The Barolo / Barbaresco / Nebbiolo thread

[JamieBahrain]

Lovely to to see our originally postponed Cavallotto event finally go ahead. What a long year! It was such a celbration even Alfio Cavalloto joined us by zoom as he sauntered around the castle at Castiglione Faletto. Thanks to Nigel for the wines and stay safe in Scotland!

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Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Barolo Riserva 1974-Light and airy menthol top notes, rusty development bettered by faint strawberry and dried currants. Fruit nuanced throughout representative of both a very good vintage and a riserva. Structure is firmly presented with brassy acidity and blood/iron persistence. A nice layer of fruit sits on the palate securing a good rating.

92pts


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Cavalotto Bricco Boschis Barolo 1971- I've had spectacular 71 Cavalottos. I felt this had lost ooomph and drive of the better experiences. Nicely lifted, pine and stewed red fruits, decay and perhaps a faint base of licorice and leather notes. Broadly sweeps the palate with sweet and devloped dark fruits, dry yet charming.

90pts

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Barolo 1967- Dried mushrooms and old cellar notes and with just a teasing faint line of red fruit. Good volume and pleasingly even, structurally resolved and light sabre acidity directs the finish.

91pts


Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Barolo 1965- Wow! One of my greatest 65's ever. Clean, red fruited and menthol nose in autumnal decay. Complex palate flavours, still fresh and encompassing the cherry spectrum. Spicy and lively, clean run of excellent length and still fine tannin.

96pts

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Riserva Speciale Barolo 1964- Lovely red and black fruited combo with faint notes of tar. Truffle and wild mushrooms add an aromatic dimension. Still fresh and you'd swear it could develop further. A complete wine with harmony that rides a long finish with a delicious vinous flavour persistence of game and dry spice.

96pts

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Cavallotto Barbaresco 1962- Alfie mentioned this was very rare and hard to find wine these days. They made Barbaresco for a short time- and in exactly the same vinification manner as their Barolo. Begins quite rusty aromatically, then a deeper sweet red fruited note with hay and menthol. Full and complete, fades quickly with the finish long and resolved, drifting toward an iron like tertiary dominanted completion.

93pts

Cavallotto Barbaresco 1962- Gone! VA dominates. Dubious it would be past it so completely so this to me is tell-tale TCA and nebbiolo with long age ( a fruit stripped structural shell )


NR

Cavallotto Vignolo Barolo Riserva 2005- Very bright aromatically with a red and black fruited buzz, orange juice and savoury Slavonian big botti. Energetic, lively and powerful; bracingly and classically 2005. A great example of Vignolo versus Bricco Boschis as the drive and power is obvious in comparison ( Helvatian Serranlunga like soils ). Still presents with an elegance.

97pts

Cavallotto Vignolo Barolo Riserva 2007- Still youthful yet open for business. Complex violet and red fruits, sweet citrus and botanicals. Superb, bountiful and easy going. Silken throughout though not losing presence.

98pts

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Cavalotto Bricco Boschis San Giuseppe Barolo Riserva 2006- Dark violets and red and blackberries with a sticky and alluring ripeness. Classic Bricco Boschis- with charm and inner beauty which for some may be too faint. Full of flavour and extract typical of 2006 -development ahead evidenced by bottle remnants drinking well three days later.

96pts+

[JamieBahrain]

Dinner Wines-

Roagna Langhe Solea 2016- Old vine chardonnay from Pira and with just a touch of nebbiolo! Quite ripe and rich, yellow fruits and sweet melon, flinty edges give a nice touch, very long and persistent.

92pts

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Cavallotto Bricco Boschis 1967- Fresher and higher rated than the tasting bnottle

93pts

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis San Giuseppe Riserva Barolo 2008 en magnum-Classical Barolo with the magnum amplifying this well-repeated nature of the 2008 vintage. Red and black fruits on a base of faint tat and intermingling Island Spices. Full and with superb deliniation and clen and plished fruit. Long and fine yet overwhelmingly precise.

96pts+


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Cavallotto Bricco Boschis San Giuseppe Riserva Barolo 2004- Not opened early enough nor prepared to what needs to be done with 04. Pretty and clean, strikingly and typically elegant. Ultra fine tannin- will age for many years.

95pts+


Cavallotto Vignolo Riserva Barolo 2004- Like the above needed preparation! Tight and focused, beautiful scents of boiled red candy, blackberry, goudron and botanicals. Long, fine and elegantly presented, ample enough on the palate with a kaleidoscope complex violet, red and black fruits. typically 2004 in structure- for the ages yet not overbearing.

