Important Update From the Founder
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IWS Tuscany, Campania, Basilicata, Marche, Umbria
My place, Kent Street
Tasted January 29, 2022 - January 30, 2022 by chatters with 156 views
Introduction
Jordan drove up from Canberra and Frank journeyed from the suburbs to try a selection of wines from Tuscany, Campania and Basilicata. We did Tuscany for our morning session and then Campania and Basilicata in the afternoon on Saturday. Then Jordan and I finished off Marche and Umbria on Sunday morning.
Flight 1 - Tuscan white (1 note)
Just the one wine in the bracket...
White
2019 Fattoria di Fugnano Vernaccia di San Gimignano da Fugnano
From Coravin. Sulphur, stone fruit, slight green plum and green almond underpin, fairly simple nose. Medium plus intensity acidity is a bit pointy, touch of texture on the mid palate, fruit in the background, quite savoury and green hued. Meh
Flight 2 - Other Tuscan Sangiovese based wines (3 notes)
I liked the straightforwardness of the Podere 414 in this bracket
Red
2017 Podere 414 Morellino di Scansano
From Coravin. Aromas of cherry, supported by savoury/meaty notes, very slight tomato leaf, a little wet tobacco and sweet spice and, with time, a little jubey note. Juicy, fleshy, palate a reflection of the nose, a little floury textured tannins in support, non-intrusive alcohol warmth lends length. Quite fruit forward, pleasant
Red
2018 Piaggia (Vannucci) Carmignano Il Sasso
From Coravin. meaty, reductive and concentrated - like beef extract - and a little reticent initially, a slight cereal note as well, alcohol prickle. A touch of dusty cedar and spiced cherry with agitation. Touch of liquorice. Medium plus intensity acidity, a little bitterness here; it's quite 'hard' on the palate, tannins are drying, bitter herbs, slight cherry but with cherry stone bitterness. Perhaps time/a decant would help but fairly meh for me.
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Red
2016 Castello Colle Massari Montecucco Rosso Riserva
From Coravin. Initially it has low intensity aromas but, with air, it starts to show some pretty cherry with a little rocky minerality and tobacco leaf. medium plus intensity acidity, chewy drying tannins close down the front of the mouth and mid palate, rocky minerality backed by savoury cherry with a little cream joining on the finish. Hmm. Time?
Flight 3 - Chianti Sub-Zones (4 notes)
Probably the Sprozzi here for me...but this is such a tiny taste of a sub set of the sub zones so we really didn't do it any real justice.
Red
2017 Malenchini Chianti Colli Fiorentini
From Coravin. Savoury, cherry, slight sweet spic, tobacco leaf, cedar. medium plus intensity acidity, savoury, wetly juicy, fleshy, tannins encroach with time; grainy, chalky and drying; sour cherry persists on the finish assisted by slight alcohol warmth. Hmm.
Red
2019 Guicciardini Strozzi Chianti Colli Senesi
From Coravin. Ripe cherry, non-intrusive alcohol prickle, pretty jubey fruit, almost a smidge of plain chocolate, sweet spice, ripe herbs. Juicy, fleshy, cherry fruit tea, tannins are drying and a little hard, it's a touch dried out for me but pleasant none the less.
Red
2007 Colognole Chianti Rùfina Riserva del Don
From Coravin. Medium plus intensity aromas show savoury, meaty, bretty, tomato leaf, a little peppery spice, muted cherry in the background. Juicy, fleshy and equally meaty on the plate, tannins are present by quite silky, 'wet' cherry notes persist, finishes long with a little beef extract. Interesting.
Red
2015 Parri Chianti Montespertoli Riserva
From Coravin. Savoury, slight brett, sour cherry, smidge of volatility, cedar. Medium plus intensity acidity on the palate, savoury, meaty, massive chewy tannins close down the palate, alcohol warmth is present but non-intrusive on the long finish. Bit of a beast on this tasting. Fruit proves quite subdued.
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Flight 4 - Querciabella vertical (6 notes)
Frank kindly provided this vertical...the 2015 and the 2017 were my favourites on this occasion. I think, though, I'd like to do a similar tasting of Isole e Olena (which is probably a similar price bracket) or Antinori
Red
1998 Querciabella Chianti Classico Riserva
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of spicy oak, slightly oxidised, fruit tea, sour cherry, a little tomato leaf and beef stock. With time a touch of menthol and that tomato leaf note grows. In the mouth there is medium plus intensity acidity, meaty and savoury, tannins are drying but ripe, muted cherry fruit tea with a little tomato leaf, cream, mushroom and menthol. Long with non-intrusive alcohol warmth on the finish.
