A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Bruna Grimaldi

Its always a treat to meet upp with Martina, either if its at Grandi Langhe or at the cantina - Barolista: A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - Visit To Bruna Grimaldi

We talked about the heat in Piedmont, what has happened at the cantina since I last visited, the new gorgeous tasting room and of course the fact that Martina is now the mother of 6 months old Clara.

More info here - Cantina Bruna Grimaldi - produttore in Serralunga d'Alba

2025 Langhe Arneis

A fresh, pure nose with notes of William pears, flint and a hint of white peppar. 

The taste is light and crips with a linear acidity, beautiful yellow fruit and a lime scented finish. 

90p   (tasted 2026/09)

2024 Dolcetto d´Alba San Martino

A cool, somewhat restrained nose with notes of red currants, ripening blueberries and iron.

The taste is slender and easy going with silky tannins, a fine blueberry fruit and a dry finish.

87p   (tasted 2026/09)

2024 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Scassa

I tasted this recently - Barolista: 2024 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Scassa, Bruna Grimaldi - and it behaved the same at the cantina. A very good Barbera. Scassa means scorched earth.

91p   (tasted 2026/09)

2024 Nebbiolo d´Alba Bonurei

A pure, cool Nebbiolo fruit with cherries, leather, violets and Langhe earth. Very, very good.

The taste is open and fruity with notes of red cherries, violets and soy. Smooth tannins.

89p   (tasted 2026/09)

2022 Barolo Camilla

A elegant, warm nose with notes of ripe cherries, sun warm tiles and ripe flowers.

The taste is tight and seedy with nice tannins, a warm juicy cherry fruit and a medium long, balanced finish. 4+ years.

91p   (tasted 2026/09)

2022 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio

A very handsome nose with notes of hard cherry candy, forest floor and fine tobacco. Very fine.

The taste is neatly structured with lovely black fruit, polished tannins and a long, warm finish. 7+ year.

93p   (tasted 2026/09)

2022 Barolo Badarina

A very elegant, restrained nose with notes of ripe red currants, forest floor, paint and dried flowers.

The taste is pure and layered with notes of cherry pips, asphalt and dried flowers. The finish is long, warm and gorgeous. 8+ years.

95p   (tasted 2026/09)

2021 Barolo Badarina Vigna Regnola

This beauty offers up a deep, focused nose with notes of hard cherry candy, salt licorice, shoe cream and roses. Stunning.

The taste is brilliant with focus, intensity and a old vine feeling that needs to be tasted. A salty mineral note. The finish goes on and on. Great wine. 8+ years. (Martina is holding the bottle in the pic above).

97p   (tasted 2026/09)

A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - A Visit To La Contrada Di Sorano

Paolo and Cristina in San Rocco vineyard

I had a great time visiting Paolo and Cristina. They are a charming couple that started the cantina in 2013, their first Barolo was the 2015. They have 2,5 ha and produce ca 10.000 bottles per year. Very good wines. I will be back.

More info here - https://www.lacontradadisorano.it/

2024 Vino Rosso Spumante Alchimia

100% Nebbiolo with 5 gr dosage. The nose is light earthy with notes of blood oranges, cookie dough and wild flowers.

The taste is dry and linear with a good acidity and dried red fruit. A nice bitter note on the finish.

86p   (tasted 2026/09)

2023 Langhe Bianco Favorita L´Ardita

An open, peachy nose with notes of ripe lemons, dusty earth and some smoky notes. Very, very good.

The taste is balanced and elegant with assorted yellow fruits, a very good acidity and a fine, dry finish.

90p   (tasted 2026/09)

2023 Dolcetto d´Alba Superiore Autin

The grapes comes from Sinio and I am lucky to taste this, since wild boars eat all the grapes in some vintages. The nose is deep and pure with notes of ripe blueberries, black olives and iron.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of blueberries, some blackberries, ink and asphalt. Fine tannins.

89p   (tasted 2026/09)

2024 Barbera d´Alba Bosco

A juicy, open nose with notes of fir wood, raspberries and warm gravel. A fine perfumed note.

The taste is spicy and fruity with a very good acidity, nice raspberry fruit and a fresh finish.

88p   (tasted 2026/09)

2022 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Sottosopra

A deep, meaty nose with notes of raspberry licorice, hint of chocolate and scorched earth. Very fine.

The taste is rich and concentrated with stunning fruit, a piercing acidity and a long, generous finish. A great Barbera. A blend of grapes from Sinio and Serralunga.

93p   (tasted 2026/09)

2022 Langhe Nebbiolo Stillante

A deep, warm Nebbiolo nose with notes of ripe cherries, leather, dark flowers and moist Lange earth.