96pts+

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[brodie]

Hi Jamie, thanks for the posting on Cavalotto. I love the wines and enjoyed your notes.
Bought the 1996 for US$32 about 19 years ago, all gone now sadly. Oldest I have these days is 2001, I reckon they need another 10 years or so.

Brodie

[JamieBahrain]

I had the 2001 San Giuseppe Riserva about 5 years ago. It was shy and needed some respect to coax out its beauty. I agree plenty of upside.

[brodie]

I had the 2001 San Giuseppe Riserva about 5 years ago. It was shy and needed some respect to coax out its beauty. I agree plenty of upside.

6 years ago in a moment of madness I bought a double magnum of the 2001 Bricco Boschis San Giuseppe (well it was on sale!).
Not sure if it will be ready in my lifetime... Will need a lot of Barolo lovers as well.

Brodie

[JamieBahrain]

We could do a special Cavallotto offline.

[JamieBahrain]

"Two to Tango – Alba Blends and Single Crus"

Lovely themed dinner with the Knights of Alba where we had a look at Cru's versus Blends. Staying relevant to the nebbiolo thread, the blends came out on top tonight.

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The 2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco was in its element, sitting near peak drinking with warm and complex red fruits and darker notes of violets and tar. Seamless and easy. Just wonderful!

93pts

2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Paje Showed similar fruit profile though structurally, was more elemental and clumsy than the blend. Perhaps better in time? Though its not Roagna and this could be wishful thinking. Has better length than the complete Classico- though that run on the finish shows spikiness with the tannins.

92pts


2015 Luciano Sandrone Barolo DOCG “Le Vigne”- Splitting hairs between these two wines from a spectacular prodcuer. I'm usually the Cannubi Boschis guy in preference to Le Vigne. Tonight Le Vigne was showing better in these early days, dark and complex fruit nuance throughout, moulded into a very good effort for perhapos underrated 2015 vintage?

95pts +

2015 Luciano Sandrone Barolo “Aleste”- Lacks the stuffing of Le Vigne and side by side shows it needs time to fill out. Aromatically it's pickable as Cannubi, it does fall away a touch and lacks the nasal-pleasing power of the blend. Long and fine, edges are well defined and fruit shy. Needing time.

94pts+


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Menu



2015 Poderi Oddero Langhe DOC Bianco “Collaretto”

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Radici di Sedano e Caviale
Celery Root and Japanese Sea Urchin

2017 Braida Langhe Nascetta DOC "La Regina"
2017 Terre del Barolo Langhe DOC Nascetta del Comune di Novello "Arnaldo Riserva"

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Vitello Tonnato
Veal with Tuna Sauce, Pantelleria Capers

2017 Luciano Sandrone Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
2017 Marziano Abbona Dogliani DOCG “Papà Celso”

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Uovo di Montagna
Mountain Organic Egg, “Huso-Dauricus” Caviar with Périgord Black Truffle

1997 Braida Barbera d’Asti DOC “Ai Suma”
1997 Braida Barbera d’Asti DOC “Bricco della Bigotta”

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Risotto al Castelmagno
Carnaroli Risotto, Castelmagno Cheese

2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG
2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG Paje

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Cervo di Otago, Ciliege Rosse e Foie Gras
Wild Otago Venison, Red Cherry and Foie Gras

2015 Luciano Sandrone Barolo DOCG “Le Vigne”
2015 Luciano Sandrone Barolo DOCG “Aleste”

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Tartufo “Al Gelato”
Dark Chocolate Amedei, Périgord Black Truffle

2014 Bera Piemonte DOC Brachetto

[JamieBahrain]

I caught up with friends last night and we ordered roast goose from a HKG institution Yung Kee and ate in with splendid Barolo!

Ceretto "Bricco Rocche Brunate" Barolo 1997- I find old Ceretto tricky to prepare. You need to draw out fresher-fruit amongst decay and earthy notes. Sort of got there last night and I must say the roast goose helped it along! Sweet dried fruits dominate the nose, with typical of the style, earth and mushroom development. Ground spices offer a freshness with faded orange peel. An Old Man Barolo, drinking older than it is, though there's good presence and maturity and a spiritual vinous core, tending to frailty here and there.

