Verona, Italy
Tasted Monday, March 23, 2015 by Rezy13 with 789 views
I skipped Day 1 of VinItaly due to loving Summa so much and going back a 2nd day. The crowds on the first day are obscene, and I am glad I didn't go.
Tasting with Letizia Patane, sales manager.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Even though I didn't go through all of the Passopisciaro vineyards, they were very generous.
The quality of the wines were extraordinary. One of the best lineups the entire time, and I had to start with them.
Quantities are small and not much seems to make it to my market. Tenuta di Trinoro is pumping out some unreal stuff that I feel rivals many great Bordeaux.
Wish I drank more of these 2 estates.
Mainly lighter wines. Lots of diversity in grape varieties. I feel their wines are not going to blow you away but they are thoughtfully made and should pair well with the right food.
Tasting w/ export manager, Gaetano Saccoccio. Should have gotten a picture with him because his beard was awesome. Looked like a Roman or Greek god.
The wines were good and they were really nice people. Influenced by N. Rhone but very Italian. Seemed very modest and humble about improving and making better wine.
Thank you!
Owning and having sold their wines I stopped in unannounced.
Marcella Bianco helped me out and after a few stories more wine came out.
She is extremely hospitable and encouraged us to stop by the winery. I almost wanted to take her up on that but our schedule didn't permit. Thank you.
Overall, the wines have a beautiful finesse to them that fits my palate. With age they put on some weight and are classic.
A few days later we enjoyed a couple Rabaja Riservas for lunch at an Osteria in downtown Alba which were delicious.
Tasting with Luca Currado and his enologist.
Nice booth shared with Coppo.
The color, nose, and palate on all the wines were so precise and well executed.
Truly an amazing producer.
Tasting with Dalla Terra rep, Michael Whitehead, Export Mgr, Pier Luigi Bonari, and Giacomo Neri.
The quality of the wines were very encouraging. The 2010s, especially the White label really show the greatness of the vintage. The RdM left me wanting a bit but the Cerretalto was a treat.
Tasting with Filippo Paoletti of Lisini.
The wines were some of my favorites from the entire event.
The beauty, clarity, precision, drinkability and elegance remind me of Burgundy in Montalcino. Stylistically very different from Casanova di Neri just before.
Incredible stuff!
Brief tasting with Riccardo Talenti.
Not the friendliest tasting companion, but letting the wines do the talking was not a bad way to do it when you make great wine.
Tasting with Lorenzo Sassetti.
Very nice to some other projects and multiple vintages.
Well made wines, but I am always hesitant how the Brett from their old barrels will develop in the bottle.
Tasting with Agnes Koch.
Andrea Cortonesi was busy tasting with Michael Skurnik.
The wines are well made. A touch of modern winemaking I feel enhances a bit here. Well measured.
Brief tasting with Paolo Bianchini.
His booth was slammed as it seemed to be on a main drag.
Very limited experience with this producer. Almost 100 points this vintage from critics.
Probably on par with Cerbaiona on a second growth behind Soldera. Have not tasted enough to verify this. Poggio di Sotto and Sugarille have to be up there too.
They did not have a Rosso di Montalcino which is only made in less than stellar years.
Tiny quantities made. Very fortunate to taste.
Very old school. Seems like they're doing it the right way.
Powerful wine that needs time to blossom.
2013 Passopisciaro Passopisciaro Bianco Guardiola
Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane
800 meters high; malolactic, large barrel; crisp, clean, mineral, long finish.
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2012 Passopisciaro Passorosso
Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane
Very pale rose; great nose, strawberry, volcanic though not overpowering, elegant, perfumed floral, herbs; elegant on palate, mineral; very nice.
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2013 Passopisciaro Passorosso
Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane
Similar to the 2012 but showing a bit more sap and a little less mineral at this stage.
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2012 Passopisciaro Sicilia Contrada Chiappemacine
Italy, Sicily, Sicilia
Lowest elevation at 500m; deeper rose, see through; denser on nose, strawberry, cherry, very red fruit profile, roses; strong tannin, similar to Nebbiolo; delicious.
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2012 Passopisciaro Terre Siciliane Contrada Guardiola
Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane
800m; larger paler rim; strong strawberry, orange, brimstone, deeper nose; more medium body, medium tannin, more elegant overall than the Chiappemacine; great.
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2012 Passopisciaro Sicilia Franchetti
Italy, Sicily, Sicilia
70% Petite Verdot, 30% Cesanese d'Affile; 1,000m; darker color, high extraction, bright rim; sexy nose, floral, mix of red and dark berry, luxurious; silky tannin for grape, deep, vegetal, Bordeaux-esque, the 15.5% is not noticeable, polished and luxurious; wow.
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2012 Tenuta di Trinoro Le Cupole Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
60% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon; darker crimson, bright lighter rim; vegetal, cranberry, sour cherry, licorice, Christmas; softer tannin, medium body, good structure and acid; nice.
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2012 Tenuta di Trinoro Campo di Magnacosta
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Cru; 100% Cabernet Franc; darker garnet with some clarity; vegetal, boxwood, so correct for the varietal; velvety but great structure and acid, juicy tart fruit; a baby but beautiful.
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2012 Tenuta di Trinoro Palazzi Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
100% Merlot; similar color to the Magnacosta; licorice, thickly fruited, some high toned notes, herbs, plum, red currant; fine grained tannin, super fine; needs lots of time.
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2012 Tenuta di Trinoro Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Petit Verdot; darker core showing less clarity than others; ash, dark fruit, brooding, herbs, darker red and black currant, leather; even finer tannin than the Palazzi, tannins are only felt in the back, wild berry; rock solid; no taste of 16% alcohol!; Tuscan Cab is typical (though extraordinary) in the fact there is less tannin up front than Merlot.
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