Small Vineyards Tasting, Round 2

James King organized a meeting of the Mercer Island Wine Club to taste a series of wines from Small Vineyards LLC. We gathered at Il Fornaio in Pacific Place, and Josh Hanson guided us through a passionate description of a series of wines.

• NV Trevisiol Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry

  Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene

  Very reticent nose. Very crisp palate with lots of mineral, some white peach, creamy yet salty.

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• 2002 Tre Donne Roero Arneis

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero

  A faint nose of wet stone. Josh suggested "Asian pear" which was interesting. The palate is oily, very smooth, mineral, spicy, very nice length, very palate coating stuff.

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• 2000 Fattoria Capannacce Maremma Toscana Rosso

  Italy, Tuscany, Maremma, Maremma Toscana

  Sangiovese, Syrah, and Grenache. A "wow" nose with leather, slightly meaty. On the palate this is medium weight but with a big initial attack, very present acidity, lots of depth but a distinctly rustic feel. A powerful, chewy, gamey finish. This was not a very polished wine, but I could imagine slurping this down very happily with some pizza...

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• 2001 Mauro Barbero Roero Ania

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero

  A nose of lightly dried flowers and cotton candy. On the palate this is almost candied on the entry, showing nice initial balance and flavors of pomegranate, although the acidity is somewhat shrill. The finish is fresh and clean with somewhat mouth drying tannins. Overall a little lean but a nice wine.

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• 1999 Podere Ciona Chianti Classico Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  In the Gaiole area, grown near 2,000 feet. 96% Sangiovese, 4% Canaiolo. The shows some saddle leather AND the horse to go with it. In addition, the dusky and expressive nose is highlighted with black cherry. The palate has a silky entry with nice minerality, brooding and dark, some pine-needle/resinous flavor and aroma. Very nice CCR, buy it!

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• 1998 Villa Bibbiani Pulignano Rosso

  Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

  Pure Sangiovese. A roasted, funky nose. The palate is somewhat candied and more fruit forward than the Podere Ciona CCR, and while a nice wine it lacks the depth and complexity of said CCR.

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• 2000 Giuseppe Lonardi Privilegia Veronese IGT

  Italy, Veneto, Veronese IGT

  50% Corvina and 50% Cabernet Franc. The nose shows some clear herbal elements, lightly stemmy with some caramel. Wow, the palate is crazily sweet with a perfumed inner mouth showing sage and floral elements. The finish is slightly disappointing, clipped, showing some structure and still pretty wound up.

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• 2000 Villa Trasqua Trasgaia Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The ultimate in international styling. The nose shows black olive with some oak poking out. The palate is deeply extracted with a soft entry, very ripe, teetering on the edge of cumbersome with loads of chocolate and some cranberry. This hsa a sweet finish is is very mouthfilling, slightly drying, lots of grip. This needs some time to burn off and settle down, but there is impressive raw material here.

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• 1998 Giuseppe Lonardi Amarone della Valpolicella

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella

  This has a crazy nose of raisins, chocolate, VA and some balsamic vinegar. Wow, the palate is saturated and remarkably mouth filling, indescribably complex. Terrific Amarone, buy it!

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