What another great night at Graileys to kick off the weekend.
Franco Massolino visited us last Friday and we tasted through his family’s gorgeous single vineyard Barolos. Franco is one of the 3 Massolino brothers that are continuing to work their great-grandfather’s Serralunga d’Alba estate.
The 2009 Margheria Barolo was the most feminine of the bunch as it was the most polished and pure, while still possessing the classic Nebbiolo structure. From 38 year old vines, it showed elegant sweet red fruit with intricate notes of spice, light tobacco and sweeter tannins that made this wine more approachable than the other single vineyard Barolos.
The 2009 Parafada Barolo comes from 60 year old vines and had a more commanding structure than the Barolo from the Margheria vineyard. My favorite of the three single vineyards, the Parafada Barolo offered a richer mid-palate of concentrated fruit, more pronounced spice, and firmer tannins.
The 2009 Parussi Barolo comes from the Massolino family’s latest acquired vineyard and is the most masculine of their wines. It boasts deep, almost sweet, ripe black fruit. From the start in the nose, along through the profound mid-palate and all the way to the finish, this wine showed the most power with defiant tannins that definitely need more time in the cellar to mellow out.
The wine of the night for me was the 1982 Chateau Figeac. It was just smoking!! But seriously, this wine had a savory, smoky undertone that complimented the very well integrated flavors of red and black currant, leather, loads of Asian spices, and a light touch of dried eucalyptus leaves.
1995 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande was another favorite of the night. It showed deep earth tones with rich red and black cherry, star anise, and smoke. No wonder Pichon Lalande is Graileys’ ‘House Wine’. Pichon Lalande has been the most consistently impressive Bordeaux I have had at Graileys thus far. Great times were had once more as all of these wonderful wines that were opened were showing their finest.
Other wines enjoyed on Friday
2008 Camille Saves Cuvee Anais Jolie Coeur
NV Krug Grand Cuvee
2010 Far Niente Chardonnay
2011 Aubert Russian River Valley Chardonnay
2012 Young Inglewood Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2012 Chapter 24 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon
2012 Cobb Pinot Noir Rice Spivak Vineyard Sonoma Coast
1988 Louis Jadot Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
1999 Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Les Sentiers
1996 Chateau Montrose
1998 Chateau Mouton
2000 Chateau Leoville Barton
1990 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle
1998 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Arkenstone Obsidian Red Blend Howell Mountain
2010 Young Inglewood Right Bank Blend
2010 Jones Family Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Young Inglewood Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena
2011 Chappelet Cultivation Red Blend
2011 Gargiulo Vineyard G Major 7 Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Massolino Langhe Nebbiolo
2012 Bevan Cellars ‘Ontogeny’
2009 Massolino Barolo Serralunga d’Alba
2007 Massolino Vigna Rionda Riserva
2013 Massolino Moscato d’Asti