James Suckling - Great Wines of Italy

Crowded tasting, but there was plenty of time to recover between bursts. I had to take frequent breaks and eat crackers / drink water. I feel like I developed a pretty good picture of Brunello in this tasting - it's less structured than Piedmont Nebbiolo, and also heftier in body. Fruit tends towards dark cherry vs. Chianti's red cherry, cranberry.

• 2008 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Cured meat. Dark dried cherry. Light-bodied with high alcohol, high acid, and awesomely chewy high tannins. Dry and wet leaves. Dried flowers. Phenomenal. 9-9.5.

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

• 2010 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Liste 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Savory red fruit. Killer chewy tannins. Less aromatic than the ’08. 9-9.5

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

• 2010 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Cannubi 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A bit fleshier than the previous two. Red-fruited. Still amazing but I actually prefer the more austere Riserva and Liste. Around 9.

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

• 2011 Pio Cesare Barbaresco 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Pretty and ripe but structured. Shows development. Red dried cherry. 14.5%

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

• 2011 Pio Cesare Barolo 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Really good. high alc and chewy tannic structure. Riper than the Borgognos but still traditionalist. More brett savory notes than the Barbaresco.

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

• 2011 Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  (single vineyard) Overt sawdusty clove on the finish. Structured and ripe but bitter. 88.

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

• 2010 Roberto Voerzio Barbera d'Alba Riserva Vigneto Pozzo dell'Annunziata 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  Grippy. Well integrated oak. A bit acid deficient. Precision ripeness.

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

• 2010 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Torriglione 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Dark dried fruit, liquorice, slight sweetness from barely-noticeable oak. Slightly more body than the Borgogno’s, with high chewy tannins and high acid. The oak is very light - partial new / 2nd-3rd use barrels - it frames the fruit well. I really love this. Within the style of modern Barolo, I'm a big fan.

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

• 2009 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Sarmassa 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A bit apple-y. Seems surprisingly developed. Chewy structure and savory red fruit.

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

• 2010 Parusso Barolo Bussia 83 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Fleshy and sweet, with a bitter finish and only medium/medium plus tannins.

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

• 2011 Parusso Barolo Mariondino 83 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Fleshy, sweet, with red fruit. Not holding it’s oak well.

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

• 2011 Parusso Metodo Classico Brut 80 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC

  Blanc de noirs - Nebbiolo sparkling wine! Weirdly acid-deficient, though fairly dry-ish.

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

• 2013 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Volte Toscana IGT 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Warm savory brett. Bordeaux-like nose with medium acid and medium tannins (strong impression of cocoa powder in the tannins). Polished, plush, and savory.

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

• 2013 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

  Hints of chocolate-covered cassis (merlot-type or really ripe cabernet fruit). Savory bell pepper pyrazines. Spicy brett melded with some sweet new oak. In the mouth this has a bit more grip than the Le Volte - plush with medium tannins and a similar cocoa powder finish. Fruit isn’t really the point of this, but it’s definitely a supporting character. Really nice.

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

• 2012 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

  Even more savory stewed bell pepper pyrazines than the previous two. There’s a small but bright pinprick core of pure cabernet cassis, framed by a savory combination of brett and new oak. Powerful and still unintegrated. The fruit is strong in this one - cabernet blackcurrant. The cocoa-powder tannins are medium plus and sort of stick out to me - they’re sweetish, and oak-influenced. The aromatics are super complex and evolving - spices, mushroom, cassis, cocoa, orange peel, dog fur. Elevated alcohol, acid, and tannins.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Bibi Graetz Testamatta Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Can't score. Too young. Oxidative style. Red fruited and austere. Tannic and high acid. Slightly herbal.
  Overall the Bibi Graetz wines were light, super structured to the point of austerity, had little ot no Brett, and were quite oxidative (bruised apple skins).

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

• 2010 Bibi Graetz Colore Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  The best 10 barrels of the Testamatta. Complex red fruit. Light and tannic. Less dominated by bruised apple than the others. Can’t score - too young and austere.
  
  Overall the Bibi Graetz wines were light, super structured to the point of austerity, had little to no Brett, and were quite oxidative (bruised apple skins).

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

• 2012 Bibi Graetz Soffocone di Vincigliata Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Light. High tannins. High acid. Thin and a bit oxidative for me. I think the fruit may be there. Can’t score - too young and austere.
  
  Overall the Bibi Graetz wines were light, super structured to the point of austerity, had little to no Brett, and were quite oxidative (bruised apple skins).

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

• 2011 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto di Campolungo 84 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Green, dark-fruited. Quite structured but a bit lacking in fruit.
  Note on the three Lamole’s: All of these were a bit thin on the fruit and simple on the mid-palate.

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

• 2010 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Riserva 86 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Closed and tannic. To manage the tannins they ferment to 6% away from the skins (keeping them in a refrigerator) then add back the skins to complete fermentation.
  
  Note on the three Lamole’s: All of these were a bit thin on the fruit and simple on the mid-palate.

