Dinner at l'Artusi (w/Sam's friends: Marcus (his 39th bday), his wife Shannon; Theo and MJ; John and Casey; Cliff and Morgan; and Gautaum)

West Village, New York City
Tasted Saturday, August 3, 2013 by Matt Neel with 482 views

Introduction

A really great night with (for me) new friends. And some incredible wines! The food was predictably awesome... Thanks everyone!

Flight 1 (10 Notes)

  • 1996 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Golden straw. Classic Lopez oxidation on the nose; orange peel, honeysuckle, stones; a little sheepish lanolin. Hello Ms. Lopez! The palate is freaking impeccable; riveting acidity; lemon, olive; such incredible breadth of body/glycerin on the tongue. Great length. This is simply a great wine. Wow...

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2006 Paolo Bea Montefalco Rosso Riserva Pipparello

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Rosso

    Blood, but pretty much opaque. Wow! Very classic young Sangiovese: licorice, deepest brooding cherry, mint; bursts from the seams. The palate is a step beyond even that magnificent nose -- goodness fucking gracious! Wow! Brilliant and pure; rich, sweet; palate-coating; primary and sheerly, shiningly beautiful. Roses. Tannin. Fantastic. Definitely solid length, but totally primary in that department. One of the greatest young wines I have ever had, certainly in the last several years; a truly moving wine...

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2006 Marcassin Chardonnay Three Sisters Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Golden straw. Very deep nose, quite Burgundian, gouttey, but reticent; butter, steel filings; some oak. Too cold for the nose to show. Palate is oaky, tropical, v v dense and ripe; cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper. Quite some heat showing. An interesting wine, but not my cup of tea (as it is rather over the top and inelegant). Good length. It is what it is...

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2012 Venica & Venica Collio Sauvignon Ronco del Cerò

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Collio

    Palest straw. Wonderfully classic, classy grassy nose, but with more dominant melon notes and ripeness; curry (nice!), caramel. Interesting, for sure. Palate has a little spritz; fine, ripe sweetness, nice! there; wonderful with squid ink pasta, hurray! Very good.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2009 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Pure blood. Pretty closed nose; I'm only getting heat and spicy oak. Palate is aggressively ripe, hot, and oaky. Not my cup of tea, but the world's worst fortuneteller could have foretold that... Stodgy and sludgy with heavy, dropping-off-the-vine fruit. Blech!

    Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 1974 Cantine del Castello Feudale di Montegrosso d'Asti Barbera d'Asti Superiore

    Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore

    Bricked ruby. Snappy, vitamin bottle nose, a little tar, some stewed cabbage, and a least note of rose -- but only 'cause I'm trying... The palate, though, is luscious with tangy acidity and plenty of glycerin; leather; horse piss. Past its best, obviously, but fun and certainly delicious. Not much length, but who cares? (A birth year wine for Marcus; Sam brought it)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1978 Vietti Barolo Rocche

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Bricked pale, ruby blood. Nose of brown sugar, vitamins (though mellow, fortunately), soy sauce, and beef broth. Lovely. Palate has no fruit left, really, but is round and pleasing nonetheless; soft; sweet. Medium finish. Good. (My last of three bottles of this and this was surely the best of them)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1974 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

    Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

    Bricked transparent blood. The nose is very much like the '78 Vietti (Barolo Rocche): vitamins, caramel, rustic leathery horse sweat -- but, unlike the Vietti, also lilac, roses, and deepest, sweetest bing cherry; milk chocolate. Crazy complex! The palate is thinning but still robust; cherry, coffee. But where this wine really shines is on the finish -- it is v v long with cherry and is finely grained to the last. Delicious, but nevertheless something of a curiosity. Later, with more time open, it sings of herbs -- thyme, singed rosemary, even some tarragon. Fascinating. A splendid curiosity...! What a wonderful treat.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1999 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici

    Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG

    Blood. Reserved minty cherry nose; tight and young yet; malted; cola; licorice. Palate is tight cherry and cola; tannic, as expected. Good length but primary. Wait. For a long, long time.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1986 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo Veneto IGT

    Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT

    Bricked ruby. Nose of stewed tomato and cabbage, cedar, black pepper -- quirky, to say the least! But pretty delicious... The palate is round and -- surprisingly -- very fine. Sweet, with a balsamic volatile acidic edge that is really nice and mouthwatering. Herbs. Impressive purity. Another fascinating old wine tonight. Terrific length. Very, very good. (I picked what I think this was based on CT priors; nobody had any idea what it was and I don't have a photo, though my note does say "maybe Merlot? It's unclear; nobody knows")

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

×
×