A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Oddero

My first visit to Oddero, great wines and Chiara was a charming host, will definitely be back.

2023 Monlià

A Timorasso to my liking. With a high, fresh acidity. The nose shows of notes of lemon peel, lots of gravel and cucumber. Pure and fine. 

The taste is sappy and pure with notes of lemon, grass and, again, a very good acidity. The first vintage from Oddero´s own grapes.

88p   (tasted 2025/09)

2023 Barbera d´Alba Superiore

An open, juicy nose with notes of ripe raspberries, Finnish licorice and fried herbs. A very fine warmth.

The taste is tight and spicy with lovely raspberry fruit, a very good structure and a cleansing acidity. Very fine.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2023 Langhe Nebbiolo

A cool, handsome nose with notes of cherries, leather, paint and Langhe earth. Very, very good.

The taste is seedy and fine with notes of hard cherry candy, earth and rosehips. Silky tannins.

90p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barbaresco Gallina

A finely tuned, elegant nose with notes of red currants, licorice, dried flowers and a hint of tobacco. Lovely.

The taste is luscious and layered with notes of rosehips, red currants and shoe polish. Perfectly polished tannins. 6+ years.

94p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo 

A deep, earthy nose with notes of strawberries, rosehips, bakelite and fresh flowers. Very fine.

The taste is young and tight with a fine focus, gorgeous red fruit and taut tannins. 6+ years.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo Villero

A rich, concentrated nose with notes of ripe cherries, asphalt, dried flowers and paint. Very, very deep.

The taste is high and intense with notes of hard cherry fruit, tar and dried flowers. Salivating, firm tannins. One for the ages, 10+ years.

94p   (tasted 2025/09)

2019 Barolo Riserva Bussia Vigna Mondoca

A testament to the stunning vintage of 2019 and Oddero´s wine making. The nose is bottomless deep with magnificent fruit in the shape of ripe red cherries, red apple skin, coffee powder and hints of tobacco. A very fine balsamic note.

The taste is rich, perfectly balanced and so, so deep, with notes of ripe cherries, expensive leather, roses and asphalt. The finish is counted in minutes. A candidate for perfection in 8+ years.

97p   (tasted 2025/09)

A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Erbaluna

My first visit to Erbaluna, or Azienda Vitivincola Erbaluna di Andre Oberto, which is the full name of the cantina. But I have tasted some mature bottles over the years, for example this - 1993 Barolo Vigna Rocche.

The cantina makes ca 70.000 bottles per year from 15 ha.

Samuela took great care of me, showed me the old cellar (see above) with bottles dating back to the 1920´s and from 1958 onwards a collection of every vintage (I thought it to be a good idea to open a bottle from The Greatest Vintage Ever, as everyone know is 1964, but to no avail :-))

Info here - Homepage - Erbaluna

2023 Dolcetto Le Liste

A very good, steely nose with notes of a mix of blue- and raspberries, ink and bakelite.

The taste is linear and fine with good fruit, fresh tannins and a medium long finish. 

87p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barbera d´Alba Superiore La Rosina

The grapes comes from Rocche dell´Annunziata. A deep, light meaty nose with notes of dried raspberries, wet earth and licorice. Very, very good.

The taste is open and spicy with a very good, sweet raspberry fruit and a crisp acidity.

90p   (tasted 2025/09)

2022 Langhe Nebbiolo

This spend 6 months in wood. The nose is high and fine with notes of strawberries, spices, rosehips and a touch of menthol. 

The taste is young and sappy with silky tannins, a lovely red fruit note and a medium long finish. A fine drink now and the coming 6+ years.

91p   (tasted 2025/09)

2020 Barolo

An open, deep nose with notes of red cherries, almond paste, dried flowers and paint. Very fine.

The taste is nicely structured with polished tannins, a fine cherry fruit and a long, layered finish. 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2025/09)

2018 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata

A deep, herbal nose with notes of ripe strawberries, leather, incense and earth. A lovely sweetness to the fruit.