The taste is pure and fine with notes of hard cherry candy, rosehips and forest floor. Soft tannins. Ready to drink now.

91p   (tasted 2026/09)

2022 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d´Alba

A high and handsome nose with notes of sun warm tiles, paint, fresh roses and red cherries. Just lovely.

The taste is racy and elegant with laid back power and refinement. Polished tannins and a minute long finish. Really fine. 7+ years.

93p   (tasted 2026/09)

2021 Barolo

This is made out of all three Nebbiolo subvarities - Rosé, Lampia and Michet, in equal proportions. The nose is deep and concentrated with an old school Nebbiolo nose - licorice, roses, asphalt and sweet Langhe earth. Stunning.

The taste is tight and seedy with brilliant fruit, silky yet taut tannins and a long, long, structured finish. Great wine. 10+ years.

95p   (tasted 2026/09)

A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To L´´Astemia

Everyone that has drove the road between Castiglione Falletto and Barolo has seen the special buildning that is L´´Astemia. 

Sandra Vezza is the entrepreneur that is the mind behind the winery where "the art of wine and design come together" as their webpage states.

I got a tour of the cellar and then tasted the wines below.

More info here - L’’Astemia – Una storia di passione e innovazione

2023 Langhe Nascetta

A cool, spicy nose with notes of apricots, white pepper and gravel. Very good.

The taste is forward and dry, easy going with a fair acidity. The grapes comes from Monforte.

85p   (tasted 2026/08)

2023 Langhe Bianco Viognier

This Viognier had spent time in both new and one year tonneaux. The nose is big and bold with notes of ripe apricots, moist earth and toasted bread. There is some oak but in a integrated way.

The taste is dense and layered with lots of ripe yellow fruit, some oak tannins and a very good acidity. A really interesting wine.

88p   (tasted 2026/08)

2024 Barbera Superiore

A deep, meaty nose with notes of Finnish licorice, ripe raspberries and a hints of milk chocolate. Very, very good.

The taste is open and plummy with a very good acidity, fine black fruit and a long, warm finish.

88p   (tasted 2026/08)

2024 Langhe Nebbiolo Tiradoss

A nicely perfumed, smoky nose with notes of ripe cherries, forest floor and violets. Very good.

The taste is structured and fine with silky tannins and a soft cherry fruit.

87p   (tasted 2026/08)

2021 Barolo

An open, classic Nebbiolo nose with notes of red cherries, paint, bay leaves and dried flowers. Very, very good.

The taste is young and tight with notes of hard cherry candy, fir wood and hints of tobacco. 5+ years.

90p   (tasted 2026/08)

2021 Barolo Cannubi

From 40 year old vines this Cannubi displays a deep, spicy nose with notes of ripe cherries, Langhe earth and a hint of menthol.

The taste is structured and fine with the same menthol note, lots of cherries, roses and forest floor. 7+ years.

93p   (tasted 2026/08)

2021 Barolo Terlo

A very deep, restrained nose with notes of dry licorice, asphalt and dark flowers.

The taste is taut and broad with notes of hard cherry candy, asphalt, shoe cream and coffee powder. Needs time, 10+ years.

92p   (tasted 2026/08)

A Couple Of Days In Piedmont - A Visit To Cantina Viberti

This is a small Cantina in Barolo, only 2 ha and ca 10.000 bottles per year. The history of the cantina goes back to the early 1900s when Giacomo Viberti made wine for the family. His son Enzo bought some land in the 70s in Crosia where the cantina stands today. The winery Cantina Viberti was founded in 1975.

Valentina took great care of me and poured these nice bottles.

More info here - Cantina Viberti Giacomo

2024 Barbera d´Alba Valentina

This Barbera is named after Valentina, who is the girlfriend of Paolo, son of Enzo. The nose is warm and upfront with juicy raspberry and blueberry fruit with additional notes of scorched earth and licorice.

The taste is spicy and warm with a very good acidity and plummy fruit. A long, nicely structured finish.

88p   (tasted 2026/08)

2024 Langhe Nebbiolo Palotü

A nice, delicate nose with notes of cherries, rosehips and sun warm rocks. Very, very good.

The taste is of a light, refreshing Nebbiolo with fine cherry fruit, silky tannins and a medium long finish.

88p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Barolo del Comune di Barolo

An open, stony nose with notes of roses, dried cherries and mushrooms. Very old school and very fine.

The taste is roughly elegant, with fine cherry fruit, undergrowth and dry licorice. 4+ years.

