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connoisseur wines spring european portfolio

Vivere, Chicago IL

Tasted April 20, 2009 by KeithAkers with 1,021 views

Introduction

I always enjoy going to Connoisseur's portfolio tastings as they have a great and diverse portfolio to taste through

Flight 1 - Burgundy (17 notes)

Red
2006 Comte Armand Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Rouge France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru
86 points
nose: bright and tart nose that is rather surprising with red fruits, spices, and some bright tones of red cherries. Almost cali in style and doesn't really come across as a burg

taste: nice medium/light feel with good tannins and nice medium+ acidity with good tones of red fruits, spices and some mixed berries

overall: more new world driven on both the nose and palate. Not the most exciting wine as its lacking a bit of depth and I really wouldn't hold out hope that this will develop into a real good wine
Red
2006 Comte Armand Pommard France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard
87 points
nose: tight nose with some tones of earth, red fruits and dark berries. Nice depth with a good robust quality to it

taste: very good feel with medium+ acidity and tones of red fruits, dark red cherries and dark berries

overall: a real nice wine that obviously needs a bit of time to shed some baby fat. A real nice pommard with nice depth. Should take a couple of years to fully come around
Red
2006 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru
90 points
nose: excellent depth with good rustic tones of dark red cherries, dark raspberries, asian spice tones and some mineral rich earth tones. Real robust and pungent nose that took some swirls to open up

taste: big medium/high acidity that one would expect from a young wine like this. Well balanced and robust tones of dark red cherries, dark raspberry tones, bits of spices and slight hints of earth

overall: brutally young and in need of 8-10 years before a full approach. Didn't get a chance to spend real time with it due to the enviorment. Has a very good life ahead of it and has the pedigree to really turn out well
Red
2006 Domaine Alain Burguet Gevrey-Chambertin Tradition France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
88 points
nose: classic gevrey tones with robust and tart tones of dark red cherries, raspberries, and some brown spices. Nice depth for a village wine with well balanced aromatics

taste: well balanced tones of dark cherries, raspberries, and damp earth tones. Good medium+ acidity with a real nice feel

overall: a real good gevrey villages. Good classic flavors with good acidity to back it up. Very enjoyable and can be drunk on its own and with food
Red
2006 Domaine Alain Burguet Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
89 points
nose: very good depth with tones of berries, dark red cherries, blue fruits with a touch of red fruits. More depth then the GC tradition and seems to be holding back a bit

taste: good feel with nice depth and tones of berries, dark red cherries, red fruits and some nice earth tones. Good medium/high acidity showing off the youth of the wine

overall: a really nice villages. Obviously young, this should turn into a real beauty with some time sideways as there is real good stuffing behind it and should hit above its village weight class
Red
2006 Gérard Mugneret Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
89 points
nose: very rustic nose that isn't for fans of fruit forward pinots with excellent tones of black cherries, brown spices and nicely defined dark berry tones with a good earthen base

taste: searingly high acidity with a real nice light feel and tones of raspberries, brown spices, black cherries, and a good amount of earthen tones

overall: needs a good amount of time to calm down the acidity. Really good depth and excellent tones that scream NSG
Red
2006 Gérard Mugneret Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
90 points
nose: fairly tight and reticent, but shows off the lovely side of vosne with hi-toned tones of spices, red fruits and various floral tones. All blend well together in a real nice feminine style

taste: nice medium/high acidity that works well for support as opposed to getting in the way. Well balanced and lovely tones of red cherries, spices, red fruits and some bits of hi-toned florals

overall: a very pretty and elegant wine. Really shows off what I enjoy about Vosne with lovely and precocious aromas and a silky feel on the palate
Red
2006 Clos de Haute Combe Juliénas France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Juliénas
86 points
nose: nice light nose of red cherries, red berries, and bits of wild strawberries. Easy with good red fruits tones, though lacking a bit of depth

