dinner with friends

dave organized put this together with no real theme, but more to bring really good wines. I figured since we were going to a excellent italian resturant that it would be a massive waste if we didn't have some italian wines.

• 2004 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  nose: Beautiful and wafting tones of dark red fruits, raspberries, tart plums, perfumes, violets, loads of dark cherries, along with some hints of leather and smoke. Very well layered and balanced that shows off classic sangiovese flavors
  
  taste: very smooth medium feel with tart raspberries, dark cherries, violets, leather, mixed berries, and smoke tones. Very pure and deft balance with tannins that are still very present and medium+ acidity
  
  overall: this note was a compilation between two bottles at the dinner. One was more pop n pour and mine was decanted for 3 hours and then had at the end of the night with a lot of bottle air. The tannins were very present on both bottles and the nose was spectacular on both bottles. There is so much promise on this wine that it does need to be layed down several years and can easily go 20 in a loving cellar

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• 1997 Eraldo Viberti Barolo 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  nose: soft and supple nose of herbs, spices, loads of florals, lush red cherries, and notes of cake batter. A lot of balance that is a lot of fun to smell. While it has good complexity, there isn't a big level of depth, though it is very pretty and aromatic
  
  taste: good smooth tannins and medium/high acidity with red cherries, baking chocolate, florals, lots of herbs and herbal spices. Velvety and drinking great right now. The acidity compliments it very well and the tannins are starting to shed
  
  overall: a very pretty barolo that has a nice feminine touch to it. Much more of an early drinker with a refined balance to it. Very pretty, but for me it lacks a bit of depth that would bring it up to that next level. That said, this is a wine that I would drink anytime and all the time and its a very pleasing wine for me on an aesthetic level

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• 2004 Harris Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Treva's Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  nose: a bit over the top and very bold with oak striking you right off the bat along with blackberries, black cherries, anise, smoke, and various black fruits. A very big and gregarious nose. While not over ripe, its still very big and extracted
  
  taste: very rich and a bit hot on the mid palate with big bold tones of black fruits, smoke, anise, and blackberries. The heat creeps up a bit and begins to be a bit bothersome
  
  overall: Definitely in the big, huge, bold, and extracted camp. Full bodied with big fruit, the heat gets it to run away a bit and the over the top-ness is kept in relative check. THere isn't much in the way of tannins on this, so I'm not sure what the aging curve would be on this, and while really good, I'm not seeing that super high level on this wine as it comes across as one of the thousands of cali cabs in this price point that are really good, but are also very much alike

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• 2005 The Winemakers' Collection Michel Rolland Cuvée No. 1 Château d'Arsac 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  nose: very tight nose that never really got going with black cherries, tobbacco, smoke tones, cranberries, and sweet tones of creme de cassis. Good complexity, but it took a lot to get much going and I was writing this down at the end of the night as I let it sit in my glass
  
  taste: extremely firm tannins and medium/full feel with cassis, black cherries, tobbacco, leather, and cranberries. Not completely pronounced, but again, very young
  
  overall: brutally young. This needs a good 7 years or sitting in a decanter for a full day before approaching it. Lots of promise, this note is more based on potential then drinking right now.

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• 2003 Teachworth Cabernet Sauvignon Manzanita Hill Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  nose: very expressive nose filled with wild herbs, blueberries, loads of spices, dark red cherries, kirsch liqueur, and some cedar tones to compliment it all. A beautiful nose with nice complexity that evokes a different kind of cabernet then what is en vogue currently
  
  taste: nice plush medium feel with herbs, spice tones, blueberries, dark red cherries, creme de cassis, and cedar. Very smooth with medium/low acidity, but a lack of tannins
  
  overall: A very pretty cabernet that seems at its apex. Good ruby color in the glass there is a nice lifting element to the wine, but the lack of tannins and medium/low acidity is telling me that it won't need any real aging. In a way that bothers me as this is done in a Diamond Creek style, but without the requisite acidity or tannin structure that comes with it. Its like a baby diamond creek. Excellent aromatics and a pretty feel, its worth checking out, but I'm not really seeing a transcendent wine

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A real fun time and the food was great. As usual the company added to it and it made for a very enjoyable monday evening