Barolo 2007 - 27 out of the top 30 Parker Points

Here at J&B we like to think we buy what we rate and follow those producers we truly believe in.  We don't , and never have, slavishly followed Parker points, or those of any other critic for that matter. I think it's what makes our customers come back to us time and again.

But it is worth pointing out the recent dominance our Barolo list has in the top 30 scoring wines in 2007, as scored by Antonio Galloni on Robert Parkers website. And, with the exception of his ratings of Marengo's stunning 07's, Galloni is a critic who's praise we do generally agree with. He is a man who know's Piedmont in great detail.

No fewer than 7 out of the top 10, 15 out of the top 20, and 23 out of the top 30 are wines we list. And more to the point,  have listed for some time, most probably before the rise of Mr Galloni on Parker's site.

Of particular note, with a price v points hat on, are the wines from Azelia, Scavino and Clerico.

Burgfest 2008 Vintage

In a secluded location in Beaune over the late August bank holiday the most recently bottled vintage of Pinot Noir was put under the microscope. The UK's top Burgundy buyers plus specialist Burgundy wine writers and publishers Clive Coates and Neil Beckett made up a select team of nine tasters.

A high sense of high anticipation proceeded the blind tasting of the 2008 vintage (bottled some 6-10 months earlier), with a line up including over 300 Premiere and Grand Cru Pinot Noirs from the Cote d'Or's top Domaines and negociants . 

The wines were tasted in flights village by village over three days, 1er Crus followed by Grand Crus.

Earliest impressions of the 2008 vintage are one of consistent freshness and a pure expression of Pinot Noir.  Wines defined by a cooler vintage that had ample acidity, concentrated by cool north winds and bought to perfect ripeness by warm cloudless days and cool nights.