Melbourne Offline / 8 July / Italy

[brodie]

That's a shame, Malcolm.

Brodie, are you available tomorrow?

Yes, I am available. see you there Thanks

Brodie

[Ozzie W]

Thanks Brodie.

Looking very forward to tomorrow night!

[Chris H]

You"ll have to save your Masseto for next time King

[Ozzie W]

Playing the man, I don't think Malcolm was going to bring a Masseto. The King would surely bring "the wine of kings, the king of wines"! I reckon a Giacomo Conterno is more his style.

[Chris H]

Well thankfully the geographical distribution was only Italy. Otherwise might have got some experimental Coonawarra Nebbiolo

[Ozzie W]

It's well past experimental stage. At the Hollick's Wilgha Vineyard they have an "Italian Block". They released a Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon blend (Super-Tuscan) back in 2003 and a Barbera in 2005. They've been making it ever since. They also trialled a Nebbiolo at some stage, but I don't think that one worked out as it's not for sale on their website.

[mjs]

While I may have a regal view of Coonawarra and have been going to Hollicks pretty much since they started, must say I am not a big fan of their Italian varieties

[conformistpete]

im still in and looking forward to tomorrow

[Ozzie W]

The wines were seriously good tonight! Scopri was amazing as usual and all the wines paired so well with the food. The private room upstairs is just perfect for an offline. Thanks to everyone for the fabulous wines and company.

The line up tonight was both very interesting and awesome. I think everyone expected people to bring a wine from the 3 B's, but that wasn't the case. Despite this, all the wine were excellent (except for a couple corked ones).

I will post some photos of the bottles tomorrow

[Ozzie W]

image hosting

[mjs]

Looks awesome guys, glad it was good night. Upstairs is a great off-line venue, my favourite I think.
Will be interested in some notes/impressions about the wines

[Chris H]

We almost thought of you once or twice King

A great spread of wines and a thorughly enjoyable evening, thanks guys. Impressions later.

[via collins]

My oh my, that evening certainly did live up to expectations.

I am not moving from my choice for wine of the night - the slow-cooked goat!

The spread of wines was darned impressive, and revisiting Ozzie's pictures makes it look even better. Many varieties covered, lots of surprises and the majority of those were good ones.

Thanks for everyone's generosity, and agree Malcom, no better place for an off-line. The food, as it has been every single time I have visited Scopri, was superlative. The staff work around the proclivities of wine nuts beautifully well.

And good to meet so many new Melbourne faces. The early start was really appreciated too as there was lots of hard work to be done afterwards climbing the Col De Tourmalet.

Salut!

[Rory]

Yes, a great night. Wines were mostly in excellent condition, and interesting. Love the way most of us second guessed what we thought everyone would bring.
Confirming that Sicily does produce very drinkable wines!

The Tignanello was the WOTN for me.

[Benchmark]

Looks like a great night.

[Chris H]

Brief notes on the sound wines :

2011 Vagnoni IVernaccia di San Gimignano I Mocali Riserva
Nicely aromatic​​, good palate weight ​with some integrated oak adding complexity and depth. Well balanced and drinking well.

​2007 Passopisciaro
Nerello Mascalese from Mt Etna's slopes. Light red. Lovely chalky, raspberry earthy fruit to smell and taste. Softening nicely with age. Some similarities to Beaune with its softly crunchy red fruits. Moreish.​

2004 Benanti​ Rovittello Etna Rosso
​Similar structure to the Passopisciaro but more intense and "solid". Great drinking again.

2013 Cos Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico
Another Sicilian ! This time a blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappatto from southern Sicily. In the vanguard of the Natural Wine Movement. Sweet upfront fruit to taste, just finishes slightly abrubtly.

2011 Lamoresca Vino Rosso
The Sicilian journey continues into the hills of Central Sicily. Nero d'Avola, Frappatto and Grenache. Some VA breathes off after a while, leaving a good depth of raspberry fruits, with soft earthy-chalky tannins.

2003 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino
A real surprise for me considering the warm vintage - pretty bright red fruits and tannins have softened right out. Lovely drink.

​1999 Antinori Tignanello
Even though a minor player, the Cabernet in this wine always shows out. Great balance of savoury Sangiovese and classy cassis Cabernet fruit. Top vintage and at the start of its drinking window.​

2007 Arpepe Valtellina Superiore Sassella Ultimi Raggi
Nebbiolo from mountainous Valtellina in Lombardy (northernmost Italy). A late harvest version, giving a sweeter dimension to the traditional favours of Nebbiolo. Tannins are soft.

