Zachys
Tasted Tuesday, September 19, 2006 by trankin with 1,231 views
Zachys put on a nice Italian tasting tonight. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend both the main tasting and a pre-tasting event with Antonio Galloni where I was able to enjoy some other wines with more time to contemplate them.
The first 4 flights are from the earlier tasting. In most cases, I didn't bother rating the wines - they were just too young and tannic for me to be able to get a really good read on them. I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the showing of the older vintages. To a one, they came across older than they should have IMO.
The last three "flights" I organized based on the table layout at Zachys. Take these all with a big grain of salt. Not only did they follow the prior 4 flights, but they were very small pours and quick tastes with some brief notes jotted down.
A treat to try these wines, but they're all so young they're difficult to call. My understanding is they were opened but not decanted at 11am for a 5pm tasting.
Now we're getting to some really interesting stuff. These were at least beginnig to be approachable. The Rocca e La Pira I'm very glad I have a few bottles to go through in the next couple decades.
I expected more from these wines. I did like the Cascina Francia quite a bit, but I'm really hoping the bottle I have for an off-line in a few weeks shows even better - or at least younger.
The Rinaldi was nice, but past prime, the Gaja was way over the hill IMO.
I only tried a single glass from table one. Meant to go back for a couple 01 barolos but never made it.
Tried most of the wines at this table. The Roagna Nebbiolo was my clear QPR winner of the night And the 01 Cascina Francia was just a joy and my WOTN.
What I find most amazing is how well the CF was able to show tonight, poured straight from the bottle (I believe) while so many other wines were so incredibly tight and even closed down. That CF is clearly going to be a wonderful wine though. Picked up a 6-pack!
Some nice stuff on this table. I was a bit disappointed in the Brunello's, excluding the Pertimali. I thought the Bartolo Mascarello 01 was just gorgeous stuff, but then I followed that up with the Santo Stefano and the Gaja SSL. I'd take the Bartolo over the Santo Stefano (at least at this point) but the SSL would take precedence if I didn't care about the price. $ for $, the Bartolo has the others hands down.
A very nice night. Got to run into a few others from this BB. Met Antonio Galloni. Drank some good wines. What more could I want?
2000 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Gorgeous, ethereal nose. Elegant red fruit and limestone, with a touch of cinnamon or nutmeg.
On the palate, this is a tannic monster. Everything is in perfect balance and harmony, with the striking exception of the tannins. Beautiful aromatics, great bright red fruit, a touch of cedar, some great acids. Needs many, many years. Probably would give this a low-90's score based on this showing but given how young it is I have difficulty knowing.
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1999 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
A less pronounced nose than the Monprivato. Some alcohol, some good fruit, a bit of tree bark. Over the 20-30 mins or so, the nose improved and became a bit more perfumy. On the palate, lots of fruit, with a touch of something sweet - some cherry maby. Loads of tannin (although less than the Monprivato). Almost rounded yet somehow not. Needs a decade or more. Probably a low-90's score based on this showing but it's too young to know.
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1999 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Riserva Granbussia
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Nose is bigger again, though not as big or beautiful as the Monprivato. More fruit, more power. A strong dark red fruit on the nose with just a touch of spice. On the palate, this is the most approachable of the 3. Great big strawberries, cedar. Lovely elegant wine with loads of acids and fruit. Needs at least 5-10 years, has alot longer than that to go. AG suggested the 99 of this would be very similar to the 78. Based on this showing, probably a low- to mid-90's score but this is too young to evaluate IMO.
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