The taste is finely balanced, luscious and sweet with notes of leather, herbs and wild strawberries. Very fine tannins. 5+ years.

94p   (tasted 2025/09)

2018 Barolo Arborina

Only 1.500 bottles made of this gorgeous Barolo. The nose is tighter than the Rocche with notes of forest floor, hard cherry candy and furniture polish. Very fine.

The taste is taut and elegant with balsamic cherry fruit, a fine intensity and a long, long finish. 7+ years.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

2015 Barolo Castagni

A deep, dark nose with notes of asphalt, violets and ripe black cherries. A hint of toothpaste. Lovely.

The taste is rich and focused with notes of charcoal, dried cherries and fried herbs. A long, warm finish. 5+ years.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Massolino

I visited Franco three years ago - Barolista: A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - Visit To Massolino - and loved every minute, so it was time for a revisit. 

Franco is the perfect host - attentive, generous and fun. And the wines! You know that you can pick any bottle with the Massolino label - it will be great, whatever style you are looking for. A privilege to meet Franco and taste these stunning wines. 

I will be back!

2023 Langhe Riesling

A fresh, pure nose with nots of steel, chrushed rocks, maturing pears and some summer flowers.

The taste is crisp and spicy with lots of chrushed rocks, grey pears and a fine acidity. Very, very good.

88p   (tasted 2025/09)

2023 Langhe Chardonnay

An open, direct nose with notes of lemon cream, dry fudge, sun warm rocks and birch leaves. Complex and fine.

The taste is has a nice body to it with a supporting acidity and lots of ripe lemon fruit. Long and fine.

91p   (tasted 2025/09)

2024 Dolcetto d´Alba

An upfront, healthy nose with notes of blueberry bushes, damson and a fine iron scent.

The taste is light, pure and balanced with notes of blueberries, gravel and ink. 

87p   (tasted 2025/09)

2024 Barbera d´Alba

A solid, spicy nose with notes of ripening raspberries, earth and dry licorice.

The taste is light and nicely polished with notes of ripening raspberries and licorice. 

86p   (tasted 2025/09)

2023 Langhe Nebbiolo

A high, handsome nose with notes of ripe cherries, rosehips, shoe polish and forest floor. Very fine.

The taste is tight and refined with gorgeous red cherry fruit, silky tannins and a long, war, finish. The best Langhe Nebbiolo ever from Massolino IMHO.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

2022 Barbera d´Alba Gisep

Named after Franco´s grandfather, Gisep is the Piedmontese version of Giuseppe. The grapes comes from three different vineyards in Serralunga which are 50+ years old. First vintage was the 1998.

The nose is a stunner, with deep, perfumed notes of raspberries, fried herbs, licorice and scorched earth. 

The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of leather, chocolate covered cherries and sun warm asphalt. The finish goes on and on and on.

94p   (tasted 2025/09)

2022 Barbaresco

Massolino have been making Barbarescoo since the 2019 vintage. The -22 offers up a fresh, earthy nose with notes of wild strawberries, rosehips and ripening flowers.

The taste is cool and elegant in a low keyed way, with notes of strawberries, fir wood and forest floor. 4+ years.

89p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barbaresco Albesani

A somewhat restrained, focused nose with notes of ripe red currants, incense and Langhe earth. Very fine.

The taste is finely tuned with fruit, acidity and tannins in a lovely balance. This just needs time, 7+ years.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

2022 Barbaresco Albesani

The one year younger Albesani shows of a more open nose with notes of wild strawberries, licorice and ripe flowers. A very fine sweetness to the fruit.

The taste is forward and elegant with notes of dried strawberries, spices and licorice. Long and fine. 4+ years.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo

A very fine, elegant nose with notes of dried up strawberry jam, licorice and old furniture.

The taste is young and firm with notes of hard cherry candy, earth and licorice. A fine, silky finish. 5+ years.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo Margheria

The -21 Margheria displays a juicy, layered nose with notes of paint, sun warm tiles, strawberries and rosehips. Very fine.

