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Vindredi

Bellevue, WA

Tasted June 12, 2015 by dpolivy with 638 views

Introduction

Tonight's theme was Tuscan Reds. All wines were tasted blind where noted, usually in flights of 3.

Flight 1 - Starter (1 note)

White
2013 San Quirico Vernaccia di San Gimignano Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lightly perfumed with mandarin orange and white peach. Dry and fuller bodied, with straw, apple, lemon zest, and good acidity.

Flight 2 (3 notes)

Wines listed in my (and group) order.

Red
2010 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
93 points
Tasted blind. Warm, sweet nose, with potpourri and a touch of brown sugar. Medium plus body. Tart red cherry, but still quite elegant. Lots of acid and tannin on the finish. Young, but showing nicely. 92+
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Tasted blind. Toasty nose, with leather, dried fruit, earth and a little white pepper. Red, pure fruit, tobacco and rose petal. Lots of big, drying tannin and good acidity.
Red
2009 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
90 points
Tasted blind. Smoky, earthy nose, with a touch of tar and oak. Soft but nicely weighted, with dark cherry. Slightly tart acid on the finish, along with some present tannins.

Flight 3 (3 notes)

Group order: Castellare, Cepparello, Grifi.

Red
2010 Avignonesi Grifi Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
92 points
Tasted blind. Sweet, rich, dark fruit on the nose. Rich and full bodied, with dark blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Lingering finish with fine, but chewy, tannins. Quite nice with good balance.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di S. Niccolò Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
93 points
Tasted blind. Dark and brooding, with earth, leather and spice -- and a touch of pond water. Soft and elegant, with lovely black fruit. Lithe, but with chewy tannins and balanced acidity.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
90 points
Tasted blind. Bright fruit, burnt rubber, and some funk on the nose. I found this a bit astringent, with big, burly tannins. Certainly more "classic" in structure, but perhaps in a slightly awkward place right now?
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 (3 notes)

Wines listed in my (and group) order.

Red
2011 Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
95 points
Tasted blind. Sweet, dark black fruit. The body is lush and dense, showing lovely dark fruit. Elegant and balanced, with fine tannins and persistent length.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2012 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore
94 points
Tasted blind. Sweet, dark fruit, with dark chocolate and orange on the nose. Dense and lush, this is a big wine. With chewy tannins and a drying finish, this has the structure to age for a while. Well put together, if a bit young and tight.
Red
2010 Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
91 points
Tasted blind. Wood, spice, and leather on the nose. Red and black fruit, with medium-plus weight. Lots of chewy tannins and acid to finish. Nice, but definitely needs time and/or food!

Flight 5 (3 notes)

Wines listed in my (and group) order.

Red
2012 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
96 points
Tasted blind. Huge nose. Intense, with big, sweet, black fruit. Dense, with sweet black fruit and spice on the palate. So lovely and elegant, with a lengthy finish of fine tannins and balanced acidity. A bit more modern in style, it's enjoyable now but should improve with time.
5 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Campo di Sasso Insoglio del Cinghiale Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
90 points
Tasted blind. A little green, with pond water -- though showing more warm spice as it opens. Soft and light, with red cherry and raspberry. Nicely balanced with fine tannin.
Red
2011 Orma Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
94 points
Tasted blind. Wood, spice, and a little funk. Brighter body, with lovely red fruit and nice complexity. Dryer, more dusty tannins. A bit tight at the moment.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 6 (1 note)

Thanks, Doug, for sharing this! What a treat!

Red
2007 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
95 points
Tasted blind. Intense spice and wood on the nose. Supple and elegant, with soft, fresh and dried red fruit. Fine tannins. Great finish and balance. 94+
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 7 (2 notes)

Thanks to Jeff and PQ for ending the night on a lovely note.

White - Sweet/Dessert
1997 Château Tirecul La Gravière Monbazillac Cuvée Madame France, Southwest France, Dordogne, Monbazillac
97 points
Absolutely lovely. The nose is intense, with honey and apricot. Perfectly balanced, with a nice sweetness but enough acid to keep it clean and not at all cloying. Nutty, with almonds, apricot, peach, honey, and kumquat. Great complexity.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2011 Château Haut-Mayne Sauternes France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
95 points
Bright and lively nose reminds me of peaches and cream. Great density, with apricot, honey, pineapple, and some tropical fruit. Excellent balance with great acidity, overall very pretty and elegant. It's approachable now, but still very young. Great potential.
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