An eclectic but nice set of holiday wines

On a recent holiday to Liguria, i had this rather diverse set of wines.

A quick remark on scores: in the first tasting notes I shared on Berserkers, I didn’t put in my scores… It is not because i’m either pro or con scores. I initially left them out because they are primarily meant for a personal reference. I acknowledge that they can be highly influenced by mood, context, what food the wines were served with, what other wines were served, and whether it was flower day or not [wink.gif]

Anyway, here i have disclosed the scores as well:

  • 2018 Guglierame Ormeasco di Pornassio Superiore - Italy, Liguria, Ormeasco di Pornassio (14-08-2021)
    Deep red colour with a purple rim.
    The aromas are dominated by dark red fruit, a slight bitter, spicy and dusty aroma and then a sensation of ‘crushed stones’.
    The palate is again dominated by dark red/black fruit - ‘cool mountain fruit’…, a bitter and slightly rustique element, very mineral driven, with nice acidity and a soft palate. Soft tannic structure. Was paired with ‘trofie all’amatriciana’ which worked very well. This is a very nice ormeasco/dolcetto! (89 pts.)


  • 2018 Henri Germain et Fils Meursault - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (17-08-2021)
    Now again a tale of two glasses, Grassl mineralité vs Liberté!
    The colour is beautiful, light straw with a green hue.
    Liberté: in this glass i immediately get a strong citrus fruit note, including lime fruit, just a very fine hint of reduction, after some time a kiss of oak, and lurking behind are some more tropical notes.
    The palate is soft with citrus fruit, some more tropical elements, well judged oak, nice but soft acidity and medium length. There is also a touch of grapefruit bitterness present.
    Mineralité: totally different aromas - crushed rocks, then Meursault butter. The fruit is slightly sweeter - more like ripe pears. After some time a distinct vanilla aroma appears.
    The palate is a little sweeter with less citrus fruit and i do not get the same grapefruit note. More mineral driven and ‘Stony’ if that makes any sense…
    All in all, this is very good, but maybe with a little less precision than the 17 Meursault village from Germain. (90 pts.)


  • 2015 Afianes Select Wines Begleri Pithari - Greece, Aegean, Ikaria (19-08-2021)
    Beautiful deep amber colour.
    Nose of dried fruit like apricots and raisins, rosemary and pine, deep yellow fruit and some earthy notes.
    The palate starts with a taste of dried fruit, then citrus fruit and grape fruit, very crispy and nice acidity and a mineral driven finish. The ‘piny’ note is also present on the palate. A persistent finish. This is very recommendable! (91 pts.)


  • 2016 Parusso Barolo Bussia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (21-08-2021)
    Deep ruby colour. Initially i get a singular mix of wood spice and herbal notes, cedar and mint. Lurking beneath this are some more floral, fruity and ‘nebbiolo-like’ aromatics.
    The palate is at first distinctly dark, even black-fruited. There is definitely a tar note and even some black olives. There is also a wall of tannins. With time in the glass, some more deep red fruit notes appeared as well. Quite long aftertaste. This is probably what you would call a modern Barolo, but at the same time it is rather singular in style. I found it very well made, although i am normally gravitating towards more traditionally made Barolo’s. (93 pts.)


  • 2016 Conterno Fantino Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (26-08-2021)
    Aromas of red fruit and cherries and floral aromas mostly in the rose spectrum. Then some deeper notes of licorice and Virginia tobacco emerges, ending in some leathery notes.
    The palate is dominated by wonderful sweet red fruit, backed up by nice and salivating acidity, and with a rather persistent finish. There is a lot of nebbiolo tannins, and the wine does feel very young, but time in the glass softens the structure slightly. 93+ (93 pts.)


  • 2019 Testalonga (Antonio Perrino) Rossese di Dolceacqua - Italy, Liguria, Rossese di Dolceacqua (28-08-2021)
    Initially a whiff of reduction which blows off after some minutes. Then strawberries, red cherries, and black pepper. The nose further evolves revealing garrigue and ending with a mineral and stony note.
    The palate is soft and filled with red berry fruit, nice and crisp acidity, very peppery and with a wonderful and very fine tannic structure and some fine dry extract. Just a tiny bit rustique but in a good sense. (90 pts.)


  • 2016 Bernard Boisson-Vadot Meursault Les Grands Charrons - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (31-08-2021)
    Served in two glasses. Grassl Mineralité and Liberté.
    Liberté: Initially a hint of struck matchstick, then meursault butter, toast sesame seeds, citrus fruit, pineapple, a hint of white smoke. The palate is wonderful! Lots of both citrus fruit and some more exotic fruit, some fattness, really crisp acidity and mineral notes. Persistent finish.
    Mineralité: in this glass the wine is less ‘articulated’ and a little less expressive, both aromatically and on the palate. The palate is softer, with a little more sweetness and the fatness is more present. It is interesting, that the acidity feels more present in the Liberté glass.
    I definitely preferred the Liberté glass for this wine.
    93 in the liberté and 91-92 in the mineralité :slight_smile:
    After some disappointing experiences with some of the Boisson wines in the 16 vintage, this wine really delivered! (93 pts.)


  • 2018 Testalonga (Antonio Perrino) Bianco - Italy, Liguria, Dolceacqua (02-09-2021)
    Deep yellow to amber in colour.
    The nose is dominated by initially ‘wine gum’, citrus fruit and then more and more wonderful spices - sort of reminding me of the Ligurian countryside. There is a delicate honey note aromatically as well.
    The palate starts of with a very saline and mineral quality, then yellow fruit, spices, nice acidity and again a faint honey note, although the wine is completely dry. Medium length. This was very nice and somewhat different from many of the other Vermentinos in Liguria that i have tasted. (89 pts.)