This was an evening of great wines.

The Ramey 2009 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is one of the typical Chardonnays of Ramey which age very well. It has blossoms, lime, some sweetness, spice, some white nougat, slightly vegetal notes, vanilla, a full-body, balance, freshness, a long finish, density, complexity and fat and power. It is creamy and has potential for minimum a decade. 19/20 points.

This vintage is a bit unusual as the Romirasco normally has blueberries: The Aldo Conterno 2009 Barolo Romirasco has nougat, herbs, mocha, a full-body, a lot of tannin, a long finish, density, structure and complexity. The wine has modern aromas but traditional structure. 18.8/20 points.

The La Spinetta 2009 Barolo Campe has lost its baby fat and now you need patience until the wine has fully developed its tertiary aromas. The wine has cherry, moss, tar, red fruits, a full-body, a lot of tannin and mineral. It is currently much too young and has a high potential. 18.5/20 points.

If you want the perfect Cabernet in a Bordeaux style then Shafer 1991 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon is you wine: It has an opaque, ruby colour and explodes with cassis, spice, tobacco, black olives and earthy notes in the glass. You really need the big Zalto Burgundy glass to get the full complexity. The wine has full-body, structure, melted tannins, cool fruit and perfect balance. Sheer perfection! 20/20 points.