Wojciech Bońkowski
Master of Wine

Barolo Riserva 2005: a good surprise

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 14. 22 samples of Barolo Riserva from the 2005 vintage showed better than expected. I expected wines low on fruit and high on evolution; the opposite turned out to be true. There are some truly exciting wines. Click to find out the winners.

Brilliance, finally

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 13. Final day of blind tasting. The zestiest, most structured Barolos come from Serralunga d’Alba and this was confirmed today with a series of exciting 2007 wines.

Poderi Colla: history speaks

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 12. I drink a piece of Piedmont history at Poderi Colla, founded by Beppe Colla who pioneered single-vineyard wines in the 1970s. Click to find out how Dolcetto can ever be better than Barbaresco.

Verduno mon amour

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 11. A memorable fringe tasting of Barolos from the town of Verduno. Some delicious wines including an amazingly fresh and fruity 1988.

Blind tasting, day 4: cappuccino Barolo

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 10. The fourth day of blind tasting of newly released 2007 Barolos has been really tough. An ocean of new oak and dry tannins. If you read on the papers that the world is turning towards more elegant, drinkable wines, producers from La Morra apparently don’t read the same papers.

Le Strette: dreams come true

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 9. Visit to Le Strette winery, responsible for the survival and renaissance of the Nascetta grape. Plus some really good and affordable Barolos.

Blind tasting, day 3: Villero wins the day

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 8. 63 Barolos from the 2007 vintage tasted. The big winner so far is the village of Castiglione Falletto and especially the Villero cru. Click to see my top picks from this very good vintage.

Majestic Rabajà

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 7. Impressive vertical of Rabajà at Giuseppe Cortese. One of the most structured and ageworthy Barbarescos.

Massolino: the power of terroir

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 6. ‘Diagonal’ tasting (horizontal of 3 different single vineyard wines in 4 vintages) at Massolino winery.

2008 Barbaresco: surprises

Live blogging from Piedmont, part 5. Concluding my tasting of 2008 Barbaresco. Some really good wines, and why terroir is important.