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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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White
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2016 Chateau Musar Blanc
Bekaa Valley
White Blend more
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After having a flawed bottle about a week ago, this had to be given another try.
Clear, medium lemon colour. In the nose, there is a very slight toastiness present, with some yellow plum, ripe bruised fruits and nuttiness. On the palate, the wine is dry and has nice acidity that slowly builds up on your gums. The aromas from the nose are repeated, along with a creamy, almost waxy texture and some salinity. The aftertaste is surprisingly fresh with ripe citrus, nutty aromas, dried herbs and flowers and just a tiny touch of oak.
Overall, this feels quite stylish and very much Musar-like. Obviously it is still very young, and you do get the sense that there is potential for lots of added complexity when aged for a few years. On it's own, the wine feels slightly awkward in it's current phase, and would maybe work better if paired with food. However, it will most certainly show it's true colours only after some more bottle age, as with white Musars in general. Looking forward to trying this again in the future. Superb stuff!
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White
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2016 Chateau Musar Blanc
Bekaa Valley
White Blend more
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Clear, almost amber-like colour. The nose is oxidised, carrying notes of cornflower and a slight madeira-like tone. On the palate, the wine feels medium-bodied and quite low in acidity. A distant aroma of ripe yellow apples can be found, along with the slightest hint of oak.
This was in no way reminiscent of the white Musar's I've had in the past. As these wines are known for their capability to age for a long time, I think it is safe to say this bottle was not of sound quality. Looking forward to trying another bottle soon.
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Red
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2017 Tenuta Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casa
Sangiovese more
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In the nose, the wine shows nice fruitiness with cranberries and some sour cherries. On the palate, the notes from the nose are repeated, followed by some dried herbs and a nice mineraly character. The wine has good, fresh acidity and snappy tannins. Doesn't feel too full bodied or clumsy. Finish is quite long and pleasant.
Overall, this is certainly one of the best succeeding wines from the difficult 2017 vintage. Structurally excellent, giving the impression that this will last for years to come.
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White
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2017 Weingut Dreissigacker Riesling Organic Trocken
Rheinhessen
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Pale gold colour. The nose is showing some development, with mature green apples, some lime and the slightest hint of petrol. On the palate, the wine feels fresh and zippy, with good levels of acidity. Notes of fresh citrus, mature apples and herbs.
Overall, this wine feels like it's at its peak right now. Will most likely still keep for a few years, but I can't really see it developing much further. I definitely think this wine usually benefits from a year or two of aging, as it tends to have a strong, almost piercing acitdity in its youth. I feel like aging it makes it a bit more versitaile in terms of food pairing. There is still nice acidity left, but as a whole it feels a bit more balanced, and has more depth. Great stuff for the price!
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Red
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2009 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Riserva Gramolere
Nebbiolo more
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Tasted through coravin, from a magnum bottle.
In the nose, the wine has aromas of oak, iron and even some smoke. On the palate the wine is full bodied, highly tannic, good acidity. Flavours of sour cherries, ripe lingonberries, dark chocolate and some herbs. The wine is earthy and fleshy, with quite pronounced oak and somewhat noticeable alcohol. The finish is medium long, quite voluminous, oaky and somewhat black-peppery. The wine definitely gets better as it opens up in the glass, showing brighter fruit and better balance.
This wine, at least for me, from a magnum feels still too young. The style isn't either my favourite for Nebbiolo, with strong oak influence and a stronger lean towards power and weight rather than elegance. This one is most likely in a very enjoyable state from a regular bottle, but the magnum needs more time.
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Red
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1967 Giorgio Carnevale Barolo
Nebbiolo more
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Tasted through coravin. Alcohol at 13,5%
Bright brick colour. The nose is developed, showing lots of tertiary aromas along with notes of ripe berries and some tar. On the palate the wine is medium bodied, has good tannic grip and a nice acidity. There are flavours of red berries, ripe cranberries, herbs, black pepper and sour cherries. Finish is moderate in length, repeating the tar from the nose with the addition of some spiciness.
A lovely expression of Barolo from the great vintage 1967. This wine is completely alive, at it's peak and drinking wonderfully. The grippiness is still remarkable for over 50 years of age, and lends to a harmonious whole that together with the more developed aromas and flavours highlight the great aging potential that Nebbiolo at it's best possesses.
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Red
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1982 Château Clarke
Listrac-Médoc
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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The wine has a light brick colour. The nose is quite developed, showing notes of tar, dried berries and cigar. On the palate the wine is almost full-bodied, tannins are somewhat prominent but very soft, and the acidity is surprisingly moderate. There are quite a lot of tertiary flavours, along with some bruised raspberries, very subtle cassis, ripe red berries, and even a hint of strawberry. Also noticeable are the flavours of tobacco, leather and some coffee. The finish is long and dry, with subtle spiciness, black pepper and gentle oak character.
