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Gaucho Wine Club - Italy, Spain and Portugal
Gaucho Tower Bridge, London
Tasted May 12, 2009 by dching with 630 views
Introduction
WSET underground drinking club meet 2
We tasted 8 wines from Italy, Spain and Portugal with the marvellous back drop of Tower Bridge. The highlight a fantastic '67 Barolo.
Flight 1 - The Italian whites (2 notes)
Excellent Fiano and a real disappointment on the Soave. Waitrose !
White
2007 Vesevo Fiano di Avellino
91 points
Wonderfully fresh and crisp Fiano. Good intensity of lime, basil and stonefruits on the nose. Medium bodied. Tingling lime on the attack, good complex mid palate of pistachio, peach and nutmeg notes. Lovely long crisp acidic finish.
Flight 2 - The Spanish reds (3 notes)
A Ribero, Rioja Riserva and a La Mancha Gran Riserva
Red
2006 Cillar de Silos Ribera del Duero El Quintanal Vendimia Seleccionada
88 points
Deep ruby appearance with a purple rim. Vanilla and smoke on the nose. "Smoky bacon". Hints of red plums and cherry fruits. Palate is less intense. Prunes, bacon, pepper and vanilla oak. Medium acidity levels. The oak dominates the finish. Still some improvement.
Red
2001 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Reserva
87 points
Big big vanilla nose. This can only be Rioja. Some hints of Raspberry and black cherry but vanilla dominates. Medium to full bodied. Good acidity levels and high levels of chewy tannins. Oak dominates the palate. Not overly complex. Raspberry fruits and black pepper on the attack, quickly numbed by the oak monster. Above average length.
Red
1998 Castillo de Calatrava La Mancha Gran Reserva
89 points
Deep Ruby with tawny rim. "Chinese takeaway" notes on the nose - ginger and clove spice. Medium intensity on the nose and palate. Soft integrated tannins and refreshing acidity. Medium bodied. Raspberry and blackcurrant on the attack. A little hollow in the mid palate. Good length of finish.
Flight 3 - The Barolo (1 note)
Just a brilliant wine. Adam's pride and joyt took centre stage and did not disappoint. Apparently this beauty was an unwanted last round at an auction.
Red
1967 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo
94 points
Decanted. Large lumps of sediment. Very light garnet almost tawny. Tawny rim. Unclear. Nose enhanced on every taste. Initial sweaty socks nose developed into perfume and tar. Very complex. Gorgeous cherries, wild strawberry fruits. Lovely complex spices ever evolving. Medium bodied and still remarkably fresh due to the high acidity levels. Wonderfully integrated smooth tannins give the wine a great structure. Great balance and poise. The finish goes on and on. 1967 ! Weren't we the world champions back then ! Good times ! Great wines.
Flight 4 - The final round - Young Portugese and Italian reds (2 notes)
A Portugese Alentejano and a top Puglian
Red
2007 Ervideira Lusitano
86 points
Deep ruby. Young. Quite closed on the nose. Hints of red fruits and raw bitter tannins. High acidity levels. Medium complexity. Some improvement still. May not have benefitted from being after the Barolo.
Red
2007 Alberto Longo Primitivo Salento IGT
90 points
Dark and brooding appearance. Young. Pepper, pepper, pepper on the nose. Hints of red fruits and ripe tomato. Young round tannins. Ripe inticing red and black cherry fruits. Good intensity of flavours. Medium acidity. Very quaffable now, but will improve considerably over the next few years. Did remarkably well considering we tasted after the excellent Barolo. Very well made and balanced.
Closing
Thanks Marina. A great evening.