1996 Howell Mountain Merlot Bancroft Ranch, Beringer

1996 Howell Mountain Merlot Bancroft Ranch, Beringer

A very deep, perfectly mature nose with notes of plums, roasted coffee, dried flowers, dark chocolate and a hint of mint. Very complex and fine.

The taste is open and layered with notes of plums, sage, licorice, chocolate biscuits and coffee. Long, lingering, luscious and lovely. In a great stage of drinking.

94p   (tasted 2024/04)

2021 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino

2021 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino

A cool, young, perky nose with notes of bakelite, blueberries, red beets, forest floor and iron. Very, very good.

The taste is structured and inky with notes of red currants, blueberries, herbs, road dust and fine tannins. 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2024/04)

Notes from my visit to Pecchenino - Barolista: A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Day In Dogliani

Previous notes of Pecchenino wines:

Barolista: 2017 Langhe Nebbiolo Bricco Ravera, Pecchenino

Barolista: 2015 Dogliani San Luigi, Pecchenino

Barolista: 2019 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino

Barolista: 2017 Dogliani Superiore Sirì d´Jermu, Pecchenino

2013 Barolo Monprivato, Giovanni Sordo

One of the great MGA´s - only two producers, the obvious one is Giuseppe Mascarello who makes two wines from this MGA - the Barolo Monprivato and the Barolo Riserva Monprivato Cà d´Morrissio. 

From 2013 there is a new producer, Giovanni Sordo.

2013 Barolo Monprivato, Giovanni Sordo

The nose is cool, layered and elegant with notes of sweet/sour cherries, red tea, roses, cigarette ash and iron. Very complex and fine. Stunning.

The taste is racy and refined with notes of ripe red currants, hard cherry candy, forest floor and rosehips. Very handsome. Very long. This is a beauty. 5+ years.

Tasted at the estate in 2017 - Barolista: Two Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Giovanni Sordo

96p   (tasted 2024/05)

Two Dolcetto´s

2021 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruna Grimaldi

A upfront, blueberry filled nose with additional notes of iron, damsons, bakelite and gravel. Very, very good.

The taste is young and salivating with notes of fresh herbs, blueberries, asphalt and violets. 6+ years.

2018 Dolcetto - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2021/06/2018-dolcetto-dalba-san-martino-bruna.html

2019 Dolcetto - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2022/05/two-dolcetto-dalba-from-bruna-grimaldi.html

Notes from my visit to Bruna Grimaldi - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2022/11/a-couple-of-days-in-piedmont-visit-to.html

90p   (tasted 2024/04)

2019 Dolcetto d´Acqui, Scarpa

The nose shows of a fine mix of mostly blueberries but with some raspberries tossed in, violets, dry licorice and iron. Finely balanced.

The taste is structured and racy with potent fruit, stern tannins and a long, distinct finish. A very good backbone, needs time, 10+ years. Very fine.

91p   (tasted 2024/04)

An Old Malmsey

NV Malmsey, Veiga Franca

Probably from the 60/70´s. The nose is deep and nicely concentrated with notes damsons, figs, old chocolate and moist earth.

The taste is medium bodied and off dry with notes of dried up blackberry jam, leather, undergrowth and tobacco leaves. Tails of rather quickly.

85p

One Barbaresco & One Barolo

1993 Barbaresco, Produttori del Barbaresco

A refined, somewhat shy nose with notes of undergrowth, dried mushrooms, red currants and dry licorice. A fine maturity.

The taste is cool and fine with soft tannins and notes of red currants, mushrooms, gravel and tobacco. Very fine.

Notes from Barolo Boys visit to Produttori - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2019/02/long-overdue-notes-barolo-boys-in_18.html

91p   (tasted 2024/03)

2013 Barolo Bussia, Stroppiana

A deep, forward nose with notes of cold coffee, red cherries, leather and forest floor. A fine sweetness to the fruit.

The taste is tight and dry with notes of hard cherry candy, damsons, leather and violets. A nice amount of silky tannins. 7+ years.

