Empson Brunello/Barolo tasting

Let it be known that while I tasted wines from Ca Rome, Bongiovanni and Einaudi, I didn't include notes, or really even take them, because all of those wines seemed to exhibit that Parker points mentality. Too international in style for me to find sensory or intellectual stimulation.

• 2005 Jermann Vintage Tunina Venezia Giulia IGT

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT

  very subdued nose. so lightly leesy. fruit, where are you? being the first wine i'm tasting today, i wouldn't have thought this to come off so innocuous. i will have to encounter this wine again, but today it comes off as the millionaires pinot grigio.

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• 2006 Jermann Pinot Nero Red Angel on the Moonlight Venezia Giulia IGT

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT

  crimson color. nose of dark red fruit and animal. great structure, but very approachable now. sit on this one for another 4-6yrs easy. mistakeably oregon or marlborough pinot. this is fantastic.

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• 2006 Speri Valpolicella Classico Superiore La Roverina

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico Superiore

  ripe dusty cherry nose. some spicy wood tannin. too woody all around for me in the end. eh..?

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• 2005 Speri Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sant'Urbano

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico Superiore

  more of a liquid oak nose. vibrant aromatic nose, but again, too much wood all over this one. eh...?

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• 2005 Villa Matilde Greco di Tufo

  Italy, Campania, Greco di Tufo DOCG

  delicate waxy citrus off the nose. ample body to this wine. quite intriguing.

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• 2004 Villa Matilde Aglianico Roccamonfina IGT

  Italy, Campania, Roccamonfina IGT

  greenhouse dampness to the nose. there is some fruit in there for sure, but i don't see that emerging while i'm still here at this tasting, or before the crowd empties the bottle. meaty and way tannic. screaming for some food.

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• 2007 Marcarini Dolcetto d'Alba Fontanazza

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba

  nice cherry fruit on the nose. structure to see this young wine through, this phase of it's life (young and tannic) out of the academic and into the ephemeral. revisit me in a couple years.

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• 2005 Marcarini Barolo La Serra

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  nice old world style of barolo. The Einaudi and Bongiovanni barolo bottlings were way to new worldy vanillin oak for my taste. Light red brown color to this wine. Red cherry fruit and a touch of the astringent to the finish. this will be just fine when it's all said and done.

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• 2005 Marcarini Barolo Brunate

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  did not exhibit the brown edge that the La Serra was developing. More fruit packed into this one. I am liking where this wine will (possibly) go.

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• 2006 Poderi Colla Barbaresco Roncaglie

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  light, fragrant nose. great structure. chocolate and round strawberry. i should start drinking some of this wine more often.

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• 2005 Poderi Colla Barolo Dardi Le Rose Bussia

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  lush red fruit. chocolate. again, this wine is put together quite nicely. put some of me away.

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• 2004 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Big fruit here. Definitely the lush side of Brunello. some savory on the nose. lavender and heather add nice complexity. wow. this is what we're talking 'bout.

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• 2004 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  dusty ripe red fruit. rose petal. awesomely old world.

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• 2004 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  not so ripe, but laser fruit nose. lively, but almost to lively of acidity. revisit me.

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• 2004 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  better balence than the regular brunello, and more wood influence as well. nice anise to the nose, but not really my style.

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• 2003 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  almost prunish notes to the nose. some spice. nice tannin, but kind of high acidity. i'd like a revisit. are we sure this was the '04???

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• 2005 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  not so aromatic, but oh so cherry. quite astringent, but nice structure. hold at this point, but this obviously develops into something nice.

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