Ian's Birthday Piedmont Extravaganza

Tasted Wednesday, May 24, 2023 by Radders12345 with 168 views

Introduction

I felt incredibly privileged to have been invited to this event and to count the host as a friend. His incredible generosity was on display tonight and eloquently made the point that these wines are all the more enjoyable when shared with appreciative company. To say I was appreciative feels like an understatement given these wines and the company. Thank you!

Excellent service as always from Matthieu and the team. I brought along 3 Conterno Sensory glasses for the reds.

Flight 1 - Italian Fizz (1 Note)

Flight 2 - Naughties (3 Notes)

  • 2004 Roagna Barbaresco Pajè 92 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    Kicking off the reds. I have enjoyed the 2014 of this recently but not had this old a vintage.
    On the nose dried aged roses, dark inky cherry alongside a little lifted pomegranate, old leather rand salty minerality.
    On the palate this is silky with sapid inky dark cherry and a little black tea. Long refreshing finish.
    This was a good start but suspect these should be drunk sooner vs later

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  • 2004 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Nose is very lifted and fresh with some bruised strawberry and balsamic. Similar on the palate with sweet red fruit that glides into a very elegant finish. Classic Monprivato in it's sprezzatura-esque understatement but elegance

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  • 2009 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    A little shier on the nose that the rest in the flight but some sweet red menthol, tar and mint emerge with patience - all quite fresh. On the palate nicely tangy and a lip-smacking finish. Well balanced wine that feel like it might say more in the future.

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Flight 3 - Cold War Wines (3 Notes)

  • 1990 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 95 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    The nose on this gives sweet, minty, inky plum, licorice, mushroom - each sniff rewards you with something different.
    On the palate delicious, savoury, almost salty tang, great depth of sapid plum fruit and tannins. Perfectly on point - what the Italians might call a meditation wine.

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  • 1989 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    Sweet tar on the nose, a little classic red menthol cough syrup (in a good way), mint, black tea, sun warmed tarmac.
    Very very silky and polished on the attack, quite ethereal in a way on the finish with leathery tones.
    This was playing to a different tune that the other reds in the line up but an undoubtedly well made wine and a treat to try.

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  • 1967 Cappellano Barolo 97 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Well this was a treat.
    I get the impression we often hold "old wines" in reverence for simply being old and I have to admit that on seeing this on the line up I tried to recall from GCSE history what events were occurring in 1967 but this performed way beyond just being a survivor of the "Summer of Love".

    Laser focused red fruit - it feels like a virtuoso sax solo while the rest of the jazz band pauses. Flavour-wise there is really clear red plum with a some umeshu, it’s crystal clear and so well delineated. The finish lasts an age. This is benchmark setting for me - thank you Ian!

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Flight 4 - Barolo Greats (3 Notes)

Flight 5 - Giacosa Throw Down (3 Notes)

Flight 6 - Extra-Fizz (1 Note)

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