September 2008
It was great to meet Enzo Brezza among the clutter of his busy, slightly ... the mid-term.
2007 Dolcetto Fossati – 88pts
Bottled 10 days earlier
Very high-toned nose with slightly fleshy bitter cherry and a touch of cigarette ash 2
Lithe and elegant in the mouth with sweet fruit... Read moreIt was great to meet Enzo Brezza among the clutter of his busy, slightly ... the mid-term.
2007 Dolcetto Fossati - 88pts
Bottled 10 days earlier
Very high-toned nose with slightly fleshy bitter cherry and a touch of cigarette ash 2
Lithe and elegant in the mouth with sweet fruit and a good tannic bite 2+
Refreshing in the mouth, almost a vinello style with great pure fruit and a bit of arugula floating above 2+
The finishes continues the arugula note over bitter cherry with admirable length 2+
2007 Dolcetto San Lorenzo - 88pts
From the back of the Cannubi hill facing west
More restrained on the nose with a gentle green tobacco tone to the dark fruit 2
Big and lush with soft tannins and a dense feel2
Darker flavors in the mouth with a decidedly woodsy/earth tone to the wild cherry fruit and a touch of sweet tea in the background 2
Finishes with lovely tannins and lots of dark cherry fruit and cherry pit tones ending with emerging tannins 3
2007 Barbera Santa Rosalia - 88pts
From a vineyard between Alba and Diano that is also used for Nebbiolo
Reticent nose of earth, green flowers, and undertone of raspberry jam, turns very floral 2+
Good sweet entry is followed by bright acidity and featherweight tannins. 2+
Very fruity in the mouth with plum and red berry tones, fresh delicious and uncomplicated2+
Finishes a bit short with a gentle cherry fruitiness pulled along by the fruity acidity 2
2006 Barbera Cannubi Muscatel - 87pts
1 year in new botti
Smoke, ash and a woody background note compete with violet and darkly earthy notes on the nose 2+
Weighty in the mouth with soft acidity and a touch of tannin 2+
Plummy flavors have a hard candy edge tot hem with just a touch of drying tannin on the mid-palate 2
Finishes a bit short but refreshing with a touch of mineral bit on the back end and a smoky finale 2
2006 Nebbiolo d’Alba Santa Rosalia - 91pts
9-12 months in botti
Really fresh aromatics are redolent of cherry, herb, and sandy soil with a touch of bitter citrus rind. Develops engaging notes of rust, rosewater and an edge of cedar. 3
Soft and fruity in the mouth with lots of soft tannin, solid acidity and a gentle sweetness 2+
Up front there is a rush of lovely strawberry fruit with a sandy soil background and underlay’s of sweet licorice and green herb 2+
A bit grippy on the finish, which is long and pure with a young, leafy edge and fruit blossom notes, and lingering licorice tones Lovely austerity. 3
2005 Freisa Santa Rosalia
From cork finished bottle - 87pts
The nose offers up tons of dried floral notes with very minerally and earthy notes as well as a bit of balsamic treebark and pink peppercorn tones 2+
Fairly tannic for it’s weight and a touch drying 2
Spicy in the mouth with a distinct mineral bite to the sweet/sour huckleberry/plum fruit 2+
Finishes with a touch of rustic, aggressive tannins but has good spicy notes and even a bit of blueberry on the finale 2
From a vino-lok finished bottle - 89pts
Fresh on the nose with intense floral, almost perfumed soap tones and more intense and clear spice notes of menthol, sassafras and drying hay 2+
Still fairly tannic but a bit fleshier 2
Freshly fruity in the mouth with much better definition to the violet, dark plum, and spicy/mineral iron flavors 3
Finishes with brighter fruit and clean notes of spearmint and dark plum 2+
2003 Barolo Sarmassa - 88pts
Just opened
Cool and low key at first with notes of limestone and leather being joined by increasing florality and an underlying sweetness of fruit that is a bit animal 2+
Slightly aggressive tannins on entry with a lot of power in the mouth though a touch hot and drying 2+
Darkly fruited with strawberry confiture tones and an edge of bitterness that recalls espresso and licorice, slightly medicinal 2+
Soft and easy on the finish with medium length and a bit of pasticcerria going on 2+
2004 Barolo Sarmassa - 91pts
Just opened
Grassy and earth on the nose, reticent with a slatey sort of smokiness and gentle tones of smoldering hay and a menthol top note 2+
Smooth in the mouth with excellent integration, a balanced, seamless feel 3
Fresh fruit tones with good cut added by fresh herbal notes. An array of sweet notes from licorice, to violet, a touch of red apple2+
Very gentle tannins on the ethereal finish with its appealing soil tones and flourishes of menthol and tobacco 3
2003 Barolo Bricco Sarmassa - 88pts
Herbal and savory at first with notes of sassafras and cola over fresh meaty/spicy tones with an anise like freshness then develops a definite confiture of dark fruit aspect with bitter earth in the background 2+
Fresh in the mouth yet a bit soft and the tannins are a touch drying 2
On entry there are dark coffee bean tones followed by dark, almost roasted fruit with dried herb and soil nuances adding complexity 2+
Finishes with fresh mineral accents to the dark, drying fruit notes and a finale of almost molasses/baking spice 2+
2004 Barolo Bricco Sarmassa - 93pts
A big, fruity nose starts out with classic cherry in alcohol notes then a bit of prune plum, freshly cut herbs, salty mineral notes some prosciutto hints and layers of floral and forest floor tones. Great nose 3+
Big and full in the mouth with big, round tannins and very well integrated acidity 3
Slightly bitter on entry then a blast of dark cherry almost confiture of strawberry fruit with an edge of melon rind. Fairly spicy with a touch of espresso crema. 2+
Really muscular finish with a broad and deep quality to the red berried fruit and a lovely bitter cherry pit tone to the finale 3
2003 Barolo Cannubi - 88pts
Bottle opened for 2 days
The nose here is very intense with a layer floral quality very strong on violets then sweet, chinato like tones that recall cola and root beer. 2+
Very fresh in the mouth with ripe tannins and good acidity 2+
Lovely mineral and licorice tinged midpalate has nice strawberry fruit tones and a menthol top note 2+
Finishes long with more menthol tones and shows a touch of heat 2
2004 Barolo Cannubi - 91pts
Bottle open for 1 day
Very clean and pure on the nose with pure rose, slightly foxy red berry fruit and licorice then refreshing mineral/sand/limestone notes. Like walking through sandy soil in a garden after a rain. 3
Elegant in the mouth with a round feel that integrates fine acidity and very ripe tannins 3
The flavors of dark cherry are just a bit fudgy/stewy but with good, refreshing herbal top notes 2+
Finishes with lovely transparency and good grip 2 (hide)
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