Notes from Barolo Boys visit to Stroppiana - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-barolo-boys-in-piedmont-visit-to.html

90p   (tasted 2024/03)

Two Bottles Of 2013 Dolcetto d´Alba

2013 Dolcetto d´Alba Ciabòt Brusà, Umberto Fracassi

A fine, earthy nose with notes of dried blueberries, cold coffee, iron and dried flowers. A very fine Langhe earth scent.

The taste is cool and fine with notes of bakelite, dried black currants, iron with still some perky tannins in the finish.

88p   (tasted 2024/04)

2013 Dolcetto d´Alba Boschi di Berri, Marcarini

A deep, spicy nose with notes of damsons, plums, iron, violets and moist earth. Very, very good. 

The taste is tight and refined with lovely fruit, a stern structure and a long, layered finish. This will go on for 10+ years.

92p   (tasted 2024/04)

Two Bottles Of 2001 Riesling Spätlese Auction

2001 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Auction, Fritz Haag

A pure, refined, just stunningly beautiful nose with notes of orange peel, rubber boots, dried up lemoncello, grass and slate. Ethereal. 

The taste is racy and intense with gorgeous fruit, a perfect balance, a cleansing acidity and a finish that never stops. Will go on for 10+ years. Great wine.

97p   (tasted 2024/04)

2001 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Auction, Joh. Jos. Prüm

A deep, intense nose with notes of dried up passionfruit, wet asphalt, matchbox and lots of chrushed rocks. Very fine but a tad stifled, compared to what Prüm normally delivers.

The taste is still young with fine notes of spricots, orange, hay and wet stones. A very good acidity. Very long.

91p   (tasted 2024/04)

2020 Dogliani Superiore Valdibà, San Fereole

2020 Dogliani Superiore Valdibà, San Fereole

Needed a few hours in the decanter to open up, there were some chicken farm notes to begin with, in fact, it was even better the next day. The nose is young and spicy with notes of red currants, corinthians, violets, leather and earth.

The taste is pure and tight with notes of bakelite, red currants, violets and earth. A very good structure. 6+ years.

88p   (tasted 2024/03)

2021 Taneto, Badia di Morrona

2021 Taneto, Badia di Morrona

This Syrah, Sangiovese and Merlot blend offers up a young, perky nose with notes of violets, red cherries, herbs and chocolate biscuits. Open and fresh. 

The taste is cool and spicy with notes of red currants, licorice, herbs and chrushed rocks. Delicate tannins. Very, very good.

More Sangiovese character on day one, the Syrah comes forward more on day two. 2+ years.

90p   (tasted 2024/04)

1979 Santenay 1er Cru Gravierès, Jessiaume Pére & Fils

1979 Santenay 1er Cru Gravierès, Jessiaume Pére & Fils

A soft, mature nose with notes of dried strawberries, wet dog fur, decaying flowers and root vegetable stock. 

The taste is dry and mature with a nice dried up sweetness, notes of dried strawberries, Christmas spices and forest floor. A tad short on the finish. Very good.

86p   (tasted 2024/04)

A Record Number Of Views & A Barolo

Yesterday I had 30.013 views on this blog for March month, a monthly record since December 2016 when I had 29.366 views. 

The major views during March comes from Hong Kong, USA, Sweden, Singapore, Germany, France, Norway, Japan and more.

Since I started this blog in November 2011 I have posted 2.099 posts and have had 1.339.414 views.

1997 Barolo, Salvano

What better to break a record than with a Barolo! The 97 Salvano sports a deep, mature, balsamic nose with notes of forest floor, tobacco, sugared coffee and dried cherries.

The taste is dry and mature with notes of forest floor, rosehips, dried up cherry jam and asphalt. Long with a fine warmth. Drink up if you have any.

89p   (tasted 2024/04)

Previous Salavano´s tasted:

https://barolista.blogspot.com/2017/03/friday-dinner-barolo-1999-barolo-salvano.html

https://barolista.blogspot.com/2023/04/1990-barolo-salvano.html