Red
2013 Querciabella Chianti Classico
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas are savoury, meaty, very slight reductive. With agitation boiled meat, beef stock, cherry, tomato leaf, cedar and spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, sour cherry, a little volatility lends freshness, tannins are drying, savoury, meaty and chalky and slightly green. Fruit persists and is joined by a little creaminess on the finish. Hmm
Red
2015 Querciabella Chianti Classico
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of cedar, meaty, slightly sour cherry. With agitation the cedar oak note gains weight on the nose, cherry becomes less sour and is joined by some biscuit. Medium plus intensity acidity on the palate, juicy, fleshy, savoury cherry, fruit persists, tannins are present but in a support role, meaty notes join on the finish. Balanced. Nice
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Red
2016 Querciabella Chianti Classico
From Coravin. Cherry, cedar, caramel, sweet spice, slightly spiritous alcohol prickle, polished oak, cream. It's a little sharply acidic on the palate with plentiful, slightly hard, tannins that prove meaty and savoury as well as chalky textured and drying, closing down the front of the palate. Frank says 'linear'. I concur...
Red
2017 Querciabella Chianti Classico
From Coravin. Cedar, cherry, a little chocolate. With agitation wet earth, a little mushroom, bing cherry and Autumn leaves. Medium plus intensity acidity, wetly fleshy and fruit tea tannic grip sucks at the tongue. Medium plus length. The acid is slightly too hight for me but otherwise rather pleasant.
Red
2018 Querciabella Chianti Classico
flawed
From Coravin. CORKED. Under this alcohol and volatile acidity. FLAW
Flight 5 - Brunello/Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (4 notes)
if the Massimo hadn't been flawed this would probably have been the best bracket of the weekend. Lots to like here but it's worth acknowledging that this was the second most expensive bracket.
Red
2018 La Braccesca (Antinori) Rosso di Montepulciano Sabazio
From Coravin. Fruit tea, savoury spcie, very slight rancio almost...perhaps a smidge of Brett here as well. In the mouth it's juicy, fleshy, savoury, meaty but still retains freshness, tannins are present, drying but very much in support, a little white pepper spice on the finish. Balanced. Simple. Yum.
Red
2010 Massimo Romeo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Lipitiresco
flawed
From Coravin. CORKED. Under this the shadow of what must have been a lovely wine - a little ripe cherry, sweet spice, savoury but not overtly so, touch of VA. FLAW
Red
2018 Conti Costanti Rosso di Montalcino
From Coravin. Polished, cherry, sweet spice, slight alcohol warmth, cedar, slightly brambly underpin here as well. Medium plus acidity is very slightly sour, drying chewy chalky tannins, wild cherries and brambles, a little polished oak in support. Nice.
Red
2012 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas initially shows bacon fat, with agitation it starts to come out of its shell to reveal concentrated polished cherries, lots of sweet spiced oak, concentrated savoury meaty elements, almost a touch of juniper, very slight tomato leaf completes the picture on the nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, tannins and flavours; all in balance, alcohol warmth on the finish. the flavours are equally concentrated on the palate but without being overdone. Very good.
Flight 6 - Bordeaux blends and super tuscans (3 notes)
Yup, still don't really get Super-Tuscans...nothing here to change that opinion...The Le Cupole had a lot going on but none of it very pleasant, the Argentiera was a standard roided beast of no fixed abode and the Sassicaia was, frankly, disappointing - I haven't checked but it feels as if it was a cool vintage.
Red
2017 Tenuta di Trinoro Le Cupole Toscana IGT
From Coravin. Brambly, savoury, meaty, a little red berry and plum, very slight resinous note, a touch of herbaceousness as well. With agitation sweet and savoury spice, red currant, a little peppery alcohol prickle on the nose. On the palate it has medium plus intensity acidity, slightly raisined fruit, plentiful medium plus intensity savoury, chalky tannins that prove a touch bitter, alcohol warmth intrudes on the finish. Meh.