90p   (tasted 2026/08)

2020 Barolo Riserva

A deep, more meatier nose than the Comune di Barolo, with notes of undergrowth, dried flowers and asphalt. Very fine.

The taste is tight and some what restrained with fine, seedy cherry fruit, polished tannins and a long, warm finish.

92p   (tasted 2026/08)

2024 Chardonnay Rabäll

And to finish the tasting of, a fresh, smoky Chardonnay with notes of cold butter, nuts and yellow flowers.

The taste is fresh and smoky with notes of lemon cream, minerals and dried flowers.

87p   (tasted 2026/08)

Champagne With Champagnebonden

The other day I hade the privilege to taste some Champagne´s, courtsey of Champagnebonden.

NV Cuvée de Réserve, J. Pèrard

A blend of three vintages - 2020, 2021 and 2022. The nose is stony and fine with notes of peach, chrushed rocks and apple scented soap.

The taste is dry and fine with a very good acidity and notes of dry caramel, peach and red apples. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 7 gr dosage.

91p   (tasted 2026/08)

NV Les Cèdres, Le Gallais

65% of the wine comes from a réserve perpétuelle started in 2005 and consists of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Pinot Meunier and 10% Chardonnay, zero dosage. The nose is elegant and racy with notes of almond paste, red apples, steel and a hint of dried meat.

The taste is tight and seedy with a nice structure, a high acidity and very good red fruit. A hint of bitterness in the finish.

90p   (tasted 2026/08)

(2022) Les Parcelles Meunier, Fernand Lemaire

The wine comes from the vintage 2022 but its not displayed on the label. A round, deep nose with notes of smoke, dark caramel and autumn apples. 

The taste is high and fresh with a crispy acidity and notes of bonfire smoke, dried up Pommac (a Swedish carbonated soft drink) and tiles. Very fine. 100% Meunier, zero dosage.

92p   (tasted 2026/08)

2020 La Demi-Lune, Le Gallais

A somewhat restrained nose with notes of Christmas spices, hay, red apples and sun warm rocks.

The taste is tight and structured with notes of chrushed rocks, red currants and dried grass. As with the La Gallais above, a bitter note in the finish. 100% Meunier, zero dosage.

89p   (tasted 2026/08)

2019 Les Champs de Rilly, Larnaudie-Hirault

Only 630 bottles made of this beauty. The nose is open and complex with notes of root vegetables, autumn apples, dried flowers and toffee. Very fine.

The taste is deep and earthy with lovely red fruit, a very fine acidity and a long, luscious finish. 100% Pinot Noir, 3 gr dosage.

93p   (tasted 2026/08)

NV Grand Cru Rosé, Michel Counisat

Base year 2022. A cool, fine nose with notes of red currants, cookie dough and chrushed rocks. A tad shy.

The taste is open for business with notes of dried strawberries, earth and dried flowers. A fine acidity.

88p   (tasted 2026/08)

A Lunch Tasting With Wines From CVNE

I was invited by WineWorld Sweden to taste wines from CVNE (Compania del Norte de España). David Piera presented with the wines with flair and humour. 

I have many found memories of bottles of Imperial and Viña Real (now a separate company) from the 70 and 80´s.

PA&Co served, as usual, up a yummy lunch.

NV Rosé, Clouet

Served as an aperitif, a perennial favourite of mine and this bottle didn´t disappoint. The nose is juicy and earthy with notes of red currants, warm sand and dried flowers.

The taste is fresh and elegant with notes of red currants, dried strawberries and sweet minerals. A very good acidity.

91p   (tasted 2026/08)

2025 Orballo Albariño

An open, grassy nose with assorted ripe fruits, smoke and gravel. Very good.

The taste is cool and fine with notes of peach pips, grass and chives, A fine minerality.

88p   (tasted 2026/08)

2025 Val do Galir Godello

This Godello offers up a broad, restrained nose with notes of ripe peach, lemon cream and wet stones.

The taste is rich and nicely concentrated with a fine acidity, a very peach dominated fruit and a long, warm finish. Very, very good for the price.

Will be released on the 12th of March 2027/169 SKR.

90p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Monopole Clàsico Reserva

A love or hate wine. I love it. The nose is intense and peculiar with notes of fresh herbs, nuts, band-aid, white balsamic vinegar and dried yellow apples. Pure and fantastic.

The taste is tight and racy with focus, concentration, acidity, and assorted dried yellow fruits. The finish goes on and on. The first vintage of Monopole was in 1915. 100% Viura.

Will be released on the 11th of September, 239 SKR (~22 Euro), for me - a case.

