torstai, 26. tammikuuta 2012

1997 Spoof-fest of Tuscan Zombies

A friend of mine kindly invited a small group to try out a dozen 1997 Tuscans. Sadly few were to my taste and most had not aged well.

Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 1997 (label) was pretty well dead with a meaty, rye-bread aroma; hollow, tannic and lifeless.

Frescobaldi Motesodi 1997 (label) was pretty similar to the Fonterutoli except the flesh hadn't completely decayed from the bones yet.

Antinori CC Riserva Badia a Passignano 1997 (label) was alive! And this was actually pretty good. A nice, lively red fruited aroma, a very ripe style of Sangiovese but recognizable as the grape. Fleshy and obviously a warm year style but this has aged well and had a lovely tannins, though was a bit low in acidity, so it was refreshing despite all the ripeness. Good stuff.

Villa Cafaggio San Martino 1997 (label) was a dead, hollow, tannic shell.

Isole e Olena Cepparello 1997 (label) was pretty similar to the Cafaggio in seeming dull and lifeless aromatically; the palate did have a bit of flesh clinging to it, however. Still pretty well zombified.

Felsina Fontalloro 1997 (label) was a fleshy, red fruited wine that has aged well (but I wouldn't keep it any longer). A ripe style, sweet, low acid, good tannins. Not great, but certainly not something to spit away in disgust. Decent wine.

After a corked Vigorello we moved onto Antinori Tignanello 1997 (label) which was alive! And a perfectly decent wine where the new oak has integrated. But it is a big, fleshy, ripe wine. Rich and sweet. Nice enough; this was the only wine which I felt could use more age.

Ruffino Cabreo il Borgo 1997 (label) was alive and was a very dark toned, fleshy beast. Rather too candied and vulgar and slutty for my tastes.

Frescobaldi Lamaione 1997 (label) was a dark, inky, slightly hollow wine. Some thought it was a bit corked.

Frescobaldi Mormoreto 1997 (label) was alive and kicking. Sweet aromas, candied but with a Cab lift. Too much toffee. Too slutty.

Fontodi Syrah Case Via 1997 (label) was a smoky, dark Syrah, but despite much oak and toffee it had some nice meaty aromas. But still not really to my taste: too thick, sweet and slutty.

Then cleaning up, we had some real wines! :D

Fanny Sabre Bourgogne Rouge 2010 (label) was beautiful. Bright, red, elegant, pure fruit; delightfully light and nervous. Lovely. I hadn't heard of this Domaine before, but I must more of her wines.

Montaribaldi Barolo Borzoni 2006 (label) was pretty nice. Served blind I thought it was a Montepulciano since it had that nutty, red fruit aroma; even when revealed I didn't find it particularly Barolo-like. An easy going, approachable, cheap Barolo.

Podere le Boncie CC "Le Trame" 2008 (label) was its usual lovely self. Wonderful purity and grace and elegance; palate-cleansing structure; outstandingly moreish. Lovely.

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