Two Russian River Valley Chardonnay’s

2021 The North Slope Vineyard Chardonnay, Walter Hansel

A refined, bread filled nose with notes of butter biscuits, lemon cream and chrushed minerals. Very fine.

The taste is structured and racy with notes of candied lemons, lemon licorice and brioche. A very fine acidity. Lovely.

93p   (tasted 2024/12)

2019 Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Paul Hobbs

Big and bold with gorgeous ripe lemon fruit, smoke, sugared lime juice and dark fudge. Deep and intense.

The taste is creamy and steady with notes of lemon sponge cake, sweet minerals and matchbox. Long and juicy. Just great.

93p   (tasted 2024/12)

2019 Vanguard Pinot Noir, The Hilt Estate

2019 Vanguard Pinot Noir, The Hilt Estate

A cool, spicy nose with notes of dried raspberries, cranberries, red beets, tobacco ashes and a hint of rubber. Very, very good.

The taste is seedy and fine with a nice balance, sweet raspberry fruit and a long, dry finish. Drinking great now.

91p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Barbera d´Alba, Ferdinando Principiano

2022 Barbera d´Alba, Ferdinando Principiano

A smoky, upfront nose with notes of ripe wild raspberries, warm tiles, leather and Langhe earth. Very, very good.

The taste is medium bodied and cool with a fine acidity and notes of raspberries, licorice and earth. 

Notes from my visit to the estate - Barolista: A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - Visit To Ferdinando Principiano.

88p   (tasted 2024/11)

2020 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, La Turque & La Landonne

I couldn´t make it to the annual Guigal tasting at Wineaffair, but they were ever so kind to let me pick up small bottles of the wines tasted. 

Previous wines tasted:

Barolista: Two Fine Wines From Guigal

Barolista: A Fine Lineup Of Whites From Guigal

2020 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, Guigal

A very handsome, layered nose with notes of violet licorice, pancetta, fine tobacco and chrushed rocks. Very deep.

The taste is young, focused yet velvety with notes of blackberries, red beets, spices and boatloads of violets. A finish that goes on and on and on. 8+ years.

97p   (tasted 2024/11)

2020 Côte-Rôtie La Turque, Guigal

A tight, iron filled nose with notes of ripe blueberries, bakelite, tiles, dried flowers and sun warm rocks. Beautiful.

The taste is rich and concentrated with taut tannins and notes of violet pastilles, ripe blueberries, asphalt and sweet minerals. Very, very long. 12+ years.

96p   (tasted 2024/11)

2020 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, Guigal

A very deep, restrained nose with stunning notes of fir smoke, chrushed minerals, charcoal, violets and dried meat. World class.

The taste is very young, explosive and multi layered with power, finesse and intensity. Just wait 20+ years...

98p   (tasted 2024/11)

2017 Dogliani Superiore, San Fereolo

2017 Dogliani Superiore, San Fereolo

A cool, herbal nose with notes of cranberries, red currants, violets, church benches and some band aid. Very, very good.

The taste is open and juicy with a fine structure, sandy tannins and a long, warm finish. Drinking great but could age, I´m buying a bunch.

91p   (tasted 2024/11)

Previous vintages tasted:

2012

2013

2015

1964 Magnum Dinner

I keep on opening and drinking my stash of 64´s. This evening we drank all of my magnums from The Greatest Vintage Ever.

NV Brut, Louis Roederer

A bottle from the 60´s and I of course assume that the main part is from 1964... The nose is low keyed and earthy with notes of dried apples, red tea and nougat. Old but hanging in there.

The taste is dry and seedy with notes of autumn apples, earth and hay. A medium long dry finish.

84p   (tasted 2024/11)

NV Brut, Louis Roederer

I think this is the last version of Roederer Brut before the name changed to Collection. I have had it in the cellar for a couple of years. The nose is young and forward with notes of jasmine, chrushed rocks, fried nuts and spices. Very, very good.

The taste is fresh and racy with lots of ripe yellow fruits, a fine acidity and a long finish. 6+ years.

We toyed around with the two and a mix of 1/4 old and 3/4 new Roederer was even better than the young one.

88p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Chablis 1er Cru, Leon Rigault

Magnum. A large scaled, mature nose with notes of iodine, dry biscuits, orange peel and hay. Interesting.

The taste is dry and mature with noutes of oil cloth, dried herbs, yellow apples and chocolate wafers. Holding up well and very good with the food.

