• Flight 1: Ceretto, Vajra, Altare.
• Flight 2: Scavino, Cordero di Montezemolo, A. Conterno, Rivetti.
• Flight 3: G. Conterno, Burlotto, Sandrone, E. Pira (Chiara Boschis).
• Flight 4: G. Rinaldi, Massolino, Cogno, Vietti.
• Lunch.

1. 2010 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Bricco Rocche - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Alessandro Ceretto says this vineyard is biodynamic, the wines now get long macerations, and they have cut the new oak in half. This nose has a striking perfume of red fruit and spice. Drying tannins, light elegant in the mouth. Long finish. Lacks richness at this stage, but I think it will bloom with time. The style is more traditional than it has been for a while at this estate. (92-94 points)
2. 2010 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Austere nose. Rich in the mouth. Wow! Sweet and complex and this early stage. Solid tannins. Elegant, but some power.
   Even more fragrant later with lunch. (93-96 points)
3. 2010 Elio Altare Barolo Vigneto Arborina - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Silvia Altare says this fermented for 5 days in a rotofermenter, then spent 2 years in barrique. Sweet cherry-vanilla nose. Thick and sweet in the in the mouth. I can only hope it will shed all this oak over time. NR

4. 2010 Paolo Scavino Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Enrico said they bought this vineyard in 1990. This wine is not yet released. Big nose of black fruit, spice and new oak. Complex, rich, sweet, tannic. Long. A well-made modern style wine. If it sheds its new oak, it could be very good. (92-?? points)
5. 2010 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Enrico VI - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Alberto Cordero di Montezemolo says this is from a 25 hectare plot in Villero. One of the really pleasant surprises of this tasting. Muted nose of tar and black fruit. Thick, rich, tannic, balsamic. Really classic Villero. Not long at this stage. Reminds me of some of Giacosa's Villeros. Could be a terrific wine in 15-20 years. (93-?? points)
6. 2010 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Franco Conterno says "Cicala" means "Cicada" in English. Just above this vineyard at the top of the hill is a wooded area full of cicadas. Gorgeous black fruit and olive nose. Smooth and complex. Not overtly modern. (93-95 points)
7. 2010 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barolo Vürsù Vigneto Campè - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Giorgio Rivetti says he bought the vineyard in 2000. It has old vines and is in the commune of Grinzane Cavour. Nose of chocolate and black fruit. Gunky in the mouth. Overwhelmed by new oak. NR

8. 2010 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cerretta - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Roberto Conterno says this will be sold only in magnums and 3 liter bottles to commemorate the first vintage labeled Barolo by Conterno from this vineyard. He did bottle some 750s for tastings, which is what we are tasting today. Stunning nose of roses, black fruit, and tar. Dark, powerful, complex, expansive on the long finish. Just wow! Really blows everything before it out of the water. Later with lunch, just fucking great! (97-99 points)
9. 2010 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
   Fabio says this was 100% whole cluster fermentation. A perfume like no other. Flowers and tapenade in the nose. Vibrant in the mouth. Long finish of licorice and black fruits. This is a terrific wine. (94-96 points)
10. 2010 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Luciano says this comes from 4 vineyards which are picked and aged separately. Their website says it comes from 3 vineyards this year (Merli in Novello, Baudana in Serralunga, Vignane in Barolo). Luciano says they are keeping the wine more time in bottle, less in barrel. Sweet black fruit nose. Highly extracted fruit in the nose and mouth. Huge, tannic, loads of ripe black fruit. Very modern in style, but not oaky. Very long. (93-?? points)
11. 2010 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Via Nuova - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Chiara says this is a blend of 6 small plots that they have in 3 different communes. This is the first vintage which is blended like this. Fragrant, harmonious, lovely nose. Medium body. Long and impressive. Should drink well early. (93 points)

12. 2010 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Marta Rinaldi says this is 15% Le Coste, the max allowed by law. She also says that recent vintage of Brunate-Le Coste were only 25% Le Coste. I thought they were 40% Le Coste. Amazing nose of flowers, black fruit and grilled beef. Expansive and complex in the mouth. The finish lasts forever. Amazing wine. Along with the Conterno Cerretta, wine of the tasting. (98-100 points)
13. 2010 Massolino Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    This wine is not yet released since it is a riserva. Franco Massolino says that 1982 was the first single-vineyard Rionda made by Massolino. He said they own 25% of Rionda. Fragrant licorice and black fruit nose. Big, rich, elegant, long, and intense. A very impressive wine with a lot of upside. (95 points)
14. 2010 Azienda Agricola Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Valter Fissore says his father in law, Elvio Cogno bought their piece of Ravera in 1990. It is adjacent to the Vietti parcel. Nose of black fruits with a hint of walnuts. Expansive, complex, long. Wow! So fragrant in the mouth. Terrific wine. (96 points)
15. 2010 Vietti Barolo Ravera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Luca Currado talked at some length about he made a wine from this vineyard in the 2000 vintage. (They bought their parcel in 1995.) He was very unhappy with the modern techniques he used. He thought long and hard about what he had not learned from his forebearers when he made the 2000. This was the first one he decided to make since then, but using very traditional methods. Gorgeous, reserved black fruit and espresso nose. Restrained, more backward up front than the Cogno, but expands and expands in the back of the palate. Super long. Silky, thick. Needs a lot of time. Great potential. (97 points)

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