Piedmont to Tuscany, ItalyFest2.2

Too many wines and not enough time or stamina to get through. Recent 08 Barolo tasting made me concentrate on everything else you see below. Thanks again to Waterford for putting this great event together.

In my head at one point I put Arneis next to Viognier. Every time I try these wines, I move further from that thought.

• 2010 Vietti Roero Arneis

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero

  Very mineral and quince. Iceberg-y aromas. Apple and pear, but mineral and quince dominate palate. Not overtly floral, but taut and not flaccid.

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• 2010 Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero

  Vs. Vietti 2010 Arneis...more unctuous fruit styled aroma, square into pear, but a richer fruit expression. Floral, dried floral, mineral and herb palate. Rich aroma, but more précis on the palate.

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• 2010 Toscolo Vernaccia di San Gimignano

  Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano

  Fleshier pear fruit palate, but again very mineral

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• 2010 Poggio al Tesoro Vermentino Bolgheri Solosole

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

  Bright mineral palate. 'petrol comes forward as this ages'. Apple fruit, very mineral, nice acid.

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I love di Gresy, but the other two wines in this set really lit my pants on fire.

• 2010 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto d'Alba

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba

  Lovely, not overdone aromas. Loaded with freshness. Some carbonic? Prolly not, but... Dark red, meaty, smoke, licorice. Elegant and a value at $16.

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• 2008 Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy Dolcetto d'Alba Monte Aribaldo

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba

  More red fruit and less licorice aromas vs. Giacosa 2010. Much more straight forward on the palate.

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• 2009 Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy Barbera d'Asti

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti

  Firm and medicinal cherry. Stern and sturdy Barbera, but not all the kernel of the Giacomo Conterno.

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• 2010 Conterno Fantino Barbera d'Alba Vignota

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  Actually not the load of kernel I was expecting (I keep thinking of the Giacomo Conterno). Suave red fruit palate and very very sessionable.

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Very solid flight, with only the Castello di Ama raising a red flag.

• 2007 Terrabianca Campaccio Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Much more mineral and granite/iron aromas. Palate: kernel, red fruit, herb.

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• 2007 Orma Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  50%merlot, 30%cab sauv, 20%cab franc. Tre Bicheri winner. Very much the iron-side of Bordeaux. Very enjoyable, but @$68, what's not?

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• 2007 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  Kernel and roasted coffee aromas. Palate: red fruit, herb, kernel, medicinal dark cherry.

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• 2008 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

  Hello old friend! Let's wait a couple years before we get together again. Damn you look good.

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• 2007 Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di S. Niccolò Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera. Firm and solid. An edge softening new oak appeal,

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• 2007 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Much more liquored red fruit aromas. Polish and lacquered fruit. Earth and Graham cracker. Kind of pushing the ripeness a bit too much. Dried fruit character. Very modernist feel.

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These did come a little late in the game today, so my palate was a bit downhill. All the same Costanti is the one for me.

• 2006 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Rich fruit aromas without too much polish. Today this feels richer, but more traditional in approach.

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• 2009 Altesino Rosso di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

  'historic, classical'. Yes, elegance and ease. Soft balance and red fruit.

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• 2004 San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  "more modern and fruit forward". Leonardo C/Winebow became part owners in 2006.

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• 2006 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  'Costanti is up at the top of the hill'. Tradition and beautifully placed herb on the palate. Short note, but buy.

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• 2007 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  'Fuligni is just down the hill (from Costanti) and dabbles in French oak'. Again, a pretty traditional appeal with the same tap on the shoulder from a pretty lady named herb.

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• 2006 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  'Lisini vineyards are down from the hill and in turn take on more temp'. Density of fruit relative to the Costanti and Fuligni does follow suit.

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I can never pass on this guy.

• 2007 Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy Barbaresco Martinenga

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Cherry and ash-y smoke, and kernel palate. Dense licorice and Graham cracker. Wondering if any new barrel gets in here...?

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