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Sunday, March 15, 2015

2000 Damilano Barolo Riserva

My first experience with the Damilano Riserva. This 2000 edition is one of the best Damilano wines I've had from any of their vintages.  Based on this experience,  I will seek out their Riserva's.  

Fruit is sourced from Castellero, Bussia, Parussi, Fossati, and Monvigliero vineyards from vines with 30 to 50 years of age.
Slow-O for 3 hours and then full decant for dinner. Graceful, lithe in body with delicate and very alluring fruit and aromatics. Very well balanced and quite translucent in color. One could certainly say that it resembled an excellent premier cru from Vosne-Romanee. WOTN.


Other wines at the dinner:

1997 Einaudi Barolo Costa Grimaldi - a serviceable '97... appeared a bit past its peak. Not nearly as balanced as the Damilano Riserva.  Heavier-handed flavor profile with tar, roses and tannins. 

2000 Boroli Villero - next to the other wines, this is an oak-monster with the modern style obscuring much of the beauty of the Villero terroir.  On its own, it could be interpreted as an attractive quaffable Barolo.

2012 Arterberry Maresh - Maresh Vineyard - glorious 13.2% abv ... so preferable to the new world pinot noirs that approach 15% abv these days.  A youngster of a traditional Oregon pinot noir.  Nose is reticent at this stage.  Fruit, forest and spices.  Needs time, but my overall impression is that it is a bit underwhelming for the price point.

2001 Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape les Hautes Brusquieres - I mentioned this one in an earlier post ... its a bit tired.


Sunday, March 8, 2015

2002 LdH Vina Tondonia Reserva & 2001 Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape les Hautes Brusquieres

Paired with bell peppers stuffed with ground beef and mushrooms.

How can you tell a great wine?  When it is excellent even in an off vintage... the 2002 LdH Vina Tondonia Reserva is a classic example.   LdH wines are fast becoming a go-to wine for me.  This vintage is drinking perfectly now.   Deep cherry,  leather,  toasted hazelnuts and a sublime salinity underlying it all.  Traditional and absolutely gorgeous Rioja.

The 2001 Brusquieres is a classically styled 60/40 blend of grenache & syrah. Lovely raspberry,  creosote and garrigue.   The 2001 is not shining as brightly as the 2000 tasted in December but is still very good...
http://lestastevinsdulac.blogspot.com/2015/01/2000-charbonniere-cdp-les-hautes.html?m=1