2005 Gaja Barbaresco
Classic tar and roses fruit, although the oak input is a touch intrusive at present. These seem to need long ageing for the oak to fully integrate. When it does however, they are usually great.

1998 Gaja Barbaresco
Good drinking, the tannins and fruit have integrated nicely.

2009 Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato Barolo
Although it will improve, the pretty red roses fruit and relatively silky tannins make this a delight already.

​2008 E Pira (Chiara Boschis) Barbera d'Alba
High toned raspberry/blackberry fruit. Correct but seemed a bit straightforward - maybe coming after the bigger wines was the issue.

Morris Liqueur Muscat
Nice way to end the evening with coffee and this. Rich raisiny, coffeed and malty.

[Con J]

Thanks All for a fantastic night.

lots of pleasant surprises from the south. My focus has been on the 3 B’s for the cellar. Should start looking at other regions, they were delicious and so easy to drink.

Thanks for the photos Ozzie and notes Chris, and organizing.

Chris the 1997 Produttori was one of the corked wines, I think the note you have should be for the 1998 Gaja Barbaresco.

Cheers Con.

[Chris H]

That makes sense Con. I had the 98 Gaja down for the notes but the photo made me think I had it wrong, especially with no photo of the 98 Gaja.

[Ozzie W]

That would explain why I had two photos of the '95 Gaja on my phone. I must pay more attention next time.
I've taken a photo off CellarTracker and updated the photos above.

[JamieBahrain]

Barbera is tricky as to where to place in a line-up. You have to know the wine. Chiara Boschis not known as a turbo charged style needing to be last in the line up, which would explain a flat performance .

Monprivato even in lesser years is a 20 year wine though it's great the vintage's approachability made for a positive experience .

The new fashion Italian regions come and go. You'll all be back to the three B's .

[Ozzie W]

I emailed the retailer this morning regarding the 2001 Fontanafredda La Rosa which was corked. They are going back to their supplier to organise a replacement of same vintage.

[scribbler]

Certainly encourages me to try more wines from Sicily; much more aromatic than I expected (my prejudice was that the area was just too hot for top-quality wines, and the altitude wouldn't make enough difference. Wrong!). Lots of wine, so more impressions than proper notes.

2011 Vagnoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano I Mocali Riserva
Rounded, minerally, rich, quite Chardonnay-like, with a twist of attractive bitterness

2007 Passopisciaro
Floral, pretty, blueberry and cherry; the palate has more stuffing than expected.

2004 Benanti Rovittello Etna Rosso
What a contrast – rhubarb and dark cherry, chalks and very smart and fresh for its age, delicious..

2013 Cos Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico W
Sensual, dark fruits with conft overtones. A feminine palate, charry oak, cherry ripe, fennel, Cointreau. Query whether this was slghtly oxidised as it seemed to fade in the glass

2011 Lamoresca Vino Rosso
Didn’t like this - VA over my comfort level.

2003 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino
Elegant, chalky, savoury, drinking well. Only 13.5% alcohol, so quite restrained for a Brunello, despite the scorching vintage.

1999 Antinori Tignanello
Cocoa and the Cabernet component is obvious, lengthis terrific, and the wine kept improving over time. Very classy

2007 Arpepe Valtellina Superiore Sassella Ultimi Raggi
Bright fruits- excellent food-friendly wine.

2005 Gaja Barbaresco
Cocoa and oak; seductive texture, modern, chalks and all-around savouriness. Too oaky for some, but track record -including a recent 1990- suggests further bottle age deserved

2009 Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato Barolo
Loved it – juniper and some nettle aromatics; wildness backed with raspberry, swiss milk chocolate; texture is so silky.

2008 E Pira (Chiara Boschis) Barbera d'Alba
Opened for a peek at another variety; High toned, modern, mixed spices, approachable and ready now and in short-term

[via collins]

Actually, I must admit that the Monprivato was my revelation moment of the night. Lots of super wines, but that was the one I'd walk over broken glass to try again. It challenges ever preconception I have of barolo, and was so multi-dimensional.

[Adrian]

Thanks to all for a very enjoyable and educational evening. Couldn't ask for the food to complement the wines any better. The Mascarello was probably my highlight also with the Tignanello a close second.

[brodie]

Thanks for a great evening of really interesting and diverse wines, great company and excellent food. I really enjoyed the breadth and variety of wines we tried.

Cheers Brodie