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North & Central Italy offline
Terra Rossa, London N1
Tasted December 18, 2023 by fussyeater with 67 views
Introduction
Brilliantly curated by James G and a perfect lead up to the Christmas break...
Flight 1 - Verdicchio (2 notes)
White
2020 Borgo Paglianetto Verdicchio di Matelica Vertis
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.
White
2021 Borgo Paglianetto Verdicchio di Matelica Petrara
Lemony nose and quite linear and inexpressive. Struggling for descriptors...Quaffable.
Flight 2 - Piedmontese whites (2 notes)
White
2016 Vigneti Massa Derthona Montecitorio
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...
White
2018 Giovanni Manzone Langhe Rossese Bianco Rosserto
Smoke, wet autumn leaves. It's dry, crisp and singular. There are also marzipan notes. Really good.
Flight 3 - Piedmont (excluding Nebbiolo) Part I (3 notes)
Red
2016 Davide Carlone Vespolina Colline Novaresi
Medicinal black cherry with a hint of menthol. Thick soupy grippy and balsamic with an unusual minty note. Not my cuppa...
Red
2016 Elvio Cogno Barbera d'Alba Pre-Phylloxera
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!
Red
2019 Marcarini Dolcetto d'Alba Boschi di Berri
Coffee and sweet red fruit on the nose. Good purity, seems mature, and held together by the acidity. A bit uneventful for me.
Flight 4 - Piedmont (excluding Nebbiolo) Part II (2 notes)
Red
2013 Vigneti Massa Croatina Colli Tortonesi Pertichetta
flawed
Balsamic vinegar and seemed oxidised. I persisted no further.
Red
2008 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia
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.
Flight 5 - Barolo (3 notes)
Red
2005 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Rocche
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...
Red
2010 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Villero
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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Comment
Flight 6 - Tuscan Sangiovese (2 notes)
Red
2016 Montevertine 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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Comments (2)
Red
2006 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Nocio dei Boscarelli
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.
Flight 7 - Brunello (2 notes)
Red
2001 Argiano 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.
Red
1999 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille
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.
Closing
Another very enjoyable time in the company of friends at a very hospitable (as always) venue.