Had some of the usual suspects over for a little dinner and wine last night. We did ok for a Tuesday. Broad theme of Italian wines, which left it fairly wide open and made the work of guessing blinds a bit more challenging. A few bummer wines (Benanti?!), and a couple real stars. A good time with good friends capped off with some Treehouse DIPA too late in the night.
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2012 Benanti Etna Bianco Superiore Pietramarina - Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
Without planning it, we ended up having two Benanti Pietramarina blind, this and the '16. Neither showed well. Just kind of muted and dilute. Nothing really wrong, maybe a bit oxidized, but just rather uninspiring. Totally unlike my last good bottle. Dumped into a decanter and didn’t really move it much. Strange showing. -
2016 Benanti Etna Bianco Superiore Pietramarina - Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
We must have had an off bottle. Actually two as the '12 on the table showed similar. Just not showing much. Muted. Reticent. Nothing like this wine should be and nothing like the previous notes in CT. Weird bottle. -
2007 Calafè Greco di Tufo Ariavecchia - Italy, Campania, Greco di Tufo DOCG
These are cool, geeky wines. Fun to serve blind, as no one ever thinks of Greco di Tufo! Really evolves in the glass. A chameleon. A bit waxy, god weight and tension. dense white fruit, salinity, acid. Really pops with food. Held strong over the course of the night. Fun wine.
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2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Ovello - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Second not great bottle of this in the last two years. I don’t think these bottles were sound before they got to me. Muted. Tired. Non-descript, not showing Nebbiolo at all. Bummer -
2013 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Still fairly tight. Did not peg as Brunello, but I don’t drink much Brunello and my mind doesn’t go there by default. Good with food. Deft balance. Still years ahead for this one. -
2019 Dirty and Rowdy Barbera Old Vine Mendocino County - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
Fun wine. Very D&R. Sort of glou glou. Bright, crunchy red fruit. Pure cranberry. Good with food. Young.
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2010 Giuseppe Quintarelli Primofiore Veneto IGT - Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
Really terrific showing. In the zone. Nose shows a good dose of Cab Franc green pepper and licorice and red fruit. Palate shows medium body, slightly drying, dark cherry, and a super classy palate. Just wonderful texture. Well made wine that just sings with food. -
2013 Frank Cornelissen MunJebel Rosso 10 - Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane
Man this was wicked good. Served blind: It had the wild, natural/herbal nose. Almost like glou glou, but the palate is so refined and clean with vibrant red fruit. I guessed Emidio Pepe. Precise. Great texture. Best showing of a Cornelissen wine for me. Thanks Mike!
Posted from CellarTracker