taste: good light feel with medium acidity and tones of red berries and some tones of wild strawberries

overall: a nice beaujolais. Easy drinking with nice and easy fruit tones, this is good for summer sipping and would be good with some turkey
Red
2006 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges Clos des Fourches France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges
89 points
nose: rich dark fruits provide the base on the nose with good amounts of asian spices, dark cherries, and some tart raspberry tones. Good balance and decent depth

taste: nice medium feel with medium/high acidity and tones of dark red fruits, asian spices, raspberries, and earthen tones

overall: very young, but certainly an excellent village wine. SHould take a couple of years to emerge fully, and become really enjoyable
Red
2006 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
90 points
nose: good depth with tones of brown and asian spices, dark red fruits, bits of earth, and very tart tones of black cherries. Classy and fairly robust though not extremely rustic

taste: very young with high acidity and good tones of brown and asian spices, earthen tones and tart black cherry notes. Comes off as a bit more rustic then it did on the nose, but still isn't an overtly rustic NSG on the palate

overall: extremely young and you certainly can't go wrong with mugnier. This will need about another 7 years to really get going, but should be a real good expression of NSG when it comes around
Red
2006 Domaine Michel Lafarge Bourgogne Passetoutgrains France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains
84 points
nose: light and airy nose with decent tones of dark red cherries, strawberries, red berries, and some bits of spice. Good complexity for a passetoutgrains, but does lack a bit of depth as would be expected

taste: light and decent tones of strawberries, red berries and bits of spice. A bit thin and lacking on the palate

overall: a nice wine. Good for food or for a summer sipper with its easy and inoffensive tones and flavors
Red
2006 Domaine Michel Lafarge Bourgogne France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
86 points
nose: correct nose with nice tones of tart red fruits, some cherries and bits of spice. Seems to be holding back a bit and has decent depth for a bourgogne

taste: nice tones of spice and red cherries dominate with decent depth and medium+ acidity. Fairly correct, but adds an extra dimension with having good relative depth for its classification

overall: a nice bourgogne. May need a slight bit of time to fully emerge. This is a real nice bourgogne as there is a correctness to it, but seems to have a slight bit more
Red
2006 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay
88 points
nose: cool and laid back nose with lovely tones of dark red fruits, bits of earth, blue fruits, and some hints of violets. Very good depth for a village wine and relatively open for such a young wine too

taste: elegant feel with medium/high acidity that is getting in the way at this young time. Good tones of dark red fruits, violets, and some bits of berries. Seems to be holding back right now on the palate

overall: a real quality village wine. Will certainly need a few years to fully come around and bloom, and should certainly get better as the depth and class is there, but the acidity is a bit much at this time
Red
2006 Domaine Michel Lafarge Beaune 1er Cru Les Aigrots France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru
91 points
nose: pungent dark nose filled with dark spices, dark red cherries, and dark berry tones. good depth and a definite class apart from the other lafarge's that were being tasted

taste: excellent medium feel with medium/high acidity and nice dark tones of dark spices, dark red cherries, berries and some bits of earth and black raspberries

overall: a real nice wine. Good depth and a real attractive dark profile, this will need a few years to really get going, but has a real nice frame right now
White
2006 La Soufrandière Mâcon-Vinzelles Clos de Grand Père France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Mâcon-Vinzelles
88 points
nose: good depth for a macon with nice tones of creams, citrus', lemon peels, and some bits of navel oranges

taste: very nice medium feel with medium acidity providing nice tones of meyer lemons, citrus', and some bits of cream

overall: a really good macon with nice depth and tones. Shows a slightly more ripe style with nice weight and feel
White
2006 Bret Brothers Pouilly-Fuissé En Carementrant France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé
89 points
nose: real good tones of tree fruits, pears, and bits of lemons and minerals. Decent depth for a pouilly-fuisse and good definition on the tones

