Impromptu Italian Wine Dinner Chez Ash

Our buddy Ash is a fabulous cook, especially when it comes to Italian inspired creations. He just moved to a new, much more spacious apartment, and had all this wonderful produce from Sunday's farmers' market, so clearly it was time for an impromptu Monday evening dinner for four of us. We grabbed some wines and headed over to Ash's new pad. By coincidence, a couple of us brought Spinetta Gallinas. The wines went quite well and the food was delicious! We're very happy that Ash now has more room to cook.

• 2009 Joseph Swan Vineyards Chardonnay 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Slightly cloudy light-medium lemon yellow color; very tart lemon, quince nose; tangy, tart quince, tart apple, lemon, ripe grapefruit palate; rather aggressive and lacking charm; medium finish 87+ points

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• 2007 Tenuta Mormoraia Vernaccia di San Gimignano 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano

  Light lemon yellow color; green apple, lanolin, chalk nose; tasty, tart apple, chalk, mineral, white grapefruit palate; terrific pairing with a smoky buffalo mozarella bruschetta; medium-plus finish

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• 1997 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Gallina 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Slightly bricking dark red violet color; intriguing, smokey, tar, deep black fruit, charcoal, roses nose; tasty, still youthful, tar, tart black fruit palate with firm, grainy tannins; medium-plus finish 93+ points

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• 2005 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbera d'Alba Gallina 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  Opaque black red violet color; rich plum, tart berry, tar, lavender nose; rich tar, tart black fruit, lavender, iron palate; still needs another couple years or a couple hours decanting; medium-plus finish

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• 2003 Goretti Montefalco Sagrantino Le Mura Saracene 91 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  Opaque black violet color; tar, charcoal, tart black fruit nose; tar, tart black fruit palate; needs 2-3 years yet; long finish

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• 2004 Fattoria Galardi Terra di Lavoro 93 Points

  Italy, Campania, Roccamonfina IGT

  Opaque black red violet color; tar, espresso, tart black fruit nose; tasty, tar, espresso, tart black fruit, herbs palate; still needs a couple years; long finish 93+ points

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• NV Pérez Barquero Montilla-Moriles Gran Barquero Oloroso 92 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Montilla-Moriles

  Medium dark orange color with clear meniscus; walnut, hazelnut nose; tasty, oily textured, hazelnut, walnut, butter palate; medium-plus finish

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