TN: Blacktongues - The Italian Jobs 13/10/04

[n4sir]

As usual all wines were tasted blind and served in the order listed, and after about an hour all participants voted for their most preferred, two next preferred and their least preferred drops. I was a little apprehensive going to this tasting, as I have only tasted a couple of cheap Italian wines and very few of the Australian versions, which as a whole I haven’t been impressed with. The line up featured 5 Italians and 4 Australians, and I was surprised to find a Nebiolo that I really enjoyed, and a couple of local wines that were as good as the imports. My thanks to Keith and Craig and the gang for organising this interesting tasting.


2001 Isola Di Classico $46 13% alc/vol: Darkish red colour, with a bare hint of purple on the rim. Deep, sweet raspberry/cherry fruit with a hint of smoke and boot polish. The palate has a savoury/light entry, slightly green fruits, with fine knit/warm tannins that got hotter and greener as time rolled on. This wasn’t too bad to begin with, but went downhill relatively quickly, finishing last on most peoples’ scoresheets.

My ranking: 9th place
BTs: 1 most, 2 second, 9 least


2002 Scafini One Tree Hill Nebiolo $27 14.5% alc/vol: Dark to slightly inky red. There was stewy plum/raisin fruit and very sweet coconut essence with breathing, which kind of gave it away as an Australian wine. The palate had a light entry, but the ripe/sweet fruit made quite an impact, especially rebounding on the finish.

My ranking: =6th place
BTs: 2 most, 4 second, 0 least


1998 Cassini King Valley Nebiolo $45 13.5% alc/vol: Dark red/brick colour. A closed and funky nose at first with some diesel exhaust, then sweetening up with some Vietnamese mint characters. The palate was unusual and disjointed, with a fruity/bitey entry that lacked in power compared to the Scaffini, growing in power, but then dropping off sharply.

My ranking: 8th Place.
BTs: 1 most, 5 second, 0 least


2001 Best Great Western Concongella Viveyard Dolcetto $22 11.5% alc/vol: Dark red/purple, almost inky. A very clean nose, with obvious oak, plums and some tea leaves with air. The medium weight palate features a good mix of fresh plummy fruit and tannins and good length. Obviously Australian but very well done.

My ranking: 3rd place
BTs: 1 most, 4 second, 1 least


1998 Vietti Castiglione Barolo $91 13.5% alc/vol: Dark red/brick colour. A very savoury, nutty and fruity nose. The palate is very dry and spicy, with coal, smoke and chalky tannins running the length of the palate. It’s a nice wine, but there’s no way I would consider paying nearly $100 for a bottle.

My ranking: 5th place
BTs: 4 most, 2 second, 2 least


1999 Speri Amarone $75 14.5% alc/vol: Dark to inky purple. A stinky/toasty nose with obvious oak, the extracted fruit and a hint of mint surfacing with air. The massive fruit extract and bitter oak transfer to the palate, with a hint of olive on the finish. This seemed to be almost Australian in style to me, but I prefer the Primo Estate Joseph Moda especially at that price.

My ranking: =6th place
BTs: 2 most, 4 second, 0 least


2002 Pizzini King Valley Sangiovese $27 13.5% alc/vol: Dark to inky red with a hint of purple on the rim. An attractive, savoury and smoky nose of chocolate and perfume, and some coconut. The palate starts with a flush of sweet raspberry/blackberry fruit, smoke and dry tannin, with some coconut on the finish. This seemed to combine some of the best elements of new and old world styles, and was quite impressive.

My ranking: 2nd place
BTs: 2 most, 8 second, 0 least


2003 Fossati Brezza Dolcetto $24 13.5% alc/vol: Glowing inky(ish) purple. A very sweet but relatively simple plum/boiled lollies nose. The sweet fruit bomb perceptions are on the palate too, with stewed plums, boiled lollies, a hint of liquorice, warm alcohol and bitter tannins. It was a surprise that this was an Italian, as it had all the hallmarks of a young Grenache/Shiraz from new McLaren Vale/Limestone Coast vines.

My ranking: 4th place
BTs: 0 most, 2 second, 3 least


1999 Barbarusco Prunotto Nebiolo $74 13.5% alc/vol: Dark inky red with a hint of brick. A complex and open nose from the very beginning; slightly cheesy, with Camembert, paint, star anise and liniment. The palate is just as marvellous, with savoury fruit matched to heavy tannins that despite their size, do not threaten the balance of the wine. The scents and flavours of Vietnamese mint, star anise and liniment had more than a passing resemblance to an aged Pirramirra Petit Verdot.

My ranking: 1st place
BTs: 3 most, 2 second, 1 least


Cheers
Ian