Overall, the wine is in great shape. It has held up well against time, and is in a beautiful condition now. Obviously the tertiary aromas are very prominent, and fruit is declining, but it still seems to serve beautiful and enjoyable complexity after 40 years. Structure is still good. Elegant stuff!
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White - Sweet/Dessert
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1992 Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos
Furmint Blend, Furmint more
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This bottle was served as a part of the celebration of a friend's 30th birthday.
The wine is translucent brown in colour. In the nose the wine feels quite aged, there are notes of dried fruits and some smoke. On the palate the wine is sweet, has medium acidity and great length. It shows notes of ripe pineapple, raisins, figs and peaches. The wine feels quite weighty and developed, revealing some toastiness and a hint of smoke as it opens up. Finish is long and sweet.
This Tokaji has lasted well the 30 years it has seen. It is obviously right at it's peak and will most likely start to head downhill in the next two years or so. The texture and structure are still excellent, and the flavours are wonderfully complex. As it evolves in the glass, it starts to go downhill quite quickly. I would drink up any remaining bottles within the next 3-4 years. Marvellous now, might be too late soon!
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White
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1992 Brown Brothers Dry Muscat Blanc Victoria
more
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Tasted half-blind. We knew the vintage of the wine, and that the grapes for the wine were picked during the first half of the vintage. This bottle was served as a part of the celebration of a friend's 30th birthday.
The wine has a rich amber colour. The nose is quite subtle, showing notes of ripe citrus, some bruised apples, apricot and tar. On the palate the wine is dry and has a surprising level of acidity for a wine this old. It feels somewhat weighty in structure, and is remarkably mellow. Notes reminding of raw cantaloupes, bruised apples and raw peaches at first, followed by some honey, tar, subtle citrus notes and even a touch of apricot.
This was an interesting tasting experience. The wine has aged beautifully and was very well balanced. What was the most remarkable however was the amount of raw and unripe fruit aromas, something I don't expect to find in a wine that is 30 years old. Definitely one of the coolest wines I have had the chance to taste.
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White
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2019 Domaine Vicomte de NoüeᚐMarinič Chardonnay Groblja Vedrignano II Cru
Goriška Brda
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100% Chardonnay. East-facing terraced vineyard of 1,5ha at 250m altitude, soil comprised of sandstone, marl and limestone schist. Average age of the vines is 45 years. Fermented for 14 days in oak, then aged 12 months in old Burgundy barrels and a further 12 months in stainless steel. 14,5% alcohol.
The wine is of a pale golden colour. Right after pouring the wine feels somewhat reduced, but giving it some time really helps. In the nose, the wine shows notes of yellow plums and bruised apples, along with some very prominent oak. The oak is also the first thing you'll notice on the palate, but it is remarkably well integrated. After the initial oak "attack" there are some more bruised apples & yellow plums, gentle notes of unripe peaches and wet stones. The wine has a beautifyl minerally character that is very much reminiscent of white Burgundy, reminding me mostly of Meursault. The finish is long and surprisingly fresh, with citrus and minerality being the most prominent flavours. As the wine evolves and opens up, the oak hides itself very gracefully and moves over to let the fruitiness shine. Notes of honeydew and browned butter start to show up as the wine gets to breathe for a while. Balance is excellent all round.
If someone was to pour me a glass of this wine blind, and then go on to say it was a white Burgundy, I'd be completely convinced, and I bet a lot of people would be. The balance of ripe fruit notes, beautiful minerality and skillful use of oak is so well done here. I'm always excited about the more obscure wine regions out there, and this wine definietly delivers for someone looking to experience something new and exciting. The price is moderately expensive at 80+ euros per bottle, but then again, so is good white Burgundy, and I strongly believe this wine is on a level where a price like this is justified. Really enjoyable stuff.
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White - Off-dry
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2010 Albert Gessinger Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** Alte Reben Caldo Infernale
Mosel Saar Ruwer
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After tasting through eight champagnes and an english sparkler, we decided to end the tasting with something a bit sweeter. Under a short discussion we agreed an Auslese Riesling would suit the occasion the best, so our host went to their cellar, and returned with a bottle of the 2010 Caldo Infernale.
