February 28, 2024 - Pronounced nose of red cherry, iron, roses, violet, blood orange, dried herbs. High acid and tannin. Full body, intense flavour but a little one dimensional beyond the fruit. Powerful and long finish. This is good but lacks some complexity - perhaps (understandably) a product of the accelerated ripening and early picking.
February 21, 2024 - Light and fruity. Elegant and lifted. Really nice now , not super complex. Drink 2023-2027 i would say. 92-93p
February 14, 2024 - Opened and left to slow ox at cellar temp for 9 hours, then decanted an hour before serving. This was delightful, with wild berry fruit along with savory notes of tar and herbs. The palate is medium to light weight with a polished texture and possibly a slight oak gloss. I don't actually know the oak treatment here, so I could well be wrong. There are some tannins that emerge on the back end which are easily buffered by food. But this still needs time for the tannins to continue to melt, at least for my palate. There is excellent mid palate focus on the finish, suggesting good depth for further aging.
November 5, 2023 - I am enjoying this wine so much! The 2011 vintage is in the shadow of the much more heralded 2010 and also in some respects the 2013. The latest bottle of this wine did not disappoint. One thing this wine has made me do is to rethink decanting. I decided not to decant this wine and it was noticeably reticent on opening with nothing much on the nose and quite astringent on the palate. Leaving it with just the cork loosely replaced allow it to oxygenate very gently and day 2 it was simply divine - I think decanting may have rushed this a bit? The tannins had softened and it has some beautiful ripe red fruits with some light burnt sugar. It has a wonderful evocative nose with some wild strawberry and herbs and the palate is also silky and smooth with wonderful mouthfeel. I was so impressed that despite having a few bottles left I ordered another case on the strength of this tasting! I’d been keen to try the Casa Mate from the same vintage to compare it with.
October 31, 2023 - Drinking nicely. Better second day. Try next bottle in a year
October 27, 2023 - Previous tasting note spot on! In a great place now, can also hold for a handful more years.
August 20, 2023 - Very nice. Light to medium translucent brick red. Aromas of dry rose florals, red earth, hint of tobacco but still quite primary. Slight hint of heat, but not off putting at all. Palate is firm, dry, grippy and earthy but underneath it all it also has some raspberry and a sweetness that is very attractive. Enjoyed this and ready now, but likely to get better still.
July 17, 2023 - Had this as part of a sushi dinner and saved it for the last course, which was Japanese Wagyu with a black garlic tare. The pairing was incredible. The wine showed beautifully with bright fruit, savory minerality and the tannins were integrated and fine. These 2011s are delicious and easy to enjoy.
January 15, 2023 - Perfect barolo!
November 5, 2022 - Nice sleek racy black fruit, earth, cassis, leather and tar. Great balance and still loads of bright youthfulness.