Notes from a blind tasting of Italian wines. Oddly, no one brought either Chianti or Barolo/Barbaresco!
2004 Fiano di Avellino dei Feudi San Gregorio – not giving much on the nose except a hint of apple at first, but some floral elements came out as it warmed a bit. Seemed soft at first but after a bit I seemed to show it’s acidity more. Pleasant wine.
1999 Tenuta Roccaccia Fontenova – a selection of Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo (the latter always defies my attempts to pronounce it smoothly – must be some sort of Italian tongue twister). Medium colour, some chocolate in the nose, nice smooth entry and then the wine tightens up fairly quickly ending a bit short with lots of acidity and a little too sparse fruit at the end.
2000 Fontodi Flaccianello – corked. Should have been very good.
1998 Clerico Arte – a blend of Nebbiolo with small additions of Barbera and cab sauv. Fairly dark with nice plummy fruit in the nose that changed to black cherries with time, lots of fruit in midpalate and a sort of chalky mouth feel. Good acidity, medium long to long finish and excellent balance. Very nice.
2001 Tignanello – corked
1997 Nottola Vino Nobile Vigne del Fattore – this nose was so close to a Bordeaux it could pass in a blind claret tasting. Still plenty of tannin, good structure with a bit of ‘lift’ at the end, although not noticeably high acidity. Very nice.
1996 Umani Ronchi Pelago – another IGT from Marche made with cabernet, merlot and montepulciano. Good obviously Italian nose, smooth wine wit mocha in the finish. Very nice. I don’t see much about this wine, but I have 4 vintages and should do a vertical!
1997 Frescobaldi Lamaione – this Tuscan merlot (sold under the Castelgiocondo label) was dark with a nose of cocoa and ripe fruit. Bit tight in the mouth with lots of stuffing. Could probably use more time.
2004 Avignonesi Desiderio – though labelled as a merlot, I understand that they normally add 10-15% cabernet to this Tuscan wine. Nose a duplicate of the previous wine – all cocoa and ripe fruit, showing more typically merlot than the Lamaione had. International style wine with a smooth long finish..
1999 Castelgiocondo Brunello - mature with good acidity, well structured, a tad on the lean side, but then we’d been having all the non-traditional fruit forward wines. A very nice traditional wine.
1997 Doisy Daene – a non-Italian end wine, this Barsac was surprisingly god. It had a nice light amber colour, very decent nose with medium levels of botrytis, medium length and not overly sweet. Nice way to finishup.