IPPOLITO TASTING WITH VINCENZO IPPOLITIO (CALABRIA, ITALY) - Grotto Wine Bar (1/29/2010)
Last night I was invited to a trade tasting. A local distributor is going to be carrying the wines of Ippolito, one of my favorite Italian producers. I have been buying their wines from Wine Expo for a while, so I was glad to hear they would be available locally and meet a member of the family. The wines were popped and poured except where noted.
Vincenzo is a younger generation of the family (well younger than me). He speaks excellent English and it was great to talk to him about wines, Italy and Roberto!
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2008 Ippolito Cirò Bianco Res Dei - Italy, Calabria, Cirò Bianco
Light gold in color. The nose is quiet. With some coaxing, almonds and minerals come out. The wine is mineral driven with a bit of lime peel and bitter almonds, especially on the finish. Also a pleasant saline quality. Refreshing. It sees “a touch” of new french oak" but other than a slight roundness to the wine, it shows not signs. I think about $15 in Ohio, it is a nice wine, but doesn’t stand out from the pack. Still, it would be a nice match with salads or light seafood. (87 pts.) -
2008 Ippolito Calabrisi Calabria IGT - Italy, Calabria, Calabria IGT
Made with a local clone of Nero d’Avola known as Calabrisi. This sees no oak. It retails for around $15 Ohio IIRC. The nose is nice with a musty cherry quality. A bit of a smokey layer underneath which is interesting considering the lack of oak. Slightly tannic. Bright fruit on the palate. Nice cherries with a silky texture. Really an excellent QPR and should drink well for a couple of years. (89 pts.) -
2007 Ippolito Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Liber Pater - Italy, Calabria, Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore
Ruby red in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries and cherry blossoms with rocky undertones, perhaps some crushed asphalt (think of an older playground). This is very light on its feet despite a good amount of tannins. I would let it sit for a year or two or decant. Nice dark cherry fruit in complex layering. Slight heat on the long finish. Very good wine around $20, an excellent value. (90 pts.) -
2006 Ippolito Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Colli del Mancuso Riserva - Italy, Calabria, Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore
Ruby red in color. The nose is very nice with dark cherries and dust plus a very nice floral quality. This has more depth and complexity than the regular Ciro. It is also more backwards and really will need a couple of years to smooth out and unwind. Great pure dark cherry fruit. The finish has some drying tannins, but I think those will resolve with air or time. IIRC, $26 Ohio and worth laying down a few. (91 pts.) -
1992 Ippolito Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Ripe del Falco Riserva - Italy, Calabria, Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore
Ruby/purple in color. The nose had dark cherries with an earthiness. There was also an animal fur note that some minded but I found intriguing. On the palate, this is young and vibrant. Much younger than a bottle opened a few months ago. Complex and layered. Decanting opened it up some but this has year left. Great wine. (93 pts.)
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