Nomadic Wines

Italian Tasting with new tasting group

TASTING GROUP - ITALIAN WINES (WITH SOME OTHERS THROWN IN) - Damon and Kathryn's (12/16/2006)

We decided to explore Italian wines, so I pulled a few wines from my collection and some wines from my parents' cellar. It is nice to be able to taste some aged Brunellos and a "super-Tuscan".

The Ropiteau and Fort Ross were drank as starters.

• N.V. Ropiteau Meursault Perrières Premier Cru 1er Cru - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
  Based on where this wine came from, its color (deep straw color), and the condition of the cork... I am assuming this will was a 1970 or 1971. The capsule was not spinning and the cork disintegrating as I tried to procure it. We decanted it through a funnel. This wine was clearly over-the-hill, but it still offered notes of caramel and peach, with a touch of citrus peel. NR (flawed)
• 2002 Fort Ross Chardonnay Reserve - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  Not quite Burgundian, nor is it overly ripe/oaky. It was very complex - whiffs of vanilla, toasted oak, and honey. The mouthfeel is creamy and filled with ripe peach and ripe apples.

Lucia is Italian, right? We drank the Lucy with the charcuterie from Cafe Rouge.

• 2005 Lucia Pinot Noir Lucy Rosé Santa Lucia Highlands - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  This is the second time I have tried this wine and very similar results. Fresh tasting with a slight floral nose. Loads of strawberry with a little bit of red cherry. Served with charcuterie and toasts, it served as a nice counterpoint to the saltiness.

Two splits of Billecart-Salmon Rose were paired with one of my favorite flavor combinations - potato pancake, creme fraiche, smoked salmon, and ikura caviar.

• N.V. Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne
  Served with caviar and creme fraiche over smoked salmon and potato pancake... after all, it was the 2nd night of Channukah. This champagne is brilliant. Fine bubbles, pure strawberries, with touchers of other tart berries (like raspberry and blackberry). Sweet, but balanced with slight yeastiness. This is subtle but quite nice.

These wines were paired with a mushroom risotto - fresh brown mushrooms, shitaki, and porcini... I was worried the porcini would make it grainy... but all was fine, though a little salty.

• 1993 La Castellina Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico Riserva
  Light and earthy with touches of tart cherry. Okay with food, but clearly mature past its peak.
• 1990 Poderi Colla Langhe Dolcetto-Nebbiolo Bricco del Drago - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe
  This wine had potential... complexity of herbs and a little mushroom. Bright cherry fruit, but it was overwhelmed by grainy tannins at this point. I don't think the tannins will resolve themselves any further, so pair this with something mushroomy.
• 1997 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Old Vine - USA, California, Sonoma County
  I don't remember much about this wine... it was opened after the Chianti and Bricco, as folks finished the porcini mushroom risotto. Nice nose of crushed berries and some floral notes. Pretty high acidity for a zinfandel but not much heat on the finish. I bet well-stored bottles are drinking great right now.

The "big wine" flight, accompanied by a boneless leg of lamb... I used smoked bacon to wrap rosemary along the lamb. It created an interesting range of flavors, even though it was a little overcooked.

• 1994 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  This wine was paired with lamb wrapped in rosemary and bacon. We also included the 1997 Fuligni Brunello and 1988 Sammarco in the flight, which made this wine look like a commoner. It was lighter and earthier than the Fuligni, with less concentration. There were touches of cherry and light tannins on the finish. I could see it improving a little, but I would not expect this to become a "wow" wine.
• 1997 E. Fuligni (Cottimelli) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  Compared to the '94 Conti Costanti, this was both more powerful and silkier. The nose has more spice and red fruit on the nose; the mouthfeel is much fuller. The finish did not linger like the Sammarco but this was an excellent example of Brunello. I do not remember thinking it would improve much (tannins well integrated) and I would say drink within 5 years.
• 1988 Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  I popped the cork about 1-2 hours before drinking. I poured out a little taste and yes, this stuff was excellent. I decided to move it into the flight with the two Brunellos because it was clearly power-packed. This was a big wine - loads of cherry and licorice. The oak and tannins are very subtle in the background, but I got a little chocolate on the finish. I don't like to give points, but I would have rated this 93-95 points on this night.

Again, Rafanelli is an Italian name, right? Just an intermediate wine while we hung out.

• 1998 A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
  I opened this bottle in McClure's honor... cause I think he digs Rafanelli. It is a more traditional Cali Cab, though they must definitely use some new oak. It is slightly herbal with some green pepper, but plenty of ripe plum and chocolate to support that side of the wine. Looking forward to trying this in the future too.

• 1990 Fattoria dei Barbi (Colombini) Vin Santo del Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Vin Santo del Montalcino
  Paired with Chocolate-Cinnamon rice pudding... I thought this was a perfect pairing. The vin santo was nutty and caramelly. It was viscous but not totally mouth-coating.

• 2005 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Moscato d'Asti Bricco Quaglia - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti
  I think this is the ideal Sunday morning brunch wine because it is really low alcohol and it is refreshing. That said, I chose to end our dinner with this wine paired with fresh berries and whipped cream. It was a nice way to end - melon, apricot, and really light red berry juice.

My favorite wine was the Sammarco, but I was happy with most of the wines as they paired nicely with food. I think the Italian wines are great for that, and people will begin seeking them out if they continue to be food-friendly and affordable.

posted by nomadfromcincy @ 1:10 PM