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4thWednesdays - Giorgio & Paulo's Italian Wine Extravaganza - Feb 2018
Texas Wine School, Houston, Tx
Tasted February 28, 2018 by Heynetty with 250 views
Introduction
$100 a ticket and far more than that in generosity, gave the FOURTHWEDNESDAYS wine tasting group a session that they will not forget. With wines from North and Central Italy extracted from a long sleep in well maintained cellars, we got to experience, some of the wine icons of Italy.
Flight 1 - Italian Wine Icons (8 notes)
Red
1996 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Prapò
91 points
A: Pale garnet headed towards brown
N: Vanilla, tart cherry, strawberry, rose, prune, tar, clove, caramel. Medium (+) intensity and fully developed
P: Aromas confirmed. Dry, medium (+) acid, medium (+) ripe tannin, full body, medium (+) intensity, medium (+) alcohol and finish.
C: This is from the eastside of the Barolo producing region and therefore well structured. I think the Quality is Outstanding but Drink up as this will begin its decline soon. One hour later .......florals have blown off but still tasty. Went wonderfully with the truffle oil on Robert's Orzo.
N: Vanilla, tart cherry, strawberry, rose, prune, tar, clove, caramel. Medium (+) intensity and fully developed
P: Aromas confirmed. Dry, medium (+) acid, medium (+) ripe tannin, full body, medium (+) intensity, medium (+) alcohol and finish.
C: This is from the eastside of the Barolo producing region and therefore well structured. I think the Quality is Outstanding but Drink up as this will begin its decline soon. One hour later .......florals have blown off but still tasty. Went wonderfully with the truffle oil on Robert's Orzo.
Red
2000 Gaja Barbaresco
A: Pale garnet
N: Vanilla, violets (more florals than the first Barolo in the flight), fresh red cherry, dried red cherry, dust, bitter chocolate. Developing. Medium (+) intensity
P: Aromas confirmed. Got dried oregano on the palate too. Dry, high acid, high tannin, medium (+) alcohol, medium (+) intensity, medium/medium (+) body and long finish
C: Outstanding Quality and I would drink this now or lay down for 3 years
N: Vanilla, violets (more florals than the first Barolo in the flight), fresh red cherry, dried red cherry, dust, bitter chocolate. Developing. Medium (+) intensity
P: Aromas confirmed. Got dried oregano on the palate too. Dry, high acid, high tannin, medium (+) alcohol, medium (+) intensity, medium/medium (+) body and long finish
C: Outstanding Quality and I would drink this now or lay down for 3 years
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Comment
Red
1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli
92 points
A: Pale garnet
N: Black and red fruit, cooked cherry, chocolate, volatile acidity, coffee, cooked mushrooms (yum), umami, tobacco
P: Nose confirmed. Dry, at the high end of medium (+) alcohol, high acidity, medium (+) body, high tannin, medium (+) intensity and long finish
C: BLICT. Ticks on all counts. This is an Outstanding wine and you can drink up or lay it down for another few years yet.
This is made on a historic property and matured in 200 year old botti
N: Black and red fruit, cooked cherry, chocolate, volatile acidity, coffee, cooked mushrooms (yum), umami, tobacco
P: Nose confirmed. Dry, at the high end of medium (+) alcohol, high acidity, medium (+) body, high tannin, medium (+) intensity and long finish
C: BLICT. Ticks on all counts. This is an Outstanding wine and you can drink up or lay it down for another few years yet.
This is made on a historic property and matured in 200 year old botti
Red
1997 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
A: Deep ruby with brown highlights. Sediment present. This wine looks younger than 21 years old.
