TN: Sassoalloro, Franciscan, Esmonin

Dale, How would you compare that wine in style to other Valpolicella Classicos (like Zenato's, f'rinstance)? At the price, it sounds atttractive.

Is that the same Biondi-Santi of Brunello infamy?

Does this quell your concerns re the Laurent connection?

Mark Lipton

Pretty consistent with the Allegrini - light to medium bodied, fresh - it's been a while since I tried the Zenato.

I think Jacopo is part of the same family, but this is his personal estate. I think I remember these are Brunello clones grown outside the BdM area. Maybe Mike knows more?

Well, not totally. I have some S. Esmonin Gevrey V.V. coming. I worry a little because the Laurent heavy-oak treatment tends to go up as the stature of the wine increases (I haven't found his basic Bourgogne to be out-of-control oaky). But on the positive side, I think Laurent has shown more subtlety over last few years (in Burgs at least - the Tardieu-Laurent Rhones aren't subtle!). So even if he is in charge of the cellar, maybe not so bad. Dale

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