taste: excellent medium feel with straight forward and relatively ripe tones of pears, lemons, bits of apples and some mineral undertones. Good medium+ acidity accompanies this to provide a nice spine for the wine

overall: a really good pouilly fuisse that borders on outstanding. Good body and acidity, this is perfect for drinking on its own and with food
White
2006 Domaine Michel Lafarge Meursault France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
88 points
nose: fairly ripe nose with tones of tropical citrus', pineapples, green apples and some hints of smoked nuts. Good balance and good depth for a village white burg

taste: real nice medium feel with good medium acidity and nice riper tones of tropical citrus', green apples, some white peach tones and bits of roasted nuts

overall: a nice village meursault. Not sure how long it will go and the fruit is more on the riper side, but not at 03 levels. A somewhat exotic meursault that drinks right now and should hold for some time

Flight 2 - Champagne (6 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Jose Dhondt Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut France, Champagne
91 points
nose: crisp and precise nose filled with apples, almonds, and bits of tree fruits and citrus tones. Great depth and purity that makes this very attractive on the nose

taste: great light feel with excellent medium+ acidity and crisp tones of citrus', green and red apples, almonds and bits of tree fruits

overall: a real quality NV BdB. Excellent aromatics with real tasty flavors that make you go back for more
White - Sparkling
N.V. Bruno Gobillard Champagne Vieilles Vignes Brut France, Champagne
92 points
nose: very nice and lifting nose with hints of white florals, citrus tones, bits of dough and a good amount of wet stones. Good depth and balance on the nose that also has a nice roundness to it

taste: loads of delicious citrus tones with tropical fruits, mangoes, peaches, minerals, cherry blossoms, and lots of wet stones. Great depth and excellent medium+ acidity that really aids in the flavors

overall: a really wonderful champagne. The tropical fruits on the palate come across as a bit exotic and add an interesting dimension to the wine
White - Sparkling
N.V. Serveaux Fils Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut France, Champagne
90 points
nose: extremely mineral driven nose with bits of apple cores, hazelnuts and some citrus tones. Has a steelyness and a touch of austerity to it that isn't necessarily for everyone

taste: delicious light and crisp feel with refreshing medium+ acidity. Well defined tones of minerals, apples, lemon peels and mixed nuts

overall: This was very enjoyable for me. Not sure that this style of BdB is for everyone as there is an austere edge to it. Very focused and mineral driven, this is the perfect bubbly for all sorts of foods
White - Sparkling
N.V. Camille Savès Champagne Premier Cru Brut Carte Blanche France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
90 points
nose: nice hi-toned nose with good tones of bread, white peaches, white florals and some bits of apples. Really good nose with nice depth and clarity

taste: excellent light feel with good medium acidity. Clear and succulent tones of citrus', white peaches, florals, and bits of yeast and bread all meld well together in great balance and come across as rather refreshing

overall: a really nice and crisp champagne. Excellent hi-toned aromatics and lighter tones on the palate but carry good depth
White - Sparkling
N.V. Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Carte Noire l'Extra Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
89 points
nose: nice nose of yeast, tart lemon tones, bits of red apples and some underlying mineral tones. Doesn't have the depth that one would expect from a grand cru

taste: there is a nice richness to this though it does lack in depth a bit. Good tones of yeast, baking spices, red apples and some citrus tones. Good medium+ acidity gives this a good refreshing feeling to the wine

overall: a really good NV, but just lacks a bit of the depth that would really put this in that much better region of NVs. Would be nice if it had some more polish on the feel too
White - Sparkling
N.V. Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
91 points
nose: nice and racy nose of pears, white peaches, tree fruits and undertones of minerals. Good depth and class on the nose that accentuates the flavors well

taste: good polished feel with medium+ acidity. Well defined tones of citrus', pears, white peaches, minerals and some bits of white florals

overall: a real classy and fun champagne. Excellent feel with refreshing acidity that makes this work well with all sorts of food and on its own

