I’ve been to some tough tastings before, but this one … Tough tastings are the ones where you have trouble picking out a few good wines to talk about – but this one was the other way around, there were so many good wines it’s hard to know where to begin. I’m talking about wines from such famous, or is that infamous, Italian houses like Antinori, Michele Chiarlo, Biondi Santi, Donnafugata, Masi and a dozen more. From drink now wines to ageable beasts that’ll take many years to soften, this was a very exciting, interesting and eye opening tasting … after my two hours in the room tasting and taking notes I can say with certainty that the Italians still got IT.
Table 1 – Antinori …
Each table had at least 2 wines, Antinori had 4. One of the most interesting was Achelo Cortona Syrah 2007 ($19.00), black fruit and chocolate with a touch of tannins and spice (****½). Another good wine here was the Santa Cristina Chianti Superiore 2008 (****)
Table 2 – Biondi Santi …
Another table of 4 wines and here the Villa Poggio Salvi Brunello di Montalcino 2005 ($25.00) took top billing with supple red fruit and spice, drinks nicely now with leathery spice, which surrounds that red fruit – the finish is also quite leathery and spicy.
Table 3 – Ca’del Bosco …
The Franciacorta Cuvee Annamaria Clementi 2002 ($109.00) – a six-year on lees Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc blend of beautiful bubbly – very toasty and tasty (****½). Another good one at this table was the Maurizio Zanella 2003 (****)
Table 5 – Michele Chiarlo …
Two wines that were hard to pick between: Nivole Moscato d’Asti ($11.95 / 375ml), which was fragrant and spicy with ginger ale and orange peel notes (****), and the La Court Nizza Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2006 ($44.00) – leathery, black cherry and baking spices. (****)
Table 6 – Donnafugata …
Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria 2007 ($35.00 / 375ml) – beauty of a smooth, succulent sweetie with apricot, pears and honey; lovely palate with all the above mentioned and some sweet orange. (****½)
Table 7 – Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari …
Campo al Mare 2007 ($32.00) – a blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, a nice peppery, spicy wine with good fruit and cocoa interwoven between the tannins and hints of leather. (****)
Table 8 – Jermann …
This all white table featured another two ‘wowies’ … Pinto Grigio 2008 ($29.00) – lovely white fruit with a touch of citrus, apple, pear and peach (****). Dreams 2007 ($59.00) this wooded Chardonnay on the table had vanilla, butterscotch, butter on the nose and flavours of caramel apple on the palate. (****)
Table 9 – Alois Lageder …
Krafuss Pinot Noir 2006 ($45.00) – a blend of sour and red cherry with good acidity, a touch of earth and a long finish. (****)
Table 10 – Lungarotti …
Rubesco Vigna Monticchio Riserva 2004 ($42.00) – blackberry, pencil lead and wood tannins. (****)
Table 11 – Masi …
Campolongo di Torbe Amarone della Valpolicela Classico 2004 ($99.95)- a beautiful single vineyard Amarone with lovely plum, black cherry and chocolate on the nose, the palate shows spice with a juiciness of plum and the deliciousness of chocolate. (****½)
Table 12 – Mastroberardino …
One of the nicest rosé’s I have tasted: Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosato 2008 ($17.00) – lovely cherry-raspberry on the nose; a berry bowl of red berry flavours, vibrant and juicy – not too sweet along with a dry finish – very refreshing. (****½)
Table 13 – Pio Cesare ...
Barbera d’Alba 2007 ($22.00) – soft and juicy with red berries and a touch of spice and red licorice, all with a delicious supple and lengthy finish. (****)
Table 14 – Rivera …
Volente Nero di Troia 2007 ($15.00) – great value here on a grape you’ve probably never heard of (Nero di Troia) and one I am slowly beginning to enjoy (having tasted a few lately) – this one has blackberry, cassis, wood, spice, and a juicy palate that has cinnamon and nutmeg as an added bonus. (****)
Table 16 – Tenuta San Guido …
The winery of Sassicaia fame brings us a wine that is well-priced and delicious: Le Difese 2008 ($25.00) – a 70% Cabernet, 30% Sangiovese blend; a lovely red fruit nose with spice and red fruit on the palate, there’s some ageability to this wine, say 5-7 years, but it also drinks well right now. (****½)
Table 17 –Umoni Ronchi …
Jorio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007 ($15.00) – a wine that came thru Vintages in November with little to no fanfare. The palate is juicy with blackberry, black raspberry notes hints of vanilla and spice – a delicious 15-dollar bargain. (****½). Currently in Vintages for $16.95, limited supply.
