An evening of Italian wines with friends
Cleveland
Tasted Sunday, March 22, 2015 by Loren Sonkin with 528 views
Introduction
Last night my wife and I were joined by two other couples at one of our favorite high end local restaurants. The meal was a 13 course affair, which lasted for 5 hours. It was a great night of laughing, conversation, great food and we had some wine.
Flight 1 (14 Notes)
Closing
As I said in one of our planning e-mail, "It sounds like a lot of wine, but that's only because it is". Still, we managed to open three additional back up bottles too. It happens when you eat slow and just have a great time with friends. Thanks to Chris and Rene, Michael and Lori for a great evening!
NV Ferrari Brut 88 Points
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino, Trento
My last bottle from a bunch of these bought a couple of years ago for under $20. What a great value. The nose is a bit toastier than I remember but still quite nice. Some ginger. Lots of small bubbles. On the palate, still some nice citrus notes. Smooth. Easy to drink. Nothing profound, but a nice way to start the evening before the food comes.
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2013 Tablas Creek Vermentino 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Its been a while since I have had this wine (in other vintages). This one shows quite well. The nose shows red apples, limes and minerals. Slightly oily texture on a rounded, medium bodied texture. Nice acidity. Nice fruit on the palate, more red apples. Worked well with food. I would drink these up this summer as I don't think it will get better, but very nice wine.
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2010 Movia Rebula (Black Label) 92 Points
Slovenia, Primorska, Goriška Brda
I really like this wine. It did seem to show more age though than a bottle last fall. Golden in color. The nose shows a slightly oxidized note (is this aged in amphorae?). A whiff of salinity is the first thing that really hits the nose. Then some honey and slight nutty qualities. Eventually, citrus comes out. Really interesting. On the palate, Chris questioned the acidity, but I found it persistent. Nice citrus and slight earthy flavors. Showing a nice complexity. I would not hold a lot longer, but no real hurry either.
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2006 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Purple in color. The nose is really nice with dark cherries and black raspberries. Slight cedar notes and some forest floor. On the palate, this is robust with lots of black raspberry and dark cherry fruit. It is drinking very well, but I think there is plenty of time left. Showing some complexity as it unwinds in the glass. Enough acidity to carry the food, but this one is more about the fruit right now. Excellent.
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2008 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
This wine continues to show why it is one of the great value in the wine world. No surprise that this showed so well. I believe it was pop and pour. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has cherries, some dark cherries and floral notes. Also some oak. Medium bodied. Juicy acidity. Silky texture. Really delicious and easy to drink. A crowd favorite at the table.
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2006 Michele Chiarlo Barolo Tortoniano 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
This needs a bit more time IMO. It is really good in a more elegant style. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has nice cherry fruit with some tarry notes. Medium bodied. Showing nice cherry fruit on the palate with a undertones of forest floor. There is a nice complexity starting to layer in the wine. Another few years should put it at peak.
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2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
I probably liked this more than the group but it needs time or air. It was pop and pour and that didn't help it. The nose is tight at first but has cherries and dark cherries, tar and oak. Much better on the palate. This is a huge wine with dark cherries, cherries, slightly jammy cherries, with a great balancing of acidity and earthiness. It has a hug mouthfeel, but still a great backbone of acidity to work with the food. I would hold these for a while.
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2009 Andrea Oberto Barolo 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
I think this was a back up bottle that got open anyway. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has a nice perfume of cherries and dark cherries. Juicy acidity. This is drinking quite well for such a young Barolo. Lots of up front fruit. Mild tannins. Nice acidity. Worked really well with the food as well. I was surprised to find this so open and accessible. Is that the vintage or producer or both?
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1996 Fratelli Seghesio Barolo Vigneto la Villa 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
This is in a nice place. Fully mature though I did not find it old. The nose is elegant at this point with cherries, dried roses, and tar. There is a juicy acidity which carries the cherry fruit quite well and works great with dinner. Some forest floor underpinnings. Very slight tannins. Everything you would hope for in a 19 year old Barolo.
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1998 Fratelli Seghesio Barolo Vigneto la Villa Flawed
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Sadly, an off bottle. Dark brown/red in color. The nose shows some oxidized notes with brown sugar, nuttiness, and alcohol. On the palate, this is devoid of fruit. Mike bought this locally near release. Could have been the cork too. A shame, as it should have been better.
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1998 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico BG 94 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Gorgeous wine in a great place right now. The nose has dark cherries, dark chocolate, a slight sweet raisin note and a bit of licorice. On the palate, this is still youthful with great dark cherry fruit. Slight sweetness/ripeness. Great acidity. A beautiful wine that worked great with our food as well. Delicious.
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2006 Brancaia Chianti Classico 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
Chris thought we needed more wine, so he opened this back up bottle. The nose has nice cherries, slight cocoa (does this have Merlot?) and a bit of forest floor. Mild tannins. Good acidity. Nice cherries on the palate. Very nice showing. Drink or hold but I don't know that it gets better.
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2006 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabajà 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
I have had some amazing vintages from this producer but this is not one. It is outstanding though and drinking quite well. Still youthful, it might gain some complexity as it loses its fruit. Right now there are nice cherries on the nose, some black licorice. Some acidity that works well with food. Shows some complexity. It does have a very nice texture. This was my back up bottle that also got opened. There is little value here as for the money, I would have hoped for more.
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1999 Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
From a .375 with dessert. Brown in color. The nose is lovely with sweet caramel covered nuts. Kind of like the Payday candy bar without the confectionary sugar. Also a deeper burnt (in a good way) quality. Viscous. A little goes a long way. Still showing a fair amount of sweetness but also some acidity. It's a dessert in itself. Quite tasty but I would not want a lot of it.
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