Flight 3 - Tuscany (13 notes)

White
2005 Isole e Olena Chardonnay Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
89 points
nose: real good tones of citrus', lemons, peaches and some oily tones that seem to lurk underneath. Good depth and balance on the nose, but doesn't seem to bring that next gear

taste: excellent medium feel with good medium acidity. Well rounded tones of citrus', baking oils, peaches and some bits of minerals all work well together

overall: an on the cusp chardonnay. Doesn't have that extra level of depth or layering that would really add an extra dimension to the wine that would really propel it
Red
2004 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
91 points
nose: deep and rich with savory tones of dark red cherries, dark plums, tobacco, purple florals and a touch of roasted herbs. Extremely fragrant and polished

taste: excellent medium feel with big tannins and medium+ acidity. Well balanced tones of dark red cherries, roast herbs, dark plums and some hints of purple florals. The tannins are a bit much right now and clip the finish a slight bit

overall: this is a lovely wine right now, and when the tannins subisde, it should really shine
Red
2004 Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
90 points
nose: nice dark and meaty nose with good tones of black fruits, black cherries, smoke, and some charcoal briquettes

taste: good full body with rich tannins with big meaty tones, black fruits, black cherries, and charcol birquettes

overall: brutally young. Big body with great tones on both the nose and palate. Needs a bit of time to fully work itself out, but should be a real top notch tuscan syrah when it comes around
Red
2003 Isole e Olena Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
89 points
nose: dark and brooding nose with rich tones of cedar, black cherries, anise, roasted herbs, and dark tones of cranberries. Good depth and seems to handle the vintage in a decent way

taste: really rich and dark tones of cedar, black cherries, dark berries, and roasted herbs provided a big and brooding feel and hard tannins

overall: a bit too brooding at this time. Hopefully a couple of years can soften this up and let it be more expressive
White - Sweet/Dessert
2000 Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
88 points
nose: rich nose of caramel, burnt sugar, maple syrup, roast nuts and some tones of raisins. Decent depth, but the burnt sugar tones are a bit off putting

taste: good medium feel of caramel, maple syrup, nuts and some bits of raisins. nice medium acidity accompanies this

overall: a solid vin santo. decent depth and a good feel, a pretty standard vin santo
Red
2006 Fattoria dei Barbi Brusco dei Barbi Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
85 points
nose: nice nose of red cherries, plums and berry tones. Fairly simple with not much depth, but very easy going and accessible at the same time

taste: good medium/light feel with nice tones of red cherries and berries. Nice medium acidity gives this a decent spine for easy drinking and for food

overall: a solid wine. Nothing really to write home about, but is decent for $13. Pretty much what one would expect for a lower level sangiovese
Red
2007 Fattoria dei Barbi Rosso di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino
86 points
nose: good light and airy nose with bright red fruits, red cherries, and some tasty tones of plums. Decent depth, pretty in line with what one would expect from a rosso

taste: nice and easy drinking with a good medium feel and medium acidity. Good tones of red fruits and red cherries dominate and work well together

overall: a real nice rosso that is perfect for food. Standard with nothing really out of place and works well together that makes it a nice and easy drinking rosso
Red
2004 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
nose: lovely and perfumed nose with plush tones of violets, red cherries, roasted herbs and red florals. A very pretty nose that leans more to the feminine, though it is rather tight right now as would be expected

taste: A very pretty nuanced and feminine medium feel with medium/high acidity flows with perfumed tones of roasted herbs, violets, dark red cherries, and bits of mixed berries

overall: I'm a fan of fattoria barbi to begin with, and this was exactly what I wanted from them. A nice classic young brunello that should be able to age effortlessly for up to two decades. Has good stuffing and has a real attractive quality to it that will make it very fun to drink in about 8 years or so
Red
2003 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
89 points
nose: a direct contrast to the 04 as this has a lot more muscle on the nose with bolder tones of blackberries, dark red fruits, and some stewed tones of herbs. Nowhere near as caressing on the nose as teh 04, and lacking a bit of depth that added to the 04