Red
2015 Tenuta Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore
From Coravin. Polished oak (coconut, vanilla), ripe black hued fruits; blackcurrant, blackberry and cherry, slightly meaty underpin, sweet spice. Juicy on the palate with equally ripe (and concentrated) dark fruits, polished oak, savoury elements, a little pyrazine. Tannins are dryig and chalky but work with the fruit on the long finish. Bit of a beast. Hmm.
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Red
2014 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas initially; meaty and slightly volatile, biscuit. Starts to show a little black hued fruit; cherry and blackcurrant, sweet spice and polished oak with time in the glass. in the mouth it has medium plus intensity acid that proves slight sour, red rather than black fruits, drying talc textured tannins that persist long though support rather than dominate. Hmm
Flight 7 - Vin Santo (1 note)
perfectly pleasant and rather splendid way to meander into lunch
White - Sweet/Dessert
2011 Cantalici Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Baruffo
From Coravin. Rancio, bruised apples, dried apricot, slight fig, honey, smidge of leather. Juicy acidity is medium plus intensity to offset the residual sugar, initial flavour splash (apricot, fig, candied peel, toffee apple, slight walnut) then aged characteristics; leather, mushroom, slight earth, rancio notes as well as a touch of pleasing texture.
Flight 8 - Campania whites (5 notes)
kicked off our afternoon session with these Campania whites...what can I say? They weren't the most inspirational of wines. The Casa d'Ambra was my pick of the wines here. I'll have to do some research on the appropriate dishes to have with these and take them apart over an evening...
White
2018 Vadiaperti Greco di Tufo
From Coravin. Peachy stone fruit, slightly candied, a little sulphur, chalky minerality, floral top notes, marzipan with time. Pronounced acidity, a little texture on the mid palate, quite hard and green on the palate. Hmm.
White
2019 Ciro Picariello Irpinia
From Coravin. Savoury, fresh herbs, a little meatiness, pear, waxy, almond meal, slight apple skin oxidation, citrus. Juicy, pear, quite rich as well, waxy textured, fleshy, long, viscous, finishes slightly bitter. Okay.
White
2019 Vadiaperti Fiano di Avellino
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of wax, savoury elements, slight crushed almonds, a little alcohol prickle but quite 'flat' on the nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, quite waxy textured, citrus and lemon pith bitterness, slight sulphur with a touch of alcohol warmth on the finish.
White
2020 Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina
From Coravin. A little kumquat, green plum/green gages with herbs and floral top notes, slightly chalky minerality with time as well as a slightly meaty quality. In the mouth it has medium plus intensity acidity which lends a slight sour note to the citrus, it's a little green and pointy, medium length. Nose better than the palate. Hmm.
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Comments (3)
White
2020 Casa D'Ambra Ischia Bianco
From Coravin. Slight cream soda, stone fruit, a little sulphur, almond meal with a slight herbaceous underpin. Medium plus intensity acidity, cream soda, stone fruit, fleshy, juicy, medium plus length, that slight herbaceous note is present on the finish. Okay.
Flight 9 - Campania random red (1 note)
yeah, this was very interesting. it kind of put me in mind of teroldego from foradori...
Red
2018 I Tre Mori Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
From Coravin. Brambles, a little black cherry, smoke, crushed rock, slight rubbery/reductive notes. Rocky minerality, mouth watering acidity, muted sour black fruits, cherry, rocky tannins are drying. This si like sour plums smashed between two stones and then licked straight from said stones. I kind of like it.
Flight 10 - Aglianico based wines (5 notes)
The two Taurasi's defo supported the Barolo of the south tag...crazy fun. Having said that the humble 2018 Fattoria La Rivolta was probably my wine of the bracket.
Red
2018 Fattoria La Rivolta Aglianico I Vigneti di Bruma Beneventano IGT
From Coravin. Dense smelling with aromas of plums, a little sweet spice, very slight prune, vanilla/cream, slight roasted mediterranean vegetables, jubey fruit with time. Sourly juicy with medium plus intensity acidity, plums and prunes, bitter chalky chewy tannins. Demands charred meat immediately.
Red
2015 Pietracupa Quirico Campania IGT
From Coravin. Caramel, slight pot pourri, slight oxidation, plum ,earth, touch of volatility. With agitation the VA grows joined by a little wood glue. The volatility is on the palate lending medium plus intensity acidity, it's quite leathery as well, tannins are drying and grainy. it's a bit oxidised and forward. Not flawed per se but drink up.