The taste is polished and finely structured with notes of licorice, red cherries and incense. A long, sappy finish. 8+ years.

94p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo Parafada

A open, concentrated nose with notes of damsons, charcoal, black cherries and licorice. Dark and dense and absolutely gorgeous.

The taste is broad and rich with salivating tannins, sweet black fruit and a minute long, distinct finish. Needs time, 10+ years. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2025/09)

Franco is justifiably happy with his Barolo line up

2021 Barolo Parussi

A tight, dark nose with notes of ripe strawberries, hints of chocolate, dried flowers and moist earth. Very, very deep.

The taste is racy and bold with a firm backbone, stunning black fruit and a structure for long aging. Gorgeous fruit. 10+ years.

95p   (tasted 2025/09)

2019 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda

A Massolino Vigna Rionda from one of my favourite vintages - could it be other than awesome? The nose is bottomless deep with beautiful notes of ripe cherries, sweet Langhe earth, assorted spices and ripe roses. Just stunning.

The taste is a posterchild for the proverbial saying - an iron fist in a velvet glove. All knots and bolts except for maturity is in place. A candidate for perfection in 15+ years.

98p   (tasted 2025/09)

A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - A Visit To E. Molino

Some visits will live in my memory for a long time. I love the true, passionate, generous people of Langhe. Then there are those who combine that with an intensity and larger than live characters that is of the charts.

Meet Sergio Molino and Alena Wilson. 

When I drove up to La Morra I had the expectations of a nice visit, especially after tasting E. Molino´s wines at 2024 Grandi Langhe.

I left three hours later, feeling like I have somehow stumbled across some sort of epiphany. There were so much discussion, information and opions that I didn´t get down on paper. I wish I would have, I have a nagging feeling that the meaning of life was hidden somewhere there.

When I read my own tasting notes below they seem so one dimensional, but there they are, I still have the memory of the visit to make them, at least, three dimensional. 

Can´t wait to get back.

Info here - E Molino – Consulting winemaker and small lot producer in the land of Barolo

NV Wilson

A zero dosage 100% Nebbiolo Vino Spumante. The nose is fresh and herbal with notes of red currants and gravel.

The taste is tight and fine with a cleansing acidity and an assortment of red fruits. Maybe a tad short on the finish.

86p   (tasted 2025/09)

2024 Langhe Nebbiolo

A high, pure nose with notes of rosehips, some ripening strawberries and drips flowers. Fresh and fine.

The taste is medium bodied with the same length and notes of red cherries, licorice and Langhe earth. Very, very good.

88p   (tasted 2025/09)

2022 Langhe Terraze del Pelorosso

The grapes comes from the Boiolo MGA. The nose is high and fine with notes of wild strawberries, forest floor and leather.

The taste is nicely structured with a fine warmth and notes of cherry pips, moist earth and dried flowers. Long and fine.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo Bricco Rocca

A very refined, layered nose with notes of ripe red cherries, paint and some balsamic notes. High and fine.

The taste is structured and complex with gorgeous fruit, very fine tannins and a long, layered finish. 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo Riserva del Fico

A very deep, gorgeous nose with that great tar-and-roses smell, alongside notes of dry licorice, undergrowth and geranium. Very fine.

The taste is old viney - 74 years old vines - and just lovely with complexity, balance and intensity. Fantastic fruit. Great wine. 8+ years.

95p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Mélia

When I tasted Sergio´s wines at Grandi Langhe, the Barbera was poured last. There was a reason, and it was poured last this time also. This is a stunning beast. The nose soars up from the glass with breathtaking notes of hot asphalt, fried herbs, (over)ripe raspberries and Finnish licorice. 

The taste is, like Sergio, a force of nature with hedonistic fruit, a piercing acidity and yet a balance that doesn´t make the wine feel heavy. Alongside Cogno´s Pre-Phylloxera the best Barbera I have ever tasted.