taste: medium+ acidity backs this up with some fairly hard tannins that aren't obtrusive. Bolder tones of dark red cherries, dark red fruits, dark florals and some bits of stewed herbs work together, but have a rough edge about them

overall: an excellent 03, may get slightly better with a bit more time, but it seems like it is what it is for the most part. Certainly has some rough edges and doesn't have that polish that one comes to expect from Barbi. Certainly shows off the vintage, but is much smoother on the palate then the nose would indicate
Red
2001 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
93 points
nose: very deep and pure with sumptuous and beautiful tones of dark florals, red cherries, herbs, berries and some tasty bits of herbal spices. This is a very enveloping nose that asks you to come to it as it really draws you in

taste: extremely floral, almost like walking through a field of wild flowers that is filled with violets, roses, and all sorts of other floral tones along with lush red cherries, fresh picked berries, herbs, and hints of spices. Very deep and pure with lots of class along with medium/high acidity and strong tannins at this time

overall: a budding beauty. Will need a good 5-7 more years to really start to hit its stride, but is very elegant right now and very beautiful. There is lots to like about it, though it isn't a wine that will necessarily blow you away as it doesn't act in that way, but it should certainly be very rewarding in a more subtle way
Red
2003 La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
88 points
nose: bold and hard edged tones of dark red fruits, black cherries, and bits of roasted herbs. Lacking a bit of depth and expression that would entice more

taste: good medium/full feel with some hard edged tannins and tones of dark red fruits, black cherries, and some bits of liqueur tones. doesn't have the bold richness that some 03s bring, and doesn't have much expression to it either

overall: a very good brunello, but a bit of a pass for me as it just doesn't bring what I love from brunello. Rather hard edged and lacking expression that would make this moree attractive
Red
2005 La Fiorita Laurus Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
89 points
nose: real nice and savory with excellent tones of berries, roasted herbs, and red cherries. Very well balanced and brings some nice depth to it that most other IGTs in this price range don't bring

taste: excellent medium feel with plush tannins and real sexy tones of berries, bits of florals, roasted herbs and plush tones of red cherries

overall: this is an excellent IGT that shows off what an IGT can really do at a great price. This is very smooth and polished that has the great sangiovese characteristics along with a touch of merlot and cabernet in there to add some more weight
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Red
2006 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
88 points
nose: good and rich nose of red cherries, plums, some perfumes, and bits of black licorice. Nice depth and expression that is pure sangiovese

taste: real nice medium+ acidity and a good medium feel with lovely tones of red cherries, bits of earth, plums, dark red fruits, and some purple floral tones. Excellent balance and feel that has some real nice class to it

overall: an excellent young chianti classico. Classic flavors with a real good expression to it. Doesn't have the depth to really send it to that next level and really draw you in the way that pure sangiovese can do, but this is still a really lovely wine

Flight 4 - Piedmont (11 notes)

White
2006 Terroir del Nord Erbaluce di Caluso Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Erbaluce di Caluso
86 points
nose: nice clean nose with lighter tones of white fruits, lemons, and mineral tones. There is a real nice crispness to the nose, but lacks in depth

taste: good easy feel with medium/low acidity and nice tones of white fruits, lemon peels, and minerals

overall: a good summer sipper. Nice and easy with decent tones, this isn't a wine that will blow one away with its depth or expression, its just a nice honest wine
Red
2007 Elio Grasso Langhe Nebbiolo Gavarini Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
84 points
nose: nice and light nose with bits of red cherries, roses, and some herbs. Good tones, but very simplistic on the depth

taste: very good light feel with tones of red cherries and herbs. Nice medium acidity, but again comes across as rather simple