86p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Vino Amaro Dolcetto, Bersano

Magnum. Who said that Dolcetto can´t age? The nose is earthy and fresh with notes of red currants, dry violets, iron and hint of band aid.

The taste is tight and herbal with, for its age, perky black fruit, soft tannins and a sparse finish. Held very well to the following day.

89p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 San Marco Grande Reserva, S.V.P Constantino

Magnum. Alive but both the nose and taste is earthy, dry and one dimensional.

68p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Côtes-du-Rhone Villages, Château de la Gardine

Magnum. A high, smoky nose with notes of cooked blueberries, moist earth, balsamic vinegar and red beets. Very much alive.

The taste is seedy and peppery with a fine structure, lots of dried black fruits and a longm dry finish. As with the Dolcetto, held very well to the following day.

89p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Clos de l´Oratoire

Magnum. A earthy, deep nose with notes of mullberries, leather, tobacco and forest floor. A very fine dried up sweetness.

The taste is soft and still perky with notes of plums, leather and cold coffee. Very long and fine.

92p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Château Peygeneston

Magnum. A low keyed, mature nose with notes of undergrowth, old leather, smoke and cheap tobacco.

The taste is long and has a fine warmth but the finish is a touch foursquare.

84p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Château Cantemerle

Magnum. A fine, velvety nose with notes of hot earth, fresh stables, dried black currants and dark fudge.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of tobacco, earth and herbs. A tad short on the finish though.

89p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Château Chasse Spleen

I opened two bottles but one was corked. The good one displays a deep, sweet nose with notes of violets, black currants, dark bread and fir wood. Very, very good.

The taste is warm and mature with a fine dried up sweetness, dried black currants and charcoal. Long and fine.

90p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Château La Mission Haut Brion

Magnum. A deep, sandy nose with notes of forest floor, expensive tobacco, ripe black currants and warm tiles. Lovely.

The taste is rich and concentrated with tight black fruit, still some perky tannins and a long, long finish. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Boal, Justino Henriques

A deep, ethereal nose with notes of toasted almonds, paint, wet asphalt, chocolate wafer and incense. Very fine.

The taste is very intense and layered with notes of raisins, dry chocolate, tea leaves and iodine. A very long finish. Lovely.

93p   (tasted 2024/11)

Two Fine Wines From Guigal

I couldn´t make it to the annual Guigal tasting at Wineaffair, but they were ever so kind to let me pick up small bottles of the wines tasted. 

The whites tasted - Barolista: A Fine Lineup Of Whites From Guigal

2021 Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Rouge, Guigal

A cool, lightly meaty nose with notes of undergrowth, blueberries, violets and road dust. Open and very fine.

The taste is young and tight with notes of cranberries, bacon fat, iron and violets. A very long, fresh finish. Will be released on the 6th of December.

92p   (tasted 2024/11)

2020 Côte-Rôtie Château d´Ampuis, Guigal

A high, intense nose with notes of violets, blackberries, chrushed rocks, red beets and expensive leather. Very fine.

The taste is compleax and layered with a creamy blueberry fruit, polished tannins and a long, refined finish. Lovely.

95p   (tasted 2024/11)

2010 Château Coufran

2010 Château Coufran

A nicely mature, round nose with notes of olums, autumn leaves, tobacco and stables in a distance.

The taste is cool and dry with fine notes of black currant leaves, tobacco and warm tiles. Very good.

87p   (tasted 2024/11)

Some Nice Bottles Lately

Tasted at a friends house a couple of weeks ago. Tasted double blind.

2021 Trascuevas, Artuke

This Viura dominated wine offers up a herbal, stony nose with notes of grass, thai basil and ripe lemons. Very, very good.

The taste is young and fresh with notes of assorted yellow fruit, grass and chrushed rocks. A very fine acidity.

90p   (tasted 2024/10)

2008 Chambolle-Musigny, Domaine Comte Ceorges de Vogüé

Starts of low keyed but opens up beautifully in the glass with notes of bonfire smoke, incense, root vegetables, dried raspberries and forest floor. Lovely.

The taste shows some maturity and the fruit is velvety and very fine, with a perfect acidity and a long, lingering finish. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2024/10)

2005 Barolo Rocche, Vietti

A fine, warm nose with notes of cherries, smoke, violets and a fine floral notes. Very deep. 

The taste is concentrated and seedy with lots of ripe cherry fruit, a fine structure and still perky 05 tannins. Needs another 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2024/10)

2001 Château Montrose

A very refined, classy Bordeaux nose with notes of ripe black currants, coffee powder, cigar box and red apple skin. Very handsome.

