Madonna di Campilio Ski Trip

Our npw annual trip to MdC! Great friends, Great skiing and of course some great food and wine!
We thinkwe have optimised this very well so we limitted it to 2 places... Chalet Fiat for Lunch and Il Gallo Cedrone for Dinners.

An instritution, and should not be missed when travelling to MdC.Long late lunch at Chalet Fiat. To quote from last years note "Ski like a teenager in the morning and roll up to the peak of Spinale ( a run down the Schumacher run is essential prior to lunch) and go to Chalet Fiat at 2pm and let your self go at the hands of Dante the Great!"

• 2011 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Umbria Cervaro della Sala 91 Points

  Italy, Umbria

  (1/18/2014)

  Granted at this stage the oak is at the forefront, still even oak bashers like us like the wine. Good lemony notes, light exotic nose, oak aromatics. Good ripe ripe fruit on the palate, lush and vibrant. Suffers from the abuse of oak but still very enjoyable and very crowd pleasing.90-91 and will benefit from time.

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• 2011 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  (1/17/2014)

  Like a baby Barolo but with a herby/floral twist. This is serious well made Barbara, pure and elegant. Lovely cherry notes on the palate, light liquorice. Will benefit from some ageing but this is a very giving wine,granted not the deepest wine but still very enjoyable. 90 and starting to drink well.

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• NV Francois Peyrot Cognac Liqueur Poire Williams & Cognac

  France, Cognac

  (1/18/2014)

  No end to a great Chalet Fiat lunch , ok long lunch, is complete without this unsung hero of digestifs. Such a beautiful balance of ripe pear and cognac , handle its alcohol well and cannot but put a smile on your face. We went the extra mile and got Dante to sell us a bottle to take home, although we are pretty sure it will not taste as good in London as it does there..

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By far the best and our favorite restaurant in MdC. Won its Michellin star (long overdue), great food and an amazing wine cellar at great prices. Always a great exerience.

• 2010 Cantina Terlan Sauvignon Terlano Quarz 89 Points

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Terlano

  (1/17/2014)

  On the start this was a touch too oaky, however it shed that side as it developed into more grassy, light citrus side. Given the story behind the quartz terroir, we expected it to be more mineral to be honest but still once the oak blew off this was a very pure and balanced wine full of character. Could use some more depth but still pretty solid. 89-90

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• 2001 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta 94 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Superiore

  (1/17/2014)

  Just about entering its drinking window but still this was a beautiful bottle. 15 minute decant and the monitored over an hour or so. The nose is open and opulent from start, violets, dark fruits, very floral and long. The palate carries on the same tune and although on the young side it was surprisingly delicate , especially for a 14.5% alc? good ripe core of fruit! balanced and with long finish. Beautiful valpolicellaa. 93-94

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• 2001 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  (1/17/2014)

  Really what were we thinking... Actually what on earth were we thinking... Given how young the 1990 tasted a few years ago we should have known better... But we got carried away at the beautiful Gallo Cedrone in Madonna di Campilio and went for it. 1 hour decant did very little and this is now backward and closed, with tannin and acidity at the forefront. The nose developed slowly slowly showing nice hints of cherry, but the palate remained hostile. Mr Conterno we apologise for this folly of ours. Needs a minimum 10+ yrs more

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• 2010 Franz Haas Moscato Rosa 88 Points

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

  (1/17/2014)

  Had by the glass. Much like last time ( a year ago) this was a Medium/light wine, big sweet core, with a lovely moscato freshness followed by a heavier core on the palate. Nice and enjoyable but don't over expect. 88

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• 2001 San Leonardo San Leonardo 91 Points

  Italy, Trentino Alto-Adige / Veneto, Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT

  (1/18/2014)

  This was definitely a lot better than 3 years ago when we rated it 88.
  No decant here and it didn't feel it needed it. The nose points to its style, full on Bordeaux aromatics, light leather, spice, dark fruits and just a touch of earth. Light oak too. On the palate it is quite round, silky tannin and feels to be at a very good time in its drinking window. Good length and body too. Very nice and this time it was worth the hype. 91-92 drink from now

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• 2011 Braida (Giacomo Bologna) Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti

  (1/18/2014)

  Another well made and beautiful Barbera. Just about ready to be enjoyed( a year more wouldn't do any harm) with a firm core of fruit, light cherry notes on the nose and good ripe fruit on the palate. This is pure and elegant barbera to be taken seriously. 89

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• 2007 Ca' del Bosco Terre di Franciacorta 89 Points

  Italy, Lombardia, Terre di Franciacorta

  (1/18/2014)

  Good wine yet falls in the bracket of generic Oakes Chardonnay, the type that could be from anywhere. Still was well round enjoyable but really not much more to add here. 89

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• 2001 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni 91 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  (1/18/2014)

  Still in the young category and requires decanting to develop. A very well made wine of quality and purity. Big and powerful wine, big tannin at this stage and at times showed sharp edges especially on the finish where it had some unbalanced acidity. Judging by the 1996 we had a couple of months ago this wine needs quIte a bit of ageing to develop and this 2001 maybe needs another 5 years to hit its peak. Pretty solid wine shame the finish was harsh. 91 for now but this will definitely improve with time .

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• 2000 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta 92 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella

  (1/18/2014)

  Decanted for more than an hour but did very little to develop the wine wine to the level we expected. Having tried dal forno valpolicella 2001 the night before( Papies 94) we expected something magical.. But never came round. The wine carries its 17.5% alcohol very well.. Yes this is not a typo.. with its dense core of ripe, concentrated fruit almost effortlessly . Big wine , not in any way backward or harsh but still not developed its seductive side and in a way feels one dimensional. We really believe with time this will be very special and it's a shame to open it now. 92 at best for now from us

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• 2001 Alois Kracher Welschriesling TBA #8 Zwischen den Seen 94 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  (1/18/2014)

  Very very good wine from start to finish, dark dense in colour which sets the tone. Apricots, marmalade, light honey, light caramel notes. Good viscous texture on the palate, bright acidity keeps the sweetness in check. Loooooong finish. Could use some more vitality to be honest but this is really trying to be picky. Proper stuff. 94

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