93pts

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Vietti Barolo Brunate 2005- Don't get me wrong, Vietti make beautiful wine and of recent, they appear to be exceptional with clever adjustments. However, I've always found that amongst these beautifully crafted, plush and modern expressions, why do they bother with the Cru's? Its very hard for my palate to discern between Brunate or Villero etc. Whereas I can find another producer at half the price that offers an expression of the terroir, though perhaps in a less gratifying manner.

This is loaded up aromatically and in palate drive with poached strawberries, rich plum and mint. It's an excellent wine, showing off the underrated 2005 vintage both in a positive manner and within its limitations. The broad acidity offers an austerity that spikes just a little within the Vietti style of past. Very good wine all the same and one to present to newcomers to high class Barolo.

93pts


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Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 2007- I'm sure I paid 38 euros from Maria Teresa for this and I checked Cellar Tracker and I've a case tucked away. Actually I recall I bought another case from BBR though the shipment packed in a non-AC container by accident and I took the insurance option.

My friend presented this bottle. He sold a six pack of 2010 Mascarello on BBR and bought a six pack of 2009 and 2007 and with change from the proceeds!

It's a beautiful wine that I feel needs time to shake off a rustiness. It's incredibly long and supple, with a latent power in excess of relevantly labelling the wine Burgundian. The fruit is wild and untamed, floral, leather and complex dark fruits. Very long and fine, the fruit will fill in time, whilst piercing tannin will soften. The potential is very high and I'd ignore vintage detractors.

95pts+

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[brodie]

drank my very last bottle of Prunotto last night. It was a bit of a trip down memory lane.

2001 Barbaresco normale. Just delicious, lovely floral nose, initially a bit edgy on the palate with still quite a lot of fine tannins. After 2 hours smoothed out completely and had a red fruited / brown sugar thing happening. Seamless and sweet and long. Really tasty and satisfying mature wine

I bought quite a lot of Prunottos between 1996 and 2001 vintages. Price was very reasonable and the style (back then) was appealing. This was early on in my Barolo buying life and for some reason was determined not to pay more than NZ$80 a bottle. Of course then I "discovered" Giascosa and Sandrone and others and the prices went up accordingly. I stopped buying the Prunottos after 2001 and concentrated on other producers

[JamieBahrain]

Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2007-Proudly stamped with "SIBI ET PAUCIS" which is a 10 or so year winery cellar release. Barbara Sandrone explained to me on a visit that they went in this direction due poor cellaring not representing their wines on the secondary market.

Popped and poured which is less than ideal preparation. The aromatics are alluring and multi-dimensional: starting with airy menthol and mountain breeze, typically Sandrone red fruits, mint and sandalwood then a darker choc-fruited amalgam representing the vintage and the vineyard blend. Layered, with the fruit sheen of the vintage, a little unexpressive due under-preparation. It's all class, balanced and giving, long and lingering finish.

95pts+


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[brodie]

Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2007-Proudly stamped with "SIBI ET PAUCIS" which is a 10 or so year winery cellar release. Barbara Sandrone explained to me on a visit that they went in this direction due poor cellaring not representing their wines on the secondary market.

Popped and poured which is less than ideal preparation. The aromatics are alluring and multi-dimensional: starting with airy menthol and mountain breeze, typically Sandrone red fruits, mint and sandalwood then a darker choc-fruited amalgam representing the vintage and the vineyard blend. Layered, with the fruit sheen of the vintage, a little unexpressive due under-preparation. It's all class, balanced and giving, long and lingering finish.

95pts+


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Hi Jamie, thnx for the note, my 2007 Sandrones are near the back of the queue behind the 2001, the 2004 and 2006 wines. I have the found the 1999 and 2001 both showing well over the last 2 years.

cheers brodie

[FredericoWines]

Looking at Fratelli Alessandria Barolo 2016 (normale). Any one has tried it or has idea of how good it is/ it is not? Thanks.

[JamieBahrain]

Can't help you Frederico. I would research this release though. Some grumblings over recent vintages and traditionalist winemaking being a little impure. I bought their Cru's 15 years ago and haven't tried them yet. Otherwise my exposure more limited to new releases from many vintages back.

Normale's in 16 a wise purchase as pricing seems resistant to 16 Cru hyperbole.

Thanks Brodie.

