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Italian Tasting Group

Bella Puglia, Five Dock

Tasted July 11, 2022 by chatters with 87 views

Introduction

I was very, very lucky to score an invitation to the Italian tasting group which is formed of Italian wine enthusiasts, importers and sommeliers.

Standard 'options' blind tasting...

Flight 1 (17 notes)

White
2018 Elvio Cogno Langhe Nascetta Anas-Cetta Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Served blind.
Honey, bees wax, stone fruit, a little citrus, struck match, meaty underpin, floral top notes. Softly juicy, a little soft texture, honey, waxy breadth, honey, alcohol warmth.
I guessed 2016 Castelli di Jesi...
White
2020 Torre Mora Etna Scalunera Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
Served blind.
Peachy, candy floss, bubble gum, meaty note. Medium plus intensity acidity, juicy, pretty, a little textured, slight green notes, slight alcohol warmth.
I guessed Alto Adige Pinot Bianco 2020
White
2020 Il Palagione Vernaccia di San Gimignano Hydra Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Served blind.
A little sulphur, floral, pretty, a little citrus over peachy notes. Juicy, slight alcohol warmth, equally pretty on the palate, very nice.
Had no idea what this was - a theme is emerging...
White
2017 Livio Felluga Terre Alte Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Rosazzo DOCG
Served blind.
Grass, capsicum, floral top notes, a little citrus...Medium plus intensity acidity, a little burr on the mid palate, non-intrusive alcohol on the finish.
I guessed Fruili field blend with Sauvignon Blanc as a major component. 2016 vintage
Orange
2011 Gravner Ribolla Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT
Served blind.
Oxidised, volatile, wood glue, honey, caramel, white pepper. Bitter, bone dry, oxidised, alcohol warmth and chalky grip. Quite viscose as well.
I guessed Radikon Ribolla 2018
Red
2016 Tenuta di Ghizzano Il Ghizzano Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Served blind.
Slightly herbaceous, green fruit, mineral, a little orchard fruit, pear and pear skin. Juicy, a fair heft of alcohol warmth, chalky textured, a little flat on the palate. Hmm.
No idea what this was...guessed it was about 5 years old - felt like it should have been opened considerably younger...
Rosé
2020 Andrea Occhipinti Aleatico di Gradoli Alea Rosa Italy, Latium, Aleatico di Gradoli
Served blind.
Volatile, wood glue, sweet spice, a little mineral, cherry and bruised stone fruit and apple, slight tomato leaf. Tight, plenty of textured grip, similar flavour profile to the nose, there is a lick of alcohol warmth on the finish.
After the previous skin contact wine (the one I thought was a Radikon) this was obviously from further south but I could not get beyond that I'm ashamed to say
Red
2017 Azienda Agricola Ricci Barbera Colli Tortonesi Barbarossa Italy, Piedmont, Colli Tortonesi
Served blind.
Pencil shavings, black fruit especially berries, volatile, wood glue notes beneath this. With time in the glass the fruit gets a little black cherry lozenge. In the mouth it has medium plus intensity acidity, slightly green notes, black fruits, alcohol warmth, that volatility translates to the palate, a little chalky tannins.
this felt quite wild ferment and northern italy but, again, I was struggling...certain elements reminded me of Teroldego and it felt quite young -2018ish
Red
2017 Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
Served blind.
Ripe plummy fruit, sweet spice, smells warm but fresh. Juicy acid, chalky tannins, pretty fresh, ripe fruit, alcohol warmth. balanced. Yum.
the nose initially pushed me to Puglia because of the fruit profile. On the palate though I stepped away from this. Again I was stumped.
Red
2010 Casa E. di Mirafiore Barolo Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Served blind.
Dusty, baked earth, black cherry, sweet spice. Lashings of tannins and medium plus intensity acidity, black hued fruit, sweet spice, the fruit persists long with the tannins. Non-intrusive alcohol warmth shows on the end of the finish.
More shame as I thought this might be some kind of super tuscan blend about 10 years old.
Red
2013 Fontodi Syrah Case Via Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Served blind.
Oak; caramel, coconut, black hued fruits, sweet spiced, polished, leather. Medium plus intensity acidity, savoury, chalky minerality, medium plus intensity tannins, alcohol warmth. tight, chewy, unyielding.
I had no idea what this was.
Red
2015 Fontodi Syrah Case Via Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Served blind.
Leather, earth, a little mushroom, peppery prickle with quite savoury black fruits. Medium plus intensity acidity is mouth watering, tight chewy tannins close down the palate, wet fruit is quite muted.
The nose kind of said Syrah (though the palate didn't) & age so I went with Cortona 2010...
Red
2001 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Gallina Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Served blind.
Earth, leather, mushroom, caramel, plums. medium plus intensity acidity and tannins, dusty red fruits and spice, tannins are chalky textured.
Recognised this as mine
Red
1995 Fratelli Revello Barolo Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Served blind.
Slightly concentrated/dried out black fruit, a little aniseed/liquorice, savoury spice with a pinch of white pepper. Juicy, fleshy, wet black fruits, quite muted tannins, long, lovely.
more shrugging from me...
Red
2012 Vigne di San Lorenzo Fieni Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Ravenna IGT
Served blind.
Bretty, funky, black fruits, sweet spice, plums, a little sweet fruit core. medium plus intensity acidity, chewy, drying, chalky tannins, wetly juicy, black fruits, non-intrusive alcohol, slight tobacco leaf.
I went with a Sangiovese based blend, 2010, Emilia Romagna
Red
2016 Sensi Testardo Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Served blind.
baked plums, sweet spice, alcohol prickle, a little prune. Drying talc textured tannins, ripe fruits, less plummy on the palate. Soft mid palate breadth.
This could have been from anywhere as far as my poor nose and palate was concerned.
Red
1995 Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Villa Gemma Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Served blind.
Initially a little cherry then plenty of black hued fruit, sweet spice, peppery underpin with earthy notes. Medium plus intensity acidity, a little sweetness to the fruit, chalky tannins, slight alcohol warmth, balanced. Yum.
I went with Conero 2015 so right grape but (hideously) wrong vintage - this was showing considerably fresher than it's actual age.

Closing

My usual strike rate at blind tastings isn't that brilliant but this was an extremely humbling experience. The only solution is to taste more Italian wines...shame...

Regardless there were some wonderful wines and the group was informative and charming.

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