N: Medium (+) intensity. Dried blackberry, dried cassis, plum, chocolate, coffee, clove, dried red flowers
P: Nose confirmed. Dry, HIGH acid (G said medium '+' but my reaction was high), high alcohol feeling from the burn but later found that was my reaction to the insane acidity as the alcohol is medium at 13%, medium (+) tannin, full body, pronounced intensity and long finish
N: Medium (+) intensity. Dried blackberry, dried cassis, plum, chocolate, coffee, clove, dried red flowers
P: Nose confirmed. Dry, HIGH acid (G said medium '+' but my reaction was high), high alcohol feeling from the burn but later found that was my reaction to the insane acidity as the alcohol is medium at 13%, medium (+) tannin, full body, pronounced intensity and long finish
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Red
1998 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia
A: Deep ruby with garnet highlights
N: Peach yoghurt (why does that keep coming up with some Cab heavy wines, i don't know), touch of acacia, dried black fruit, chocolate coffee, clove, black plum, tobacco, leather. Medium (+) intensity and fully developed
P: Aromas confirmed. Dry, medium (+) velvety tannin, medium (+) acidity, high alcohol, pronounced intensity, long finish, full body
C: Fruit forward wine. More like a traditionally Californian wine. Magnum bottle and therefore ages slower than a split or standard bottle
N: Peach yoghurt (why does that keep coming up with some Cab heavy wines, i don't know), touch of acacia, dried black fruit, chocolate coffee, clove, black plum, tobacco, leather. Medium (+) intensity and fully developed
P: Aromas confirmed. Dry, medium (+) velvety tannin, medium (+) acidity, high alcohol, pronounced intensity, long finish, full body
C: Fruit forward wine. More like a traditionally Californian wine. Magnum bottle and therefore ages slower than a split or standard bottle
Red
2007 Luce della Vite Lucé
A: Deep ruby with blue highlights making this the youngest looking wine on the night. Stained tears
N: Blackcurrant, stewed bramble, tart red cherry, nutmeg, chocolate. Medium (+) int.
P: Aromas confirmed. Dry, medium (+) acid, high tannin, high alcohol (14.5%) full body, pronounced intensity and long finish.
C: Many said we drank this too early. Its still youthful but the fruit , for me, gave a Tale of Two Cities. Its had fresh tart red fruit and dried, stewed black fruit which seemed to indicate the wine was both young AND old. Weird right?
I would certainly lay it down for several more years. Should be less schizophrenic by then.
N: Blackcurrant, stewed bramble, tart red cherry, nutmeg, chocolate. Medium (+) int.
P: Aromas confirmed. Dry, medium (+) acid, high tannin, high alcohol (14.5%) full body, pronounced intensity and long finish.
C: Many said we drank this too early. Its still youthful but the fruit , for me, gave a Tale of Two Cities. Its had fresh tart red fruit and dried, stewed black fruit which seemed to indicate the wine was both young AND old. Weird right?
I would certainly lay it down for several more years. Should be less schizophrenic by then.
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Comment
White - Sweet/Dessert
2010 Tenuta Roletto Erbaluce di Caluso Passito
90 points
A: Mid amber
N: Medium (+) intensity, orange, marmalade, raisin, orange peel, baking spice, G said 'starfruit' and i agree, passionfruit. Developing
P: Nose confirmed with a bit more caramel. Sweet, medium (+) acidity, full body, medium (+) alcohol, medium (+) intensity, long finish
C: Love this wine. LOVE IT! Outstanding quality and i reckon you could lay this down a lot longer for even more complexity and notes of development. The producers also make a still dry from the same grapes which i would like to try as a comparison
N: Medium (+) intensity, orange, marmalade, raisin, orange peel, baking spice, G said 'starfruit' and i agree, passionfruit. Developing
P: Nose confirmed with a bit more caramel. Sweet, medium (+) acidity, full body, medium (+) alcohol, medium (+) intensity, long finish
C: Love this wine. LOVE IT! Outstanding quality and i reckon you could lay this down a lot longer for even more complexity and notes of development. The producers also make a still dry from the same grapes which i would like to try as a comparison
White - Sweet/Dessert
2010 Santa Cristina (Antinori) Vin Santo della Valdichiana
A: Pale amber
N: Woody, fig, sultana, roasted hazelnuts, burnt apricot and an echo of acetylaldehyde which i did not expect. Very oxidative sherry like style.
P: Sweet and yet a drier style of Vin Santo according to the experienced members of the group. High acid, medium (+) alcohol (13.5%), medium (+) intensity and finish.
C: This was the most surprising wine of the night which was funny. Not my favored style but a welcome one nevertheless
N: Woody, fig, sultana, roasted hazelnuts, burnt apricot and an echo of acetylaldehyde which i did not expect. Very oxidative sherry like style.
P: Sweet and yet a drier style of Vin Santo according to the experienced members of the group. High acid, medium (+) alcohol (13.5%), medium (+) intensity and finish.
C: This was the most surprising wine of the night which was funny. Not my favored style but a welcome one nevertheless