2013 Barolo, Burlotto

2013 Barolo, Burlotto

The 13 Normale from Burlotto is in a rather ungainly phase now, even with extended air. The nose is deep and tight with notes of hard cherry candy, asphalt. smoke and shoe polish. Low keyed. Needs plenty of time..

The taste is high and fine but the fruit is locked up, there is silky tannins and a fine acidity here, but this will need 6+ years to come around. Glad I have more.

88p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Golden Slope Chardonnay, Liquid Farm

2022 Golden Slope Chardonnay, Liquid Farm

A very handsome, mineral driven nose with notes of lemon cream, orange peel and Finnish candy marmelade (the green balls, those who knows know). Lovely.

The taste is nicely concentrated, racy and focused with a fresh acidity, gorgeous yellow fruit and a long, chalky finish. 

94p   (tasted 2024/12)

1982 Château Fonroque

1982 Château Fonroque

A earthy, autumn filled nose with additional notes of dry tobacco, vintage leather and assorted dried black fruits. 

The taste is mature and dry with notes of cedar, red currants, dry tobacco and gravel. Hanging in there nicely. 70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Franc.

85p   (tasted 2024/12)

Four Bottles Of Port

Last tasting of the season with our monthly tasting group, and as ussual we finish with the fortified wines. 

1994 Vintage Port, Graham

A deep, open, juicy nose with notes of sugared coffee, plums, bakelite and boatloads of sweet violets. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and concentrated, still young, with silky black fruit, a very long, distinct finish with sweet tannins. Needs at least 10 more years. 

90p   (tasted 2024/12)

30 Anos Port, S. Leonardo

A mature, deep nose with notes of molasses, cooked red apples, roasted nuts and shoe polish. Complex and fine.

The taste is big and bold with notes of white raisins, cookie dough, walnuts and sugared coffee. Very long and yummy.

92p   (tasted 2024/12)

40 Anos Port, S. Leonardo

A rich, concentrated nose with notes of old wood, plum jam, bonfire smoke, dried apples and detergent. Very high and interesting.

The taste is tight and focused with depth, intensity and massive sweetness which is paired with a healthy dose of tannins and acidity. Very fine.

94p   (tasted 2024/12)

Great Grandfather Rare Tawny, Penfolds

This old Solera displays a bottomless deep, perfumed and just stunning nose with notes of plums, a petrol station, smoke, high octane coffee and ripe black currants. Intense and subtile at the same time. High and refined.

The taste is taut, rich and multi layered with the settings set to eleven - Spinal Tap - "These go to eleven...." - yet it is balanced, focused and utterly gorgeous. Grand Vin.

98p   (tasted 2024/12)

A Fine Lineup Of Bottles From DuMOL

In Key West I found a great wine store - Key West Fine Wines - where I bought the -21 DuMOL, previously posted - Barolista: Two Fine Chards From Rhys & DuMOL. 

On returning the next day, charming sales manager Mariette Bolitski from DuMOL, poured some 22:s and I was fortunate to get to taste them. 

2022 Wester Ranch Chardonnay

A broad, smoky, caramel filled nose & a focused, concentrated taste with lovely yellow fruit.

~93p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Estate Chardonnay

This stunner shows of a layered, racy nose with a gorgeous purity & a deep, rich taste with gorgeous fruit.

~96p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Isobel Chardonnay

Tight, pure and fresh on the nose & a palate with loads of ripe lemons, smoke and a great finish.

~94p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Chloe Chardonnay

More broad and smoky than the 21 - Barolista: Two Fine Chards From Rhys & DuMOL - with notes of caramel ice cream, matchbox and lemon cream.

~94p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Wester Ranch Pinot Noir

A open, juicy nose with lots of fresh raspberries and thai basil & and a ripe, delicious taste with a handsome structure and gulpability.

~93p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Ryan Pinot Noir

A restrained, focused nose & a structured, layered taste with ripe red currants, smoke, flowers and red beets. Lovely.

~95p   (tasted 2024/12)

2022 Estate Pinot Noir

A bottomless deep, beautiful nose with notes of incense, raspberry licorice and smoke & a pure, intense taste that goes on and on and on with purity, balance and focus. Truly great.