96p   (tasted 2025/09)

A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Rosoretto

The cantina has 8 ha of vines and produces 25.000 bottles per year. The siblings, Davide and Sonia, manages the estate and Davide has been doing that since 2009. 

I really liked their wines, all of them showed typicity with an understated elegance.

2024 Roero Arneis

A fresh, spicy nose with notes of ripening peach, grass and white pepper. Very good.

The taste is racy and crisp with notes of white currants, grass and gravel. A fine acidity.

87p   (tasted 2025/09)

2022 Barbera d´Alba

A low keyed, smoky nose with notes of raspberries, earth and hints of tobacco. A fine salty touch.

The taste is juicy and fine with lots of raspberry fruit, earthy notes and a fine acidity.

89p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barbera d´Alba Superiore

A pure, meaty nose with gorgeous raspberry fruit and additional notes of fir wood, leather and scorched earth. Very fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated with rich red fruit, a beautiful focus and a long, warm finish.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2020 Barolo Parussi

Davide was ever so kind to open four vintages of their Parussi. From 2020 the cantina is certified organic. The nose of the -20 is young, open and lovely with notes of hard cherry candy, rosehips and Langhe earth.

The taste is open for business with elegance and layers of fine cherry fruit and silky tannins. 4+ years.

91p   (tasted 2025/09)

2018 Barolo Parussi

A tight, focused nose with notes of dried up cherry jam, tobacco and warm earth. A very fine sweetness to the fruit.

The taste is medium bodied and, again, elegant with notes of hard cherry candy, leather and rosehips. Very fine. 4+ years.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

2017 Barolo Parussi

A more large scaled nose, in line with the vintage, with notes of cooked cherries, spices and worn leather. Some maturity. Very, very good.

The taste is open and structured with notes of dried cherries, warm tiles and leather. Long and fine.

91p   (tasted 2025/09)

2015 Barolo Riserva Parussi 

This -15 Riserva is a stunner. A deep and complex nose with notes of red apples, dried cherries, paint and dried flowers. Structured and very fine.

The taste is broad and seedy with gorgeous cherry fruit, balsamic notes and a long, long finish that ends on a very fine dry note. Great.

94p   (tasted 2025/09)

A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Franco Boasso

The cantina owns 7 ha of vineyards and produces 40.000 bottles per year with 7 different labels. Franco´s sons Ezio and Claudio manage the vines and the cellar.

2024 Roero Arneis

A light refreshing nose with notes of cucumber, grass and white peach. Lively and fine.

The taste is cool and pure with a good acidity and a nice structure.

87p   (tasted 2025/09)

2024 Dolcetto d´Alba

An open, juicy nose with notes of blueberries, chrushed rocks and bakelite.

The taste is young and tight with notes of damsons, gravel and iron. Very, very good.

88p   (tasted 2025/09)

2023 Langhe Nebbiolo

A deep, handsome nose with notes of red cherries, Langhe earth and leather. High and fine.

The taste is lush and fine with red and black fruits, silky tannins and a warm finish. Better on the nose.

87p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d´Alba

A high, layered nose with notes of black cherries, rosehips and a fine balsamic note.

The taste is tight and balanced with notes of licorice, cherries and ripe flowers. Silky tannins. 4+ years.

89p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo Lazzarito

Franco Boasso started to bottle Lazzarito separately in 2020 so this is the second vintage. The nose is rich and concentrated with lots of black fruits, moist earth and leather. Very, very good.

The taste is full bodied and taut with sweet black fruit, stern tannins and a long, warm finish. Very long. 6+ years.

91p   (tasted 2025/09)

2021 Barolo Gabutti

Franco Boasso is one of the three producers that makes a Barolo from the Gabutti MGA (the others are Cappellano and Giovanni Sordo). A deep, finely tuned nose with notes of sweet/sour cherries, paint, licorice and earth. Very elegant.

