Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Slow Wine Guide 2012 (Release tasting)
Metropolitan Pavilion
Tasted January 30, 2012 by Eric Guido with 1,243 views
Introduction
Good, Clean and Fair
If only life could always sound so simple. However, in the case of Slow Food’s new wine guide, Slow Wine, it’s anything but simple. Good Clean and Fair is what the over 200 collaborators are looking for in the wineries which are represented in Slow Wine. “Good” refers to the wine and its sensory characteristics. “Clean” is the way the winery goes about its growing and production. Slow Wine looks for growers that use natural methods or the smallest amount of chemicals possible. “Fair” represents price versus the quality in the bottle.
Flight 1 (46 notes)
White
2010 Monchiero Carbone Roero Arneis Cecu d'la Biunda
90 points
The nose showed fresh cut flowers, honey suckle, a spritz of lime and almond. On the palate, it was rich, yet balanced with focused white fruits and a mouthwatering quality that lasted into the finish with a hint of medicinal herbs.
Red
2008 Monchiero Carbone Roero Printi Riserva
91 points
The nose showed floral potpourri and cinnamon in a very pretty, refined expression. On the palate, I found focused sour cherry fruit and herbs. The medium finish lent hints of tannins and this wine’s fine structure. This was a great example of the emerging Nebbiolo coming from Roero.
White
2010 Malvira' Roero Arneis Trinità
87 points
The nose showed fresh herbs and spicy peach aromas. On the palate, it was silky and clean with white stone fruits. The juicy finish gave it a beautiful send off and reminded me of poolside summer days.
Red
2008 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
89 points
The nose showed bright red fruits and floral stems. On the palate, I found wild berries and a clean, mouthwatering expression of Sangiovese. The finish was medium in length yet rich in fruit and left me with a very satisfied experience.
Red
2007 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Nocio dei Boscarelli
92 points
The nose was intense with red fruits and spice. Earthy floral notes rounded it out and added plenty of depth. On the palate, it was expansive and showed a finessed and elegant inner floral perfume with tight red berry fruits. The finish was long and showed a fine tannic structure. This is a wine that I plan to bury in my own cellar.
Red
2007 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera
93 points
The nose was classic, showing floral rose and stem notes with strawberry and tree bark. On the palate, I found juicy, bright red fruit, which turned darker with time in the glass. Its structure peaked out on the long finish. In the case of 2007, it’s the Gavarini, instead of the Case Mate, that I prefer from the Grasso cantina.
Red
2007 Marziano Abbona Barolo Pressenda
91 points
The nose was aggressive with ripe cherry and herbal notes. On the palate, it was soft on entry but quickly showed a gruff tannic structure, yet a solid core of rich fruit promises that time will reveal layers of depth. This is a highly enjoyable Barolo from the ’07 vintage, but it certainly needs time in the cellar.
Red
2009 Marziano Abbona Dogliani Papà Celso
89 points
The nose was like a blackberry pie with black fruits, herbs and aromas of toasty savory pate brisse. On the palate, it was juicy with more blackberry and medicinal herbs. The finish was tight with woodsy notes. The Dogliani Papá Celso should be even better with a year or two in bottle.
Red
2007 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole
95 points
It was a joy to taste the G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole. The nose showed an elegant, yet intense floral perfume with spiced cherries and floral stems. On the palate, it was feminine and balanced with cherries, strawberry and menthol, which provided an airy lift with a juicy mid-palate. It finished showing a fine tannic structure. This was one of the best ’07 Baroli I have tasted to date.
Red
2007 Malvira' Roero Renesio Riserva
89 points
The nose showed strawberry, herbs and woodland notes. On the palate, it was juicy and finessed with intense red fruits and woodsy, earthy notes. The fruit fell off quickly in the finish yet left flavors of spice and medicinal herbs.
Red
2009 Pieropan Valpolicella Superiore Ruberpan
86 points
The nose showed strawberry and woodland notes. On the palate, it was juicy with cherry and a floral aura that lasted into the finish.
White
2009 Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca
88 points
The nose showed citrus notes with minerals and stones. On the palate, it was smooth with lemon and saline minerals. The finish was fresh but again lacked the depth of past vintages.
