Tuscany WIMPS #169 29th September 2023

Huge thanks to Don for once again masterfully pulling this together and dealing with last minute details from across the pond! Also to my table mates for their fabulous wines and excellent company.

• NV Loncle Champagne Premier Cru Tradition Brut 89 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Lemon and sourdough nose, a suggestion of passionfruit coulis. Palate is fresh and long with a little saline interest, Very good party champagne, 90% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir. After a few hours in the bottle really opens up,

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• 2014 Querciabella Batàr 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Nose has lovely waxed-lemon character with a little marzipan too. There is some talcum powder and wet-stone minerality. Palate is ripe (not boozy at all the alcohol is very restrained) some lovely florality as well. Delicate, light and charming

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• 2010 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Briars, bonfire embers and a little ripe plum on the nose. Some salted cashew too. With air a little pear drop. Palate is compact but very pleasant. There are some sour cherry notes, good acidity and freshness

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• 2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

  This feels on the young side; palate has notes of sweet chestnut, caper, redcurrant, liquorice and bresaola. Palate is a little closed for the first couple of hours in the glass but at the end of the meal there is a bit more there. Some red fruits and partially resolved tannins; one for the future

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• 2010 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Wow. What a nose here. There are layers and layers of aromas; pearl barley, blood orange, quince jelly, rosemary, roasting juices and some liquorice. Palate not as closed as the Flaccianello but still a little recalcitrant. There is an almost Grenache-like character to the spiced red fruits. Tannins in need of another decade, I’d guess. This is very well balanced and I love the acidity. Had the palate delivered on the nose’s promise c. 96 points but on this showing 92 points

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• 2010 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Nose has a distinct mint chocolate character on pouring in addition to some ripe forest fruits, a little white pepper, some rare venison, some Grape Nuts and a little thyme. Palate long and cool with more of the red fruits. Lovely drop.

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• 2009 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Pomegranate and coarsely ground pepper to start on the nose here, later a little fig roll. Some sweated lardons and over-ripe strawberries. Palate is crisp, bright with good acidity and just enough sweetness to interest. A tad short maybe and the others in the flight a whisker ahead on the day.

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• 2006 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  This is a little slow out of the blocks but when it does get going the most complete wine of the lunch for me. There is a little lifted lingonberry jam on the nose and some butter crisped sage leaves. Palate absolutely gorgeous. Cool, savoury, tannins melt in the mouth and a slight fennel twist on the mid-palate.

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• 1997 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  The meatiest of the wines today. Some slow-cooked oxtail braise and a little olive brine on the nose with the faintest suggestion of peony. On pouring the palate seems a little tired but some air and with the food it seems to grow rather than fade. Fully mature but by no means in last chance saloon. Lovely savoury food wine that really complemented the veal.

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• 2021 G.D. Vajra Moscato d'Asti 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti

  Grapey with some underride Cantaloupe melon and a suggestion of lime Starburst. Palate is delightfully pétillant and mouthcoating, there is some pineapple cube sweetness and just a hint of tarragon leaf. Perfect match for our divine lemon tart.

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The team at Trompette once again did a great job. My favourite courses were the Veal and the Lemon tart although others on the table were more smitten with the Cavatelli dish. I can think of few better ways to spend and afternoon made all the finer by being able to enjoy the doors being open and a gentle breeze drifting in.