TVS: A number of tannic wines...bdx and italian.

[Adam]

Last weeks wine drinking seemed to present me with 4 tannic wines...all of them obviously needed more time.

1994 Leoville Las Cases: loads of cigar box on the nose with a hint of black currant peaking through, medium bodied but unbalanced with the tannins out weighing the fruit, reminded me of smoking a heavy cigar. I personally dont think this will ever come around. Left in the decanter for a few more hours had softened a little. Still....not my cup of tea.

1997 Cignale, Super tuscan: Cabernet blend, dark purple, nice nose of spice, cherry and plum. Full bodied but again, very tannic. I think this one will come around and be a very good wine in maybe 5 years.
Just wondering...can anyone use the name super tuscan? is it simply tuscan wines that are made from non-traditional grapes??

2000 Tenuta di Trlnoro "Cupole": another super tuscan, this time an interesting blend of about 80% cab franc, 10% merlot and the rest italian varietals, this is actually the second wine of the estate but still manages to generally fetch around AUD$80. I havent had much experience with majority cab franc but it had berrys, vanilla, and mint on the nose Very smooth on the palate but again had a tannic kick at the end. This is a very good wine and will continue to improve into the future. Nicely balanced. I suspect it has spent a fair amount of time on oak, but the fruit supports it well.

2000 Chateau Sociando Mallet: have written about this a few times before, again very similar, great potential and really fills the mouth, I noticed a lot more tannin this time though....which makes me think this week I must have been highly sensitive to tannin???

Also went to Europe for a few weeks and drank some cracking wines....especially one memorable dinner with 1996 Trimbach Clos St Hume, 1978 DRC Romanee St Viviant, 1975 Leoville Las Cases, 1977 Taylors Port, all drinking very very well with the exception of the LLC which was a little tired.

Travelled through the Mosel Valley and Rhine, one of my favourie rieslings was the Reinhold Haart Riesling 2001 Piesporter Goldtroopfchen, I cant find where to buy this wine though....Was amazed at how cheap the whites were in the Mosel, nothing too much more than 6-7 euros, then once you step outside the price seems to sky rocket.

[Guest]

Just wondering...can anyone use the name super tuscan? is it simply tuscan wines that are made from non-traditional grapes??

.

Adam,

Yes - in a sense. The use of grape varieties outside the standard "controlled" varieties means that those wines are prevented from carrying the equivalent of DOCG or appellation controllee.

THe soubriquet "Super Tuscan" was applied by the press, and then 'adopted' by some winemakers.

The move gained momentum inthe 1980s with the increasing maturity of plantations of (spectacularly) Cabernet Sauvignon and its addition to sangiovese (together with other varieties) to produce wines which exceeded the price - adn arguably quality - of any Tuscan "controlled" wines.

There are many excellant examples - but also more than a few examples which should be designated "Infra Tusca".

fred

[kenzo]

Hi,

IGT is the "official" designation for these wines (like vin de table in France I believe), and covers blends/unofficial varieties from other areas as well. Beware, as some are of lower quality, and some are superb. I suppose price will be your guide, as there are few bargains here.
As Fred indicated, only the Tuscan wines are "super-Tuscan" (and some of them aren't what I'd call super, other than in the $$ department).

BTW, the 2000 Sociando Mallet is indeed tannic - it's not just you! If you like the slightly green style, but with less tannins / more open, try the 2000 Beychevelle. About the same price from memory, and won't take as long to come around.

Cheers,

S.