Uff, FOMO alert. I really like their wines, but I own no 2021’s yet…
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Change that!!! It was wonderful. And being at Sacre Burger didn’t hurt either 
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Bought some last week. Join the FOMO train! 
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Had a look at the ’22 Vajra Barolo wines yesterday. A hot and dry vintage but the wines were all fresh and showed good elegance.
2022 G.D. Vajra Barolo Albe: Ripe berry and cherry fruits. Some florals and ginger spice. Creamy through the mid. Accessible. Modest acidity and freshness from some chalky tannic chew. Already pleasurable.
2022 G.D. Vajra Barolo Coste di Rose: An effusive nose with a veritable garden of florals. The fruit flavours are berry and cherry and laden with spice. It is a ripe wine but has a high degree of elegance. Tannins are moderate and buried under the flesh for now. Some white pepper is evident on the persistent finish.
2022 G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera: Highly perfumed aromatics of rose petals, spiced blood plum and raspberry. Layered and creamy, voluminous and balanced. Good build and expansion.
2022 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole: Usually my favourite of the Vajra wines and certainly so in 2022. Complex yet contained. Built around a core of exquisite cherry fruit. Rose petals, mint and orange oil notes come to the fore with air. Great shape in the mouth and silky against the gums. Gently chalky at the end and excellent length of flavour.
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Enjoyed a 2007 Giacosa Barbersco for our 10yr anniversary. Brought to Cyrus in Geyserville. Was an excellent selection and the food there was amazing! On to the wine, violet, tar, cherry, plum, baking spice, nutmeg. I really just enjoyed smelling this wine all night.
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2010 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato: Purchased on release. Cellared beautifully. Oxidised.
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Damilano Cannubi 2016
Full bodied and firmly structured with intense aromatics and flavors of dried rose, potpourri, dark fruit, and earth. The 15% ABV is slightly warming but it’s kept in check by the wines immense flavor concentration. Persistent finish. Open for business now with some tertiary development and minor resolving of tannins, but still has plenty of life ahead of it.
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Had this same experience last night - I pulled a 180 on what I was opening to 2 young Californian wines while I waited to see if the bottle recovered. - It didn’t… I had been very excited to try and had held onto it for years - it was cloudy, very oxidized/cooked, intense rust/brown color throughout. It was odd because the cork couldn’t have looked better. had been stored in my wine fridge since purchasing.
Despite the disappointment, this Chardonnay from Raj Par and the new Ceritas release were both very nice.
Mature, traditional Alto Piemonte under $30 is ridiculous. Dried cherry, roses, tobacco, iron. Elegant, savory, limpid.
I believe this has ~20-25% Vespolina and is typically matured in cement tanks. Vintages usually see no oak. Why do I not have more Vallana…?
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I bought 2 cases of the 2016 Campi Raudii library release, it’s so good.
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Some really great Nebbiolo drinking the past couple of weeks This is function 1. The biggest standout was the elegance of the 2010 Francia. I usually find the the Francia a bit too dense for me but this was wowed me.
2026-05 VINORULES NEBBIOLO BY CHRIS - Scopri (5/6/2026)
- 2020 Cantina del Signore Metodo Classico Extra Brut - Italy, Piedmont, Vino da Tavola
Tasted blind. Rose and orange coloured. Dry palate. Red fruits and licorice on the nose. Tannic grip. Hint of richness from the fruit. Turkish Delight. (93 points)
- 2016 Antoniolo Gattinara Riserva Osso San Grato - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara
Tasted blind. Much darker and more extracted than the two other Alto Piemonte wines next to it. Light red fruited nose and some mint. Tart red fruits. More tannic. Just a but clunky. I was disappointed when the wine was unmasked as I had much preferred another bottle of this a couple of years earlier. 92 (92 points) - 2020 Muraje Carema Sumié - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Carema
Tasted blind. Very light colour. Nose of herbs and strawberry. Light red tart fruit. Balanced. Just needed a little more oompf behind it tonight. 93. (93 points) - 2021 Damiano Cavallini Fara Motto del Lupo - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Fara
Tasted blind. VA. NQR. (NR/flawed)
- 2010 Marcarini Barolo La Serra - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Quite a bit of brown to go with the red colour. More tart red berries. Nice balance. Ready to drink now. Not a wow wine in any wine, but solid. 92 (92 points) - 2007 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Volatility on the palate. Some oxidation and the tannins overpower the fruit. Lots of VA on the palate as the wine sat in the glass. At least this had somewhat of a heartbeat whereas the 2007 Gaja Conteisa next to it was completely dried out and dead. 88. (88 points) - 2007 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Tasted blind. Quite a bit of brown. Has dried out completely and it not enjoyable at all. The oak tannins are sharp and bitter and the mocha overpowers everything. 85. (85 points)
