati is more backward with notes of black tea, iron and fir wood. On the palate it is tight and focused with hard cherry candy and iodine. Very fine. 8+ years. Release date - 9/3.
93p   (tasted 2023/02)


2016 Barolo Liste, Giacomo Borgogno
A finely focused nose with lots going on under a tight structure. Hints of licorice, earth, red tea and hard cherry candy. The taste is taut and iron filled with big tannins and a long, long finish. 10+ years. Release date - 9/3.
93p   (tasted 2023/02)

2021 Riesling Icewine, Inniskillin
A high, very intense nose with notes of candied lemons, apricots, wet stones and detergent. The taste is massively concentrated yet the finish is almost semi dry. A very fine acidity.
94p   (tasted 2023/02)



The rest of the wines tasted:
2022 Albariño Atlantico, Bodega Cerro del Toro   (86p)
2022 Reserve Chardonnay, Creation   (89p)
2018 Dix-Neuvième, Pearl Morisette   (90p)
2022 Finca Feliz Naranjo de Pedro Gimenez, Bodega Clement   (86p)
2019 Gamay, Bass Philip   (88p)
2020 Bourgogne Passetoutgrain, Robert Groffier   (88p)
2020 Bourgogne Rouge, Robert Groffier   (89p)
2020 Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir, Sandhi   (88p)
2021 Racines de Ciel, Pearl Morissette   (88p)
2021 P.F., Ponce   (88p)

Monday 20 February 2023

Five Cabernet Bottles


These bottles were tasted a acouple of weeks ago in our monthly tasting group. Tasted double blind.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, Dunn
A deep, warm nose with assorted black fruit, a hint of dry vanilla, sugared coffee and leather. Some maturity. Very, very fine.
The taste is complex and semi mature with velvety black fruit, silky tannins and a long, long warm finish. A fine intensity. 4+ years.
94p   (tasted 2023/01)



2008 Château Pontet Canet
A large scaled nose with notes of blueberries, iron, spices and dried flowers. A tad foursquare.
The taste is closed but concentrated and rich with notes of iron, earth and red beets. Tannins that dries out the mouth. Wait and see?
87p   (tasted 2023/01)

1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve, Beringer
A big, bold nose with notes of ripe black currants, cigarr, Finnish licorice and some dark chocolate. Very deep with some maturity (no one was even close guessing its age...).
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of sandelwood, dried black currants, cigarr and earth. Long and very fine.
92p   (tasted 2023/01)


2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Philip Togni
A cool, collected nose with notes of ripe black currants, bakelit, smoke and a hint of mint. A laid back elegance.
The taste is tight and concentrated with chewable tannins, ripe black currants, leather and fir wood. Very young, 8+ years.
90p   (tasted 2023/01)



2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection Cask 881, Raymond
A deep, inky nose with notes of ripe black currants, blackberries, chocolate and leather. Rich and fine.
The taste is seedy and tight with ripe black fruit, high octan chocolate, bonfire smoke and asphalt. Needs time, 6+ years.
89p   (tasted 2023/01)