2021 & 2022 Dolcetto Di Diano d´Alba Superiore Sori´Pradurent, Claduio Alario

2021 Dolcetto Di Diano d´Alba Superiore Sori´Pradurent, Claduio Alario

A deep, restrained nose with notes of damsons, violets, shoe polish and fir wood. Very, very good in a straight-backed way.

The taste is tight and seedy with notes of blueberries, iron, violets and fir wood. A very good structure for aging. 8+ years.

90p   (tasted 2025/05)

2022 Dolcetto Di Diano d´Alba Superiore Sori´Pradurent, Claduio Alario

An open, warm nose with notes of dark raspberries, iron, fir wood and gravel. A very fine sweetness to the fruit.

The taste is young and forward with notes of violets, warm sand, licorice and a mix of blueberries and raspberries. Today more rewarding than the -21 but that one will age better.

91p   (tasted 2025/05)

Four Bottles Of 1964 Bordeaux

1964 Château La Grace Dieu

A soft, mature nose with notes of dried plums, forest floor and coffee powder. Nice in a sparse way.

The taste is cool and dry with notes of dried mushrooms, earth and autumn leaves. Very good but a tad short on the finish.

86p   (tasted 2025/05)

1964 Château Grand Mayne

A smoky, warm nose with notes of vintage leather, damsons, bonfire smoke and old chocolate. Very, very good.

The taste is dry and fine with notes of dried black currants, sugared coffee and moist earth. A long, warm finish. Holding up fine.

A bottle ten years ago was even better - Barolista: Tasting Dinner With 12 Bottles Of 1964 St Emilion

90p   (tasted 2025/05)

1964 Château Monbousquet

A tad restrained on the nose, showing notes of dry wood, old herbs, bakelite and undergrowth.

The taste is tight and somewhat anonymous with some dried black fruit, fir wood and warm sand. Good with the food.

82p   (tasted 2025/05)

1964 Château Petit Faurie de Soutard

My WOTN. The nose is open and sweet with notes of cigarr smoke, plums, chocolate and autumn leaves. Very fine.

The taste is tight and still on the perky side of things, with notes of ripe plums, bonfire smoke, dried flowers and moist earth. Very long. Bottles like this could go on for 8+ years.

92p   (tasted 2025/05)

2023 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, M. Marengo

2023  Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, M. Marengo

A high, delicate nose with notes of ripe red currants, wild strawberries, violets, sandelwood and incense. Just lovely on the nose.

The taste is structured and layered with notes of bay leaves, licorice and boatloads of ripe red fruits. A long, silky finish. 5+ years. Great wine.

Last tasted at the estate in January - Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Visit To M. Marengo

94p   (tasted 2025/05)

The Barolo Boys Meet Again - The Rest Of The Bottles

A couple of weeks ago The Barolo Boys met up. The Baroli bottles are posted here - Barolista: The Barolo Boys Meet Again - The Baroli.

Here are the rest of the wines, all tasted double blind.

2023 Dorsheim Pittermännchen Riesling Kabinett, Joh. Bapt. Schäfer

A young, fresh nose with notes of summer gravel, pear ice cream and thai basil. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and seedy with a hig acidity and notes of lemon licorice, grass and herbs.

90p   (tasted 2025/04)

2014 Scheurebe Kabinett, Keller

A very fine, layered nose with notes of white peach, grapefruit, fresh soap and cucumber. Very fine.

The taste is structured and very fine with notes of dried peach, rubber and dried up vanilla ice cream. Very long. Lovely.

94p   (tasted 2025/04)

2009 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese, Willi Schaefer

A deep, somewhat mature nose with notes of yellow apples, cap gun smoke  and dry caramel. High and fine.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of candied oranges, chrushed rock and fresh flowers. A very fine acidity. Feels younger on the palate than on the nose.

91p   (tasted 2025/04)

2022 Dolcetto d´Alba, Luigi Pira

A young, perky nose with notes of blueberries, iron and bakelite. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and crisp with broad tannins, lots of ripe black fruit and a long, balanced finish. 5+ years.

90p   (tasted 2025/04)

1971 Vino Dolcetto, Giovanni Altare

Too old, even for my taste. The nose is earthy and sparse with cooked fruit and dusty notes.

The taste is foursquare and tired with notes of old paint and earth. The label is pristine though.

60p   (tasted 2025/04)

2015 Rosso Vino (Barbaresco Pora), Coccinella

The house wine of Trattoria La Coocinella - Trattoria La Coccinella - my favourite restaurant in Langhe. And what a wine! The nose soars up from the glass with notes of black cherries, sandelwood, licorice and wet cement. Very handsome and focused.

The taste is tight and concentrated with silky tannins, boatloads of fresh cherry fruit and a long, dry finish. Soarsed from Pora in Barbaresco, this is a stunner.

