This wine rocked! 98% Nerello Mascalese, never heard of it, and 2% Nerello Cappucio, also never heard of it, grown on the black soil slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily. Said to be “Burgundy meets Barolo” this eye-opener really blew my mind and palate. It’s one of those wines that remind me how much I want to be able to afford all these beautiful rare treats. Pretty pale strawberry color. On the nose, developed, medium intensity, cherry, cranberry, wild berry, straw, tar, mud, leather, loads of flowers, chalky soil, not any oak to speak to, and loaded with earth and mineral. On the palate, dry, dried plum and cherry, medium intensity, medium tannin, bright acidity, layered with interesting bark and earthy flavors, and a silky long finish. This wine was sheer beauty, it’s not every day that wine dorks get their palate blown off, and this is one of them.
I’d never even heard of this region before today. Apparently, this small DOCG in Tuscany has to have Cabernet Sauvignon in it, and it’s the predecessor of the Super-Tuscan. Dark ruby color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, plum, cherry, chalky earth, licorice, leather, chocolate, spice, some oak, with lots of mineral and earth. On the palate, dry, medium intensity. medium- tannin, medium acidity, layered, velvety, and balanced, with lots of rich and opulent fruit, but minerally enough to keep me intrigued. Not cheap but this wine rocked.
This has been one of the hidden wines on the menu that in past vintages has delivered beyond expectations. I haven’t yet done any homework on the 05 vintage in Piedemonte but since everywhere else on the planet that grows French varietals had killer years it stands to reason there has to be a region or two that sucked, Could Nebbiolo from Piedemonte be the ass of 05, or will it rock like the rest? Ruby with orange and brown edges, rather low intensity of color. On the nose, developed, medium intensity, chalky soil, tar, rose, violet, muted fruit, kind of linear wine, with no oak, and definite earth, but where’s the fruit, and layered beauty? On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium body, angular, astringent, lots of acid, with flowers and chalk, but where’s the fruit? Where’s the balance? I suppose if I had a big fatty Ribeye steak in front of me I’d be singing a different song, but this wine cam up flat and did not cut the mustard. Or is this another case of you get what you pay for?
Platinum in color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, mineral, apple, nectarine, hay, no oak to speak to, with traces of earth. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium body, pretty easy drinking, but not immensely opulent, with a moderate finish. Interesting wine I’d like to try with some shellfish, not as interesting as the 05.
Light garnet color. On the nose, developed, medium+ intensity, right up front very new world and oaky with extracted fruit, hard to believe it’s almost nine years old, with sour cherry and fig, leather, anise, loaded with other spices, after several minutes of aeration this started to show off some of it’s Barbaresco charm, with violets, tar, roses, lots of oak, and definite chalky earth component. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, medium+ tannin, bright acidity, layered, lots of oak, but behind the new world mask, all the sour red fruit, licorice, flowers, structure that will last for some time to come, and a pretty but oaky finish. I’m calling this one a “New World” version of an old world classic, that every minute it’s open becomes more of the Barbaresco it is. Not cheap but I haven’t met a Barbaresco that is, and this has a level of deliciousness that many palates will agree with.
Brilliant ruby color, with orange rim. On the nose, developing, medium+ intensity, sour cherry, leather, chalky soil, plum, salami, anise, smoke, earth present, with moderate oak. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium tannins, medium+ acidity, with very nice balance, a solid finish, and good complexity. I’ve always liked this producer, and this wine over-delivered classic Brunello flavors.
Platinum blond color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, clay, flint, applebutter, pear, nectarine, grass, lilac, no oak, but certain earth. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, nice integration of mineral, flower, and fruit, with good weight, and a good finish. This would kick serious butt with calamari, perhaps better on a beach anywhere, scungilli!
Ruby color with some orange. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, smoke, meat, dried herbs, cherry, plum, chalky soil, leather, cardamom, clove, earth and oak. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, dark and gamey flavors, medium tannins, slightly sour cherry fruit, currant, plum, chalky and spicy finish, with dried sage and oregano. Good value wine from one of my favorite producers from Tuscany. This will be an upcoming feature on the wine emailer. Sign up!
