Each year in April or May we go as a family down to Aberaeron in West Wales and spend a lovely week, drinking, eating and seeing family. It is a lovely town and well worth a trip for a long weekend. A couple of times I have done proper write ups of all the wines during the week – Wines in Wales 2012 & Wines in Wales 2014 – but somehow this year I didn’t keep full notes. I did though have my first few Porto-Tonico’s, lovely drink that!!

However, Cynan Jones and I did a great evening of Piedmont drinking and tasting. All with Cynan’s splendid Rabbit Cassoulet, the picture of which is awful so not put up here. The wines were a mix of things…notes below:

Langhe Bianco 2011, Podere Ruggeri Corsini – Decent, herbal, nothing particularly noteworthy and probably better 18 months ago with more freshness. Made me think this was mostly Arneis.

Barbera d’Alba 2013, Podere Ruggeri Corsini – Cool red Barbera fruit, good balance, depth lacking but this has some charm, simple fruit and a little cool minerality, a step up from the white.

Barbera Cerretta 2008, G.Conterno – A wine I know very well, spot on now. Blackish and crimson fruit but with flavour but not weight, easy but not simple, cracking, lively acidity.

Barolo San Pietro 2008, Podere Ruggeri Corsini – Quite expressive straight away, some wood shows, a little glossy and polished which shows in a slightly liquorice flavour, herbs, aniseed too. This is not bad but it is just not very exciting.

Barolo Lazzairasco 2006, G.Porro – Fine, weighty and persistent, nice savoury bite that mellows over time, this needed air which is both the Porro style and certainly the vintage as well. There is a little alcohol showing through but otherwise top notch, uncompromising is the word I think.

Barolo Brunate 2006, Marcarini – A lovely openness even for a 2006, that is the site I think, focussed yet expressive which is an odd combo. Sweet finish but from traditional winemaking not from oak. I always buy this because it is always good like this. 

A good evening all round and a few bits were kept for the following night.

You see it can be sunny inWales!