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Italian Wines @ Iron Gate
Iron Gate - Washington, DC
Tasted December 11, 2014 by isaacjamesbaker with 553 views
Introduction
The Iron Gate is a small place shaped like a railroad apartment, and this event was packed. So I sipped two whites and made my way to the back where they were hiding the Barbaresco and Barolos. Mostly 2010s in this lineup, with a few random 2007s. Obviously all of these wines are incredibly young and need cellar time, but it was a lot of fun seeing what they offer this early on.
Flight 1 - Only two whites (2 notes)
White
2013 Köfererhof Kerner Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler
88 points
A lot of fun, and really unique. Smells so floral, also lychees and honey. Creamy but zesty on the palate with salt and minerals (a la Riesling), yet some white pepper (a la Gewurz). Very fresh and inviting and food friendly. Unique and interesting.
White
2012 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino
90 points
A seriously good Fiano, showing lots of flora, salty and complex fruit notes on the nose. Fleshy and good concentration on the palate, creamy but tangy, showing white peach, apricot. Lots of mineral, slate, seashells, a complex wine.
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Flight 2 - All Piedmont (17 notes)
Red
2010 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Duemiladieci
89 points
A bit tight on the nose, some flowers and earth. Gritty palate, tart, bright red fruit mixes with earth, flowers. A dense wine, but very pretty.
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Red
2010 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Ovello Vigneto Loreto
90 points
Bold yet elegant on the nose and palate. Tannins can be approached, the fruit is compact and tart but complex. Love the freshness to this wine and the complex, granite, balsamic, earth and floral notes. Long and complex, needs a whole lot of time.
Red
2010 Moccagatta Barbaresco Bric Balin
87 points
Nose shows some openness, with red flowers and strawberry. Tangy and bright on the palate, a (relatively) softer approach than some of the other wines, but still plenty of grippy tannins. Strawberry and raspberry, dusted with some earth and mushroom.
Red
2010 Fratelli Revello Barolo
87 points
Juicy and approachable, with a tart and red berry-driven approach, even some orange peel notes. Refreshing but structured enough.
Red
2010 Fratelli Revello Barolo Vigna Conca
91 points
Such an exotic nose, very deep and complex. Dry and bold on the palate, yet showing some silkiness. Deep and loamy, earthy, some mushroom and tobacco coming out. Long, complex, showing some really attractive aspects and nuance, despite its young age.
Red
2010 Fratelli Revello Barolo Vigna Giachini
91 points
Concentrated nose, quite big. Great concentration on the palate, deep notes of loam and earth accent the red and black currant flavors, add in some floral and graphite notes. Long finish. Needs a lot of time but a very complex and pretty wine awaits.
Red
2007 Fratelli Revello Barolo Vigna Conca
90 points
Dense nose, but showing lots of fruit and richness. Full and velvety on the palate, rich fruit but backed up by grilled mushroom, loam, dust and tobacco. Complex, a bit high-octane, plenty of time ahead.
Red
2010 Fratelli Seghesio Barolo
87 points
Firm wine but showing some restraint. Raspberries and strawberries, mixed with mineral notes and hints of mushroom. Lacking the depth of some of the other Barolos in the tasting, but showing lots of attractive qualities, and I think this is generally a value-driven producer.
Red
2010 Fratelli Seghesio Barolo Vigneto la Villa
89 points
Richer, very floral. Deep, firm, but accessible. Black cherries, tart currants, nice velvety feel with dusty, rocky elements. Very pretty but three years in the cellar would be a good start.
Red
2007 Fratelli Seghesio Barolo Vigneto la Villa
87 points
A juicy and silkier version than the 2010, very open and opulent, but not a ton of depth.
Red
2010 Renato Corino Barolo
90 points
I get some elegance here, coming out from the high acid and tannin. Strawberries and red currants dusted with earth and mushroom, an underlying minerality. Some cedar and toast.
Red
2010 Renato Corino Barolo Arborina
90 points
More floral on the nose, juicy red fruit and cedar. Obviously young, like all these wines, but showing some very attractive mushroom, granite and clay notes along with some spicy cedar.
Red
2010 Renato Corino Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata
93 points
One of the gems of the night. Deeply aromatic. Tart and crunchy red fruit on the palate, the tannins are strong but the wine maintains some early finesse. Lots of deep minerals, spice, earth and crushed rock elements. This is gonna be gorgeous in a decade.
Red
2010 Paolo Conterno Barolo Riserva Ginestra
A massive wine, more so than most every other 2010 Barolo in the tasting. Tannins kick in right away and don't leave. Almost impenetrable. Dense currant and fig paste come out, along with lots of violets and crushed rocks, some mushroom.
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Red
2010 Luigi Pira Barolo Serralunga
85 points
Good foundation of tannins and acidity, but not a lot of complexity and quite closed. Earth and mushroom, but the fruit tastes a bit dull compared to the other 2010s.
Red
2010 Luigi Pira Barolo Margheria
90 points
Good amount of depth and concentration here. Juicy red and black fruit underneath lots of earth, loam and violets. Some elegance buried deep, a bit sharp around the edges now.
Red
2010 Luigi Pira Barolo Marenca
93 points
One of the standouts. Still brutally young, but approachable compared to others. Starts smooth and velvety before the tannins and acid tear in. Ends grippy. In the middle, lots of tart berries, complex mushroom and soil notes, lasting minerality. Long cellar life ahead for sure, but very impressive young.