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VIA NYC Tasting
Astor Center, NYC
Tasted June 28, 2016 by lifeattable with 294 views
Introduction
VinItaly International Academy presents 5 Star Wines winners, a walk through Italy’s great wines. Tasting presented by Ian D'Agata
Flight 1 (6 notes)
White
2014 Les Crêtes Valle d'Aosta Cuvée Bois
85 points
Lots of rubber on the nose suggests reductive winemaking. Not a good thing at this point, but could blow off. Soft, needs more acidity.
Red - Sparkling
2015 Chiarli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Villa Cialdini Secco Frizzante
89 points
Marachino cherry, cherry chan, sligtly fizzy, slightly medicinal. Big tannin too. Not a huge fan of Lambrusco in general but there is something compelling here.
Red
2011 Castiglion del Bosco Prima Pietra Toscana IGT
90 points
Lots of complexity: ripe fruit, tobacco, stinky cheese, vegetal notes, butter, dark fruit. Only 10% Cab Franc, but it makes itself known, especially on the nose. Overall a well-made wine that didn't really speak to me.
Red
2011 Speri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Monte Sant'Urbano
Jammy and tannic, but still on the light side for Amarone. Ok.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2013 Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé
91 points
Huge apricot notes on nose and palate, alongside sweet peaches and figs. Acid is good but needs to be even better for this to be truly great.
Red
2008 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Ca' Florian
90 points
Big chocolate notes, alcohol heat, dark berry, warm spice, huge tannin, lengthy finish. Compelx and intriguing but I doubt I could drink more than a glass of this behemoth.
Flight 2 (7 notes)
Red
2009 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva
Hot & Sweet. Quite a bit of VA on the nose. Good complexity though.
Red
2013 Argiolas Iselis Rosso
92 points
This wine totally conveys a sense of place. Violets, red plum, dust, hint of smoke. Most importantly it's alive, creating a tingling sensation in the mouth that lasts for minutes. Quite interesting.
Red
2011 Podere Casisano Brunello di Montalcino
92 points
Tight & Tannic. Needs time. Still, cherries and dirt, lots of anise, black tea. Potential here for sure.
White - Sparkling
2011 Bortolin Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry
88 points
Clean, off-dry palate. Creamy. I don't drink much Prosecco but this is solid.
Red - Sparkling
2015 Cantine Ceci Terre Verdiane Lambrusco dell'Emilia IGT
88 points
Bubble gum, candied dark fruit, plum pudding. I didn't love it but think it is well made.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2014 Principe Pallavicini Lazio Stillato
Honey, almonds, herbs. Could use a touch more acid but overall quite good.
White
2015 Cantina Cincinnato Bellone Lazio Castore
Resinous nose leads to notes of herbs and big red. Flat without much fruit.