Red
2015 Cantine Madonna Delle Grazie Aglianico del Vulture Liscone
From Coravin. Closed initially, touch of wet cloth and cardboard, muted plums, wet earth, crushed rock. With agitation the plummy notes grow joined by prune, leather and sweet spice as well as very slight jubey notes. Medium plus intensity acidity, black tea, crushed rocks, dried flowers, savoury muted plums, huge, chewy drying tannins, breadth on the mid palate. Young. Time. Shows promise.
Red
2003 Urciuolo Vini Taurasi
From Coravin. Meaty, savoury, slight cream, leathery, tomato and tomato leaf, earthy minerality, slight pot pourri. with agitation a little black cherry, plum and roasted meats. Medium plus intensity acidity is juicy, it's meaty and savoury with roasted fruits and vegetables and meat, tannins are chewy, drying but integrated, very savoury. Long, very long in fact with a little cherry and plum on the finish. Protein required.
Red
2009 Cantine Antonio Caggiano Taurasi Macchia dei Goti
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of dusty sweet spice and a certain spirituousness. With agitation it shows clay, baked black fruits, slight roasted capsicum, leather, alcohol warmth. Leaning in the direction of medium plus intensity acidity, savoury, concentrated black fruits, pronounced drying enamel stripping tannins tear chunks of flesh from the tongue. Time or half a cow required.
Flight 11 - Umbrian & Marche whites (6 notes)
The first Orvieto was such a lovely wine to taste first thing on Sunday morning. Lovely. the Arnaldo Caprai is also quite compelling. I'd like to spend some time with it.
White
2019 Santa Cristina (Antinori) Orvieto Classico Campogrande
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of slight citrus, with time a little stone fruit and sulphur, floral top notes. Pretty stone fruit, a little sulphur on the palate, juicy, easy, fruity, simple, balanced, a little texture on the mid palate, a touch of warmth on the finish. Nice.
White
2018 Campo Della Fiera Orvieto Classico Superiore
From Coravin. Initially a little stone fruit, apricot with a touch of lemon and bees wax in the background. Juicy, savoury, a little concentrated but the fruit is lacking, sulphur, textured mid palate, dry, a little more serious, lack of fruit a concern. Meh.
White
2018 Arnaldo-Caprai Grechetto Colli Martani Grecante
From Coravin. Green fruit lozenge, slightly jubey with orchard fruits and a spicy underpin. A little meaty and herby underpin shows with time, it is a touch 'rustique'. Juicy acid but quite fleshy, orchard fruit but gone dry, mid palate and front of mouth grip, very long. Compelling. Better than I remember.
White
2016 Perticaia Grechetto Umbria
From Coravin. Slightly oxidised notes; smidge of bruised apple, a little apple skin bitterness, fresh herbs and a tiny bit of baked earth and tomato leaf. in the mouth it's a little 'hard'; that slight bruised fruit note is here but muted, broad on the mid palate but not textured. Medium length. Hmm.
White
2016 Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino Spoleto
From Coravin. Ooh, a little leesy cheesiness, quite savoury, a little green almond, with time some citrus; lime. Sourly medium plus intensity acidity, again I find this hard and a touch four square, there is an impression of breadth but only the merest textured. The leesiness translates to the palate as well. Hmm.
White
2020 Velenosi Offida Pecorino Villa Angela
From Coravin. Initially horse sweat (?), gooseberry, a little almost cats pee; it's quite Sauvignon Blanc on the nose. Juicy, savoury, a little citrus and gooseberry here bu the flavours are quite muted, it's quite tangy though and there is some almost chalky burr on the mid palate, alcohol warmth lends length. Hmm.
Flight 12 - Verdicchio from Marche (6 notes)
This was very odd. The 'classic' Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico and Classico Superiore were pretty disappointing and riddled with flaws. The less fancied cooler climate Verdicchio di Matelica's were both far more tasty (in the case of the Bisci) and interesting (the Monacesca Mirum)
White
2018 Tenute Pieralisi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico
Sulphur, slight apple and apple skin, herbaceous, with floral top notes. Medium plus acidity, bitter, sour apples, alcohol warmth on the finish. Meh.
