NSMFW November Meeting

The Grapevine, Salem, MA
Tasted Thursday, November 15, 2007 by cgrimes with 635 views

Introduction

Margaret and I were happy to attend our first gathering as part of the group and what an introduction it was. Having little experience with Italian whites and Super Tuscans, I was not fully prepared for what was to come. The whites overall were as forgettable as the Super Tuscans were memorable. They are the ultimate Old World seductresses. While I would not have a cellar full of them, Man, were they good (and accessable), even at such a young stage. The company was great and the tasting courses complimented the wine well.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

Served with bruchetta.

  • 2006 Conardo Prosecco Brut 89 Points

    Italy, Veneto / Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Prosecco

    Good bubbles. Nose of pear. Palate of smooth pear, slight yeast. Lower in acidity than the Zardetto. Less complex but more pleasing. Great aperitif.

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  • NV Zardetto Prosecco Brut 86 Points

    Italy, Veneto / Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Prosecco

    Larger bubbles. Toasty, pear, apple. Decent acidity. Most including me preferred the Conardo for the same price.

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

Served with shrimp with a humus-like chick pea puree and extra virgin olive oil.

  • 2006 Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 88 Points

    Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore

    Golden color. Nose of white fruits. Palate of lemon, apple with a certain nuttiness. Sharp acidity (but not overpowering). Generally well balanced and pleasant but not sure I would spend the $44 to drink more of this.

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  • 2005 Di Leonardo Friuli Chardonnay 87 Points

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli

    Light golden color. Chardonnay nose of white fruits, butter. Slightly muted (somewhat on the cold side) apples, pears, butter, slight hazelnut. Decent acidity. More of a Burgundian style, generally better than what CA has to offer at the $16 range.

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  • 2005 Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo 89 Points

    Italy, Campania, Greco di Tufo DOCG

    Golden color. Nose of tropical fruits. Palate of apple and pineapple, good minerality, good acidity. Elegant and balanced for a good price. My WOTF

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

Served with an asian duck ravioli with a ginger, reduction.

  • 2003 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Ruby color. Nose of dark fruits and meat. Palate of blackberry, smoke, wood, vanilla. Good backbone of mouth-coating tannins. Still very young but balanced and enjoyable. Served with duck ravioli with a delicious ginger, scallion sauce.

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  • 2000 Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Superiore 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    Ruby color. Nose of briary fruits, smoke, tobacco, with a floral element. Palate of raspberry and cassis, tobacco, some licorice with backbone of velvety tannins. The group seemed to think this was the most ready to drink of the flight. Very smooth and enjoyable, just overshadowed by the more powerful Ornellaia.

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  • 2001 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 95 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    Purple opaque color. A WOW nose of blackberry and cassis, slight cedar. Palate of intense briary fruits and cassis, smoke, violets, tobacco. Dense, thick mouthfeel and huge mouthwatering tannins. A baby but incredible. My WOTN.

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Flight 4 (3 Notes)

Served with beef mini steaks.

  • 2001 Antinori Tignanello 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Ruby color. Nose of blackberries, cassis. Palate of same with vanilla, cedar with very, very smooth tannins which made for an incredibly balanced feel. Slightly drier. Lovely but lacked the depth, and layers of flavor of the more Cabernet-based wines of the previous flight. Perhaps that is just based on familiarity.

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  • 2004 Antinori Tignanello 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Much the same showing as the 2001. I would have had difficulty telling them apart in a blind tasting. Seemingly very consistent in style.

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  • 1998 Antinori Solaia 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Dark ruby color. Nose of blackberries, some cassis, cedar, smoke. Similar elements on the palate. More dense mouthfeel and tannin structure than the Tiganellos, even though it was the oldest of the flight and of the night. Still has lots of life ahead.

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Flight 5 (1 Note)

Served with profiteroles.

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