Per Kamperin

 ”Protected from cold, eastern winds by the high ridge of Serralunga, Vigna Rionda gets full southern exposure. This combination allows grapes to reach ideal ripening before harvest almost every year. High vineyard altitudes of 985 feet provide marked day-night temperature changes that prolong the growing season and create complex aromas in the finished wines.”   Vigna Rionda - Vintage 2004

This was a very nice Nebbiolo, light colored with intoxicating aromatics, and a surprising balmy and rich bouquet, concentrated fruit with hints of plum, licorice and perhaps also with slight nuances of violets. Silky ripe tannins with typical acidity. (Wine Spectator gave this wine 91 points for the vintage of 2009.) A great wine in summary… Producer Notes: Deep ruby red color with garnet shades. Fresh fragrance with hints of red fruits, hibiscus and rose supported by intense balsamic and spicy sensations. The taste is warm, persistent and elegant with a pleasant ending of licorice and almond, confirming it as a wine of character, austere, compact .

2004 Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté. Distinct tannins, cherries, violets, roses, ham/meat with some wood and a hint of tobacco. Grape:  Nebbiolo First vintage:  1978 Aspect and height above sea level:  south-facing, 300-350 metres Soil type:  moderately loose-packed, slightly clayey, limestone-based Vine training system and planting density:  Guyot-trained at 4,500 vines per hectare Average age of productive vines:  around 40 years Harvest period and method:  second 10 days of October, manual harvest The vinification procedure for Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè involves alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with daily pumping over. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine matures in 25-hectolitre barrels of Slavonian oak. Bottling normally takes place in August. The Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè then stays in the binning cellar for 8-10 months before release. Front Label

  Mamete Prevostini - 2014 Corte di Cama Sforzato di Valtellina D.O.C.G. This bottle initially appeared a bit angular and tight on the nose, but it soon revealed it’s pure and delicate Nebbiolo character. This wine was full-bodied with a high level of alcohol (15.5%). While still young, it showed real ‘elegance’ and a balanced acidity with rather ripe tannins. We found cherries, licorice (or anise..), a spectrum of different spices, typical dried fruit with hints of both vanilla and raisins — and perhaps also hazelnuts? A beautiful wine that will be stunning after another 5+ years in the cellar…  More on Mamete Prevostini: https://medium.com/@perkamperin/two-great-wines-from-mamete-prevostini-226c4fd8ead0

2004 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Valeriano. Dark fruit, some leather, a hint of cherries, but to much oak, still OK. Decanted for 3h.  https://perskamperin.tumblr.com/post/185474591000/2004-la-spinetta-rivetti-barbaresco-v%C3%BCrs%C3%B9