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The Kirsch Italian Extravaganza
677 Prime, Albany, NY
Tasted July 14, 2018 by kenv with 267 views
Introduction
Our friends Larry and Margie Kirsch invited us to this spectacular dinner with an Italian theme and Italian wines mostly from Piedmont. They took over the entire upstairs at 677 Prime and had special foods brought up from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.
Photos and many more details can be found on my website.
Flight 1 - Starter (1 note)
White
2015 Gaja Langhe Chardonnay Gaia & Rey
95 points
[Pop and pour from a half bottle.] Huge, complex nose of lemon custard and marzipan. Rich in the mouth. Long, complex finish of minerals and mixed citrus fruits. Quite stunning.
Flight 2 - 1989 Produttori Magnums (3 notes)
Red
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Asili
93 points
[From a magnum double-decanted around 2pm.] Heavenly nose of red fruit and truffles. Juicy tannins. Black fruits, violets, autumn leaf mulch, Medium length. Lots of life left.
Red
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano
95 points
[From a magnum double-decanted around 2pm.] Tight, smoky, red fruit nose. In the mouth, black fruit, long and complex. So delicious. Just singing now.
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Red
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà
97 points
[From a magnum double-decanted around 2pm.] Huge red and black fruit nose. Complex, roses, violets, anise. Still a really big wine. Just stunning. I wish I could sit with this all evening.
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Flight 3 - Gaja Barbaresco (2 notes)
Red
1998 Gaja Barbaresco
92 points
[Double-decanted around 2pm.] Black fruit and tar in the nose. Quite appealing, but it does seem to be beginning its downslope. Enjoy now!
Red
1997 Gaja Barbaresco
94 points
[Double-decanted around 2pm.] Much bigger and darker than the 98. Rich and ripe with lots of tar and black fruit. Classic. A beautiful Barbaresco.
Flight 4 - Gaja Costa Russi (2 notes)
Red
1993 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi
94 points
[Double-decanted around 2pm.] Huge black cherry nose. Shockingly big and rich for a 93. Long, complex, licorice, tar and plums. This has to be the wine of the vintage.
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Red
1997 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Costa Russi
95 points
[Double-decanted around 2pm.] Black plums and spice in the nose. Big, tarry, rich, quite young. Should drink well for 20 more years. Quite modern and powerful, but not oaky.
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Flight 5 - Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Magnum (1 note)
Red
1997 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
95 points
[From a magnum opened around 7pm, but not decanted.] Massive black fruit nose. Huge, rich, black fruit and tar in layers and layers. Way too young now, but this wine has a glorious future. 94-96
Closing
What an amazing evening. So much great wine, great food, and great friends! The generosity of Larry and Margie was overwhelming.