It was a pleasant surprise i suppose but the wines - young and old, all showed without any seeming effects of travel shock. And a '96 Clape we had the night before that, even sooner post travel, was singing beautifully. And i can attest that these wines went through all sorts of bouncing and jouncing on their way from CHI to LHR to MXP to La Morra. The old Monfortinos might be the exception, as they were rather muddied in appearance. But how much of that is just due to age i’m not sure.
Appointments set at Vajra and Renato Ratti. Tried but couldn’t coordinate with Aldo Conterno and Paolo Scavino. Waiting on Massolino and Elio Altare. In Barbaresco appointments with Spinetta, Cortese and Sottimano. Produttori may just have to be a tasting because of timing.
Are Vajra and Cortese charging you? Neither charged when I visited in the fall.
Yes on Vajra, no on Cortese. From Vajra: “We do ask a little tasting fee of €10,00 per person to taste 3 wines (one of which is a Barolo).”
FWIW - Vajra did not charge when I visited last Wednesday, despite that same note when the appt was scheduled.
New American owner’s recently-sold gas/c-store chain is changing its name.