North & Central Italy offline

Brilliantly curated by James G and a perfect lead up to the Christmas break...

• 2020 Borgo Paglianetto Verdicchio di Matelica Vertis

  Italy, Marche, Verdicchio di Matelica

  Minerally flinty nose. Dry saline, not fruity, it's oily and with a touch of spice. Quite prominent acidity but well balanced and with good length. Decent.

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• 2021 Borgo Paglianetto Verdicchio di Matelica Petrara

  Italy, Marche, Verdicchio di Matelica

  Lemony nose and quite linear and inexpressive. Struggling for descriptors...Quaffable.

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• 2016 Vigneti Massa Derthona Montecitorio

  Italy, Piedmont, Colli Tortonesi

  Smoke and orange rind on the nose. Oxidative and oily. There's something slightly unusual on the midpalate which is probably entirely correct that puts me off...

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• 2018 Giovanni Manzone Langhe Rossese Bianco Rosserto

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Smoke, wet autumn leaves. It's dry, crisp and singular. There are also marzipan notes. Really good.

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• 2016 Davide Carlone Vespolina Colline Novaresi

  Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Colline Novaresi

  Medicinal black cherry with a hint of menthol. Thick soupy grippy and balsamic with an unusual minty note. Not my cuppa...

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• 2016 Elvio Cogno Barbera d'Alba Pre-Phylloxera

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  Coconut, oak and blackcurrant fruit pastilles on the nose. Quite nice if you can get past the dark chocolate bounty bar sensation. Underneath all of the winemaking it is quite delicious. Maybe serve as a digestif? If not give it 20 years and see!

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• 2019 Marcarini Dolcetto d'Alba Boschi di Berri

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba

  Coffee and sweet red fruit on the nose. Good purity, seems mature, and held together by the acidity. A bit uneventful for me.

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• 2013 Vigneti Massa Croatina Colli Tortonesi Pertichetta Flawed

  Italy, Piedmont, Colli Tortonesi

  Balsamic vinegar and seemed oxidised. I persisted no further.

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• 2008 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  Old books, a hint of cedar, and red fruit on the nose. Good purity of fruit which has held up very well. Middle aged but in very good shape and unlikely to begin a descent any time soon as held together well by the acidity.

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• 2005 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Rocche

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A bit of soy sauce on the otherwise muted nose. Quite sandy tannins that were cloying and likely teeth staining! Slightly tertiary delicious red fruit on the palate. Really good yet slightly under delivering...

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• 2009 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne Flawed

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Corked unfortunately.

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• 2010 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Villero

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Sand dust and red fruit on the nose. Slightly grainy tannins but really delicious red fruit. Seemed youthful but lovely to drink now, although you could safely forget about it in the cellar. Double decanted 4 hours ahead.

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• 2016 Montevertine Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  An open nose showing red fruit and rose petals with some coffee grounds lingering. Pure and with gorgeous layers of concentrated delicious red fruit. Good freshness and proper length. One of the best wines of the night - in fact, group WOTN.

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• 2006 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Nocio dei Boscarelli

  Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  Delicate and slightly tertiary. Airy menthol, minty and refreshing. Purity in spades. Upon a re-visit (out of sequence pour) I noted that the fruit seemed a bit dried and tannins sandpapery. If I had settled on initial impressions it would have been one of my favourite wines of the evening.

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• 2001 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  In a v nice place with good balance and seemed very accomplished. Showing slightly tertiary red fruit. Not about to fall off its horse which bodes well for subsequent vintages. Stellar.

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• 1999 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Never encountered this wine before and was simply blown away. It had an airy nose showing pot pourri and red fruits. The wine was quite tertiary but not underpowered at all as whilst it seemed light and airy there was well concealed concentration and great purity. Very well balanced and currently in a great spot. I gave it WOTN although perhaps there would have been rivals had they also been at peak drinking.

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Another very enjoyable time in the company of friends at a very hospitable (as always) venue.