Pizza TNs - Two Italians from 1990

WINE TALK
1

Just ordered a Sicilian pie, as we await the arrival of what is projected to be the first serious snow of the season. And what matches wintry weather and pizza better than Italian vino? First up:

1990 Podere Il Palazzino Grosso Sanese
Color is a darkish translucent red, with lightening around the rim. Great nose, with herbs, spices (can we call it sous bois or garrigue?), red fruits and a dash o’ funk. Nice legs. I could smell this nose for a while, but I guess I should actually taste the wine too, huh? [wink.gif] I should note that a whiff of menthol is also starting to emerge now.

Sweet, vibrant cherry fruit on the palate, nice zingy acidity, and this goes down very smooth - gorgeous tonight, and at least IMO, surprisingly so, as I have had some less than stellar examples of this wine in the past. Perhaps a tad short on the finish, but that is really a minor complaint considering how deelish this wine is right now. According to the label, 700 cases produced and 12.5% alcohol.

2

Behind door #2:

1990 Moccagatta Barbaresco Vigneto Cole
My second bottle opened this week - surprisingly, lighter in color than the Grosso Sanese. I like the nose on opening, but given how the first bottle evolved earlier this week, I will reserve judgement until the wine has had a little more air. A less nuanced yet more assertive/powerful nose than the first wine, with menthol, minerals, iron & very ripe (bordering on overripe) cherry fruit. I would describe the nose as being very delineated, yet that note of overripeness is worrisome.

Less impressive on the palate - nice enough, but the nose promises more than the wine ultimately delivers. Short on the finish, and not unduly tannic, but less of a palate presence than I recall from the first bottle earlier this week. I’ll update my thoughts on both wines after a slice or two of 'za, but right now I have a definite preference for the Grosso Sanese. According to the label, 14.5% alcohol.