Many, many thanks to Kerry and John for their fantastic hospitality and generosity, such a nice atmosphere and venue for an event like this.
I know the event turned out bigger and more demanding on the hosts than was originally intended, good lesson learnt for future events, but a truly memorable evening of great company, food and wine.The primary theme was Italian red wines, with a BBQ co-theme, as the boot shaped country's wines are so often in need of hearty food to bring out their best. This certainly proved to be the case. Most of the wines were provided by Boccaccio cellars in a group buy, as most of us didn't have much Italian in the cellar. (I wonder if that will change after this evening??). Some did bring their own wines and food, myself included. We were told the pricing on the wines at the very end, which made for some interesting comparisons of QPR.
Dave (vino) was our sommelier for the night, and did a great job. Wines were grouped nicely into 5 flights of 3,4 or 5 wines each. Much decanting and double decanting was done, and the more pricey 4th and 5th flights were generally left decanting for hours until we got to them. One highlight was that Dave had done a printed copy each of an overview of Italian wine regions and grape varietals, plus details on all the wines to be tasted. It was a excellent idea, and really helped a lot. Nice one Dave!
We started with 3 sparkling wines, I missed the name of I think the cheaper one of them, so someone else will provide details. Here I found the quality followed the pricing quite closely. The $30 one being not on the same level as these two $40-60 wines. No surprises there I suppose. Bread, Hummus, figs, basil/boccocini/choritzo skewers were nice starters as well.
Ca' del Bosco Brut Cuvee Prestige - Nice, without making too much impression - Just Good
Bellavista NV Cuvee Brut DOCG - Lovely, bit more yeast and malo, most 'champagne like' for me - Good
Now onto the red wines.... I didn't take notes, so forgive my brief details, all from memory, some I just can't recall at all. One of our regular expert tasters will hopefully give some more detailed tasting notes sometime soon. I'll stick to basic comments and try for monghead's 'Good' scale. (Approx prices are in brackets)
Flight 1 - 'Everyday Drinking'
Zaccagnini Montepulchiano 2008 (25) - Nice start, subtle dark nose, easy drinking, with some a nice dry finish - Good
Gran Sasso Montepulchiano 2008 (10) - Similar to previous wine, but a little softer. Excellent value - QPR Good
Brigaldara Valpolicella Ripasso 2006 (40) - A Corvina/Corvinone/Rondinella blend, with raisins, leather and dark berries. Good Good . Wine of Flight
Masi Campforin 2005 - Can't recall this one specifically. Think it was a touch oxidised??
Luccarelli Primativo 2008 (10) - (aka Zinfandel) This was a rich and ripe everyday drinker, touch sweet perhaps, but superb value. QPR Good.
Flight 2 - 'Dolcetto & Barbera'
Benevelli Pierro ‘Bric Du Suc’ Dolchetto 2007 (25) - woah there with the tannins and acid young fella. With food and age, will be good. Hard to rate now.
Bruno Giacosa Dolchetto 2007 (49) - same kind of thing for me again, in the sour spectrum, needs a better palate than me no doubt.
Giacomo Brezza & Figli Barbera D’Alba Cannubi 2004 (50 - 4 years ago) - I bought this one along, and was happy it was so well received. Lovely wine, more balanced now than the Dolchettos, with nice spicy complexity as well. Very Good - WOF.
Piero Benevelli ‘Bricco Ravera’ Barbera 2006 (40) - suffered from following the Brezza and being a bit younger, but a good drink. Solid Good.
Flight 3 - 'The many guises of Sangiovese'
With yummy BBQ herbed chicken breasts and salads.
Silly me was eating and not paying enough attention to be able to remember these in any detail, but I do remember they were all enjoyable, except for the Fanti which was sadly corked. The 2004's showed better than the 2006's as well. A classy line up of tasty sangiovese wines, but sorry for lack of notes here.
Castello Monsanto Chianti Riserva 2006 (60)
Isole E Olena Chianti Classico 2006 (40)
Argiano Brunello Di Monalcino 2004 (80) - Very Good. WOF
Fanti San Filippo Brunello Di Monalcino 1999 (160) - corked
Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello 2004 (100)
Flight 4 - 'The Barolos'
I bought the 2 Pio Cesare's, and was keen to try and cook something to match them, given their penchant for food. Did a little tasting plate of seared fillet, quail breast, roast fennel, fat chips, black truffle butter and a baked portobello mushroom with white truffle oil and parmesan. These Barolos were all so nice, hardly showing any age, even the 86 still had tons of grip and bite. Three examples doesn't make me any kind of expert, but I started to see why they are so highly rated, if you have the patience to wait for them. Luckily the newer Barolos are being made to mature a little earlier these days, but not sure if that's a good thing or not! Anyway, I was in heaven. All I need now is more patience and more money!
Borgogno Barolo 2004 (110) - Chewy, good structure and length. Giving up some of it's secrets, while still holding onto others. Extremely Good.
Pio Cesare Ornato Barolo 1986 (160) - Still so young! Complex, deep fruit balanced by a spine of tannin and softening acidity. Out of Control Good. A few people preferred this to the 98.
Pio Cesare Ornato Barolo 1998 (140) - Wow, good wine. The similarity to the 86 can be felt, but perhaps more fruit weight, less complexity? Out of Control Good. WOF, and I think Wine of the Night.
Flight 5 - "Amarone & Super Tuscans"
with oregano marinated Lamb Cutlets and a great selection of salads. This was another wonderful flight of quality wine, not as elegant or structured as the Barolo's, but richer, riper and more concentrated.
La Vite Lucente Toscana 2006 (55) - 50% Merlot, 35% Sangiovese, 15% Cab Sav - Decadent nose. Rich and voluptuous with good length, Great value. Very Very Good.
Cantelle Amativo 2004 (80) - 60% Primitivo, 40% Negroamaro - More decadent rich goodness, dark and chewy. Extremely Good
Corte Sant Alda Amarone 2004 (150) - 30% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 40% Corvina Grossa - You'd expect something special for the price, and you get just that. My limited palate was tired of course by now, but this was complex, deep and so wonderful to drink. Uncontrollably Good.
Dessert was tiramisu (of course), some fruit flans, little yum cupcakes and a nice Lime Meringue Pie.
Washed down with a sweet little Moscato and some Limoncello to finish a fantastic evening.
Thanks all, and Ciao!