The taste is cool and sandy with gorgeous fruit, a stunning balance and a long, long finish. Drinking great tonight but could go on for 15+ years.

Montrose is one of my favourite Bordeuax estates. I arranged a 100 years tasting of Montrose nine years ago - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2015/11/100-years-of-chateau-montrose-1911-2011.html

95p   (tasted 2024/10)

2001 Château Pontet-Canet

The second 01 Bordeaux offers up a deep, forward nose with notes of ripe black currants, fir wood, leather, clay and clean stables. Hints of maturity.

The taste is tight and finw with notes of charcoal, black currants, iron and tobacco. Ripe, taut tannins. Very fine.

93p   (tasted 2024/10)

A Fine Lineup Of Whites From Guigal

I couldn´t make it to the annual Guigal tasting at Wineaffair, but they were ever so kind to let me pick up small bottles of the wines tasted. I started with the whites.

2022 Condrieu, Guigal

A laid back, tight nose with notes of hay, apricots and candied oranges. Some minerals after a time in the glass.

The taste is medium bodied and nice with notes of fried apples, apricots and oil cloth. A fine warmth in the finish. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years.

89p   (tasted 2024/11)

2022 Condrieu La Doriane, Guigal

The Doriane is, as always, a whole other creature. The nose is deep and concentrated with notes of tangerines, fresh hay, spices and a fine smoky note.

The taste is luscious and balanced with pure yellow fruit, a very good acidity and a long, pure finish. Great wine.

94p   (tasted 2024/11)

2022 Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Blanc, Guigal

A broad, stony nose with notes of dried peach, smoke, candied lemons and chalk. Very, very good.

The taste is broadshouldered yet elegant with a fine warmth, great fruit and energy. Very long and juicy.

91p   (tasted 2024/11)

2007 Barolo Zonchera, Cerretto

2007 Barolo Zonchera, Cerretto

A earthy, smoky nose with notes of cooked cherries, licorice, fir wood and tobacco. Got better and more open on day two.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of rich black cherry fruit, tobacco, asphalt and dried flowers. The taste was also better on day two.

The last vintage in which Cerretto used the Zonchera name (which derives from the Zonchetta estate) was 2009.

89p   (tasted 2024/11)

1964 Tokaji Szamorodni, Tokaj Kereskedöház Rt.

1964 Tokaji Szamorodni, Tokaj Kereskedöház Rt.

From a 50 cl bottle. The nose is dry and a touch salty with notes of nuts, dried apricots, paint and iron. Resembling a dry sherry.

The taste is dry and mature with notes of nuts, autumn apples, chrushed rocks and dry licorice. A tad foursquare on the finish.

86p   (tasted 2024/10)

A Barolo Tasting Dinner - Flight V

In my quest to drink all my 64´s this year when I turn 60, I invited some friends and opened 15 bottles of Barolo from The Greatest Vintage Ever. It turned out great. Each flight will get its own post.

1964 Barolo Marchesi di Barolo

An open, smoky nose with notes of moist earth, dried meat, plums and asphalt. Very good in a broadshouldered way.

The taste is dry and earthy with notes of dried black fruits, undergrowth, dry licorice and leather. A very good dried up sweetness. 

88p   (tasted 2024/10)

1964 Barolo La Delizia, Fontanafredda

A deep, sweet nose with notes of moist earth, dried strawberries, incense and tobacco. Very lively and fine.

The taste is still concentrated and delivers a tannin kick in the finish, with notes of dried roses, wild strawberries, earth and licorice. Long and fine.

93p   (tasted 2024/10)

1964 Barolo Riserva, Borgogno

A high, pure, intense nose with notes of pipe tobacco, rosehips, cooked black cherries, fir wood and shoe polish. Very fine.

The taste is tight and focused with big sweet fruit, still some tannins that give support and a long, balanced finish. Bottles like this can go on for 10+ years. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2024/10)

Two Unassuming Bordeaux Bottles

1993 Domaine Les Chagnasses

From a magnum. This Lalande-de-Pomerol sports a low keyed, mature nose with notes of autumn leaves, vintage leather, plums and coffee.

The taste is nice and dry with lots of autumn flavours, soft tannins and a medium long finish. 

87p   (tasted 2024/10)

2012 Château Croque Michotte

An open, herbal nose with notes of cranberries, violets, smoke and hints of Seville oranges. Very good.

