Italian Wines at Mi Piaci

Monthly wine group meeting at a favorite Italian restaurant with great wine. The sea bass and filet were outstanding tonight, as always.

• NV Jean-Noël Haton Champagne Blanc de Blancs 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Nice light color, and expressive aromas and flavors involving nutmeg, mild spice and lemon zest. Finish was crisp with a touch of citrus. Very enjoyable. Not familiar with this house, so after some research…..Jean-Noel heads this house with was created in 1928 and is composed of 13 ha of vines (about 32 acres)—an independent grower. As both the grower and winemaker, this should allow more control over the production, which is very small. Definitely a champagne to keep an eye out for.

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• 1997 Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco Toscana IGT 95 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  This wine was amazing, upon opening (I did the honors). Very vibrant and fresh, yet still a small amount of tannins that seem to indicate it has a few more years ahead of it. I was going to immediately conclude that this was the WOTN, but it was the first taste, so I put it aside. Interesting enough, after about an hour in the glass, it closed down a bit (everyone should have tried it immediately), but still exhibited quite a bit of complexity in more of an old world style. This wine is typically a Cabernet Sauvignon / Sangiovese mix, composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the best Tuscan proprietary wines I have ever had.

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• 1997 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

  This wine needed more time, and it definitely did improve over half an hour, and became much more expressive. Nice acidity, but if I had any, I would hold off for a few more years. 100% Sangiovese aged in new French oak for 18 months – approximately 5000 cases made.

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• 2001 Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Initially, this wine was very smoky and rustic, with nice tannins. Has had good reviews from the press (who seemed to be tasting a different wine than I had—more descriptions of spice and fruit), and the 100% Sangiovese was handpicked from 6 ha (about 15 acres) devoted to vines. Wine was made with a long soaking during and after fermentation (about 15 days) and is aged for 3 – 5 years in big oak barrels (20-50 hectolitres). Tiny production of 635 cases.

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• 1997 Azienda Agricola San Filippo di Ermanno Rosi Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Another 97 Tuscan that was amazingly fresh. Nice acidity with a bit of rustic fruit notes. Definitely better after about 10 minutes in the glass. Had alongside the 1999, which had as much potential as the 97, but was just a bit young at this point.

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• 1999 Azienda Agricola San Filippo di Ermanno Rosi Brunello di Montalcino 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Had alongside the 1997 – the 1999 is not as refined yet, but definitely has potential, with good acidity. Please give this wine more time.

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• 1996 Riecine La Gioia Toscana IGT 94 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  This wine was amazing, and even gradually became better over an hour. Beautiful aroma – more old world and refined. The wine was in excellent condition and the fruit really showed up nicely and blended with the good acidity. The person who brought this found it in Italy and shipped it over. Again, another sound testament to properly taking care of wine. A blend (Super Tuscan) with a very small production of 750 cases. There is evidence that Riecine was producing wine in 1112 A.D. Sangiovese base, it is blended from various vineyard patches in the small community of Gaiole in Chianti. It is aged at least two years in new and 2nd year barrique.

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• 2001 Tenuta Della Luia Luia Toscana IGT 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Very expressive, modern NW nose with good intense fruit. Still seemed very young. From a Certaldo, a town southwest of Florence. The wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Colorino. This wine would definitely benefit with a bit more time…..would be very interesting to try again in the future. 86-89

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