The taste is rich and focused with lovely sweet cherry fruit, polished tannins and a long, intense finish. 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

2019 Barolo Riserva Margheria

A very deep, structured nose with notes of ripe cherries, furniture polish, worn leather and charcoal. Very fine.

The taste is tight and broad shouldered with notes of fir wood, dried cherries and leather. Lots of rugged tannins. This will need time in the cellar, 10+ years.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - A Visit To Bric Cenciurio

The name of this Cantina comes from an old vineyard in Roero. Established in the beginning of the 90´s when Franco Pittatore and his brother in law Carlo Saccheto got the great idea of merging their properties in Roero and Barolo. Today its Franco´s sons, Alessandro and Alberto, who are in charge of the cantina.

Claudia took great care of me, talked about the history and the present, and poured these fine wines.

2022 MC20

100% Chardonnay and zero dosage. First vintage was 2020, hence the name. It has a cool, elegant nose with notes of lemons, spices and butter biscuits. Very, very good.

The taste is young and fresh with a very fine acidity and lots of citrus fruit. A long, balanced finish. Needs 3+ years.

90p   (tasted 2025/09)

2024 Roero Arneis

It was with Arneis this Cantina began. The 2024 version offers up a crisp, spice nose with white pepper and whites currants. Open and fine.

The taste is steely and crisp with notes of grass, elderberries and white pepper. Very gulpable.

87p   (tasted 2025/09)

2024 Roero Arneis Sito de Fossili

This Arneis gets some time in used wood. The nose shows the same characteristics as the wine above but with added depth and notes of dry caramel and dried fruits. Very fine.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of peach, spices and warm grass. A very fine structure. A great Arneis.

91p   (tasted 2025/09)

2024 Barbera d´Alba

A very nice, light meaty nose with additional notes of dried raspberries. Bright and good.

The taste is cool and red berry fruity with a fine acidity and medium length.

87p   (tasted 2025/09)

2022 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Naunda

The Naunda, which means "A wave" in Piedmontese, is a stunner. The nose jumps out of the glass with notes of ripe raspberries, Finnish licorice and Langhe earth. 

The taste is nicely structured with gorgeous raspberry fruit, a cleansing acidity and a long, juicy finish. This spend one year in used wood.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2023 Langhe Nebbiolo

A fresh, upfront nose with notes of wild strawberries, earth and leather. Very, very good.

The taste is fresh and fine with a cool Nebbiolo character and notes of cherry pips, dry licorice and earth.

89p   (tasted 2025/09)

2020 Barolo del Comune di Barolo Pittatore

The grapes comes from Monrobiolo di Bussia and Coste di Rose. The nose is finely perfumed with notes of hard cherry candy, paint and rosehips.

The taste is tight and fine with silky tannins, a fresh cherry fruit and a long balanced finish. A fine mouthfeel.

92p   (tasted 2025/09)

2019 Barolo Coste di Rose

From this great vintage comes this beauty. The nose is deep and handsome with notes of expensive leather, paint, red cherries and dried roses. Gorgeous.

The taste is concentrated and layered with notes of bay leaves, ripe cherries, balsa wood and herbs. Very complex. 8+ years.

95p   (tasted 2025/09)

2010 Barolo Coste di Rose

A deep, somewhat mature nose with notes of dried cherries, dried flowers, Langhe earth and tobacco. Very fine.

The taste is silky and elegant with lovely red fruit, polished tannins and a long, warm finish. Almost fully mature. A lovely drink.

93p   (tasted 2025/09)

A Lunch Tasting With Wines From Château Pech-Latt

I was invited by The Wineagency to meet Felipe Daelli and Melody Royer from Château Pech-Latt and taste some of their wines. Château Pech-Latt is owned by Louis Max, of which we got to taste two wines, and managed by NSG Vins. I had to leave the tasting early so the pics below are from Pech-Latt´s webpage.

Info here - https://pech-latt.com/en/

2020 Coteau Bouruignons, Louis Max

This is a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir and offers up a earthy nose with notes of red currants, a touch of mint and a light perfumed note.

