Terre del Barolo 2009

                                    Lunch at a friends house, in the autumny hills of Langhe;
                    some nice local cheeses, foccacia, absolutely fantastic "Carne cruda Piemontese"
                    with Barolo..

Terre del Barolo
Barolo
2009
DOCG
14,00%


Bought the Wine from a local supermarket for 14 euros,
so pretty much a no-brainer for a Barolo (although wines from this co-operative have not really impressed me, and 2009 is a hit-and-miss vintage).
When poured in the glass I could already guess a bit
where this wine is going. Very dark color for a Barolo,
has almost like a Barbera or Dolcetto depth in it.
Nose is pretty nice, kind of closed though; has some cherries, earth and oak, a hint of black tryffel, or maby im just dreaming. Basic stuff, nothing exeptional, lacks the otherwordly, delicate and multilayered nose of great Barolos.
But all that aside, the taste is nice; very mouthfilling, almost thick, fruit driven and surprisingly sweet, chocolaty and spicy, very enjoyable with soft and silky tannins, also some acidity. Ok structure.
I would put this more in to a normal Nebbiolo wine category, and in that company,
this would be a very nice effort.
So definitely a good wine, but an avarege and soft for a Barolo.
89

Ca`du Sindic
Moscato d`Asti
Santo Stefano Belbo
DOCG
2013

After dinner at a friend, in the hills of Langhe, Piedmont, we ended up tasting different Gianduja chocolates
and some Moscato d`Asti wines.
This particular wine really caught all my attention.
Totally clear, waterlike color.
Nose is very fresh and inviting. Green apple, lemon, some bisquite.
Much much drier than an averege Moscato. Super concentrated, intensive with fresh fruitiness. Mouthwatering minerals at the end.
Pure and focused wine. Beautiful stuff.
 91+
                                                                    

Muga - Reserva
Rioja
2009

Carignan, Graciano, Grenache Noir, Tempranillo

Carignan, Graciano, Grenache Noir, Tempranillo

Carignan, Graciano, Grenache Noir, Tempranillo

14,00%
0,75l

I tasted this after a nice evening of Sauna and practicing Bach...
This is a Rioja - Reserva I haven`t tasted before. I might be wrong because I could have tasted it in some wine tasting long ago in Berlin, but nevertheless not this vintage, so a new Wine for me...
Appearance is very dark, one of the most opaque wines I `ve seen in a while.
In the nose there are some ink, oak, orange peel, leather and spicyness.
Suprisingly "jumpy" wine, with very firm and tight tannins, and some accidity..
Lush and velvety mouth feel.
Chocolate, spices, oak, earthyness, but still nicely concentrated dark fruits,
and as the wine breathed, it became more chocolaty, and fruit driven.
Nice, medium to long aftertaste.
Youthfull wine still, needs some decanting to develop a balance..

Great Rioja! Will definitely buy some more..
92

Baron de Ley - Reserva 2009

Baron de Ley - Reserva
Rioja
2009
100% Tempranillo
13,5%
0,75l




I live part time in Berlin and there wine bars offer a fantastic selection of quality Rioja`s, and other Spanish wines. That`s also were I`ve learned to like them. I`m generally not so fond of too oaked style, and I gravitate more towards traditional wines, but Rioja`s are some of my exceptions in this matter.
This one  I haven`t tasted before, although I have heard many recommendations, and finally decided to try it out..
Color is quite dark, rubin red.
Nose is a classic Rioja: oak, leather, tobacco leaves, ripe dark fruits, actually I was surprised how fruity and sweet the smell was. In the background there is also some spices; cumin, anis. Very nice nose indeed.
The first taste is almost jammy, lot of ripe plums, really leaning towards New World. But although the initial taste is jammy and "fruitbomb like" its not artifical at all, it`s on the contrary very appealing. All is surrounded with strong, but not overpowering, oak, and with a nice earthyness. Also in the taste there are some spices, cumin, anis, and even some black pepper. The alcohol at the end is present, no Good Rioja with power and some rough edges, but still well structured and delicious.
90

De Forville - Barbaresco 2008

Barbaresco
De Forville
2008
DOCG
14, 00%
0.75l


Tätä samaa viiniä, ja samaa vuosikertaa on tullut maistettua muutama vuosi takaperin,
joten on mielenkiintoista nähdä miten maut ovat kehittyneet..
Viinin väri on erittäin läpinäkyvä, tiilenpunainen ja reunoiltaan ruosteinen.Tuoksu on melko ilmaisuvoimainen, hieman hapankirsikkaa erittäin maamainen, nahkainen ja melko mausteinen ja savuinen.
Maussa tulee hieman hillittyä punaista marjaa, jopa vähän mansikaa, hapankirsikkaa, ja nahkaisuutta.
Jykevähköt tanniinit pitävät viinin rakenteen hyvin hallussa.
Loppumakuun siirryttäessä tulee jonkin verran suolaisuutta, edelleen mausteisuutta, tummia marjoja ja savuisuutta. Loppumaku jatkuu myös erittäin pitkään. Muistin että viinissä olisi ollut jonkin verran kitkeryyttä, mikä silloin tällöin 08 Barbarescoissa ja Baroloissa tuntuu, mutta nyt se oli häipynyt.
Jos vertaan muutamaa vuotta nuorempaa versiota tähän, niin ensinnäkin se oli tanniineiltaan voimakkaampi ja siinä oli enemmän kitkeryyttä. Nuo elementit ovat mielestäni nyt hieman tasoittuneet, ja viini on muuttunut täyteläisemmäksi ja tasapainoisemmaksi.
Hieno viini. Konstailematon, hieman eteerinen mutta kuitenkin riittävän moniulotteinen ja mausteinen Barbaresco.
Muutaman viikon päästä olen taas Langhessa, Piemontessa ja tulee varmasti De Forvillen tilalta Barbarescoa mukaan napattua..
92