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45th TWIGS Dinner - "Italian"
Rancho Naidoo - Coffs Harbour
Tasted August 20, 2016 by fizz with 345 views
Introduction
20 people gathered for a taste of Italy.
Wines were tasted without food for the most part. Entrées were served as discussions took place about the wines.
A feast of delicious Italian food followed, and the wines were allowed to shine further.
Flight 1 (2 notes)
White
2014 Vinchio-Vaglio Serra Roero Arneis Il Griso
Served blind. Cork. 12.5% alc.
Quite a bright, yellow/golden appearance. Lovely bouquet - stone fruits, green apple, green pepper. Palate is light / medium bodied, medium acid. It's minerally, with pebble/sandstone characters. Slightly bitter in the finish.
Quite a bright, yellow/golden appearance. Lovely bouquet - stone fruits, green apple, green pepper. Palate is light / medium bodied, medium acid. It's minerally, with pebble/sandstone characters. Slightly bitter in the finish.
White
2014 Pieropan Soave Classico
Served blind. Screw cap, 12% alc.
Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave.
Mid yellow hue. Smells of tropical fruit mainly, with a herbaceous note. Light to medium palate. Initially tastes a little sweet, but this reflects the generosity of fruit. It's certainly dry and fresh. There's a hint of bitterness on the short finish.
Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave.
Mid yellow hue. Smells of tropical fruit mainly, with a herbaceous note. Light to medium palate. Initially tastes a little sweet, but this reflects the generosity of fruit. It's certainly dry and fresh. There's a hint of bitterness on the short finish.
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Comments (2)
Flight 2 (7 notes)
Red
2011 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Rùfina Nipozzano Riserva
Served blind. Cork. 13% alc.
Ruby coloured. Smells earthy, herbaceous. There's cinnamon and dark fruits like cherry and plum. Tastes a bit stemmy, like there's a little Cab Sauv in there. It's medium bodied, with good acidity and a decent length on the clean finish.
Ruby coloured. Smells earthy, herbaceous. There's cinnamon and dark fruits like cherry and plum. Tastes a bit stemmy, like there's a little Cab Sauv in there. It's medium bodied, with good acidity and a decent length on the clean finish.
Red
2010 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Served blind. Cork. 13.5% alc.
90% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese Grosso) and 10% Canaiolo Nero. Spends more than 2 years in oak casks, and 1 year in bottle before release.
Looks quite dark red. Peppermint, spices, florals, berries, pepper and tar aromas. The palate follows these queues. It's medium bodied, with youthful tannins, which bring the wine to a strong finish.
90% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese Grosso) and 10% Canaiolo Nero. Spends more than 2 years in oak casks, and 1 year in bottle before release.
Looks quite dark red. Peppermint, spices, florals, berries, pepper and tar aromas. The palate follows these queues. It's medium bodied, with youthful tannins, which bring the wine to a strong finish.
Red
2007 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Served blind. Cork. 16.5% alc.
Dark and brooding appearance. Raisins, plum, prune, currants. Almost Christmas cake like. The palate is full bodied, with sweet and juicy black fruits. Bordering on porty. The density and rich style of these wines is unique and unforgettable.
Dark and brooding appearance. Raisins, plum, prune, currants. Almost Christmas cake like. The palate is full bodied, with sweet and juicy black fruits. Bordering on porty. The density and rich style of these wines is unique and unforgettable.
Red
2003 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Served blind, and immediately after the 2007 vintage of the same wine.
Cork. 16.5% alc.
Nose full of raisins, prunes, liqorice, dark chocolate and vanilla. Palate is full flavored, complex and lush and follows the nose. There's also leather and a mix of sweet and pure dark fruits. Is there a touch of heat here, compared to the 2007? The depth, density and texture of these wines is astounding. The finish is long, and carries both sweet and savoury nuances.
Cork. 16.5% alc.
Nose full of raisins, prunes, liqorice, dark chocolate and vanilla. Palate is full flavored, complex and lush and follows the nose. There's also leather and a mix of sweet and pure dark fruits. Is there a touch of heat here, compared to the 2007? The depth, density and texture of these wines is astounding. The finish is long, and carries both sweet and savoury nuances.
Red
2010 Linnaea Trifulau Barolo
Served blind. Cork. 14% alc.
Pale garnet. Nose of florals, dried herbs, sour red cherries. One taster (AW) could smell octopus(!). Really aromatic and stylistically typical of the grape. It's medium bodied, with good acidity and those characteristic puckering and gripping tannins which cry out for food.
Pale garnet. Nose of florals, dried herbs, sour red cherries. One taster (AW) could smell octopus(!). Really aromatic and stylistically typical of the grape. It's medium bodied, with good acidity and those characteristic puckering and gripping tannins which cry out for food.
Red
2013 Castello di Bolgheri Varvàra
Served blind. Cork. 14.5% alc.
Smells a little confected, with sweet black fruits and raspberries. The medium bodied palate is meaty, and shows dark chocolate and tobacco. Maybe a touch of heat from alcohol. The tannins are well on the way to being integrated. There's collaring potential here.
Made up of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Shiraz.
Smells a little confected, with sweet black fruits and raspberries. The medium bodied palate is meaty, and shows dark chocolate and tobacco. Maybe a touch of heat from alcohol. The tannins are well on the way to being integrated. There's collaring potential here.
Made up of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Shiraz.
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Comment
Red
2010 Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva
Served blind. Cork. 13.5% alc.
Medium garnet colour. Nose of red fruits and florals. It's very fragrant. The palate is medium bodied, comes with defining acids and has an elegant feel in the mouth. The tannins provide an extended length. Good collating potential.
Aged in cask or barrel for 1 year, and bottle for about a year before release.
Medium garnet colour. Nose of red fruits and florals. It's very fragrant. The palate is medium bodied, comes with defining acids and has an elegant feel in the mouth. The tannins provide an extended length. Good collating potential.
Aged in cask or barrel for 1 year, and bottle for about a year before release.
Flight 3 (2 notes)
Red - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
Cork. 16% alc.
Nose is a knock out. Prunes, sweet spices. It's rich and full flavoured in the mouth, with incredible balance. Not cloying, no overt heat. Just rich, beautifully textured and weighted.
Nose is a knock out. Prunes, sweet spices. It's rich and full flavoured in the mouth, with incredible balance. Not cloying, no overt heat. Just rich, beautifully textured and weighted.
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Comment
White
2009 Cooperativa Agricoltori Vallata di Levanto Cinque Terre Sciacchetra
Cork. 14% alc.
Honey/amber coloured wine that smells and tastes like honey soaked figs, with a hint of orange rind. It's quite sweet and full flavoured, much like a Muscat. Ideal accompaniment to biscotti.
Grapes used are Grappoli di Bosca, Albarole and Vermentino. Air dried prior to fermentation.
Honey/amber coloured wine that smells and tastes like honey soaked figs, with a hint of orange rind. It's quite sweet and full flavoured, much like a Muscat. Ideal accompaniment to biscotti.
Grapes used are Grappoli di Bosca, Albarole and Vermentino. Air dried prior to fermentation.