| | We wanted to try the wines of Gualdo del Re, made by Barbara Tamburini. None of us had been aware of this winery before. Barbara consults for 20+ Italian wineries and has received numerous awards in the last few years, including Young Winemaker of the Year. Linda M had the GdR wines sent; I brought the others. Both Barbara T and Linda came along. - 2004 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia
Pretty shade of ruby; dense. Ample nose of fruit, earth and subtle oak; developed some mineral and balsamic notes over time. Sweet sensation from big fruitiness, with vanilla and earthiness; creamy texture, smooth tannins, rich, full bodied. Great wine. Did not pick it as the Sassicaia, even though I had had this the night before (*sigh*); the Gualdo del Re wines were too good and threw me off. (92 pts.)
- 2004 Gualdo del Re Val di Cornia Suvereto Federico Primo - Italy, Tuscany, Val di Cornia Suvereto
Ruby coloured; dense. Beautifully expressive nose of fruit and earth. On palate, sweet sensation from the ripe fruit; good/rich earth and minerality; bracing acidity and good tannic bite. Very young but all the structural components are nicely balanced. Medium+ body, elegant, long, complex, superb. Thought it was the Sassicaia. My first experience with this wine. Blown away...! (95 pts.)
- 2004 Sergio Mottura Pinot Nero Magone Civitella d'Agliano IGT - Italy, Latium, Civitella d'Agliano IGT
Ruby, clear, PN-looking. Nose of Old World minerality and earthiness, light fruit, subdued. Same light fruit, earth and minerality on palate; slightly astringent tannins and sharp acidity; very much like many a fine Burgundy. Nicely made, clean, simple. May improve with ageing. (86 pts.)
- 2004 Gualdo del Re SenzAnsia Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Ruby, clear, typical young Pinot Nero appearance. Intensely aromatic and flavourful with ripe berries, cherries, chocolate, coffee, clean earthiness, new oak and savoury/meaty notes. High acidity, smooth tannins, nicely balanced. Medium+ body, complex, long. Best Italian PN I've ever had. Love it. (93 pts.)
- 2001 Falesco Montiano Lazio IGT - Italy, Latium, Lazio IGT
Corked. Too bad -- it was meant to be the blind paired match with the Gualdo del Re I'Rennero. Nevertheless, after tasting the I'Rennero it was clear that the wines are in different leagues, even if the price is similar. (FLAWED)
- 2001 Gualdo del Re Val di Cornia Suvereto I'Rennero - Italy, Tuscany, Val di Cornia Suvereto
Dark, dense, ruby, youthful. Hugely complex nose and palate, entire spectrum from primary to tertiary: ripe fruit, oak, soy, minerals, earth, spices. Rich, smooth and chewy tannins (grape and oak), good acidity with some MLF buttery notes, full bodied and nicely balanced structurally, long and complex. Evolves beautifully in glass. Outstanding. Near-unanimous WOTN. Would easily rival the best of Italian Merlots, including Masseto. (96 pts.)
It isn't often we get such close agreement among ourselves for the best wine of the tasting. The I'Rennero won by a landslide, with only Zohrab picking a different first-place wine (Sassicaia). With the meal we finished the wines, including a 1996 Penfolds Bin 707 provided by Doug. Loved it, as usual, but somehow I forgot to take a note. |