The taste is cool and medium bodied with a fine balance, some warmth and a spicy finish. A very nice drink.

87p   (tasted 2024/10)

A Barolo Tasting Dinner - Flight IV

In my quest to drink all my 64´s this year when I turn 60, I invited some friends and opened 15 bottles of Barolo from The Greatest Vintage Ever. It turned out great. Each flight will get its own post.

1964 Barolo, Aldo Conterno

A low keyed, mature, sweet nose with notes of dried raspberries, fir wood, licorice and cep. Very fine.

The taste is soft and refined with ripe red fruit, velvety tannins and a long, lingering finish. A joy to drink.

This and the Francesco Rinaldi below were also tasted 10 years ago when I turned 50 - Barolista: Barolo Boys Does 1964 Barolo & Barbaresco.

93p   (tasted 2024/10)

1964 Barolo, Francesco Rinaldi

The 1964 Francsco Rinaldi is an enigma. 10 years ago, see link above, I thought it had been in some sort of time warp. It felt much younger than the rest of the wines. 

Now we skip forward 10 years - this bottle behaves exactly the same as 10 years ago... 60 years old and taste like a 20 year old wine. I noted the same note of burnt rubber. I like it a lot but it is a strange creature.

92p   (tasted 2024/10)

1964 Barolo, Oddero

A beautifully mature nose with notes of dried strawberries, forest floor, paint, rosehips and vintage leather. Very deep and fine.

The taste is velvety and sweet with gorgeous fruit, still some silky tannins in the finish, which is long and lingering. On top of its game. Great wine.

94p   (tasted 2024/10)

2018 Dogliani San Luigi Vigna La Costa, Chionetti

2018 Dogliani San Luigi Vigna La Costa, Chionetti

This has been a stunner since the get go, see previous notes below. Now it has gone into hiding. The nose is very backward, deep and earthy with delicate notes of plums, iron, cinnamon and shoe polish, but only when you swirl the glass vigorously. Needs plenty of time.

The taste is tight and restrained with locked up black fruit, taut tannins and a long, balanced finish. Glad I have more. 8+ years.

92p   (tasted 2024/10)

https://barolista.blogspot.com/2021/08/five-fine-bottles-from-chionetti.html

https://barolista.blogspot.com/2023/01/two-2018-dolcetto.html

A Barolo Tasting Dinner - Flight III

In my quest to drink all my 64´s this year when I turn 60, I invited some friends and opened 15 bottles of Barolo from The Greatest Vintage Ever. It turned out great. Each flight will get its own post.

1964 Barolo, Pio Cesare

A deep, ethereal nose with notes of wild strawberries, rosehips, leather and shoe polish. High and refined.

The taste is handsome and elegant with gorgeous red fruit, still some silky tannins and a long, warm finish. Great wine. No hurry to drink bottles like this.

94p   (tasted 2024/10)

Mushroom ragu, fried sweetbread and a herb oil

1964 Barolo, Franco Fiorina

Two years ago - Barolista: Seven Decades Of Barolo - 1958 - 2013 - this was a stunner. The bottle tonight have had a tough journey during the years, ending up old and tired. As with the Cappellano in the previous flight, drinkable but not very enjoyable.

78p   (tasted 2024/10)

1964 Barolo, Marchese Fracassi

A deep, spicy, mature nose with notes of raspberries, paint, incense and dry tobacco. A very fine warmth.

The taste is round, velvety and balanced with notes of dried raspberries, forest floor, Christmas spices and earth. Long and fine.

92p   (tasted 2024/10)

2020 Dogliani Briccolero, Chionetti

2020 Dogliani Briccolero, Chionetti

Last tasted two years ago - Barolista: 2020 Dogliani Briccolero, Chionetti - this Dolcetto evolves slowly. The nose is young and stony with notes of cranberries, blueberries, bakelite and sun warm rocks.

The taste is tight and seedy with notes of black cherries, blueberries, chrushed rocks and herbs. If anything, it feels even younger than two years ago. I will wait 5+ years with my remaining bottles.

90p   (tasted 2024/10)

A 1964 Barolo Tasting Dinner - Flight II

In my quest to drink all my 64´s this year when I turn 60, I invited some friends and opened 15 bottles of Barolo from The Greatest Vintage Ever. It turned out great. Each flight will get its own post.