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

• 2012 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico 85 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Slight dark fruit (10% cab, 10% merlot). Structured. I don’t really understand this style of Chianti. Why add Bdx varieties to your beautiful red-fruited Sangio?
  
  Note on the three Lamole’s: All of these were a bit thin on the fruit and simple on the mid-palate.

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

• 2013 Vignamaggio Chianti Classico Terre di Prenzano 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Ripe red fruit, juicy and structured.

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

• 2013 Vignamaggio Chianti Classico Riserva Gherardino 87 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Darker fruit (some merlot here). A bit closed down but well-structured.

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

• 2012 Vignamaggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Monna Lisa 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Richer midpalate, but still structured.

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

• 2011 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Slightly burnt toast. Dark and soft and open for brunello.

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

• 2010 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino Campo del Drago 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Significant development and more structure. High altitude. High acid.

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

• 2011 Castiglion del Bosco Prima Pietra Toscana IGT 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Rich and very Bordeaux. Ripe green peppers. Bright acid. Sweet savory tobacco.

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

• 2011 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Savory brett. Hint of burnt toast. Dark fruited - black cherry, dried. Slightly weightier and fleshier than the Barolos. Structured with faint sweetness from a small percentage of new oak.

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

• 2010 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  This was an epic year. Rich shades of dark cherry. Structured and aromatically well integrated. Brett is present but not sticking out.

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

• 2010 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Il Divasco Riserva 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  A bit tighter - more tannic and slightly more overt oak than the regular 2010 BdM. Good but a bit closed. Dark dried cherry fruit.

  Read 2 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Pietranera Brunello di Montalcino 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Complex earthy slight red cranberries. Also dark dried cherries. VA. Development. Tastes drier- all neutral slavonian big casks.

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

• 2010 Pietranera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  More complex development. I like it. Forest leaves, clove. M body. Neutral slavonian casks. M+ tannins. M+. Alcohol. M+ acid.

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

• 2010 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 86 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Sangiovese. Dark fruit. Herbal. Savory. Fleshy and a bit sweet with high acid and soft tannins Med plus.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2010 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Fleshy and sweet for BdM but has good acid.

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

• 1997 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Sweet mushroom tamari. Holy development. Liquor ice. Light and intense and still structured with Med plus tannins rounded.

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

• 2011 Giuseppe Contratto Millesimato Extra Brut 85 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Alta Langa

  100% pinot. briochey, yellow apples, some dark plum, expansive mousse, big bubbles. I don’t get much complexity but the acid is refreshing.

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

• 2014 Cantina Tramin Pinot Grigio Unterebner 88 Points

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

  Light but distinct terpenic florals, high acid and light-plus butterness. Really nice.

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

• 2014 Cantina Tramin Alto Adige - Südtirol Stoan 87 Points

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

  Blend of chardonnay, gewurz, and others - quite floral (terpenic) with more stone/orchard fruit. Elevated acid and a clean finish - very little phenolic bitterness.

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

• 2014 Cantina Tramin Gewürztraminer Alto Adige - Südtirol Nussbaumer 90 Points

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

  Lovely fresh rose petals on the nose, and a hint of muscat-like white pepper and orange oil (cool climate gewurz?). None of the showy, syrupy-sweet lychee that you get in Alsace. Dry with light bitterness and decent acid (medium). Alcohol seems well under control.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Kellerei Nals-Margreid Pinot Bianco Alto Adige - Südtirol Sirmian 88 Points

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

  Stony with strong acid. Less aromatic than the Pinot Grigio, but there are some nice stone-fruit suggestions.

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

• 2013 Kellerei Nals-Margreid Pinot Grigio Punggl 88 Points

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

  Classic aromas, quite aromatic with stone fruit. Med + acid. Very nice!

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

• 2012 Tenuta Vitalonga Elcione 87 Points

  Italy, Umbria

  Sangiovese. Tart juicy and bretty, with some red cherry.

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

• 2012 Tenuta Vitalonga Umbria Terra di Confine 85 Points

  Italy, Umbria

  Dark fruit with some mushroom and significant brett.

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

• 2012 Tenuta Vitalonga Phiculle 83 Points

  Italy, Umbria

  Herbal, astringent, with elevated acid and tannins.

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

• 2014 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Il Vino dal Tralcetto 85 Points

  Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

  Sweet and savory, juicy and sort of a prototypical Italian red wine. Has some fruit on this! Moderate tannins, elevated acid.

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

• 2010 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Terre di Casauria Riserva San Clemente 88 Points

  Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Terre di Casauria

  Darker, with savory brett and some anise character. Moderate tannins, elevated acid.

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

• 2011 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 85 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

  Low aromatics on the nose. Slight cherry syrup, cherry juice, currant juice. In the mouth, high alcohol, elevated acid, elevated tannins. Clean, juicy with a good dose of new oak. I don’t get overt raisination but the fruit is super duper ripe. I was surprised by how non-aromatic this is (maybe needs time), and how clean it is (not a lot of earth or complexity here).

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