overall: a nice nebbiolo for everyday drinking. A bit simplistic, but this can work in a pinch when one just wants some nebbiolo
Red
2008 Elio Grasso Langhe Nebbiolo Gavarini Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
82 points
nose: very light and airy nose with some bits of red fruits and red cherries. Lacking depth and relatively simple

taste: good medium acidity does bring a refreshing quality to the wine, but also brings about simple tones of red fruits and red cherries

overall: there almost seems to be a beaujolais quality to the wine that is bothering me a bit. Rather simple and fairly light
Red
2005 Elio Grasso Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba
90 points
nose: excellent nose filled with red cherries, roasted herbs, bits of leather and some real tasty tones of spices. Good depth and has a lot of what you'd want from a barbera.

taste: plush medium feel with well balanced tones of dark red fruits, red cherries, spice tones, and roasted herbs. Good depth with high acidity to accompany it

overall: an outstanding barbera. Has everything that you want from barbera and is just very enjoyable and I'd love to spend more time with this wine
Red
2003 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
89 points
nose: nice and understated nose of dark red fruits, herbs, and dark spices. Good purity on the nose without being stewed like some 03s can be. Decent depth, but lacking in that area that would really make this a better nose

taste: good medium/light feel with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. Nice balance with lovely round tones of juniper berries, dark red cherries, and bits of herbs and spices

overall: a quality barolo. Drinking just fine, maybe it will add some more weight or depth with some age, but a massive miracle won't happen with this wine. An excellent barolo that is nice to drink, but seems to be lacking a slight bit of depth that would really help this
Red
2005 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
92 points
nose: lovely and perfumed nose filled with roses, all sorts of red florals, red cherries, herbs, and bits of mint sneak there way in there too. Good depth, and doesn't show too much of the modern influence on it

taste: very pretty feel with understated tones of roses, red cherries, mint and herbs. High acidity certainly makes its hallmark on the wine along with medium+ tannins showing that this will need some time sideways to fully come into being

overall: A lovely and elegant barolo. Will certainly need time to fully come around, but should be a real thing of beauty when it does
Red
2003 Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
91 points
nose: pretty packed nose of herbs with dark red cherries, spices, and delicious tones of juniper berries. Fairly bold showing off the vintage, but not stewed or overdone

taste: good medium+ acidity with lots of herbs, dark red cherries, bits of tar, and slight hints of spices. Excellent medium+ tannins, this comes across on the palate as a bit amped up of a barolo, but certainly not roided up or stewed

overall: A real nice barolo that is fairly ready to drink. More for short/mid-term aging that has a slightly 03 feel to it, but isn't real hard edged or stewed
Red
2005 Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
92 points
nose: lovely, perfumed, and rich nose of red cherries, herbs, wild flowers, and some bits of spices with some wild strawberries. Very pretty, but with some power behind it at the same time

taste: very high acidity that does thrash the palate a bit with high tannins. What tones poke through are very nice with red cherries, herbs and some wild flowers

overall: certainly needs time. The acidity and tannins are a bit overbearing, but the nose is very pretty right now. Time should calm this all down and should reveal a real pretty barolo that should be a real pleasure to drink
Red
2001 Elio Grasso Barolo Riserva Rüncot Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
91 points
nose: very rich and deep nose that is very modern with bolder tones of red cherries, bits of vanilla, herbs and dark spice tones. Well layered, but the oak influences are a bit too heavy for me at this stage. more modern fans will certainly like the nose a good amount

taste: Extremely rich, though not overtly extracted, but still extracted, with bigger tones of red cherries, vanilla beans, bits of oak, and dark spices. Relatively accessible right now with medium+ tannins and medium+ acidity

overall: may still need some time for the oak to integrate, if it will integrate. Not neccessarily my style of barolo, but its still an excellent barolo that is well made and has a certain appeal for those that want something more upfront
Red
2005 Proprietà Sperino Uvaggio Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Coste della Sesia
88 points
nose: really nice and fresh nose with subtle tones of roses, red cherries, bits of tar and some nice tones of red currants. Nice and balanced nose but lacking a slight bit of depth

