Each year in April or May we go as a family down to Aberaeron in West Wales and spend a lovely week, drinking, eating and seeing family. It is a lovely town and well worth a trip for a long weekend. A couple of times I have done proper write ups of all the wines during the week - Wines in Wales 2012 & Wines in Wales 2014 - but somehow this year I didn't keep full notes. I did though have my first few Porto-Tonico's, lovely drink that!!
However, Cynan Jones and I did a great evening of Piedmont drinking and tasting. All with Cynan's splendid Rabbit Cassoulet, the picture of which is awful so not put up here. The wines were a mix of things…notes below:
Barbera d'Alba 2013, Podere Ruggeri Corsini - Cool red Barbera fruit, good balance, depth lacking but this has some charm, simple fruit and a little cool minerality, a step up from the white.
Barbera Cerretta 2008, G.Conterno - A wine I know very well, spot on now. Blackish and crimson fruit but with flavour but not weight, easy but not simple, cracking, lively acidity.
Barolo San Pietro 2008, Podere Ruggeri Corsini - Quite expressive straight away, some wood shows, a little glossy and polished which shows in a slightly liquorice flavour, herbs, aniseed too. This is not bad but it is just not very exciting.
Barolo Lazzairasco 2006, G.Porro - Fine, weighty and persistent, nice savoury bite that mellows over time, this needed air which is both the Porro style and certainly the vintage as well. There is a little alcohol showing through but otherwise top notch, uncompromising is the word I think.
Barolo Brunate 2006, Marcarini - A lovely openness even for a 2006, that is the site I think, focussed yet expressive which is an odd combo. Sweet finish but from traditional winemaking not from oak. I always buy this because it is always good like this.
A good evening all round and a few bits were kept for the following night.
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| You see it can be sunny inWales! |
