Producer: Dehours et Fils
The Dehours Champagne Brut Grande Reserve is the result of an assemblage of Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a great percentage of vin de rèserve, fermented according to Solera methods, embraced by Jerome in 1998.
Producer: Gerard Perseval
Gérard Perseval combines his extensive knowledge of biodynamic viticulture and his profound respect for nature to create structured and complex wines, treasures in bottles capable of exciting the senses.
Producer: Jacquesson
2017, the harvest from Ay, Dizy, Hautvillers (66%) Avize and Oiry (34%). Winter and Spring were exceptionally dry; the beginning of Spring was mild but, in April, destructive frosts ravaged the vineyards, especially in the Côte des Blancs. Temperatures then rose and the weather was good until July. The end of the growing season was hot but very wet. The...
Producer: Jacquesson
For the 2018 harvest in Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers (68%), Avize and Oiry (32%), the previous winter was exceptionally rainy, this was followed by a mild, stormy spring. The weather changed from June onwards, becoming fine and dry, resulting in a particularly early harvest: we started picking on 30 August and finished on 11 September. The vines were in perfect...
Producer: Jurij Fiore & Figlia
The 2021 Chianti Classico Sonocosì is fresh and light in body, all of which make it a good choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. This north-facing site at 550 meters in altitude yields a lithe, aromatically expressive Classico loaded with character. Vinification and aging in oak keeps the flavors vibrant.
Producer: Dehours et Fils
The Champagne Rosè Oeil de Pedrix is the result of an assemblage of Meunier and Chardonnay from old vineyards. Flowery Champagne Rosè Extra Brut, particularly fine and fresh with a very limited production.
Producer: Podere Poggio Scalette
The 2018 Il Carbonaione is one of the most elegant editions of this flagship wine I can remember tasting. Il Carbonaione is usually a rich, bombastic wine, but the 2018 is sleek, gracious and remarkably refined.
Producer: Podere Poggio Scalette
The 2019 Il Carbonaione is silky and racy in the glass. Scents of new oak are a clear sign the 2019 doesn't quite have the density of the very best years, but Il Carbonaione has a brilliant track record of aging.
Banner
The 2016 Barolo Brunate is a tightly wound wine with striking inner perfume, sweetness and energy. Deep, dense and powerful, the 2016 exudes a sense of classical austerity that will thrill Rinaldi lovers.
Producer: Giacomo Conterno
Conterno’s Barolo Cascina Francia has developed in a very pretty, delicate wine. Elegant aromas of redcurrant, strawberry, cedar, truffle, dried flowers and minerals, all lifted by a topnote of orange peel.
Producer: Massolino
The 2014 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is a stunning wine. Sweet, perfumed and deep, the 2014 is off-the-charts great.
Producer: Giacomo Conterno
Roberto Conterno took full control over the running of the Giacomo Conterno estate in 2003. Roberto continues to practice the traditional winemaking techniques, producing long-lived wines.
Producer: Giacomo Conterno
The 1996 Barolo Cascina Francia is a prototypical wine for the vintage. Hard as nails and completely forbidding when it was first released, the 1996 has developed into a stellar wine. Well-stored bottles will drink well for 20-30 years, perhaps more.
Producer: Angelo Gaja
The 1998 Sorì San Lorenzo is one of the most pleasant surprises in this tasting. Fresher than the 1997 - even if not as voluptuous - the 1998 captures the best qualities of the year. Smoke, tobacco, menthol, plums and black cherries are all laced together in a silky, perfumed wine that is stunning today. This is a terrific showing from the 1998.
Producer: Giacomo Conterno
The 2008 Barolo Cascina Francia possesses gorgeous inner perfume, layers of sublime fruit and fabulous overall balance. Plums, dark cherries and licorice are followed by darker notes of graphite and tar as the wine opens up in the glass.
Producer: Produttori del Barbaresco
The 2017 Barbaresco Rabaja is a potent, searingly tannic wine that will need a few years to come together. Brooding and backward, even for young Rabaja, the 2017 is painfully young today. Today, the 2017 is a real powerhouse, black fruit, menthol, licorice, melted road tar develp in the glass.
Producer: Produttori del Barbaresco
In 1894, Domizio Cavazza, a Barbaresco resident, created the first cooperative, the Cantine Sociali, by gathering together nine Barbaresco vineyard owners to make wine in the local castle which are now produced by Produttori del Barbaresco.
Producer: Ca' del Baio
The 2019 Barbaresco Autinbej is a very pretty wine for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Dark red berry fruit, spice, leather, tobacco and cedar all build with time in the glass, giving the 2019 lovely textural richness and resonance. This is very nicely done.
Producer: Giovanni Canonica
Giovanni Canonica's 2012 Barolo Paiagallo is lifted, gracious and nicely expressive. The sweet red cherry, tobacco, mint, spice and blood orange notes give the wine much of its aromatic presence. There is a slight hint of gaminess that lurks beneath.
Producer: Luciano Sandrone
The 2017 Barolo Le Vigne is rich, pliant and so expressive. Even so, I imagine it will need a few years to open up fully. Bright red fruit, rose petal, blood orange and spice give the 2017 its distinctly red-toned profile.
Producer: Elio Altare
The 2013 Barolo Unoperuno is a selection from Arborina that was made with fully destemmed fruit. Supple and inviting, with lovely creaminess, the 2013 possesses a striking center of fruit and pungent aromatics to match. As good as the Unoperuno is, it is also not materially different from the straight Arborina in this vintage.
Producer: Bartolo Mascarello
The 2014 Barolo is a worthy follow up to the sublime 2013, especially considering the challenges of the year. Lifted, aromatic and approachable, the 2014 shows the more feminine, gracious side of Nebbiolo.
Producer: Giuseppe Rinaldi
The 2018 Barolo Tre Tine is a super-classic wine. It reminds so much of a wine Beppe Rinaldi might have made, austere, tuat Barolo built on energy and tension more than prmiary fruit.
Producer: Giacomo Conterno
A much more overt, powerful wine, the 2010 Barolo Cerretta races across the palate with explosive fruit and tons of pure, unbridled energy. The Cerretta is shaping up to be magical. Bottled only in magnums.
Producer: Produttori del Barbaresco
The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is a serious, somber wine. In most vintages, Rio Sordo is an easygoing wine, but not in 2016, it is a potent, brooding yet mid-weight Barbaresco that screams with character.
The 2016 Barolo Brunate is a tightly wound wine with striking inner perfume, sweetness and energy. Deep, dense and powerful, the 2016 exudes a sense of classical austerity that will thrill Rinaldi lovers.