taste: good medium/light feel with nice tones of tar, red currants, red cherries and some floral bits. Slightly hollow on the mid palate with good medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins

overall: a real nice nebbiolo blend. Well balanced with good aromatics, this is slightly lacking on the mid palate, but otherwise is an excellent wine
Red
2004 Proprietà Sperino Lessona Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Lessona
89 points
nose: nice light and airy nose with good complexity and tones of spices, herbs, red florals, and a good helping of red cherries. Pure nebbiolo that is more on the feminine side, just lacking a slight bit of depth at this time

taste: excellent silky feel with medium/high acidity and medium+ tannins. Good pure tones of red cherries, spices, garden herbs and a touch of florals

overall: a pure nebbiolo that has a good feminine touch. Excellent acidity and tannins, this needs a bit of time to work itself out and hopefully gain some more depth

Flight 5 - Other Italian and French wines (5 notes)

White
2006 Didier Dagueneau Silex France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
93 points
nose: extremely pure nose with beautiful tones of creams, lemons, minerals and some bits of hazelnuts. Very layered and deep with a real class to the wine

taste: lovely light feel with excellent medium/high acidity. Deep and pure tones of tropical citrus', lemons, minerals, and bits of nuts

overall: this is what Sauvignon Blanc should be. Wonderful class and purity that is extremely expressive and perfectly balanced
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Didier Dagueneau Les Jardins de Babylone Moelleux France, Southwest France, Jurançon
92 points
nose: real lovely nose filled with apricots, pears, green apples and some hints of caramel. Excellent depth and very succulent with good layering and just flat out delicious nose

taste: Light, but not delicate nor cloying, with succulent tones of tart apples, apricots, pears and some bits of citrus tones. Really good medium+ acidity with a lovely medium/light feel

overall: A very sexy wine. Just absolutely delicious and so well balanced with a bright future as this does need some time right now, but is so delicious that one would not neccessarily be faulted in opening a bottle
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Didier Dagueneau Les Jardins de Babylone Moelleux France, Southwest France, Jurançon
94 points
nose: as great as the nose was on the 04, the depth and class on this one is on a different level with rich and deep tones of wet stones, bits of smokey tones, citrus', tart apples and bits of pears. Very well layered and very succulent at the same time

taste: very rich and velvety medium feel with great texture that provides succulent tones of wet stones, apples, citrus', and loads of pears with real good medium+ acidity

overall: this has the ability to turn into a complete stunner with time. So, this is what Jura is about, and I'm fully impressed
Red
2004 Vignalta Colli Euganei Rosso Riserva Italy, Veneto, Colli Euganei
88 points
nose: excellent nose of red cherries, mixed berries, red currants and a hint of cranberries. good depth and good expression that works really well

taste: really good medium/full feel with good tannins and medium acidity with excellent tones of cedar, red cherries, red currants and some bits of mixed berries

overall: a really good bordeaux blend from veneto. Good balance with nice aromatics and feel. More along the lines of what one would expect from a bordeaux blend as it doesn't fully scream italy, but it is a quality wine at a good price
Red
2006 Vignalta Agno Tinto Italy, Veneto, Colli Euganei
87 points
nose: real dark nose with good tones of dark red fruits, bits of blackberries, dark mixed berries and currants. Decent depth and not as bold as I'd normally want a petite sirah to be, but has the skeleton of it

taste: full bodied with good tannins and tones of blackberries, black currants and a good bit of dark red fruits

overall: an interesting wine. Was told by Giulia Gomiero that this was a experimental plot that her father had planted from his and her time in the United states. It doesn't have the big bold tones that I'm used to from Petite Sirah, but with more vine age, more depth should happen

Closing

So much wine to taste, so little time. I would've lied to have gotten to some other wines, but with so much there one can't get to everything

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