- 2014 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Villero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Citrus on the nose with fungi and pickled gherkin. The palate is weird and volatile. Clearly impacted by VA. This was a surprisingly poor wine from Mascarello. 88. (88 points) - 2016 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Villero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Tart red berries and lingering tannins. Structured. Getting better and more expressive with air. Opens with tart red berries and then goes to raspberries. Really nice wine in a little bit of an awkward phase as the structure and fruit aren't completely in balance right now. Give it a lot of air or hold for another 5 years. 95. (95 points) - 2016 Roagna Barolo Pira - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Smells lovely, cherry, rose petals. Length, drive and texture. Lifted rose petal. This was surprisingly open for a 2016 and was ready to go. 95. (95 points)
- 2010 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Liquorice root and cherry. Very expressive nose. Bright jubey forest fruits and citric twist. Really enjoyed this wine and didn't think this could be a 16 year old Francia as it was so elegant, balanced and fine. 96. (96 points) - 2010 Luigi Pira Barolo Vigna Rionda - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Muted nose. Quite structured and less exuberant fruit than the 2010 Francia next to it. Good expressive fruit however. 94. (94 points) - 2010 Luigi Baudana Barolo Baudana - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Soy on the nose. Earthy. Got better in the glass but not a great wine. 91. (91 points)
- 2011 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Tasted blind. Golden colour with a bit of green. Barley sugar on the nose took me to Barsac. Pineapple, lemon and lime. Clean, focused, lingering texture. I was surprised to see this was Rieussec as I was confident it was a Barsac. 94 (94 points)
- 1977 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
Tasted blind. Translucent colour. Rose colour with some orange and slight browning. Almond essence on the nose. Some strawberry. Nice peacock's tail of strawberry. Very balanced. Soft strawberry, lovely and balanced. This was my 7th time trying this wine and this was the best showing - I think it had to be older than 77 considering just how soft, balanced and integrated all the components were. 96. (96 points)
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And this was function 2 and a rare change to get to drink a flight of Burlotto Monvigliero. The winner however was the 2016 Elvio Cogno Riserva Vigna Elena which was just a knock-out. And that only made it in as the backup for a corked 2013 Vietti Ravera!
2026-03 TAVOLA NEBBIOLO #2 AT AL DENTE - (5/13/2026)
- NV Castello di Verduno Verduno Pelaverga S-ciopét Brut Rose - Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Verduno Pelaverga
Tasted blind. Wow this blew me away. Deep orange colour. Tart lemon and sherbety on the nose. Mouth puckering. High acid. Superb inner mouth perfume of tart strawberry and watermelon. The fragrance spreads upwards up your nose as the wine flows across the palate. More texture coming out as it warms. 94+. (94 points)
- 2019 Roagna Montemarzino Derthona - Italy, Piedmont, Vino da Tavola
Tasted blind. Light golden colour with some green tinges. Oxidative nose. Some pineapple on the palate but dry. Honeyed. Drinkable but really didn't do much for me. 89. (89 points)
- 2010 Ceretto Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Tart lifted nose or blueberry and lavender. Tart palate with lovely weight. The silky flow across the tongue was lovely. Lifted inner mouth perfume. Fine tannins and super silky. 95+. (95 points) - 2010 M. Marengo Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. More redcurrant on the nose. Oak on the palate with bitter hard tannins. Redcurrant fruit that is trying to fight its way past the oak. Textured. 90. (90 points) - 2010 Francesco Rinaldi e Figli Barolo Le Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Intense blueberry and earthy nose. Full and open. Flowing. Open blackcurrant and blueberry. Orange zest. There is an intense burst of fruit but the palate doesn't then quite follow through. Nice. 93+. (93 points)