Red
2008 Sorelle Bronca Colli di Conegliano Ser Bele
90 points
The nose showed ripe berries and hints of herbs and grapefruits. On the finish, it was juicy, smooth, and balanced while showing mixed berries. The finish lingered on the palate and left me feeling very satisfied.
White
2010 Zuani Vigne Bianco
90 points
The nose showed fresh florals, apple, citrus and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, I found rich yet focused stone fruits and a spritz of citrus, leading to a clean, fresh finish.
Red
2007 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio
92 points
The ’07 Il Poggio showed very closed and was tightly wound. The youthful and high-toned nose showed Strawberry and herbs. On the palate, it was juicy with red fruit and cedar notes but lacked the depth of past vintages. Its structure showed more on the finish.
White
2009 Pieropan Soave Classico Calvarino
87 points
The nose showed lime and hint of herbs. On the palate, it was fresh yet lacked the stuffing of past vintages and ultimately ended in a short finish. This bottle was a letdown for me since I have always been a fan of Pieropan Soave.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White - Sparkling
2010 Sorelle Bronca Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Particella 68
88 points
This was a beautifully fresh prosecco with mineral laden fruit on the nose and a clean refreshing palate performance. The finish was most enjoyable with ripe stone fruits.
Red
2008 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva
89 points
The nose showed classic Chianti notes of strawberry, herbs, leather and cedar. On the palate, it was rich with apparent structure and red berry fruit. The finish was cut short by the wine’s underlying structure.
Red
2008 Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore
92 points
The nose was rich with cherries, currant and mountain herbs. On the palate, it was lush and mouth-filling with black raspberry, wood spice and herbs. The finish was long yet youthful with sour fruits.
Red
2008 Fattoria Corzano e Paterno Chianti Riserva I Tre Borri
92 points
The nose was hallmark Tuscan with wild berries, tree bark and earth. On the palate, I found soft strawberry tones, with herbal tea and cedar. The finish was long and structured. The Tre Rorri Riserva was extremely enjoyable and one of my favorites of the vintage.
Red
2008 Fattoria Corzano e Paterno Il Corzano Toscana IGT
89 points
The nose showed red berries with dark currant and herbs. On the palate, it was clean but tight with red berry fruit. The finish showed spiced fruits.
Red
2008 Podere Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot
94 points
The nose showed red and black fruits, pepper, herbs and earth. On the palate, it was full and balanced with ripe mixed berries and spice. The finish lasted long with pleasant linger berry notes.
Red
2008 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia
93 points
The ’08 Rancia was unexpectedly open at this young age. The nose showed red berries, cocoa powder and deep floral notes. On the palate, it was open and juicy with red berry fruits. The finish showed more of the structure I was expecting. This is a fine example of Rancia that (in this year’s case) is more open in its youth than the Fontalloro.
Red
2008 Fontodi Chianti Classico
90 points
The nose showed red berries, menthol and herbal tones. On the palate, it was juicy with red fruit and a hint of drying cedar which stayed through the finish.
Red
2008 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
91 points
The nose showed dark spicy berries, yet was still very closed. On the palate, it was lean yet focused with red berries and a tightly wound structure.
White
2010 Bertani Soave Sereole
89 points
The nose showed ripe pears and spicy floral notes. On the palate, it was rich yet clean with white stone fruits. It finished clean, focused and fresh. It would make for a great summer sipper.
Red
2004 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
87 points
The nose showed burnt toast, blackberry jam and spiced cookie. On the palate, it was fresh and lively with juicy cherry notes which stayed into the finish. This was an enjoyable Amarone, yet the burnt toast notes marred the experience.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2010 Feudo Montoni Catarratto Sicilia
89 points
The nose showed lemon and spicy herbal tones. On the palate, it was soft with apple, lime and minerals. Floral notes lingered through the finish.
Red
2008 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro
91 points
The ’08 Fontalloro showed ripe cherry, dark chocolate and herbs on the nose. The palate showed lean sour berries and youthful tannins that coated the mouth through the finish.
Red
2007 Podere Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot
93 points
The nose showed red berries, spice, pepper, herbs and candle wax. On the palate, it was rich and focused with wild berries and herbs. With time in the glass it widened and turned to riper fruit tones. The finish was long and enjoyable with a hint of this wine’s tannic structure.