The taste is cool and dry with notes of assorted red fruits, earth and herbs. A tad thin in the middle taste.

86p   (tasted 2025/08)

2019 Côte de Nuits-Villages, Louis Max

A fine, old fashioned Pinot nose with notes of dried raspberries, moist earth, red beets and a touch of cinnamon. Very, very good.

The taste is seedy and fine with a fine warmth, lots of red fruit, forest floor and some root vegetables. 

91p   (tasted 2025/08)

2024 Château Pech-Latt Grand Vin

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Marselan. An open, fruity nose with notes of assorted red fruits, spices and a low keyed peppery note. 

The taste is soft and fine with notes of red licorice, earth and the same light peppery note as on the nose. Highly gulpable.

87p   (tasted 2025/08)

2022 Château Pech-Latt Mèmoire d´Alaric

This is a stunner. It soars up from the glass with notes of fresh herbs, dried strawberries, warm earth and some balsamic notes. Deep and balanced.

The taste is tight and elegant with spicy red fruit, silky tannins and a long, fresh finish. 5+ years.

A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 5% Syrah. A bargain for 24 Euro.

93p   (tasted 2025/08)

2022 Château Pech-Latt Terres Mûres

This Syrah dominated wine (70% Syrah, 20% Carignan, 10% Grenache) offers up a restrained, iron filled nose with notes of blueberries, asphalt and chocolate wafers.

The taste is seedy and fine with a nice peppery structure, rugged tannins and a long warm finish. 7+ years.

90p   (tasted 2025/08)

2022 Château Pech-Latt L´Île Ardente

I love Mourvédre. But I also love wines that are stable. No-sulphur wines rarely are. The nose is muffled and a tad foursquare with notes of assorted red fruits, old herbs and dusty earth. Vague in character.

The taste is medium bodied and somewhat unbalanced between the fruit, tannins and a high, angular acidity. 

82p   (tasted 2025/08)

Five Bottles Of Chardonnay

It was R´s turn to host our monthly tasting and he poured these nice Chardonnay´s. Tasted double blind.

2017 Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay, Racine

A cool, stony nose with notes of white currants, smoke, cinnamon and hay. A fine spicy note.

The taste is young and crisp with a fine acidity and lots of citrus fruits. Long and fine.

90p   (tasted 2025/08)

2014 Meursault, Henri Boillot

A deep, stifled nose with notes of ripe peach, sun warm rocks, candle grease and handcream.

The taste is more elegant and nicely steely with notes of lemon cream, chrushed rocks and yellow flowers.

89p   (tasted 2025/08)

2018 Ma Jolie Peake Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay, Paul Lato

A high, fine nose with notes of flint, lime juice, brioche and warm sand. Deep and balanced.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of oranges, smoke and warm grass. Very long. Lovely.

93p   (tasted 2025/08)

2020 Collezione Privata, Isole o Olena

A young, layered nose with notes of chives, ripe lemons, dried up vanilla ice cream and smoke. Very fine.

The taste is racy and refined with notes of dried up lemoncello, peach, chrushed rocks and smoke. Very long and distinct. 

94p   (tasted 2025/08)

2017 Los Alamos Vineyard Chardonnay, Chanin

A large scaled, spicy nose with notes of yellow apples, tangerines, sponge cake and yellow flowers. Very, very good.

The taste is taut and tight with lots of structure, yellow fruit in spades and a long, juicy finish.

91p   (tasted 2025/08)

1998 Barolo Corsini, Podere Ruggeri Corsini

1998 Barolo Corsini, Podere Ruggeri Corsini

A wonderful open, mature nose with notes of cooked cherries, furniture polish, moist Langhe earth and licorice en masse.

The taste is soft and mature yet with some still rugged tannins that gives the wine a nice support. Notes of violets, hard cherry candy and dusty earth. A long, dry finish. On top of its game. 

90p   (tasted 2025/08)