VinItaly Day 3
Verona, Italy
Tasted Tuesday, March 24, 2015 by Rezy13 with 698 views
Flight 1 - Isole e Olena (4 Notes)
Nice wines. Was not familiar with the other international wines in their portfolio.
Flight 2 - Lorenzo Begali (6 Notes)
Have liked the few wines I've tried from them.
Friends always recommend them and testify they are some of the nicest people.
Tasting with daughter, Tiliana.
Flight 3 - Campagnola (3 Notes)
Weren't sure where to go next. People I was with have spent time with owner.
Less than enthusiastic tasting, so we cherry picked and left as soon as we could.
The wines had just as much or less conviction than the staff working for them.
Could have been tasting much better wine during this time. A learning experience.
Flight 4 - Marion (7 Notes)
Tasting with cellar master Stefano Campedelli.
A producer rarely seen in the USA.
Friends are big fans and I see why. There was a stark contrast from the wine at Campagnola to the ones here at Marion.
Clearly these are intensely passionate winemakers who have learned from the masters (Giuseppe Quintarelli & Romano Dal Forno) and are forging their own path. You can taste the respect to not only the grape but the former teachers. Really cool stuff.
Having tasted through I want to start hoarding these. They fly below the radar and kind of want them to stay that way for selfish reasons, but the stuff is too good to be kept a secret for long. Seemed like they were well known in Verona, though.
Flight 5 - Tommaso Bussola (6 Notes)
Tasting with Tommaso, wife Daniela, and son, Paolo. Paolo spent most time with us because he spoke the best English.
He was very nice and seems like a great ambassador of his family's winery.
The wines were rich and powerful and showed varying styles but quality through and through.
I could not believe some of the alcohol contents of these wines. I'm not sure how the yeasts survive at that level, but the density and richness gave them nice balance.
Definitely a richer wine than I typically drink, but I wouldn't mind keeping some of these around for a wow experience every so often.
Flight 6 - Zymé (9 Notes)
Tasting with export manager. I did not get her card.
A really interesting tasting. Lots of different grapes, mainly indigenous, some forgotten, some weird but skillfully produced in a variety of methods but 100% Veronese.
I liked the lineup a lot.
Flight 7 - Fuligni (2 Notes)
One of my favorite Brunellos.
Tasting with Countess Costanti. She was helping out as Altesino, Conti Costanti, and Fuligni were all sharing a booth. Apparently they are all friends...how do I join that group?
The quality was incredible, but like most 2010s their Brunello is going to need some time.
It was actually the Costanti (tasted at Summa a couple days earlier) that may be the most beautiful young Brunellos of 2010.
Flight 8 - Selvapiana (5 Notes)
It was good to see Federico Masseti again. He has done a tasting at Bin 75 before. We are big supporters of his wines.
They have just a few wines, but he was opening older bottles from the cellar and his rare Vin Santo. I think that was a great idea because it shows how well Ruffina ages. I love the acidity in the wine for that reason.
It was a real treat to have the opportunity to taste wines like this.
Also the 3rd white dessert wine today to knock my socks off. Great stuff!
Flight 9 - Fontodi (7 Notes)
Wow, I was not expecting to have my face ripped off by a producer from Chianti...Barolo yes, but the amount of tannin was tough for me.
The fruit was dark, acid seemingly lower, and the tannin made these wines seem a bit laborious to work through. I have like some Fontodi wines but Flaccianello seems to stay firm for a while.
Flight 10 - Fattoria Le Pupille (5 Notes)
Tasting with daughter, Clara Gentili, but mainly 17 year old son of Elisabetta who is currently in school to become a winemaker.
Very nice family, and I like how everyone is involved and contributing starting at a young age.
The wines showed very nicely from first to last. There was a great thread of juicy fruit that made them very drinkable and fresh.
The heaviest was the Saffredi, but this was 100% Bordeaux varietals.
Flight 11 - Stefano Accordini (6 Notes)
Tasting with Tiziano Accordini.
Not very familiar with this producer. Rarely ever see his wine in the US, especially the GA market.
My companions on the trip are acquaintances of his having stayed at each other's homes.
The wines were very nice. When the entry level is that delicious then the upper tiers have to be great.
Flight 12 - Benanti (7 Notes)
Tasting with Salvino Benanti but mainly his wife.
The wines were very nice. You got a sense of tradition, here. No modern smoke and mirrors.
Very nice wines and people.
2013 Isole e Olena Chardonnay Collezione Privata Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Bright yellow with green hues; oak, buttered popcorn, lees, vanilla, young; fuller palate, decent acid, lemon, apple, richer, long finish; good.
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2012 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
10% Canaiolo; see through rose; deep rose and cherry, meaty, clay, slight cedar; solid palate, good structure, great acid; very good.
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2011 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
More density, crimson with lighter rim; cinnamon, plum, sour dark cherry, tobacco, some oak that needs to integrate; fuller palate, broad and persistent, acid seems a bit low, some cedar; good.
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2008 Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione Privata Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Garnet showing good clarity; bright nose, spicy, white pepper, perfumed, not violet; very tasty, nice acid, pops nicely, Cote Rotie-esque lightness with a very Tuscan feel; one of the better Tuscan Syrahs.
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