The colour is neon-yellow. There was loads of creamy white sediment floating all around the bottle that found it's way to our glasses as well. The wine has a sweet bouquet reminiscent of ripe pears and canned pineapples. When tasting the wine, you instantly realize you're dealing with something quite special; the high amount of sugar battling with the immense acidity makes it somewhat hard to define how sweet the wine actually tastes. It is, of course, incredibly sweet, but the racy acidity manages to balance the sugar out very well. On the palate, the wine repeats the notes of the bouquet with the addition of ripe green apples, some gentle marmalade, honey and even birch leafs. What really struck me though were the aromas that followed: medicine, spice and even a hint of white pepper. All aromas that I had previously found from different wines, but never from a sweet Riesling like this one. The finish is long and lingering, and that acid-sugar-combination really kind of numbs your palate, amplifying that this wine is best placed at the very end of a tasting.
This is some serious stuff. I have had the chance to taste a few sweet Rieslings during my short time in wine so far. All great, but nothing has been quite the experience as this one. Just by looking at the specs of this wine you know you are in for a special treat, but tasting it certainly shows how well the winemakers in Mosel know their way around balancing a wine. It leaves me speechless. Guess I have to start looking for some bottles for my own cellar...
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White
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2014 Querciabella Batàr
Toscana IGT
Chardonnay Blend, Chardonnay more
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Tasted through coravin. Alcohol at 13,5%.
The wine is of a somewhat yellow-ish lemony colour. In the nose the wine shows clear notes of ripe yellow plums and some overripe apples. On the palate, the taste repeats the notes in the nose, with the addition of some citrus and tender herbalness. The wine is dry and has medium+ acidity. The finish is somewhat long with very pronounced oak character. As it opens up it shows a somewhat salty quality to it, which I found a bit odd. The alcohol is quite pronounced, it creeps up in a determined manner.
Overall, this wine screams some food to go with it. On its own it feels a bit clumsy. The oak dominates the finish quite heavily and the palate gets sometimes hidden by the alcohol. I could see this wine best suited along some aged and hard cheeses. Heavier dishes featuring chicken could maybe work as well. There is good potential here, it just needs something to accompany it to truly show its merits.
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White
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NV Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Heritage Cuvee 50 Years (released 2021)
Kamptal
White Blend more
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Tasted through coravin. 12,5% alcohol, 5g/l residual sugar, 6,1g/l acidity.
The wine is of a rich golden colour. At first, the nose is somewhat closed, but starts slowly to exhibit gentle notes of lime, peach, ripe apple and even some citrus, followed by a fresh minerality. On the palate the wine is on the dryer side, with good acids. Mouthfeel is smooth and generous. At first, the taste is reminiscent of ripe citrus, apples, grapefruit and even peach. The finish is long and minerally, with hints of fresh herbs, delicate petrol character. As the wine opens up the flavours of peaches and grapefruit become more prominent, and there is even some slight honey-like quality creeping up.
This wine is full of layers. I only had it in the glass for about 30 minutes, but I can see how it would continue to evolve much longer. It makes you smile, due to the sheer specialness of it; there really isn't anything quite like this out there. Is it the greatest wine in the world? Absolutely not. But it most certainly is unique, and that makes it worth the somewhat steep price tag. It simply makes you feel good.
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Red
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2008 Cà Nova Colline Novaresi Vigna San Quirico
Nebbiolo more
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Bottle opened about half an hour before pouring. At first, the wine shows a wonderful bouquet of berries and herbs. In the nose, notes of cherries, lingonberries and even some cranberry along with a whiff of violet. On the palate the wine is very fresh and vibrant, repeating the flavours of fresh berries from the nose. Good acidity, medium+ tannins but relatively grippy, medium body. As the wine evolves and opens up, it starts to show some earthy tones and slight peppery notes. The aftertaste is long and lively.
This wine is drinking marvellously right now. The fruit is all still there, with no sign of fading at all. Tannins are still well present, and overall the wine seems as fresh as it would have been 10 years ago. This wine will most likely last well into the later part of 2030's. A wonderfully enjoyable expression of the cooler climate and it's possibilities in Northern Piedmont.
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Red
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2010 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Reserve
Red Rhone Blend more
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This is a big wine. Very full-bodied, round, mouth-filling tannins. Alcohol burns a bit at the beginning, and eventually letting through the immense amounts of pepper. Fruitwise, there are plums, raisins and dark red berries. Overall a very ripe tasting wine. Really nice already, but keeping this one in the cellar will most likely make your smile even bigger in the future.
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White
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2016 Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières
Chardonnay more
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On the nose the wine offers some ripe apples and even some crispy pear notes. On the palate the wine has a very oily, silky consistency. Nice bright acids and ripe apples, very sublte citrus and honey, even some white pepper. Oakiness starts to come through as the wine opens up more. Overall, this wine is super elegant and generous. Excellent drinking experience with many layers and nuances. Should keep well for another few years... if you can keep yourself from opening a bottle.