94p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Contino Rosado Reserva

This Rosé displays a low keyed, stony nose with notes of dried raspberries, stale passionfruit and some smoky notes. Very good.

The taste is dry and seedy with notes of red currants, mineral and sun warm gravel. A good acidity.

87p   (tasted 2026/08)

2021 Contino Reserva

A dark, plummy nose with notes of fir smoke, chocolate biscuits and tobacco hints.

The taste is young and structured with dry tannins, a fine plum fruit and a long sweet finish. 4+ years.

Will be released on the 25th of September/299 SKR.

88p   (tasted 2026/08)

2019 Imperial Gran Reserva

A deep, light meaty nose with notes of plums, smoke, cigarr smoke and a hint of fine vanilla pods. Very fine.

The taste has power and elegance with notes of chocolate biscuits, plums and sweet undergrowth. Lovely. 5+ years.

Will be released on the 11th of November/599 SKR.

93p   (tasted 2026/08)

2018 Imperial Gran Reserva

A somewhat restrained nose with notes of vintage leather, ripe black currants, clay and fir wood. 

The taste is tight and fine with some maturity and notes of sugared coffee, dried plums and moist forest floor. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years.

90p   (tasted 2026/08)

2014 Imperial Gran Reserva

From magnum. A deep, complex and open for business nose with notes of plums, pipe tobacco, milk chocolate and scorched earth. Very fine.

The taste is pure and velvety with gorgeous fruit, silky tannins and a long, long, dry finish. A treat to drink today from this magnum.

94p   (tasted 2026/08)

A Dinner With Great Wines - Schaefer, Palacios, Corison, Sassiacaia, Massolino, Lafarge & Climens

Dinner at a friends house, great food and wine and company!

2007 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Willi Schaefer

A cool, elegant nose with notes of dried lemons, sweet minerals and white flowers. Very, very good.

The taste is pure and fresh with a cleansing acidity and lovely lemon fruit. Still on the young side of things.

91p   (tasted 2026/08)

2007 Moncerbal, J. Palacios

A deep, somewhat mature, balsamic nose with notes of raspberries, meat and chrushed rocks.

The taste is upfront and juicy with soft tannins and ripe black fruit. Long, warm and fine.

91p   (tasted 2026/08)

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard, Corison

A deep, dark nose with notes of charcoal, ripe black currants, fresh stables and hints of chocolate. Very fine.

The taste is tight and balanced with gorgeous black currants fruit, sandy tannins and a long, lingering finish. Almost fully mature. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2026/08)

2009 Sassicaia

A deep, earthy nose with notes of blackberries, leather, tobacco and gravel. Layered and lush. 

The taste is big, warm and upfront with structured tannins, lots of ripe black fruit and a long, warm finish.

94p   (tasted 2026/08)

2004 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda, Massolino

A deep, refined nose with notes of hard cherry candy, pomegranate, balsamico cooked strawberries and moist Langhe earth. Very, very fine.

The taste is seedy and handsome with a very fine concentration and focus, some maturity, a finish that goes on forever. A real beauty.

97p   (tasted 2026/08)

2009 Volnay Les Mitans, Domaine Michel Lafarge

A smoky,earthy nose with notes of red currants, fresh stables, undergrowth and licorice. Very, very good.

The taste is fresh and dry with notes of sweet lingonberries, red currants, herbs and forest floor. A very fine acidity. Still young, 5+ years.

92p   (tasted 2026/08)

2005 Château Climens

An open, fleshy nose with notes of saffron, yellow apples, apricot and detergent. Very, very good.

The taste is deep and velvety with notes of candied oranges, rubber and dried honey. A long, sturdy finish.

90p   (tasted 2026/08)

The 2022 La-La´s From Guigal

Wine Affair invited me to taste the 2022 La-La´s from Guigal. It was a no brainer to accept. Claes offered as usual up some interesting info about the wines and the history of Guigal. A great tasting.

2022 Saint-Joseph Blanc Lieu-Dit

A deep, perfumed nose with notes of candle grease, hay, white currants and dried up vanilla ice cream. Very fine.

The taste is racy and elegant with a very good structure, a fine acidity and notes of white pepper and passionfruit. Long and fine.

92p   (tasted 2026/08)

2019 Ermitage Ex-Voto Blanc

A layered, beautiful nose with notes of ripe mango, wet asphalt, fresh herbs and dried up apple confit. Very complex and utterly gorgeous.

The taste is pure, intense and focused with brilliant fruit, a glycerin feeling and a finish that goes on for +1 minute. Great wine.

