We had two other couple over dinner. All wines served non-blind with salad (cukes from the Garden), Pasta with Pesto (basil from the garden) and roasted zucchini and eggplants from the garden (with herbs from the garden).
2007 Mastroberadino Radici Fiano di Avellino
One of the best whites I have had in a while. Originally, I opened this while we cooked, but it was so good, we saved some for our guests. Light golden in color. The nose has fresh white peaches, also a bit of canned peach notes, some floral notes (acacia?) and cardamom. Really nice. Medium bodied. The palate is layered with a great complexity. No signs of oak although there is an almost vanilla hint on the finish. I doubt this sees any oak. I looked up AG’s note, tar, scorched earth, game, but I found nothing like that here. I can’t say if his was a correct bottle or heat damaged, or perhaps I got an unusually good bottle, but this wine was lovely. 4+13+19+8=94
2001 Josef Leitz Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling Spatlese
I actually had an Austrian Riesling ready, but one of our guests generously opened this. Light yellow gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has pineapple and minerals. Full bodied, viscous texture. On the palate, this is pretty sweet, still young with no hints of age, petrol, etc. Nice red apples, some pineapple and good minerals. Nice acidity. 50+3+13+18+7=91
2003 Jean Claude Lapalu Brouilly La Croix des Rameaux
Corked
2002 Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Les Garants
After the corked Beaujolais, I went down and got this one. Served with a slight chill. Ruby in color with some purple hues. The nose is very nice with cherries, dark cherries, a slight hint of almost bourbon (I think this was starting to show some age). With air, the bourbon note disappeared and a floral not emerged. . Medium bodied. On the palate, this is light and feminine. Cherries and sour cherries predominate but a bit of earthiness. This wine is nimble and easy to drink. 12.5%Alc. Lovely wine and a testament to ageing Beaujolais for a few years at least. 50+4+12+17+7=90
1997 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Villa Gemma Reserva
Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is great. Earthy, chunky, slight barnyard, lots of cherries and dark cherries and black raspberries. Full bodied. On the palate, this needed some air to develop. The last glass after everyone had gone was the best. Starting off a bit bitter, it rounded out and had great dark cherries, slight bit of game, black raspberries and a great earthiness. Some charred wood (think day after a campfire) notes. Nice acidity kept this in balance. My lone bottle, if I had another, I would be in no hurry or I would decant for an hour prior to serving. 50+4+14+17+7=92