I go a way back too and happy with Sandrone down the back of the cellar like yours! I've had three bottles of Sandrone this week and whereas approachable wines ( as everyone says these days ) I think the new generation of Barolo drinkers may not have much exposure to the glory of mature vintages over the least 30 years say. Partly scarcity and partly pricing- adding the caveat of poor cellaring and back to the philosophy behind Sibi et Paucis.

[FredericoWines]

Thanks Jamie. Is Alessandria a traditionalist? I also have a few bottles of Sandrone Le Vigne '13. When do you think a good time to drink? Min. 15 years from vintage, assuming good storage?

[Gary W]

Thanks Jamie. Is Alessandria a traditionalist? I also have a few bottles of Sandrone Le Vigne '13. When do you think a good time to drink? Min. 15 years from vintage, assuming good storage?

16 Alessandria Normale very good. 95 points from me. Traditionalist, yes.
Sandrone quite boring wines for me.

[JamieBahrain]

Sandrone quite boring wines for me.

I think they are one of many producers to watch with a tweaking of style. With the caveat of drinking them somewhere near maturity. I've had a number of bottles of young Sandrone in the last twelve months and organised events seeing the consumption of many, many dozens ( including x 6 Vite Talin ). Great Facebook/Instagram shots but really? Infanticide.

[JamieBahrain]

I get a few bottles of each a year and well worth hunting down IMO. Bruising alcohol levels this vintage 15.5%


Giovanni Canonica Barolo Grinzane Cavour 2016- Lots happening. Aromatically unsettled suggesting the wine's desperate for more time in bottle to meld throughout. It's raw and rusty, pepper, spicy fresh leather and sour-edged red fruits. It's a big wine, rich-sweet cherry fruit on the structural line edges and the wild and natural nuance of the fruit shows on the palate, which present the light traces of big botti saw wood, seem awkwardly out of place.

Drank over the one evening where it never really settles. Very ripe and difficultly alcoholic: dry hay and lead pencil oddly run through the palate.

90pts+


Giovanni Canonica Barolo Paiagallo 2016- Somewhere between brash and blockbusting Barolo? Powerful aromas of wild dark fruits, roses /violets and VA lifted red fruits. Showing excellent development the next day with a deep, mystical and even palate, liquered in texture, loaded with interest and complexity ( intermingling woodland and spice ) - completing with sweeping and broad tannin in a fresh, leathery & dark fruited finish.

Monumental and dare I say balanced!

95pts+


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[JamieBahrain]

Fratelli Minuto Barolo Riserva Speciale 1964- I’ve been fortunate to drink many old Barolos. Starting a few decades ago when they seemed to often be old then . I can still taste the perfection in some. Bemused at others where tertiary rust & nail nuance lauded by many ! Well cellared most old Barolo are just good drinking.

Minuto I’ve had plenty of and it often holds up well in the good drinking class. Dark aromatics still dominate with plenty of complexity too- lifted red plums, raisin & leather/ tobacco. Sweet and even, deep and without gaps. Long wash of acidity and faint rust & nails on the finish .


90pts


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[JamieBahrain]

Paolo Scavino Barolo 1990- Shared this at a dinner party so I only got the one generous sized glass. Needed more aeration, still dark and brooding aromatically, ferrous minerality and balsam in the mix. Richly fruited on the palate, the wine is full and complete with seamless carry and persistence.

At 30 years old the wine won’t develop any better - improvement more in line with how the wine prepared and presented. Excellent blend.

93pts


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[JamieBahrain]

Marchesi di Gresy Camp Gros Martinenga Barbaresco 1997 Jeroboam- Plentiful in this format ! Old fashioned Barbaresco, perhaps even idiosyncratic when keenly familiar with the producer. It’s dark and extracted, violets and ample dried fruits, ash and earth . Not particularly complex, though it’s silky run from beginning to end gives great appeal. Ash, earth and with menthol in the carry.

92pts

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Corked !

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Opened the Gaja way too late in the night to make much comment . Noted was the stylistic change with Dagromis having Serralunga fruit components included now, versus the previous, entirely La Morra make up.

[JamieBahrain]

More Piedmont joyful drinking . An afternoon exploration of mature Barolo & Barbaresco. Often drunk too old or too young in my circles - with my good friend we mostly get them right when drinking together.

Fratelli Brovia Barolo Villero 1996 en magnum- Magnums are glorious formats with mature wine .Only a cork can provide disappointment.

Brovia needs patience. Even this needed a few days coaxing with slow-ox and a sneaky glass or two before delivering convincingly on Easter Sunday.