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Red
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2017 Sukula Barolo Meriame
Nebbiolo more
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Tasted at the estate. Aged for 28 months in used French Tonneaux barrels, and additionally at least 8 months in the bottle.
Medium-bodied, grippy tannins, high acidity. Some violet, cherries and lingonberries. Herbal notes and mild spiciness. Surprisingly plain and easy to approach, suggesting the 2017 vintage wont't be as long-lived as 2016 for example. Drinking well now, enjoying it with meat really livens up the wine and brings out the delicious fruitiness. A solid Barolo, I just happen to prefer the punchier, more traditional side of Barolo.
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Red
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2019 Sukula Barbera d'Alba Meriame
more
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Tasted at the estate. Aged 8-10 months in used French Tonneaux barrels.
Medium bodied, medium level tannins, nice acidity. Lots of sour cherries, herbs and dark berries. Fresh and vibrant, exactly at the sweet spot for a barbera, not being too full-bodied and heavy and not too light either. Some slight oak and peppery notes in the finish. Overall a nice barbera for sipping with a plate of meats and cheeses or accompanying pasta, lighter meat dishes etc.
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White - Sparkling
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2018 Sukula Alta Langa Extra Brut
White Blend more
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Tasted at the estate. 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay. Zero dosage.
Very lovely, dry and acidic sparkling. Showing notes of fresh citrus, grapefruit and yellow apples. Some yeastiness and a hint of rosemary on the long and lingering finish. Will be nice to see how this one evolves in a few years.
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Red
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1995 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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This one is starting to head downhill. A lot of tertiary aromas, tannins are mostly gone, still some acid. Notes of viola, pepper and pencil shavings. Still very enjoyable, but definietly past it's peak. Nice experience!
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White
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2011 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein
Wachau
more
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Tasted under the course of a few hours. At 11 years of age, this wine is drinking excellently. Acids are slowly starting to fade but are still well in place for the time being. Very fresh with notes of citrus and green apples, even some crispy pear, especially when chilled. As the wine opens up it starts to show some some clementine tones, along with petroleum, cashew and slight spiciness. Excellent bottle with potential for some more years, but by all means very enjoyable right now.
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Red
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2018 Bricco Maiolica Langhe Nebbiolo
Langhe DOC
more
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Very nice, big Langhe Nebbiolo. Medium to full bodied, nice grippy tannins, lots of fresh cherries, cranberry notes, some herbs and a touch of leather. Slightest hint of oak on the finish. Very nicely balanced, knocks cheap Barolo out of the park any day. Drink now or keep for a few years!
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White
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1973 Maison Roche de Bellene Meursault Collection Bellenum
Chardonnay more
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Tasting portion poured with Coravin from a bottle that has been re-corked at the estate at some point during the bottle's lifespan.
On the nose, the wine has at first a slightly oxidized aroma that is followed up by notes of truffles, mushroomy aromas and even some sherry-like vibes. On the palate the wine repeats the aromas from the nose, while having suprisingly good levels of acids for a wine of this age. As it evolves in the glass the wine starts to show some veery ripe citrus, yellow apple and even the slightest yellow plum notes. The finish brings some cashew notes and leaves the citrus and the acids tickling your mouth and tongue.
This is honestly a fabulous wine that is drinking remarkably well right now; the acids and surprising levels of fruit make the wine seem quite youthful considering its age. It needs some time to open up, and a whole bottle might benefit from a quick decant, but will likely start to deteriorate after some time. A perfect Coravin-sipper if you can find one with a cork in good condition.
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White - Sparkling
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2008 Legras & Haas Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé L.T.S Chouilly
Chardonnay more
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"L.T.S" on the label stands for Long Term Storage. The champagne is aged in bottle sur lies for 12 years, disgorgement in 2021. In the nose the wine has a beautiful almondy, somewhat yeasty scent. Bubbles are microscopic and the mousse is very smooth. On the palate the wine seems a lot younger than it actually is; lots of citrus and even some delicate flowery notes. The freshness is complemented by almonds and some toastiness in the aftertaste. Acids are still strong and beautiful.
Overall, the wine is very well balanced, on the dryer side with 3,5g/l of dosage. An enjoyable expression of the great year 2008 was.
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White
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2020 Fontanafredda Roero Arneis
more
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Bright yellow colour. Very mild on the nose, some slight flower notes and straw. On the palate the wine is buttersmooth and honeylike in structure, almost oily. Acids are quite well hidden and creep up in the aftertaste. The wine expresses tender notes of lime, flowers and some herbs.
Overall the wine leaves something to be desired. Nothing outstanding, nor exciting. Basic, easy-drinking wine with good balance. Paired best with light dishes or salads, and seafood.
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