Giacomo Brezza e Figli Giacomo Brezza e Figli Barolo Sarmassa, Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

That rare thing in my experience with Nebbiolo (for me the most frustrating of the great red wine grapes) a Barolo in a benign drinking window. Brezza's entry level Barolo, with vines panted in 1991 (per their website). This is ready, gentle, and enjoyable. Perhaps slightly too sweet but a good drink over a couple of nights.

This was the first wine in a great 1999 Barolo tasting and it was tasted from Magnum. Notes of dried flowers, some red fruit, mint red berries, tar and some lacquer notes that is slightly disturbing. Medium-full bodied, with pretty high acidity and medium+ tannin that is good quality. Good length. A very good Barolo and a good value.

BBQ night at Changi. Pop and poured, Drank over 1.5 hours. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour with garnet edge. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of rocky stones minerality, earth, sweet tar, sweet black tea, undergrowth. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), integrated silky high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of ripe red cherries, red plum, sweet tar, earth, red licorice. Long finish. Very good quality. Lovely structured yet …

Winery: Earth, orange peel hints; hint of cherry-shrooms; smooth bod, nice a’s, spice in mth, long cin. clove orange fin.

Winery: Perfumed, delicate and beaut. nose; flowers, spice & plum; smth entry, grt frt. mth; med++ t’s & integrated a’s.

Winery: Light nose; rich full mth, earthy. Good.