⏱ 1 min read
The Short Version
While some prestige Burgundies fell surprisingly flat, B.Giacosa’s Vigna Le Rocche delivered a masterclass in aromatic intensity. Meanwhile, Frank Cornelissen’s volcanic Nerello Mascalese proved its mettle, offering a complex, savory tension that demands days of aeration to truly shine.
Pour yourself a cup for this one: tasting through high-end Nebbiolo and Burgundian white alongside volcanic Nerello Mascalese reveals just how much character can be extracted from terroir when the producer knows their limits. While some prestige names fall flat under scrutiny, others deliver an intensity that lingers well after the glass is empty. It was a night of extreme highs and perplexing lows.
An amazing pour, a fruity barolo.
The dominance of Giacosa
The standout of the evening arrived via the 2011 B.Giacosa Vigna Le Rocche Riserva. This Barolo refused to play subtle, presenting an intense nose of strawberry jam, frozen raisins, and a curious hint of spiced beef jerky. On the palate, it transitioned from a woody red fruit entry into a complex mid-palate defined by red fruit preserves and toasted bread crust. An amazing pour, a fruity barolo. It stood as a masterclass in aromatic persistence, offering a depth of Chinese spices and maritime saltiness that few other bottles could match. Similarly, the 2017 Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche provided a bright, energetic profile, evolving from a red fruit slushie into notes of iron and copper with time.
Unexpected purity and volcanic complexity
Not every heavy hitter delivered the expected punch. The 2022 Millemann Puligny-Montrachet Sous Le Puits was surprisingly pure, lacking the typical reductive elements one might expect, yet its clean presentation of sweet apples and floral honey felt oddly boring. In stark contrast, the 2019 Frank Cornelissen Munjebel MC Vigna Colla demanded attention. This Nerello Mascalese offered a fascinating tension between savory vegetables—specifically sweet green peas—and ripe bramble fruit. As the wine opened up, it revealed layers of white peppercorn and buttered bread, eventually settling into a finish of light tannins and dessert spices. Much like a great Rayas, this bottling requires days of aeration to fully reveal its structural magic. Which of these profiles would you reach for: the concentrated fruit of a classic Barolo or the savory, vegetal edge of an Etna Rosso?
Questions & Answers
What are the tasting notes for the 2011 B.Giacosa Vigna Le Rocche Riserva?
The 2011 B.Giacosa Vigna Le Rocche Riserva features an intense aromatic profile of strawberry jam, frozen raisins, and spiced beef jerky. On the palate, this Barolo transitions from a woody red fruit entry into a complex mid-palate defined by toasted bread crust and red fruit preserves. The wine is noted for its remarkable aromatic persistence, offering unique layers of Chinese spices and a distinct maritime saltiness that sets it apart from other prestige bottles in its class.
How does the 2019 Frank Cornelissen Munjebel MC Vigna Colla taste?
The 2019 Frank Cornelissen Munjebel MC Vigna Colla presents a fascinating tension between savory vegetable notes and ripe bramble fruit. Specifically, drinkers can identify flavors of sweet green peas alongside fruit elements. As the Nerello Mascalese wine opens up, it reveals additional layers of white peppercorn and buttered bread. The experience eventually settles into a finish characterized by dessert spices and light tannins, though the wine requires several days of aeration to fully reveal its structural magic.
What makes the 2022 Millemann Puligny-Montrachet Sous Le Puits unique?
The 2022 Millemann Puligny-Montrachet Sous Le Puits is characterized by a surprising level of purity and a lack of typical reductive elements. Instead of heavy complexity, it offers a very clean presentation defined by notes of sweet apples and floral honey. While the wine is notable for its cleanliness, this specific profile can feel oddly boring compared to more intense or energetic wines like the Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche.
Why does the 2017 Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche evolve in the glass?
The 2017 Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche evolves by shifting from a bright, energetic red fruit slushie profile into more mineral-driven notes. As the wine is given time, the initial fruitiness transitions toward distinct flavors of iron and copper. This evolution provides a dynamic tasting experience that moves from simple primary fruit to a more complex, metallic character, highlighting the energy present in this specific Burgundian white wine.
Originally reported by Reddit Wine.