White
2018 Fattoria San Lorenzo Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Le Oche
flawed
From Coravin. Waxy, tomato sauce, volatile acidity. Equally volatile on the palate. FLAW
White
2018 Fattoria Coroncino Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Il Bacco
flawed
From Coravin. Slightly oxidised, bruised apple, butter, a little spirituousness note, saline, rubber swimming rings, sulphur. Medium plus intensity acidity, that rubbery ring note is on the palate as well & pretty much all that is there. Not right. FLAW
White
2016 Azienda Santa Barbara Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva - Tardivo ma non Tardo
From Coravin. Slightly oxidised notes, slightly meaty, savoury, green, a little woody and a touch of cider. Medium plus intensity acidity, fleshy, a little apple and almond meal on the palate, less overtly savoury and sour, breadth, alcohol warmth, a little vanilla here as well. Hmm.
White
2019 Bisci Verdicchio di Matelica
From Coravin. Peachy stone fruit, boiled lozenges, slight sulphur and candy floss. More of the same in the mouth with fresh acidity and a little textured burr on the mid palate. Balanced. Pleasant.
White
2010 Fattoria La Monacesca Mirum
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas initially a little citrus. With agitation there is slight honey, butter, cream in the background, quite oxidised as well; bruised apples especially but also herbaceous elements. Oxidised in the mouth unsurprisingly, sour bruised fruit, hazelnut, cream, butter, a little honey, textured mid palate grip, slight herbaceous notes join on the long warm finish. Old but holds interest for me. Mmm.
Flight 13 - Marche Reds (4 notes)
And this was my bracket of the two days and five regions...I have no issue with Brett, the Lacrima was simply lovely and the two Conero's interesting and balanced. I feel a great enthusiasm for this region based on this tasting and think I will actively seek out other producers.
Red
2016 Velenosi Rosso Piceno Superiore Il Brecciarolo
From Coravin. Oof! Farmyard slurry, blackcurrant and cherry backed by sweet oak spice beneath this. Savoury, meaty, bretty, plenty of drying talc textured tannins, a little yeast extract on the finish, fruit present but muted - Brett is the boss here.
Red
2018 Velenosi Lacrima di Morro d'Alba Superiore Querci’Antica
From Coravin. Blueberry, sweet spice, jubey dark fruits, violets, very pretty nose. medium plus intensity acidity and this is just as fresh, fleshy and lightweight as the nose implies, medium plus length, easy. Nice.
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Red
2013 La Calcinara Conero Terra Calcinara Riserva
From Coravin. Oak, sweet spice, dark hued fruits, rocky minerality, leather, earth, cream, slight bonfire. Juicy, medium plus intensity acidity, black hued fruits, dense chewy tannins, non-intrusive alcohol warmth, all in balance, all travel long, a little saline note. time will help but this is yum.
Red
2016 Umani Ronchi Rosso Conero Cúmaro Riserva
From Coravin. Very slight volatility, oak, savoury spice, a little caramel, red cranberry joins the blackberry and earth, a little ginger spice and fruit lozenge with time in the glass. Juicy medium plus intensity acidity, savoury, dark hued fruits (especially blackberry and blackcurrant), textured mid palate grip is floury, the volatility is not so obvious on the palate, long with non-intrusive alcohol warmth. Okay.
Flight 14 - Sagrantino (2 notes)
The Fongoli was my favourite of these two.
Red
2013 Fongoli Montefalco Sagrantino
From Coravin. Savoury, liquorice, blackberry, plum and beetroot (?), savoury spices, cedar a little alcohol prickle, earth, baking spices as well. Juicy, medium plus intensity acidity, savoury black fruit, black tea, slight liquorice, plentiful oak spice, alcohol warmth and medium plus intensity chewy, chalky, grainy tannins which go hand in hand with the other components. That beetroot notes appears on the long finish. Yum.
Red
2008 Ginevra Montefalco Sagrantino
From Coravin. Leather, very slight volatility, hazelnuts, forest floor, bonfire, red and blackberry, cream, charcuterie. Juicy, medium plus intensity acidity is a little sour, leathery and earthy with liquorice notes, tannins are still drying chalky textured, mouth puckering and rather close things down on the finish. Hmm.
Closing
Woof, a fairly well controlled weekend's tasting. Call outs are in the bracket descriptions. Lots of interesting wines, some wonderful surprises but some of my prejudices were sadly reinforced.