eclectic spring tasting

Scott & Todd's
Tasted Sunday, May 29, 2011 by silton with 753 views

Introduction

Third in a series of semi formal tasting parties, this one devolved to party status quicker than I anticipated. A very interesting and occasionally impressive set of wines.

Flight 1 - Rieslings (4 Notes)

Selected with thought to arranging a flight with a range of ripeness and styles; the only flight with formal rankings. My mistake: none of the Rieslings were distributed at the end of the party. The upshot of this is a few ounces of each wine was left to re-taste today. The Spatlese was uncorked on the counter all night but seems to be in the same place it was yesterday! I feel that I might have prejudiced the rankings when I called Todd a wine slut for liking the sweetest wine best... thanks to Phil for bringing the Kesselstatt.

Flight 2 - Italian Reds (4 Notes)

A smattering of somewhat unfamiliar Italian reds. Nothing mind-blowing here, alas. Thanks to Chris and Jessica for bringing the Barbaresco (and the Lambrusco, which I didn't copy down before it went home with somebody).

  • 2007 Giorgio Pelissero Barbera d'Alba Piani 91 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

    nose of black jellybeans, palate of black currant, cedar spice, plum and leather. Awesome value wine. I thought this was showing better than the wines with higher pedigrees. 90+ and even better on day 2.

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  • 2001 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    cork .5mm pushed out, slight streak to the cork, but the wine appears intact with an acidic, herbal cherry, leather and red fruit profile. Had its moments, but the oak and structure are still in the way. I’m going to hold my remaining singleton, but also unlikely to collect much Sangiovese based wines in the future. 90+? 1.5 ounces left in an uncorked bottle showed similarly on day 2.

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  • 2001 Pio Cesare Barolo

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    had a window of greatness but still finicky with the timing. At times, rose, red currant, tar and menthol added intrigue to an earthy base. I suspect this needs some time yet. Not rated. No leftovers.

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  • 2006 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    chewy, charred steak flavor complementary to the chimmichurri skirt steak served around the time I got to this. Decanted for 2-3 hours but still impenetrable. Less spicy, more earthy than the Barolo, but really hard to evaluate. No score. No leftovers on Monday.

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Flight 3 - Older Petite Sirahs (2 Notes)

No leftovers of either wine were available on Monday.

  • 1980 Freemark Abbey Petite Sirah

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    the cork on this was shockingly together. The wine inside was intact but definitely emphasizing brown notes of wet leaves as well as plum, black cherry and cranberry. The oldest wine I have ever tasted. I enjoyed the mouthfeel as much as the taste – smoother than any young wine of any type.

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  • 1994 Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    my WOTD, few notes taken, just an awesome interplay of fruit and secondary characteristics, hopefully its sister bottle will show just as well. 93+.

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Flight 4 - Not so petitie Petites (younger Petite Sirah) (3 Notes)

A couple of ounces were left of the Keating and Carver Sutro and a full glass and a half of the Carlisle; all were put under vacu-vin, so I recreated this flight on day 2. On both days, the Carlisle ruled, my #2 wine of the whole tasting. Thanks to Kristy and Grant for bringing the Keating.

  • 2007 Keating Petite Sirah

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile

    dark fruit and dark chocolate. Quite delicious and consistent over 2 days. Structured but not unapproachable.

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  • 2007 Carlisle Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    more fruit, more glycerol gloss buries the structure under a blackberry, chocolate ganache, char-grill, oregeno, boysenberry purple milkshake of the gods. What will this be like in 5-10 years?

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  • 2005 Carver-Sutro Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    fits right in with all the Petites but more closed than any of them on day 1. Holding its own on day 2. Blackberry and mocha with a top note of strawberry. I liked the Keating better on day 1 but now they are tied, and rather similar although the Sutro is showing its age now. 88 now, 90+ in 2-5 years.

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Closing

A great tasting! Ultimately, I found most of the Italian wines too acidic and too closed and the Petites were quite delicious if low acid and chocolately in comparison.

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