Long and classically elegant. Aromatically there’s elegance too. Mineral and breezy menthol-like overtones atop with a base of pure scented and mature red fruits. Flows evenly and gracefully, again pure fruited yet there’s a restrained palate wildness delivering considerable interest. Balanced and fresh - constantly elegant with food ( USA sausage made with Barolo wine and without the nitrates ). Testament to the pleasure and drinkability being, it’s the wine you wish to keep returning to.

96pts

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Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 1988- Parker’s note seemed somewhat wayward, both in technical descriptions and longevity. Who knew much about the region back then anyways?

Definitely barrique influences and it delivers a modern, dark scented and earthy expression of Barolo with complexity from truffle and undergrowth like development. There’s evidence of extraction on the palate and ashen remnamants of wood influence- yet the site comes through with an easygoing, long and even presentation of a mature Barolo from turbulent and pivotal times for the region.

92pts

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Nada Fiorenzo Barbaresco Rombone 1997- Seemed like a great idea at the time - there were only two of us - but the wine popped and poured from the wine fridge without respectful preparation. Nebbiolo is all about preparation and I’m always surprised even the makers can be happy with pulling the cork and letting a glass do the work.

As you’d expect from the site and winemaking there’s some pretty fascinating scents and flavours to the wine. Quite four square of sorts though aeration would press more expression from the wine. Like the Scavino, an interesting historical period in this area ( Barbaresco) which lagged the Barolo Wars.

Not rated due insufficient preparation and probable inebriation!

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[JamieBahrain]

This week’s Nebbiolo:


E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Cannubi 1997 magnum- Wow! Again what a perfect format for for mature Barolo following on from last Sunday’s Brovia Villero 1996.

I’d pick this as more Chiara than Cannubi. Beautiful and bountiful aromatics, ripe and giving. Baskets of berries and potpourri, strawberries in dessert and forest floor. Delicious in the mouth, warm and ripe textured, long and finishes with lingering and delicate flavour persistence.

Recent releases will outperform given time with the influence of Chiara’s brother.

96pts

Paolo Conterno Barolo Riva del Bric 2013- Reported on prior. Decanted a few hours drawing out warm red berries and inoffensive tar. Very nice. Young, and powerfully raw. Spicy oak a detractor for some and this wine from a great Ginestra plot .

93pts+


Roagna Barbaresco Vecchie Viti Asili 2010- Showing more development than I expected and easily picked blind as a traditional Barbaresco producer .

Wild, leather and black tea though lacking the fruit purity of Asili. Supple and long, again lacking the delights of the terroir so I’m going to NR on this showing.

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Gutted these two wines I presented were killed by a bright idea at a dinner party to serve a bowl of home made lemon gelato as a palate cleanser prior a main of slow cooked meat. Both NR. Peeved at the stupidity.


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[JamieBahrain]

A couple of beautifully performing Barbarescos in both contrasting styles & vintages!

Michele Chiarlo is a lovely gentleman . I’ve visited his very clean and modern winery and been hosted for lunch and dinner there. We also stayed at his luxury accommodation half down the La Morra hill toward Barolo proper : Palas Cerequio in the MGA of that name.

Michele Chiarlo Barbaresco Asili 2010- A crafted expression of Asili and the bouquet is complex and mystical as you’d expect from this prime vineyard. It’s darker in both its dominant floral and fruit scented spectrum; forest floor like complexity beginning its developmental rise. Almost succulent yet clean and pure in mouthfeel. Luscious and long tannins present though in good harmony .

94pts+


Olek Bondonio Barbaresco 2011- Always take a walk on the wild side with Olek. Was chatting him last week sourcing his wines for Hong Kong friends . Plenty happening and he’ll be making some wines from Nizza ( Barbera and Pinot ) which is thrilling if you’ve drunk his Barbera at their best .

I can’t recall the make up of his 2011 Classico. It started wild fruited and lifted with almond essence notes though soon filled the room with divine floral notes- a little dark for Starderi so more likely a bit of this and that, with younger Roncagliette vines - maybe a bunch or two of x-factor Sori Tilden thrown in

Such an enjoyable wine in evenness and presentability. May even prefer this to his top Cru at the moment .

93pts

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You know it’s time for a break when you are not excited about an old Barolo. Contratto Barolo 1973 was typically in good form though everyone of my friends seem to have so much of their wine I’m rarely excited these days.