~97p   (tasted 2024/12)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - Grand Reserve Chardonnay, Racines

NV Grand Reserve Chardonnay, Racines

This bubbly is a result of a collaboration between Tyler Winery, de Montille and Pierre Peters. And the impact of the latter is obvious, if I would have got this poured blind, Pierre Peters Champagne would have been one of my guesses. 

This is really fine. The nose soars up from the glass with notes of butter cookies, chrushed minerals, roasted hazel nuts and yellow flowers. Very delicate.

The taste is young, tight and pure with crisp lemon fruit, smoky notes, a cleansing acidity and a long, distinct finish. 4+ years. 7.995 bottles made.

94p   (tasted 2024/12)

Birthday Dinner With Francis Orban, Aubert & Corison

This years birthday was spent in Miami, hence no 64:s this year (although I have drunk quite a few during this autumn).

NV Extra Brut, Francis Orban

This 100% Pinot Meunier offers up a crisp, chalky nose with notes of starfruit, white currants, assorted nuts and smoke. Very, very good.

The taste is pure and fine with a high acidity, smoky fruit and a long, balanced finish. Still young, this would need 5+ years in the cellar.

91p   (tasted 2024/12)

2019 UV-SL Vineyard Chardonnay, Aubert

A high, intense nose with notes of cold butter, grey pears, freshly washed linen and lemon caramels. Absolutely stunning.

The taste is tight and intense with gorgeous notes of lemon cream, lime peel, chrushed minerals and matchbox. The finish goes on and on and on. A stunner.

97p   (tasted 2024/12)

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Corison

Cathy has fashioned a great Cabernet in 2019 (as always). The nose is deep and pure nose with notes of fresh stables, violets, ripe black currants and dried flowers. Very fine.

The taste is taut and refined with lovely black currant fruit, silky tannins, a fine focus and a structure for aging. 6+ years.

95p   (tasted 2024/12)

Two Fine Chards From Rhys & DuMOL

2015 Bearwallow Vineyard Chardonnay, Rhys

A deep, spicy nose with notes of lemon cream, dry caramel, green tomatoes and lime pie. Complex and very fine. Some maturity.

The taste is layered and balanced with lovely lemon toffee notes, dry vanilla pods, matchbox and minerals. Very long and intense. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2024/12)

2021 Chloe Chardonnay, DuMOL

The Chloe Chard comes from three vineyard and offers up a young, fresh, steely nose with notes of tangerines, lemon peel and chalk. A fine dry sweetnees to the fruit.

The taste is young and tight with a fine acidity and restrained yellow fruit. Needs time to open up in the glass. Dried up lemon ice cream, smoke and grass are some of the fine notes in the long finish.

93p   (tasted 2024/12)

2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Crescere

2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Crescere

A bottomless deep, hauntingly beautiful nose with notes of ripe black currants, charcoal, fine tobacco and boatloads of sweet violets. Stunning.

The taste is tight and refined with notes of dark chocolate, asphalt, dried up black currant jam and violets. The finish goes on forever. 8+ years. 89% Cabernet & 11% Petit Verdot. Worldclass.

98p   (tasted 2024/12)

2020 Feather, Long Shadow Wintners

2020 Feather, Long Shadow Wintners

This Columbia Valley Cabernet displays a deep, focused nose with notes of ripening black currants, green pepper, dark fudge, charcoal and some inky notes. Multilayered and just awesome.

The taste is high and intense with notes of cranberries, graphite, nougat, tobacco and smoke. A long, fresh finish with velvety tannins. Great wine. 6+ years.

96p   (tasted 2024/12)

Two Fine Bottles From Coursey Graves

2019 Bennett Mountain Estate, Coursey Graves

This blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot offers up a plum filled nose with additional notes of tapenade, dark flowers, tobacco and some chocolate aromas.

The taste is young and silky with notes of ripe plums, sand, pipe tobacco and sweet minerals. Very long and balanced. 5+ years.

93p   (tasted 2024/12)

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, Coursey Graves

A young, tight, restrained - opened up nicely on the second day - with notes of ripe black currants, new leather, graphite and sun warm rocks. Needs time. Really fine.

The taste is structured and concentrated with notes of charcoal, black currant flavoured chocolate and fine tobacco. Very long with a fine mouthfeel. 6+ years.

94p   (tasted 2024/12)

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)