1999s At Felidia

Barbaresco took the top honors for me. Fully matured, elegant, complex and delicious. Barolo came off more austere and musty. Sangiovese showed its longevity and versatility in several Tuscan incarnations, with Flaccianello taking the top honor. A great evening of delicious food, wine and company.

• NV Cantine Conte Carlo Giorgi di Vistarino Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Nero Brut Rosè

  Italy, Lombardia, Oltrepò Pavese

  Yeasty, hint of oak, large mousse. Refreshing, rounder feel overall, edging to off-dry.

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• 1999 Drei Donà (Tenuta la Palazza) Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Riserva Pruno

  Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Sangiovese di Romagna

  A classic mature sangiovese nose; hints of coffee grinds, plum, leather. Silky mouth feel, good minerality with a touch of unresolved tannins; a taste of a slightly under ripe fruit, probably will not dissipate with additional ageing.

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• 1999 Giorgio Pelissero Barbaresco

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  A mature, evolved wine, a pleasure to drink now. Tertiary aromatics, morello cherry, lavender. Uplifting fruit driven aroma. Keeps unpacking levels of complex flavors, classy touch of integrated wood, clean and long aftertaste. Modern and sophisticated wine in the prime drinking window.

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• 1999 Dante Rivetti Barbaresco Bricco Riserva

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  A delicious example of a traditional nebbiolo. Touch of backed cranberry, eucalyptus, hint of former grittiness in the background, evolved and complex fruit-driven wine. Terrific balance between the ripe mature fruit and layered structure. No false notes, goes on and on. Excellent.

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• 1999 Oddero Barolo Mondoca di Bussia Soprana

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Lacking aromatic complexity. Coffee and raisin notes, a bit drying mouth feel. Comes across a bit austere and a bit musty, perhaps needed more time to open up.

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• 1999 Oddero Barolo Vigna Rionda

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Quite tight aromatically, hint of cellar on the nose. Juicy and more opulent that Bussia Soprana, but somewhat disjointed with the lack of aromatic follow through and overall angular structure.

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• 1999 Michele Satta Cavaliere

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Muted nose, traditional morellino notes, high acid. Elegant body, taste of cherry plum, touch of earth. Still tannic. Good.

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• 1999 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Somewhat syrupy nose. Not tasting much of a traditional brunello bouquet. Picking up on seeming false notes of rose water and syrup, touch of alcohol. Stood out from other '99 sangiovese based wine in an odd way.

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• 1999 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

  Elegant, complex and balanced wine. Delicious. Nothing out of balance. The flavors meld together in a complex and savory way; aromas of prune, coffee grinds, olives, plum cherries are woven together and supported by a supple texture and a long aftertaste. The best '99 sangio of the lineup.

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