Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Winebow's ICON tasting
RPM Italian, Chicago, IL
Tasted February 28, 2013 by KeithAkers with 659 views
Introduction
Knowing that this was Winebow I was really looking forward to this tasting. Add in that it would be at RPM Italian, and there was some real anticipation from me.
Flight 1 - Tuscan wines (11 notes)
Red
2010 Altesino Rosso di Altesino Toscana IGT
88 points
Nose: Nice and balanced nose with tones of red fruits, red berries, tobacco, and some herbs. The tones are nice and well put together.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some nice supporting tannins. This is balanced with nice tones of cherries, herbs, and red fruits.
Overall: This is a real nice value. It's well balanced with some very nice tones and nice acidity to it as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some nice supporting tannins. This is balanced with nice tones of cherries, herbs, and red fruits.
Overall: This is a real nice value. It's well balanced with some very nice tones and nice acidity to it as well.
Red
2007 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Nose: Elegant and aromatic nose filled with tones of red fruits, cherries, tobacco, red florals, spice tones, and herbs. Nice depth with a real expressive side to it as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure does show its youth, but there are real nice tones of red fruits, cherries, herbs, and spice tones.
Overall: This is a lovely young Brunello. It has a real nice elegant take to it with nice depth on both the nose and palate. This will need years to fully develop, there is something really nice there.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure does show its youth, but there are real nice tones of red fruits, cherries, herbs, and spice tones.
Overall: This is a lovely young Brunello. It has a real nice elegant take to it with nice depth on both the nose and palate. This will need years to fully develop, there is something really nice there.
Red
2007 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli
93 points
Nose: The nose is very perfumed with a lot of floral tones along with tones of red fruits, violets, cherries, spices, herbs, and fresh picked berries. While this is tighter, there is very good depth here as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and very big tannins. The structure is very imposing, but there are gorgeous and deep tones of violets, red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and a good amount of herbs.
Overall: This has real beauty right now and should get even better. There is a lot of depth on both the nose and palate with a lot of attractive tones as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and very big tannins. The structure is very imposing, but there are gorgeous and deep tones of violets, red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and a good amount of herbs.
Overall: This has real beauty right now and should get even better. There is a lot of depth on both the nose and palate with a lot of attractive tones as well.
Red
2007 Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di S. Niccolò Toscana IGT
91 points
Nose: Elegant and savory nose that is slightly on the tight side, but has beautiful tones of dark red fruits, spices, cherries, crushed flowers, and some herbs.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and good chewy tannins. There is a nice and pretty feel with tones of dark red fruits, spice tones, cherries, and crushed flowers.
Overall: This is young, but it is a lovely wine. There is a real nice savory quality to this along with elegance as well. There is some flesh from the vintage, but it shows some real elegance as well.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and good chewy tannins. There is a nice and pretty feel with tones of dark red fruits, spice tones, cherries, and crushed flowers.
Overall: This is young, but it is a lovely wine. There is a real nice savory quality to this along with elegance as well. There is some flesh from the vintage, but it shows some real elegance as well.
Red
2007 Castellare di Castellina Trenta Vendemmie Toscana IGT
90 points
Nose: There is a nice savory quality on the nose with tones of oak, red fruits, berries, cherries, wild spices, some herbs and a touch of incense. While there is good complexity, the depth seems to be lacking a slight bit.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with good tannins and medium acidity. There is decent depth, but there is some noticeable oak right off the bat along with tones of red fruits, berries, licorice, and some wild spices.
Overall: The oak was a bit on the noticeable side, but it was the lack of depth that was disappointing. Still, this is an excellent wine that does need some time to come together.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with good tannins and medium acidity. There is decent depth, but there is some noticeable oak right off the bat along with tones of red fruits, berries, licorice, and some wild spices.
Overall: The oak was a bit on the noticeable side, but it was the lack of depth that was disappointing. Still, this is an excellent wine that does need some time to come together.
White
2011 Poggio al Tesoro Vermentino Bolgheri Solosole
87 points
Nose: Fresh and aromatic nose with tones of white fruits, lemon zest, and mineral tones. While it doesn't have too much depth, it is fragrant and well put together.
Taste: Nice light feel with crisp high acidity that forms a nice spine. While the acidity is high, it's very refreshing along with the tones of minerals, white fruits, and lemon zest.
Overall: This is a very nice vermentino. It's well balanced with a good freshness on both the nose and palate.
Taste: Nice light feel with crisp high acidity that forms a nice spine. While the acidity is high, it's very refreshing along with the tones of minerals, white fruits, and lemon zest.
Overall: This is a very nice vermentino. It's well balanced with a good freshness on both the nose and palate.
Red
2009 Poggio al Tesoro Meditérra Toscana IGT
89 points
Nose: This has a nice richness to the nose with tones of black cherries, spices, liqueur, herbs, and black fruits. It is a bit more forward, but it works well with some nice depth.