Table 1 – Antinori …
Each table had at least 2 wines, Antinori had 4. One of the most interesting was Achelo Cortona Syrah 2007 ($19.00), black fruit and chocolate with a touch of tannins and spice (****½). Another good wine here was the Santa Cristina Chianti Superiore 2008 (****)
Table 2 – Biondi Santi …
Another table of 4 wines and here the Villa Poggio Salvi Brunello di Montalcino 2005 ($25.00) took top billing with supple red fruit and spice, drinks nicely now with leathery spice, which surrounds that red fruit – the finish is also quite leathery and spicy.
Table 3 – Ca’del Bosco …
The Franciacorta Cuvee Annamaria Clementi 2002 ($109.00) – a six-year on lees Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc blend of beautiful bubbly – very toasty and tasty (****½). Another good one at this table was the Maurizio Zanella 2003 (****)
Table 5 – Michele Chiarlo …
Two wines that were hard to pick between: Nivole Moscato d’Asti ($11.95 / 375ml), which was fragrant and spicy with ginger ale and orange peel notes (****), and the La Court Nizza Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2006 ($44.00) – leathery, black cherry and baking spices. (****)
Table 6 – Donnafugata …
Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria 2007 ($35.00 / 375ml) – beauty of a smooth, succulent sweetie with apricot, pears and honey; lovely palate with all the above mentioned and some sweet orange. (****½)
Table 7 – Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari …
Campo al Mare 2007 ($32.00) – a blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, a nice peppery, spicy wine with good fruit and cocoa interwoven between the tannins and hints of leather. (****)
Table 8 – Jermann …
This all white table featured another two ‘wowies’ … Pinto Grigio 2008 ($29.00) – lovely white fruit with a touch of citrus, apple, pear and peach (****). Dreams 2007 ($59.00) this wooded Chardonnay on the table had vanilla, butterscotch, butter on the nose and flavours of caramel apple on the palate. (****)
Table 9 – Alois Lageder …
Krafuss Pinot Noir 2006 ($45.00) – a blend of sour and red cherry with good acidity, a touch of earth and a long finish. (****)
Table 10 – Lungarotti …
Rubesco Vigna Monticchio Riserva 2004 ($42.00) – blackberry, pencil lead and wood tannins. (****)
Table 11 – Masi …
Campolongo di Torbe Amarone della Valpolicela Classico 2004 ($99.95)- a beautiful single vineyard Amarone with lovely plum, black cherry and chocolate on the nose, the palate shows spice with a juiciness of plum and the deliciousness of chocolate. (****½)
Table 12 – Mastroberardino …
One of the nicest rosé’s I have tasted: Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosato 2008 ($17.00) – lovely cherry-raspberry on the nose; a berry bowl of red berry flavours, vibrant and juicy – not too sweet along with a dry finish – very refreshing. (****½)
Table 13 – Pio Cesare ...
Barbera d’Alba 2007 ($22.00) – soft and juicy with red berries and a touch of spice and red licorice, all with a delicious supple and lengthy finish. (****)
Table 14 – Rivera …
Volente Nero di Troia 2007 ($15.00) – great value here on a grape you’ve probably never heard of (Nero di Troia) and one I am slowly beginning to enjoy (having tasted a few lately) – this one has blackberry, cassis, wood, spice, and a juicy palate that has cinnamon and nutmeg as an added bonus. (****)
Table 16 – Tenuta San Guido …
The winery of Sassicaia fame brings us a wine that is well-priced and delicious: Le Difese 2008 ($25.00) – a 70% Cabernet, 30% Sangiovese blend; a lovely red fruit nose with spice and red fruit on the palate, there’s some ageability to this wine, say 5-7 years, but it also drinks well right now. (****½)
Table 17 –Umoni Ronchi …
Jorio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007 ($15.00) – a wine that came thru Vintages in November with little to no fanfare. The palate is juicy with blackberry, black raspberry notes hints of vanilla and spice – a delicious 15-dollar bargain. (****½). Currently in Vintages for $16.95, limited supply.
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