96p   (tasted 2025/04)

Four Bottles Of Sauternes

These were the dessert wines from our latest tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. Me and M brought these so we knew the order of the wines.

1972 Château Filhot

A soft, mature nose with notes of nougat, dried apricots, wet hay and banan peels. 

The taste is now medium dry with some nice driep up fruit, sponge cake and detergent. Good but past its best.

84p   (tasted 2025/04)

1976 Château Suduiraut

A deep, saffron laden nose with additional notes of staled coca-cola, dried mango and vanilla cakes. Finely matured and interesting.

The taste is rich and nicely concentrated with boatloads of dried fruits, a very good acidity and a perfect maturity.

91p   (tasted 2025/04)

1980 Château Rieussec

A deep, layered nose with notes of dried apricots, rubber, sugared tea and a lovely sweet perfumed note. Very complex and fine.

The taste is big and luscious with notes of tangerines, almond paste, rubber and hay. Very long and fine.

93p   (tasted 2025/04)

1986 Château Suduiraut

A still young, high nose with notes of ripe oranges, dry coconut, detergent and moist grass. Pure and fine men still very adolescent.

The taste is young and concentrated with notes of crème brulée, oranges and hay. A good acidity. Needs 10+ years.

88p   (tasted 2025/04)

2021 Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena

2021 Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena

A high, transparent nose with notes of red cherries, incense, thyme and summer warm Tuscan gravel roads. Very fine.

The taste is luscious and elegant with finesse, a fine spiciness, bright red fruit and a long, juicy finish. For 30 Euro this is, as a more eloquent taster would put it, a no brainer.

92p   (tasted 2025/05)

Four Stunning Reds

These were the reds from our latest tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. Tasted double blind.

2015 Assymetry, Rodney Strong

A Sonoma Barrel auction wine, only 10 cases made. A deep, velvety nose with notes of plums, herbs, coffee powder and sweet minerals. Very, very good.

The taste is open and steady with a very fine warmth and notes of vanilla coated plums, smoke and tobacco. A long, lingering finish with some sandy tannins. 5+ years. 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

92p   (tasted 2025/04)

2012 Clos Apalta

The grapes comes from prephylloxera vines and they have fashioned a wine with a deep, sweet nose with notes of violets, dark chocolate, smoke and a hint of asphalt. Very fine.

The taste is tight and refined with gorgeous plum fruit, polished tannins and a long, long structured finish. Lovely. 66% Carmenere, 19% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

94p   (tasted 2025/04)

2013 La Magdalena, Favia

A stunningly beautiful, layered nose with notes of ripe black currants, leather, chocolate biscuits and birch leaves. 

The taste is regal and concentrated with notes of iron, ripe black currants, graphite and expensive tobacco. The finish goes on for a minute. World class wine. 6+ years. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Cabernet Franc.

97p   (tasted 2025/04)

2013 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Dunn

A very deep, restrained nose with notes of tobacco, chrushed rocks, black currant leaves and dried black flowers. Very elegant in a laid back, adolescent way.

The taste is seedy and structured with lots of dormant black currants, leather and a hint of veal meat. Very aristocratic. Needs 10+ years.

96p   (tasted 2025/04)

2018 Mâcon-Loché Les Longues Terres, Marcel Couturier

2018 Mâcon-Loché Les Longues Terres, Marcel Couturier

A deep, creamy nose with notes of grilled lemons, butter cookies, yellow flowers and smoke. Very fine.

The taste is finely tuned with opulent yellow fruit paired with a cleansing acidity and a fine structure. Very long, and ends on a fine dry note.

92p   (tasted 2025/05)

Four Whites

These were the whites from our latest tasting dinner in our monthly tasting group. Tasted double blind.

2021 L´Avion, Stolpman

This 100% Rousanne offers up a spicy nose with notes of violets and lemon but the overwhelming aroma is cap gun smoke, that never really blows of.

The taste is cool and fresh but the fruit is a tad green and the acidity is too low for my liking.

80p   (tasted 2025/04)

2019 Alchemia, Rombeau

A fine, flowery nose with notes of grass, fresh herbs and assorted yellow fruits.

The taste is low keyed with notes of wet cement, hay and dried flowers. A medium long finish.

87p   (tasted 2025/04)

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rotem & Mounir Saouma

A rich, fine nose with notes of candied lemons, smoke and chrushed rocks. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and nicely concentrated with lots of ripe fruit, a fine acidity and a long, warm finish.

91p   (tasted 2025/04)

2015 Côtes-du-Rhone Grande Réserve, Chateau des Tours

A round, somewhat mature nose with notes of dried apricots, dried up vanilla ice cream, smoke and wool. Very fine.

The taste is warm and fine with notes of oranges, smoke and sweet minerals. Long and fine. 

92p   (tasted 2025/04)