Red
1999 Podere Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot
93 points
The nose showed moist fall leaves, pepper and dried strawberry. On the palate, it was soft as silk with dark red fruits and spice. The long finish was full of strawberry tones and herbal notes. This was a beautiful bottle after 13 years in the winery cellar.
Red
2008 Feudo Montoni Nero d'Avola Sicilia Vrucara (Selezione Speciale)
89 points
The nose showed like a red berry tart with sweet baking spices. On the palate, I found juicy red fruits in a full and lively expression of Nero D’Avola. The finish carried on with its juicy, ripe fruit theme.
White
2010 Elvio Cogno Langhe Nascetta Anas-Cetta
88 points
The nose showed floral notes, lime and saline minerals. On the palate it was balanced, yet a little one-dimensional with citrus tones. The finish showed beautifully with lingering undergrowth, floral and spice notes.
Red
2007 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera
90 points
The nose showed sour cherry, spicy cookie and a hint of vanilla. On the palate it was full-bodied with lively acidity and firm structure with intense dark red fruit. This wine needs time to show its full potential but should be truly stunning with time.
White
2010 Giovanni Almondo Roero Arneis Vigne Sparse
87 points
The nose showed white flowers, almond skins and a spritz of lemon. On the palate, I found sweet apple, floral notes and hints of peach. The finish was clean, fresh and highly enjoyable.
Red
2008 Cascina Ca'Rossa Roero Mompissano Riserva
91 points
The nose showed floral tones with earth, wild herbs and red fruits. On the palate, I found focused and intense red berry fruit which lasted into the long pure finish. This wine really showed what Roero Nebbiolo is capable of.
Red
2009 Cascina Ca'Rossa Langhe Nebbiolo
90 points
The nose showed sour berries, floral stems and cedar. On the palate, it was rich with mixed berries and spice. The finish was long, pure and beautifully finessed.
Red
2008 Giovanni Almondo Roero Bric Valdiana
92 points
The nose was big and rich yet lovely with red berries, spice cookie and apple butter. On the palate, I found lean red fruit against rugged structured Nebbiolo tannin. The finish followed suit, showing its structure and promising a long life ahead.
White
2009 Prà Soave Classico Monte Grande
89 points
The nose showed lemon, minerals and floral stems. On the palate, it was impeccably balanced with refreshing lemon tones. The finish was long and mouth-coating yet fresh.
Red
2009 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico
90 points
The nose showed strawberries with underbrush, herbs and a welcome hint of barnyard. On the palate, it was balanced with red berries and mountain herbs. The finish was intense and lingering. I could drink this all day.
White
2007 Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Carato
89 points
The nose showed a mix of roasted nuts and fresh flowers. On the palate, I found peach and citrus notes. The finish was clean and refreshing.
Red
2009 Marotti Campi Lacrima di Morro d'Alba Superiore Orgiolo
87 points
The nose showed violet candies, wild berries and spice. On the palate, it was fresh with blackberry fruit and a hint of pepper. Tannins lingered on the finish with floral spicy notes.
Red
2007 Prà Amarone della Valpolicella
93 points
The nose was gorgeous with plum, raisin, minerals and undergrowth. On the palate, it was remarkably balanced and fresh yet still had a tamed level of richness as notes of ripe black cherry and soil lingered into the long finish.
Red
2008 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT
92 points
The nose showed an intense mix of berries, cinnamon and herbs. On the palate, it was clean and balanced with deep cherry fruit and cedar tones. The long focused finish was a delight and showed the wine’s formidable structure in the close. This is another bottle to bury in the cellar for the next 5 to 10 years.
Red
2010 Velenosi Lacrima di Morro d'Alba Querci’Antica
90 points
The nose showed like a basket of fresh picked flowers with pepper, minerals and a health does of earthiness. On the palate, it tasted like it smelled and had a gorgeous note of rose hips in its in floral profile. It was a truly enjoyable bottle of wine for those who know and enjoy Lacrima.
White
2007 Montenidoli Il Templare Toscana IGT
90 points
The nose showed floral spicy notes and almond. On the palate, I found yellow pit fruits and herbs with a clean and focused finish.