Nothing really sets the tone right like a Dom P2. We love the “normal” 2000 ( Papies 94) as it’s an u sung hero of the Dom vintages but the P2 at this stage raises the experience to another level. It’s been 2 years since we had this ( Papies 95) and very happy to see it performing very well still.
Rounder and richer, elevated if we can use that word on the palate and even trying the last glass at the end of the meal was still bright and energetic. Soft elegant rich feel, very focused wine and an amazing experience. 95-96

From the beautiful cellar of Il Centro a Priocca, Piedmont .
Granted there is some stargazing with this wine and one cannot but feel in awe in its presence. The wine starts with a super beautiful nose. Soft yet with an intensity. Still has an oaky dynamic and in general the wine felt young ! Devout of all the premix shenanigans this is top level for a reason and it’s impressive that even at 13 yrs is so bright and energetic and still very much primary. The nose it’s the highlight now but the palate is not too shabby either. Bright yet not sharp, well rounded and polished acidity, soft oaky under tone, stone fruits, soft apple at times. We wanted more of that nutty feel that CD is famous for but not yet. A really impressive wine At the start of its drinking window. Patience will be rewarded here. 95

A bit of a unicorn wine at this stage in Piedmont’s wine scene. This was labelled pre 2010 as Canubi San Lorenzo Ravera ( same law that affected clerico’s botttlings) made from fruit from those 3 vineyards and even at age 4 the wine is really impressive. Granted young ( not harsh or austere in any way) and still very much on the primary side this drinks and delivers superbly. Soft tar on the nose, dark fruits, bright and energetic , round and silky on the edges. Very solid wine delicious now and with lots of life ahead. 94 now but with lots of future potential.

Another unicorn wine from the great cellar of Il Centro a Priocca, Piedmont .
A good modernist Barbaresco , modern like modern Piedmont needs to be or become according to us. A touch heavier and richer than the classic versions but this is special in its style without being heavy or in anyway overdone.
Bright dark fruits, cherry notes of course, soft spice. Lots of palate presence and length , energetic still and with a long way to go.super solid 94 for now but with lots of potential ahead.

We were offered a glass by the owner of Il Centro a Priocca, Piedmont . Blind
This for us was a 50yr old + Madeira and we would have bet money on it.
Dark caramel in color, glossy though and bright. Soft oxidation, nutty, caramel feel and really all the textbook aromatics we associate with great Madeira . On the palate it’s impressively energetic and with lots of depth of flavour and super complex. Maybe the best wine we have ever tried out of Sicily. 96

Impressively focus’s and bright wine. Glossy and sparkled in the glass .
The palate is full of intensity and is a lot less vinous ( Vs the 2000 for example we tried the day before) . A true DP amplified but the extra tpyears on lees and really this wine can easily go another 20years .This is now for the lovers of the firm and bright side of the wine, if more vinous and more rounder is the goal, 2000 and or 1998 are better choices. Pointless to say more this is just a master class. 95 for now but with a lot of potential for the future!

We had this on the follow of the great and very young 2002 (Papies 95) and this is a more evolved albeit less vinous than the 2000 at this stage.
Rounder and softer, very elegant , vinous side but without sacrificing the laser like focus that defines the wines of DP. Just with an add on richer and more evolved profile. Super 96

Decanted and served blind.
Very much a Barolo on the aromatics , dark cherry and soft tar. Spice. Was a bit rustic if we have to say and lacked the elegance we expected from Giacosa especially having tried the Roche del Falletto from 2003 ( Papies 94) which always fascinating. 91 for this though

Made I. Great years only and this 1997 labelled Etichetta as it wears on the label the work of Wayne Thiebaud.
And a worthy wine to carry it indeed, we had this blind and almost missed it as a Barolo, soft and elegant, devout of any hash or rustic side . Soft spice, evolved fruit, lots of depth of flavour and a nice secondary developed side to add to the symphony. A superb Barolo and a worthy 96-97

A wine that seems to elude us. On the first occasion in 2014 it was painfully young. On this day it took its time to open up ( Never matched the 98 we have the 2000 vintage last year) and frankly we are not sur end the wine was in a good place albeit we did not feel and flaw. Maybe third time lucky on another occasion.

Selected and served blind by the sommelier of the great Ciau del Tornavento and was a real eye opener. First time we cross paths with this level of quality from Marche in red wines and especially as it followed a great line up of wines and shown through.
Silky and elegant on the palate, soft and with lovely evolved dark fruit on the nose and with a persistence of flavour that would stay with us for a long time. Superb. 94-95

As expected playfula nd aromatic, a playground in a wine and albeit soft and exuberant in its aromatics its by no means a simple of poor wine.bright floral side, soft mandarins and citrus flowers. Granted it had a bit of a confectionery side , it still a small flaw if we can call it that and for an 8yr old this was still very energetic and beautiful. Great way to finish a long meal and trust us it will put a smile on everyone’s face.

By the glass to finish yet another epic lunch at the excellent Ciau del Tornavento.
From a 3L bottle just opened this was soft and elegant, round and very polished. A very easy and almost dangerous grappa as it’s so easy to be carried away! Beautiful though

A special bottling with is a blend we understand if they single vineyards.
On the rustic side of things and was a touch sharp especially vs the lush 2013 Asili we had right after ( Papies 92). Well evolved and secondary , earthy , leather at time’s and with the signature cherry on the nose. Good but expected a bit more weight on the fruit and we would suggest one drinks sooner than later. 90

The 2013 vintage really comes out well here especially from a vineyard like Asili. Round and for sure very drinkable now, lush fruit, dark fruits soft tar and very much the rounder of the Asilis we have ever tried. Good now and a solid 92 but with lots of life ahead to evolve and improve . Very good