Magnum shoot out - France vs. Italy

I invited 15 friends (all well versed wine drinkers but with different levels of wine knowledge) for a catered birthday summer BBQ dinner during which we opened some Magnum bottles from my cellar. The purpose was to show some of Italy's most iconic wines and compare them to high end Bordeaux. Both did very well, Bordeaux slightly on top, but in the end, it really was a matter of taste.

• 2000 Château Hosanna 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  From Magnum, served blind. This was served next to the Voerzio Barbera Pozzo due to its fruityness and opulent character which we needed to pair with a Barbera. Consistent to my previous tasting note, a modern, really well made Pomerol from a top terroir and producer. This bottle showed additional secondary aromas adding even more complexity.

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• 2001 Roberto Voerzio Barbera d'Alba Riserva Vigneto Pozzo dell'Annunziata 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  From Magnum, served blind. Medium-dark ruby. This bottle was chosen as Voerzio's Pozzo is generally considered to be the best Barbera there is. Expressive nose of dark fruit, black forest cake and some red berries, a bit of tobacco. Enters the palate with a fruity but serious structure and acidity as well, much more than typical for this varietal. No one go the grape right. Excellent wine, transcending the Barbera grape, high price though.

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• 2007 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Sarmassa 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  From Magnum, served blind. This was chosen as a representative of a modern Barolo. Medium-dark garnet. Expressive nose of red berries, cake, tar, tobacco. Enters the palate with very strong fruit which is buffered by the serious Nebbiolo tannins in the mid palate. A very good Barolo, aromatically slightly outshined by the Monfortino though.

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• 2005 Château Léoville Poyferré 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  From Magnum, served blind. The most closed wine of the evening despite 2h decant, opened in the second half of the evening much more. Discrete nose of dark fruit, pine tree, forest floor, some oak. it is immediately clear that this is a Medoc wine that is still young. Very aristocratic, medium bodied, sappy. Great potential. Wait till 2020. 96+

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• 2007 Cerbaiona (Molinari) Brunello di Montalcino 97 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  From Magnum, served blind. This was chosen to represent the peak of Sangiovese. Excellent showing, consistent with my previous note on this terrific wine. Ready now (while the 2006 is still early).

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• 2004 Château Margaux 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  From Magnum, served blind. Another fantastic showing of this wine, see my other tasting notes. Popular with the dinner crowd.

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• 1996 Château Lafite Rothschild 100 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  From Magnum, served blind. Medium ruby. Expressive nose of dark fruit with a touch of barnyard, cut hey, minerals and cedar wood. Medium bodied with excellent mid mouth feeling, freshness and great complexity. Long finish. A really grand Pauillac, forget about the price...

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• 2002 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 97 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  From Magnum, served blind. This was chosen to represent the peak of traditional Barolo making. Decanted for 2h. Medium garnet-brick. Expressive nose of cut hey, anise seeds, red fruit, tobacco, etc., very complex. Enters the palate medium bodied and restrained but with excellent fruit and structure. Clearly not a wine for the fruit-forward preferring customer but paired with a steak or a funghi risotto, priceless. This, together with the Lafite and Margaux was one of the preferred wines of the evening.

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A magical evening!