Taste: Full bodied with gripping tannins and medium acidity. The tannins are a bit overpowering with very good tones rich tones of black cherries, spices, liqueur, and black fruits.
Overall: This is a very good syrah/merlot/cab blend. It shows a richer side to it, but it is far from overblown and has some really nice tones on both the nose and palate.
Taste: Full bodied with gripping tannins and medium acidity. The tannins are a bit overpowering with very good tones rich tones of black cherries, spices, liqueur, and black fruits.
Overall: This is a very good syrah/merlot/cab blend. It shows a richer side to it, but it is far from overblown and has some really nice tones on both the nose and palate.
Red
2008 Poggio al Tesoro Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia
92 points
Nose: Savory and deeper nose with lush tones of licorice, black fruits, black cherries, spice tones, and some roasted herbs. This is very well balanced with some layering on it.
Taste: Gorgeous and balanced fuller body with medium+ acidity and some silky tannins. The structure isn't imposing and there are plush, but savory, tones of licorice, black fruits, roasted herbs, and black cherries.
Overall: This is a silky Bordeaux blend from Bolgerhi. While it could age, it has a real delicious and savory quality right now and it doesn't seem like a long term aging candidate.
Taste: Gorgeous and balanced fuller body with medium+ acidity and some silky tannins. The structure isn't imposing and there are plush, but savory, tones of licorice, black fruits, roasted herbs, and black cherries.
Overall: This is a silky Bordeaux blend from Bolgerhi. While it could age, it has a real delicious and savory quality right now and it doesn't seem like a long term aging candidate.
Red
2006 Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
91 points
Nose: Though on the tighter side, there is a perfumed quality to the tones of dark red fruits, dark red cherries, violets, spice tones, licorice, and some oak as well.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and some chewy tannins. The structure isn't as big as would be expected with tones of dark red fruits, licorice, dark red cherries, spices, and oak tones.
Overall: While this is on the younger side, it feels like it can drink earlier. The structure isn't too imposing and the tones are well balanced.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and some chewy tannins. The structure isn't as big as would be expected with tones of dark red fruits, licorice, dark red cherries, spices, and oak tones.
Overall: While this is on the younger side, it feels like it can drink earlier. The structure isn't too imposing and the tones are well balanced.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2010 Tua Rita Perlato del Bosco Toscana IGT
86 points
Nose: Very upfront on the nose with tones of red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and some oak. It is lacking some depth and the tones are more surface.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity and supporting tannins. There are solid and forward tones of red fruits, oak, dark red berries and some wood spices. This also is a bit lacking on the mid-palate.
Overall: This is a very good wine, but it's lacking somewhat on the nose and palate. While the oak is there, it isn't overdone but is noticeable.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity and supporting tannins. There are solid and forward tones of red fruits, oak, dark red berries and some wood spices. This also is a bit lacking on the mid-palate.
Overall: This is a very good wine, but it's lacking somewhat on the nose and palate. While the oak is there, it isn't overdone but is noticeable.
Red
2007 Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT
94 points
Nose: Stunning on the nose with all sorts of perfumes and deep tones of red berries, wild spices, roses, blueberries, and red cherries. This is well layered already with a lot of class.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and some very chewy tannins. The feel is extremely polished underneath the tannins along with deep tones of hi-toned red fruits, wild spices, red cherries, herbs, and some oak.
Overall: This is a stunning wine. It's certainly young and is showing some great materials right now. This has all sorts of class and polish with a lot of depth as well.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and some very chewy tannins. The feel is extremely polished underneath the tannins along with deep tones of hi-toned red fruits, wild spices, red cherries, herbs, and some oak.
Overall: This is a stunning wine. It's certainly young and is showing some great materials right now. This has all sorts of class and polish with a lot of depth as well.
Flight 2 - Central and Southern wines (7 notes)
Red
2006 Argiolas Turriga Isola dei Nuraghi IGT
88 points
Nose: There is a real savory quality to the nose with tones of dark red fruits, spices, black cherries, and some lavender.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some good tannins. There are nice and savory tones of dark red fruits, licorice, spices, and black cherries but the mid-palate is really lacking.
Overall: This could've been really good if the mid-palate was a bit more complete. As is, it is an enjoyable wine with a real savoriness on both the nose and palate.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some good tannins. There are nice and savory tones of dark red fruits, licorice, spices, and black cherries but the mid-palate is really lacking.
Overall: This could've been really good if the mid-palate was a bit more complete. As is, it is an enjoyable wine with a real savoriness on both the nose and palate.
Red
2006 Falesco Lazio Montiano
92 points
Nose: Very perfumed with a real elegance and loaded with floral tones, red fruits, red berries, violets, and spices. There is very nice depth to this with a real expression as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some chewy tannins. The structure is fairly imposing right now, but there are lovely tones of red fruits, lots of florals, potpourri, and spice tones with some fresh picked berries.