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[JamieBahrain]

Nada Giuseppe Barbaresco Mai Più Riserva 2011- I adore this wine. A one off and mai piu means never again ! Old 1936 plot in Macarini Cru near Treiso. Delightful again with Chinato & woodland, a breeze of violets and red florals . Long and silken yet with good density and flow. A wine of joy!

96pts

Borgogno Barolo Riserva 1964- Great bottle evidenced by the buzz of leather and black fruits . Classic old Barolo. Lifted, airy with immense power and drive . Amen.


94pts

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[Ian S]

I've heard some complain that the Borgogno's lack pizazz / excitement / whatever, but for me, they were built to last and to reveal their charms at maturity, not in youth / adolescence. They have provided great joy in the bottles I've had.

[JamieBahrain]

Malvira Roero Nebbiolo 2013- Along with Clerico’s Dolcetto, my monthly quaffing wine. Two bottles of the Malvira so far and it’s been hard going . It’s traditional but there’s oak along with a terroir marked by very high levels of clay concentration that draws a firm mineral and tannic edge.

Mostly overdone prune-tar-violet notes. A base of old leather, brass and rust. One glass I managed to draw out advertised red fruits. The wine is long but offers little pleasure to even a most forgiving nebbiolo drinker.

The wine had its moments . Yet far too inconsistent at this level for patience.

85pts

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[JamieBahrain]

A couple of old Nebbiolo at a dinner party.

Gaja Barbaresco 1982- Served blind I picked it straight off as an old Barbaresco from the dawn of the new age. I suspected Gaja though didn’t call it out for fear of offending if a cheaper bottle. I did that the week before over a Chardonnay I suspected was Gai & Rey but was in fact a bit further down the pecking order !

Classical Barbaresco overtones of fresh mint, spring in the Alpines and overall aromatic elegance. Good development, some darker red fruits emerge with licorice and sage. Staggering length - still crafted and 40 years says unnecessarily so. Tannins still grip beyond the intensity of the palate concentration.

93pts


Orbello Bramaterra 1974- Rock solid and even. Fills out nicely . Classic old Nebbiolo with dark extracted fruit notes that ashen in time . Density across the palate impressive before a gratifying drop off and square up on the finish .

91pts


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[JamieBahrain]

Domenico Clerico Capisme E Langhe Nebbiolo 2012- I’ve had two bottles this week - one over four days and another as a ring-in last night amongst top Pinot & Red Burgundy.

Yes it’s Clerico but no it is not over-oaked or anywhere near in fact! This is pure Nebbiolo fruit from Monforte: “understand me” Capisme-e means in local dialect. An imperative experience for a Piedmont drinker to get to understand Nebbiolo at its essence and not muddle fruit development as wood derived.

Warm red berries and tar, spice and menthol. Screeching acidity carries the fruit most of the way along the palate prior a noticeable drop off. At the limit of its development .

87pts


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[JamieBahrain]

Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris 2015- Sharing a bottle, popped and poured, over lunch at Giandos on Star St Wanchai ( highly recommend if travel ever eventuates in the time of Amish living ). What was profound was the purity of the aromatics - leading to conversations of successful generational change in Piedmont . Cappellano & B Mascarello seeing more consistency and arguably better wines than previously.

Approachable now, at it’s youthful peak prior needing many years to show better . Clean-cut aromatics, pure and uncorrupted. Herbs, red fruits, licorice, anise perhaps pepper or another herbal dimension. It’s long and fresh, sour edged red fruits bring welcome drinking now, with potential to build. Fine tannin adheres to the back palate; just a hint of vintage warmth.

96pts+


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[JamieBahrain]

E. Pira Chiara Boschis "Mosconi" Barolo 2016- In the background in the snap below, sits a better bottle of three Malvira Roero Nebbiolos reported on earlier. The contrast to Chiara’s winemaking and viticulture is dramatic. The art of elevage is rarely apparent for me in the other Nebbiolo regions of Italy ( unless someone like Conterno invests ).

Anyways and exceptional wine. A modern wine, from a modern vintage ! Please this isn’t a reference to that obsolete notion of “modernism”.

Heady, beautiful, clean and stunning fruit purity. The aromatic complexity which starts with a fruit amalgam and divine herbal notes ends fascinatingly with an elite fruit perfume. Crafted and long, persistence is intense yet the fruit elegance of great Burgundy . It’s definitely Mosconi - with a Monforte drive and cleverly tamed tannins.


96pts +


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