DAWGS July 2011 Wine Dinner

The theme was rather loose and was open to any wine believed to pair well with Italian-American food. We had 20 people split up into two tables. One of the more enjoyable wine dinners in awhile. OK food, good wine and great fellowship.

• 2010 Cantine dei Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta Roero Arneis 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Fairly tight nose of mostly citrus. Lots of light fruit on the palate, pineapples, melons, a hint of butter. Crisp acidity. Fairly long and pleasant finish consistent with the taste. Very nice wine overall. Drink now.

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• 2007 Cantina Terlan Pinot Bianco 89 Points

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Tight nose of some light fruit. Apples, lemons, butter and some floral notes on the palate. Somewhat short finish.

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• 2001 Guido Porro Barolo Vigna S. Caterina 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Nose of violets and red fruit. More of the same on the palate along with leather. Medium-long finish with sour fruit and rubber at the very end. Drink now with some air and over the next few years. This wine has renewed my interest in Nebbiolo. 91+

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• 2000 Paolo Bea Montefalco Rosso Riserva Pipparello 93 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Rosso

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Bottle was double decanted and slow-oxed for 5 hours. A bit of cola, red cherries and spice on the nose. More spice and red cherries on the palate along with leather and cassis. Long exotic finish of spice and dark fruit. Medium-high tannin level. Drink now with plenty of air and over the next several years. Very unique and enjoyable wine, I can't wait to taste again in a year or so.

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• 1997 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Somewhat restrained nose of leather, cassis and dark fruit. Similar palate with a touch of heat. Medium finish with dark fruit and some rubber. Still a bit tannic, give this one a few more years or plenty of air.

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• 1998 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Double decanted and slow-oxed for 2 hours. Rich nose of leather, dark fruit. Tons of leather on the palate with some earthiness, spice and cassis. Consistent finish that went on for 60 seconds plus. Medium tannin levels. Drink now and over the next few to several years. Seems to have plenty of life left.

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• 2001 Pe’re Alessandro Barbaresco Vigna Giaia 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Nose of red fruit, violets and a hint of smoke. On the palate, it showed more red fruit, mushrooms and a hint of anise. Consistent finish with some tar. Drink now and over the next few years.

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• 2003 Marchesato Degli Aleramici Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Perfect Sangiovese nose with cassis, some floral notes and red fruit. Similar palate of red fruit and spice. Medium finish of dark fruit and rubber. Hold for another year or so.

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• 2006 Antucura Calcura 90 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Vista Flores

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Big chocolate and cassis nose. More cassis and chocolate on the palate along with some spice. Fairly hot wine. Finish is mostly cassis with some tobacco. Very tannic. Hold a for a few years. Excellent wine for the price and should evolve into a decent daily drinker but 15%+ ABV.

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• 2006 Lillian Winery Syrah 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Dark dense purple. Huge nose of blueberries, cola, spice and some other dark berries. No mistaking this for anything but Syrah. More of the same on the palate with cassis, sweet oak and a good bit of black pepper. Hugely bold wine with a lot of heat (15.6% ABV). Long finish of cassis, tobacco and rubber. Definitely not my style of wine but does seem to be well made for what it is. Very tannic, I would hold for another few years.

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• 2007 Copain Pinot Noir "En Haut" Kiser

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Nose of red fruit, floral notes, raspberry. Palate is similar with a hint of citrus in the middle. Consistent finish that is fairly long with rubber at the very end. Very tannic at this stage and I had a hard time fully assessing. I would hold for 2-3 years at least. No rating this time but I expect this to evolve into the 92-94 range. Certainly toward the elegant end of the Pinot spectrum.

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• 2001 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Nice Brunello nose, red fruit, tobacco, cassis. Palate is somewhat weak with some spice, red fruit and cola. Very tannic overall. I would hold for another year or so and hopefully it comes around.

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