Italian Wines < 2000 vintage

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Tasted Wednesday, March 19, 2014 by Derek Darth Taster with 451 views

Introduction

Theme of the night was Italian wines 2000 vintage or older. Each person brought a bottle. 4 bottles were not enough, so we popped an additional Red and a White.

Flight 1 (6 Notes)

  • 1995 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind. Apparently opened and slow-oxed in bottle for 3 hours before drinking.
    Appearance is medium intensity, light brown colour. Lots of fine sediments.
    Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of red fruits and floral ?rosebush scents.
    On the palate, high acidity, nice firm tannins, full body and long finish. Flavours of spice on the entry, earthy minerality, cherries and plums. Fruits increased on both the nose and palate with more air over the course of the night.
    I guessed a late 80s to early 90s traditional-styled Brunello. Spot on except for the vintage. This feels a little older than it is. Drinking nicely now, no need to keep for much longer.

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  • 2000 Ruffino Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppone Mazzi 89 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind. Popped and poured.
    Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour.
    Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of vanilla oak dominating, and some soy sauce notes in the background.
    On the palate, high acidity, big grippy tannins, full body and medium+ finish. Refreshing bright on the entry, but flavours of the vanilla oak dominate again on the palate, with the dark fruits in the shadows. Alcohol heat felt on the finish. Opened up a bit more with more air, and developed a mushroom aroma.
    I guessed a 1999/2000 modern-style Brunello, possibly a Riserva due to the strong oak influence. This should be kept for another 7+ years I think.

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  • 1995 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Ripe al Convento 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Poured into decanter and left to air for an hour+.
    Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour.
    Nose is pronounced, with aromas of funky barnyard and horse, with oak and red fruit developing later on.
    On the palate, high acidity, lots of tight dry tannins, full body and long finish. Flavour profile of bright red fruits, sour cherries, leather, and someone mentioned sandalwood. Initially very tight and focused, but opened up a bit more with air. To me, quite obviously a Brunello on the flavour profile. Elegant mouth-feel, but lots of power seething within.
    Very nice classic Brunello, this still has lots of potential and will be better in another 5+ years.

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  • 1999 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico 93 Points

    Italy, Campania, Irpinia

    Tasted blind.
    Appearance is clear, deep intensity, very dark purple, almost blackish.
    Nose is pronounced, with initial funky barnyard and horse, giving way to oak and red fruits.
    On the palate, high acidity, big dry grippy tannins, full body and long finish. Flavours of sweet vanilla and chocolate, with both black fruits and red fruits. More cherry candied flavours with more air.
    I guessed a 2000 SuperTuscan with Sangiovese + Cabernet and Merlot. Nice big complex wine. My first experience with Aglianico. Still young, this should be kept another 8+ years at least.

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  • 2010 Petra EBO Toscana IGT 84 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour.
    Nose is medium+ intensity, with smells of cardboard and ?cheap low quality oak. Not really wet cardboard or newspaper so I do not think this was cork tainted.
    Getting past the nasty nose was difficult, but nonetheless, let's continue. On the palate, medium acidity, medium+ tannins, full body and medium finish. Had quite a modern/international feel about it. Initially felt heavy, but with more air in the decanter, it actually became more approachable (on the palate, not nose though). Quite easy drinking subsequently. To me, lacking in complexity.
    If blinded, I would have thought of Côtes du Rhône or Vin de Pays blend.

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  • 2006 Le Vigne di Zamò Friuli Colli Orientali Friulano Vigne Cinquant'anni 92 Points

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

    Appearance is clear, pale intensity, bright yellow lemon colour.
    Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with forward ripe fruitiness and minerality also.
    On the palate, lively high acidity, medium+ body, and long finish. Flavour profile - lots of saline minerality and ripe tropical fruits especially pineapples. Typical Italian white waxy mouth-feel, and a bitter almond taste towards the finish.

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Closing

Turned out to be an educational session on Brunellos, and an introduction to Aglianico and Friulano.

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