97p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde

An open, earthy nose with notes of dried meat, black pepper and sun warm rocks. A fine warmth.

The taste is young and seedy with notes of blueberries, bakelite and dusty earth. 6+ years.

90p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Côte-Rôtie Château d´Ampuis

A tight, meaty nose with notes of dark flowers, blackberries and lots of sweet violets. Beautiful.

The taste is concentrated and nicely structured with notes of burnt rubber, moist earth and ripe blueberries. Very handsome tannins. 8+ years.

94p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline

A high, refined nose with notes of red currants, blueberries, wild flowers and a hint of dog fur. Very, very fine.

The taste is layered and pure with silky tannins and notes of bay leaves, raspberries and warm earth. Very long, layered and lovely. Another great La Mouline.

97p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Côte-Rôtie La Reynarde

First vintage of this addition to the La-La serie. The vines were planted in 2019, and by some strange French rule only 25% of the 2 ha each year, so by 2022 it was fully planted. 

The nose is tight and nicely concentrated with inky black fruit -100% Syrah - leather and violets. But it doesn´t have the same depth (yet) as the others.

The taste is young and taut with notes of iron, asphalt, cherry pips and dark coffee grounds. Again, not as complex as the others. Give it time.

93p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Côte-Rôtie La Turque

A rich, generous nose with notes of black flowers, dried mushrooms, sugared coffee and tapenade. Very, very fine.

The taste is built like Stephen King ones described a woman - a Sherman tank in a fancy dress. Lots of black olives, blackberries, black flowers and black earth. Just lovely. 10+ years.

97p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

The depth of this wine is just awesome, the nose soars up from the glass with notes of black plums, ink, freshly laid asphalt and some stable notes. Very, very complex.

The taste is brilliant with every knot and bolt in its right place. The fruit is a tad locked up but the structure, the intensity and the finesse is of the charts. A candidate for perfection in 10-15 years.

99p   (tasted 2026/08)

2022 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit

An open, fresh nose with notes of dried meat, gravel, fir wood and violets. Very, very good.

The taste is young and nicely structured with silky tannins, a fine backbone and a long, inky finish. 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2026/08)

2016 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

Claes got feeling and asked if we wanted to taste this. Has the pope a funny hat?! The nose big and meaty with notes of dried blackberries, Finnish licorice, sweet violets and a fine balsamic note. Very fine.

The taste is tight and handsome with polished tannins, a lovely black fruit, some iron notes and a long, balanced finish. Great now but should evolve some more over the coming 8+ years.

95p   (tasted 2026/08)

2013 Barolo Massara, Castello di Verduno

2013 Barolo Massara, Castello di Verduno

Massara is a 50,3 ha big MGA in Verduno. There are only two cantinas that makes a Barolo from Massara - Gian Carlo Burlotto and Castello di Verduno.

The nose is deep and somewhat mature with notes of dried cherries, forest floor, rosehips and sugared coffee. Very, very good.

The taste is velvety and fine with notes of violets, mushrooms, coffee and dried flowers. A long, warm finish. A 13 that is ready to drink. Bought at the cantina when we visited in 2019 - Barolista: The Barolo Boys In Piedmont - Visits To Giovanni Rosso & Castello Di Verduno

91p   (tasted 2026/08)

Four Fine Chardonnay´s

Jacques were our host for our last monthly tasting and poured these. Tasted double blind.

2016 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard, Rhys

An open, smoky, somewhat mature nose with notes of apricots, lemon cream and warm sand. Very fine.

The taste feels younger than the nose with notes of fresh lemons, chrushed rocks and butter cookies. A very good acidity.

93p   (tasted 2026/08)

2016 Chardonnay Ma Princesse, Morlet

A deep, round, sweet nose with notes of grilled/burned lemons, coconut and autumn apples. There is lot going on here but maybe a tad too much.

The taste is deep, warm and complex with lots of cooked lemons, pineapple and sun warm rocks. A hint of alcohol in the long finish.

89p   (tasted 2026/08)

2016 Chardonnay Mt Veeder, Mayacamas

A cool, elegant nose with notes of nettles, lemon peel, smoke and wet asphalt. Very, very good.

The taste is dry and precise with notes of lemon licorice, grass and dry fudge. Still young, 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2026/08)

2016 Chardonnay, Kongsgaard

A very deep, refined and flowery nose with gorgeous notes of candied lemons, matchbox, yellow flowers and cookie dough. High, pure and just brilliant.

The taste is handsome and intense with notes of lemon cream, toasted bread, dried up lemoncello and cap gun smoke. The finish goes on for minutes. Truly great.

98p   (tasted 2026/08)