Overall: This is a very pretty wine that is also very young. It exudes elegance on both the nose and palate with good depth on both as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some chewy tannins. The structure is fairly imposing right now, but there are lovely tones of red fruits, lots of florals, potpourri, and spice tones with some fresh picked berries.
Overall: This is a very pretty wine that is also very young. It exudes elegance on both the nose and palate with good depth on both as well.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2009 Fattoria Galardi Terra di Lavoro
91 points
Nose: This is showing on the tight side, but with a richness and intensity to the tones of black fruits, dark red fruits, minerals, crushed flowers, and licorice. There is very good depth as well.
Taste: Full bodied with massive and chewy tannins and medium acidity. The structure is imposing, but there are some really good tones of black fruits, dark red fruits, crushed flowers, and licorice.
Overall: This is brutally young. If it's given a few more years though, this has the materials to really transform into a gorgeous wine.
Taste: Full bodied with massive and chewy tannins and medium acidity. The structure is imposing, but there are some really good tones of black fruits, dark red fruits, crushed flowers, and licorice.
Overall: This is brutally young. If it's given a few more years though, this has the materials to really transform into a gorgeous wine.
White
2006 Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo
88 points
Nose: Lovely and fresh nose with tones of white peaches, meyer lemons, minerals, crushed rocks, and some volcanic ashy tones.
Taste: Lighter bodied with crisp high acidity. The tones of white peaches, meyer lemons, minerals, and crushed rocks are well balanced, but lacking a mid-palate.
Overall: This was a really nice Greco di Tufo. This is well balanced and has a nice freshness to it, but it is lacking on the mid-palate.
Taste: Lighter bodied with crisp high acidity. The tones of white peaches, meyer lemons, minerals, and crushed rocks are well balanced, but lacking a mid-palate.
Overall: This was a really nice Greco di Tufo. This is well balanced and has a nice freshness to it, but it is lacking on the mid-palate.
Red
2006 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici
92 points
Nose: Gorgeous and introspective nose filled with tones of black fruits, mineral rich earth, licorice, spice tones, and a good amount of various florals. There is very good depth on this and it does show a little on the tight side.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and big gripping tannins. The structure is very imposing right now, but there are deep and powerful tones of black fruits, mineral rich earth, licorice, black cherries, and floral tones.
Overall: This feels like it's starting to drink, but it's also quite young. It is a bruiser of a wine with some real raw power behind it and very good depth.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and big gripping tannins. The structure is very imposing right now, but there are deep and powerful tones of black fruits, mineral rich earth, licorice, black cherries, and floral tones.
Overall: This feels like it's starting to drink, but it's also quite young. It is a bruiser of a wine with some real raw power behind it and very good depth.
Red
2008 Montevetrano Montevetrano Colli di Salerno IGT
93 points
Nose: Perfumed, but with a robust quality to it with gorgeous and flowing tones of black cherries, spice tones, roasted herbs, licorice, earth tones, and some florals as well. There is very good depth to this as well.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and massive tannins. The feel is very good underneath the massive tannins with really good and robust tones of black cherries, spices, roasted herbs, licorice, and floral tones.
Overall: This is a wonderful wine that should get better and better with age. There is a headiness to the tones on the nose and the structure shows the youth of the wine.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and massive tannins. The feel is very good underneath the massive tannins with really good and robust tones of black cherries, spices, roasted herbs, licorice, and floral tones.
Overall: This is a wonderful wine that should get better and better with age. There is a headiness to the tones on the nose and the structure shows the youth of the wine.
1 person found this helpful
Comments (1)
Red
2007 Tasca D'Almerita Rosso del Conte
91 points
Nose: Gorgeous nose filled with dark red fruits, wild spices, juniper berries, dark red cherries, herbs, and a touch of roses. This is very well balanced with nice depth as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity and some very noticeable tannins. The feel is very classy with tones of dark red cherries, juniper berries, dark red fruits, and some roses on the back end.
Overall: This was a very classy wine. It's on the young side, but it doesn't come off as inaccessible. This can get better and should be very fun in a few years.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity and some very noticeable tannins. The feel is very classy with tones of dark red cherries, juniper berries, dark red fruits, and some roses on the back end.
Overall: This was a very classy wine. It's on the young side, but it doesn't come off as inaccessible. This can get better and should be very fun in a few years.
Closing
I absolutely loved both this tasting and the spot. RPM Italian was high on my list for a while and the small bites that were being served has completely made me want to visit here.
This was also one of the most civilized tastings I've been to. For a good while things were calm with people movin through the wines at their own pace.
Overall, this was a fun small tasting with some real good wines across the board.