Tuscan wine gathering at Bluegrass Restaurant - Showing my dedication to Baltimore winos

Bluegrass restaurant, Baltimore
Tasted Saturday, April 21, 2012 by dcwino with 726 views

Introduction

I had four wine events over the weekend so I was a busy body. The Saturday lunch and dinner were held in Baltimore and being a father of two young boys meant driving twice to Baltimore from Fairfax, Va but it was well worth it.

Eight of us got together at Bluegrass. The food and wine service were excellent once again. Perhaps the best charcuterie that I had in DC area.

Flight 1 - A champage and whites (3 Notes)

  • 1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    Perhaps this is a good example of the flaw in believing 100 point wine. The last bottle was singing and I rated 99 points. This bottle came from the same source and cellared in the same condition. Initially served a bit too warm, it was very tight. The nose is like a closed Les Clos, a hint of lemon oil but dominated by the mineral expression. I tried this two hours later and a hint of Chardonnay fruit and richer mouthfeel but still not expressive.

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  • 1999 Azienda Agricola Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 94 Points

    Italy, Abruzzi, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

    The nose is very unique and tells me a wine that is au natural. Upon opening, a hint of reduction in the nose, grapy, pepper, anise, coriander seed and wax with only a hint of white to yellow fruits. Chewy palate, wet stone and bright acidity. Constantly changing nose, first smoke then becoming really meaty which is really rare in a white wine. Although the fruit expression differs significantly, this reminds me the 05 Clos Rougeard Breze in the complexity, density and broad mouthfeel. This is an exciting and very different/esoteric wine. I would definitely recommend decanting. Started as 92 pointer but got to at least 94 points.

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  • 2006 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Singerriedel 94 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    This is a BIG wine. Based on the initial nose, I would have guessed as an Alsatian Pinot Blanc for its richness and a hint of lychee fruit. Pineapple, rose, limestone, seashell and clove. The concentrated ripe gives the wine very sweet impression but the finish is dry. Chewy unctuous palate with excellent mineral components, bright acidity and structure. Very impressive to say the least.

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Flight 2 - BDMs (4 Notes)

I was truly impressed by how well the 85 and the 88 Pertimali showed.

Flight 3 - Le Pergole Torte and Biondi-Santi (2 Notes)

The 90 Le Pergole Torte is a profound wine.

  • 1990 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 97 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Very youthful blue hue. The expressive and complex nose displays white truffle, sweet blue fruits, tar, butter, light caramel, mint and cedar. Beautiful rich palate, tar, bright acidity and nicely integrated tannins. This bottle displays incredibly complex nose while maintaining very youthful bright fruit expression. A great surprise and makes me to wonder how great the 90 Riserva would be.

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  • 1995 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Fresh round red fruits, anise, petrol, scorched earth and cola. Bright acidity, youthful fruit expression and nicely integrated tannins. Quite fresh and bright. I was expecting a tannic monster with shy dry cherry fruits but instead I got a really nice wine with delicate Burgundian fruit expression.

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Flight 4 - Pertimali Riservas (3 Notes)

  • 1997 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Certainly bigger than the nomale but not showing better at the moment. Black fruits, bitter chocolate and charred meat. This is a big scale wine with nice round mouthfeel. The fruit is not too expressive at the moment and I am hoping that with a few more years of cellaring it will turn out like the 85 and the 88 nomale.

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  • 1999 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    This is extremely ripe not unlike very ripe examples of the 03 Burgundies. Prunes, chocolate dipped cherry and soy. Sweet and slightly disjointed palate at the moment. Ten more years of cellaring will better integrate the overripe fruit expression. If you don’t own any, perhaps the wine to avoid.

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  • 2001 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Very fresh, crushed blackberries, grilled meat and bacon. Also noticeable Brett that bothered some tasters. Some fizziness and excellent concentration. Neither complex nor expressive at the moment, need time.

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Closing

This was a fun and educational lunch. Tom and I were agreeing on the great value that mature BDMs offer especially at auction.

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