- 2010 Elio Altare Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Blueberry nose. Hint of sweet fruit but then rustic and tannic. Lots of bitter oak tannins. A bit funky and volatile on the nose. Really tough drinking. 85. (85 points) - 2010 Vietti Barolo Ravera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Redcurrant and mint nose. Young and raw tasting. Quite tannic and extracted. Quite a dark colour. Redcurrant and dark raspberry. To me, Vietti was in an awkward phase in 2010 - bridging between some modernistic and traditional techniques. The 2021 Ravera next to it was so pure, translucent, bright and lifted in comparison. 93+. (93 points) - 2016 Elvio Cogno Barolo Riserva Vigna Elena - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Pastry and red fruits on the nose. Lifted soft rose petal palate. Raspberry and strawberry. What a super wine. Fragrant, pure red fruits with texture and breadth. I could drink this all day. My WOTN. 97. (97 points) - 2021 Vietti Barolo Ravera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Sweet red fruited nose and strawberries. A hint more fruit sweetness than the other wines in the bracket. Deep rose petal and intensity. Super fragrant on the palate and with a spicy twist of strawberry and Middle Eastern spices. So pure. This was a couple of steps up in purity from the 2010 Vietti Ravera next to it. 95+ (95 points)
- 2013 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Nose of strawberry and grape juice. Soft red fruits with a fine lingering texture. Super inner mouth perfume. Whole bunch texture. Elegant. Alpine herbs and raspberry/strawberry with a citric twist. With time in the glass, the structure came out as did the tannin and the wine lost some of the impeccable balance it opened with. The 11 was the most expressive and exuberant, the 13 was most structure and the 18 was the most intense. 95+ (95 points) - 2011 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Very lifted nose. Soft, flowing, silky. More noticeable whole bunch than the 13 or 18. Elegant and expressive. Just a lovely wine to drink. This had an extra x-factor of expressive fruit than the 13 or 18. The 11 was the most expressive and exuberant, the 13 was most structure and the 18 was the most intense. 96. (96 points) - 2018 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Lovely nose of strawberry. Palate of roses and strawberry. Harmonious. High toned nose. Elegant but some more intensity than the 11 or 13. Expressive and intense. The 11 was the most expressive and exuberant, the 13 was most structure and the 18 was the most intense. 95+. (95 points)
- 2010 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Earthy dark nose. Blackcurrant. Quite tannic and unbalanced. A bit "pokey outey" as one taster said. 93 (93 points) - 2008 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Lifted and more elegant nose than the 04 and 10 next to it. More red fruits, red currants and tart blackcurrants. Really nice expressive fruit with good structure and perfectly balanced acid. Enjoyed this a lot more than the 04 or 10. 96. (96 points) - 2004 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Rich palate of blackcurrants and was the sweetest of the 04, 08 and 10. Quite 4-squared and a bit clunky. Will the 2004s ever be ready? 92. (92 points)
- NV Cappellano Barolo Chinato - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo Chinato
Herbs, tart red fruits, some oxidation. Medicinal. Enjoyed this. (93 points)
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Thanks Will for the great notes on two very fine line ups
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I have been shouting about the Vallana value play here for years. If there’s a better red QPR, I’ve never heard of it. The Campi Raudii can often be had for under $15, and ages beautifully. Have had them back to the 50s, and we just finished the last of our 2006s. Added bonus, they tend to perform very well in vintages where it was hot in the Langhe. On top of all that, there is quantity out there. Home run.
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This is from 2013, but those interested in Vallana may find it interesting.
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2004 Sottimano Barbaresco Cotta
Not the best showing, aged balsamic notes with a sweet mid, drying finish. Half an inch of sludge remaining in bottle. Perhaps a tad more filtration might have helped it 
Cross-posting a nebbiolo I had 3 weeks ago.
A couple recents:
2006 Ciabot Berton Barolo: decent, if rather unremarkable
2010 Molino Barbaresco Ausario: quite tasty in a very modern way
- 2010 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Earthy dark nose. Blackcurrant. Quite tannic and unbalanced. A bit “pokey outey” as one taster said. 93 (93 points) - 2008 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Lifted and more elegant nose than the 04 and 10 next to it. More red fruits, red currants and tart blackcurrants. Really nice expressive fruit with good structure and perfectly balanced acid. Enjoyed this a lot more than the 04 or 10. 96. (96 points) - 2004 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind. Rich palate of blackcurrants and was the sweetest of the 04, 08 and 10. Quite 4-squared and a bit clunky. Will the 2004s ever be ready? 92. (92 points)
Cavallotto’s San Giuseppe is one of the most ‘old school’ Barolo bottlings I’ve drunk, at least lately. It makes sense to me that this wine would still be young in very classic vintages like '04 and '10, and that it would be more forward in '08. For my own drinking, I focus more on vintages like '08 than I do on the great classics, just because they do take so long to come around.
(We import Cavallotto in some US markets.)
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