1964 Barbaresco, Franco Fiorina

Two Barbaresco in a Barolo line up - the heresy! :-) Well, I hade them and this would be a perfect set up. The Franco Fiorina offers up a high, fine nose with notes of orange peel, red currants, paint and hints of white pepper. Very fine.

The taste is refined and perfectly mature with notes of dried red fruits, mushrooms, rosehips and paint. A very fine dried up warmth.

92p   (tasted 2024/10)

1964 Barolo, Burlotto

Burlotto has fashioned a great wine in this, the greatest vintage ever. The nose is layered and delicate with notes of leather, incense, dried cherries, asphalt and dried flowers. Lovely.

The taste is seedy, long and balanced with still fresh fruit, soft tannins and a dry, refined finish. No hurry to drink bottles like this.

94p   (tasted 2024/10)

We had a country terrine with this flight

1964 Barbaresco, Cappellano

A tad VA infested nose with some cooked fruit and notes of dried flowers, coffee and moist earth.

The taste follows the nose with cooked fruit, some VA and a foursquare finish. Dtinkable but not very enjoyable. Maybe badly stored along the way. 

76p   (tasted 2024/10)

A 1964 Barolo Tasting Dinner - Flight I

In my quest to drink all my 64´s this year when I turn 60, I invited some friends and opened 15 bottles of Barolo from The Greatest Vintage Ever. It turned out great. Each flight will get its own post.

1964 Barolo Collina Canubbio, Serio & Battista Borgogno

An open, spicy nose with notes of dried up raspberry jam, licorice, mushrooms and asphalt. Very fine.

The taste is silky and fine with a very fine earthy note, warm mellow red fruit and a long, fresh finish. Fully mature but in no hurry to drink.

Notes from my visit to the estate - Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Visit To Serio & Battista Borgogno

91p   (tasted 2024/10)

1964 Barolo, Giuseppe Contratto

A dark, fine nose with notes of cold coffee, tobacco, dried cherries and moist Langhe earth. Very, very good.

The taste is steady and fine with notes of dried cherries, undergrowth, tobacco and dried flowers. Medium long with a nice warmth. 

88p   (tasted 2024/10)

With the first flight we had my version of carne cruda with truffels and a onion cream

1964 Barolo, Mario Viberti

A high, interesting, fragile nose with notes of paint, orange peel, hay and green ski wax. 

The taste is dry and tight with a high acidity and delicate dried red fruits. A tad short on the finish.

87p   (tasted 2024/10)

2015 - 2019 Il Caberlot, Podere Il Carnasciale

L & M invited to a tasting with this flight as an absolute highlight. I have previously tasted only one or two Il Caberlots. Now five magnums (the only format this is made in) were poured, an embaressment of riches. 

Il Caberlot is made from the Caberlot grape, which is believed to be a crossing between Cabernet Franc and Merlot. More info here - Wines — Podere Il Carnasciale.

2015 Il Caberlot, Podere Il Carnasciale

There is a lot bell pepper and grassy Cabernet Franc notes on the nose with some additional notes of ripe red currants and plums. Very deep and fine.

The taste is cool and refined with a restrained character and notes of red currants, warm gravel and forest floor. Very long. Lovely.

94p   (tasted 2024/09)

2016 Il Caberlot, Podere Il Carnasciale

This masterpiece offers up a layered, earthy nose with notes of tobacco, cement, plums and smoke. Very deep and hauntingly beautiful.

The taste is brilliant with fruit, tannins and acidity in perfect harmony. Every knot and bolt in its perfect place. Wine doesn´t get much better than this.

98p   (tasted 2024/09)

2017 Il Caberlot, Podere Il Carnasciale

A restrained, nicely concentrated nose with notes of black currants, thyme, violets and a hint of mint. Very fine.

The taste is young and focused with notes of black currants leaves, gravel, smoke and forest floor. A tight finish, this needs time. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2024/09)

2018 Il Caberlot, Podere Il Carnasciale

A very deep, focused nose with notes of bay leaves, black currant leaves, violets, gravel and a hint of chocolate. Just lovely.

The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of black currants, mocha, gravel and violets. The finish goes on forever. Very young. This is a stunner. 

98p   (tasted 2024/09)

2019 Il Caberlot, Podere Il Carnasciale

A laid back, deep nose with notes of tobacco, earth, red and black currants and a hint of mint. Very, very fine.

The taste is racy and refined with gorgeous fruit, polished tannins and a pure, intense finish. Needs time. Great wine.

96p   (tasted 2024/09)