Saturday afternoon Betsy was working, David was with friends, and I was working round the house (as well as helping a friend with some remodeling). By dinner time I was too tired to think of real cooking or shopping. No leftovers in the fridge, but I found some Italian sausage in freezer. A quick defrost, brown in a pan, add some red sauce, serve over pasta. The wine, a 375 of 2001 Felsina Chianti Classico. Not a Riserva, but with plenty of body. Deep dried cherry/black cherry fruit, some floral notes. not thin Chianti at all (I recently read someone stating that all plain CC or other non-riserva Chianti was thin swill). Good acidity, some aromas of leather and a slight hint of tar, just a fun, tasty, structured wine. B+/A-
Earlier in the day, between chores, I had popped into Zachy's for a quick tasting of Barolos. All normal extra disclaimers re store tastings (small pours, crowded conditions, lack of knowledge of decanting) apply:
2003 Alessandria Dolcetto d'Alba (11.99). Flowery, soft acidity, some slightly hard tannins, ok. B 2000 Corino Barolo ($31.99) - oaky, modest red fruit, B- 2000 Azelia Barolo ($41.99) - also very oaky, much more explosive fruit, powerful. Nice example of a modern-styled normale. My guess is not a long ager, but once oak integrates a bit a tasty Barolo. B+ 2000 Mauro Molino Barolo ($31.99)- fair amount of oak (I think these are all de Grazia wines), but with more acidity and structure than the Corino. Nice framboise fruit. B+ 2000 Seghesio "La Villa" Barolo (40.99)- very ripe, very oaky. Chewy tannins. B 2000 Silvio Grasso "Giachini" Barolo ($55.00) - I think this bottle was just opened, and there was an initial hint of VA. But I walked around the store (big sale going on, some good prices on '01 Bdx) and that blew off, leaving me with probably my favorite wine of the tasting. Less obviously oaky than any of the other Baroli, dense red fruit, tar, long finish. $10 less and I'd probably buy, but I'm on a personal freeze on expensive wines. A- 2000 Revello "Conca" Barolo ($65) -back to the lumberyard. Big wine, but the wood tannins and grape tannins at war. B-Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency Dale
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