Notes from a blind tasting dinner, Italian theme - oddly we got no Chianti and no Piemontese red wines.
2002 Feudi San Gregorio Greco di Tufo - Greco di Tufo has been a favourite of mine for years - ever since we could special order Taurasi wine in the 80s. It has always been characterised by an almost Parmesan cheese nose, which makes it pretty easy to pick out - except that this one must have been New Age Greco, for there was absolutely none of that in the nose - just a yeasty slightly citrus international sort of nose on a clean crisp wine. Very pleasant.2000 Gaja Rossj-Bass Chardonnay - if you took a California chard and bottled it in Italy, this ie what you'd get - toasty nose, full in the mouth with nice feel and good length.
2001 Black Hills Sequentia - I got as far as sweet Sauvignon Blanc, but that was as far as we could get until the cat was released from the bag on this ringer. Big apple and candied ginger nose, not too sweet in the mouth and some pear in the taste.1999 Ruffino Modus - Sangiovese with some cab and merlot added. I know the 1998 but hadn't tasted this vintage. The nose was surprisingly mature with none of the smoke that characterised the 98. Earthy with soft tannins and good acidity, I found this to be more forward than the 98.
1991 Tignanello - I decided that the one thing this group needed was more maturity. Dark garnet colour, mature sweet mellow nose of oak and nuts, this one seemed to show more soft tannins than the one I opened last year, but was similarly smooth and long.1998 Showket Napa Sangiovese - another ringer. Funky nose, fair bit of acidity, tannins not too prominent, and it swetened with airing. Not very Italian in style, but one of the better Cal-Sangios I've tasted.
1998 Moris Farms Morelino di Scansano Reserve - warmer in the nose, mellow but with an acidic bite. Very Italian!1999 Foradori Teroldego Rotaliano 'Granato' - dark wine with a deep nose of cherry and oak. It starts out well in the mouth, but narrows down quite quickly
- I think perhaps with some more age it will balance out and develop some secondary interest.
1994 Feudi San Gregorio Taurasi - this Aglianaco based wine was starting to get a bit tired, but was well balanced and had some flavour interest.1999 Bolla Recioto della Valpolicella - first cousin to an Amarone and vinified the same way, but with residual sugar. Hot and sweet, it was well balanced and worked very well with the cheese. Not a style one sees very often.