Ceretto Barolo Brunate 1997, Ceretto Barbaresco Asili 1998, Massolino Barolo 2000

A bounty of delicious wines recently with friends ... 

WOTN was the '97 Brunate. Just ridiculously good. Brunate appellation certainly deserves its status (although this bottling is a bit ripe at 14.5% alc.)....Very elegant perfumed nose, lush fruit complemented by excellent earthiness with characteristic tar profile. Drink now... it's at its peak. 

The '98 Asili was a bit more nimble on the palate with an interesting anise component and lovely aromatics. 

Both Ceretto's were fully decanted and gained impressive presence over the course of the evening, especially the Brunate - which really hit its stride after about 4 hours and was going strong after 7 hours.

'00 Massolino is a very enjoyable "normale"... like most wines from this vintage, it's a rich and heady bottling... very approachable now for a Serralunga d'Alba vino...

The Bouissiere Gigondas was a 2005 vintage ... have not had one in a long time, but this one is a delicious effort by the Faravel brothers.  Really at its peak now. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. . Rich, luscious fruit with satiny tannins ... creosote and spice notes... a bit hot would be my only slight complaint (14.5% alc.)... 

The 2007 Roero Arneis was the favorite white wine of the evening. .. really well balanced.  The '05 Brewer Clifton Mt. Carmel chardonnay smelled gorgeous (seductive tropical notes) but alas the palate was marred by overabundance of oak ... The '09 Petite Arvine was delightful. .. offering more sweetness of fruit than the Arneis.

------ 13 days later -----

Enjoyed the remaining quarter bottles of the Ceretto Asili and Massolino normale this evening. 

Asili was a true delight. .. gossamer tannins with such noble fruit dancing on the palate. ... delicious aromatics ...great nebbiolo can be a balm for the soul !

Juxtaposed next to the Asili,  the Massolino normale was massive. A blunt instrument to be appreciated on its own merits after the Asili was gone... still quite enjoyable ... an excellent exercise in understanding the differences between a younger blend and a single vineyard in its prime.