Great vintages have a habit of throwing a few surprises as dramatic quality extends beyond the normal overachievers, hence the need to taste as widely as possible. In many ways, that is a key feature of a great vintage; the quality of the grapes is so high at the point of harvest that everyone’s chances of producing a great wine are increa...
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I recently headed to a trade tasting in Munich solely to taste a wide range of German Pinot Noir. Why? I have tasted examples from certain growers that suggest that Germany is benefiting from climate change and a base of younger growers who have really learnt their art. It has been quite some time since I had the chance to taste so many German P...
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Well, here is a surprise. I have tasted several Barolo from Cordero di Montezemolo before, and found them to be good rather than exceptional. A chance opportunity to taste the 2016s revealed a quality level I had never associated with this estate, and yet, according to reviews, the quality of their wines has been stepping up over the last five y...
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I am really pleased to have accessed an allocation from a new Barolo estate, and even more so to have won that allocation in the highly impressive 2016 vintage, which is shaping up to be one of the all-time greats for the region.
Poderi Oddero is an historic Barolo property, with roots going back to the end of the 18th century...
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An estate requiring almost no introduction, Vietti has for a number of years sat firmly in the upper echelons of Barolo producers. Producing some of the finest wines of the region, it is famed for its stand-out, single vineyard Barolo; namely Rocche, Ravera, Brunate, Lazzarito, and Villero Riserva. However, often overlooked in the Vietti stable ...
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It still amazes me that certain estates in Barolo deliver great quality, have been well-reviewed by major critics and yet remain stubbornly under the radar. The one major upside of this circumstance is just how keen their release prices remain, even in a stellar vintage such as 2016.
I have been visiting Renato Corino in La Mo...
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