TASTING NOTE: The Barolo Sorano shows forest floor, blueberries and currants mingling with leather and cocoa powder, giving the lie to those who claim large wood does not produce sweet, balanced tannins. It is true to type, velvet-smooth and very long.
Score - 2 Glasses (out of 3).
(Gambero Rosso Italian Wines,
2007)
Michele Chiarlo Barolo Cannubi 2001 DOCG
914879
(XD) 750 mL $75
TASTING NOTE: This is very pruny, with dried flowers on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and chewy, with a meaty, almost decadent flavor profile. This is better than the 2000. Best after 2008. Score - 91. (James Suckling, www.winespectator.com, Oct. 15, 2005)
SILVIO GRASSO BRICCO LUCIANI BAROLO 2001 DOCG
715904
(XD) 750 mL $69
TASTING NOTE: Aromas of blackberries and coffee follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. A beauty. Very fine. Best after 2008.
Score - 93.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
Oct. 15, 2005)
Italy Red
Wines - August 2007
Tuscany
CASTELLARE VIGNA IL POGGIALE CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2003 DOCG
606947
(XD) 750 mL $43
TASTING NOTE: The 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna Poggiale, the single-vineyard Riserva, is sweet and spicy on the nose, round and full in flavor, and long on the flow. It will drink well for another decade. Drink 2006-2016.
Score - 90.
(Daniel Thomases,
www.erobertparker.com,
April 2006)
CASTELLO BANFI BRUNELLO di Montalcino POGGIO ALLE MURA 2001 DOCG
673715
(XD) 750 mL $75
TASTING NOTE: Loads of blackberry and currant on the nose with hints of cooked fruit. Full-bodied, silky and refined with a beautiful structure and refinement. Goes on for minutes. Best after 2009.
Score - 94.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
April 30, 2006)
FONTODI VIGNA DEL SORBO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2003 DOCG
963827
(XD) 750 mL $59
TASTING NOTE: Fontodi’s 2003 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo is a single-vineyard blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 12 months in Allier oak. The 2003 is an especially full-bodied, opulent version of this wine, showing masses of ripe dark fruit and sweet toasted oak along with an ample personality. Still extremely primary, it will require some bottle age to settle down and develop the range of expression for which it is known. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018.
Score - 93.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
June 2007)
IL PALAZZONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2000 DOCG
21105
(XD) 750 mL $65
TASTING NOTE: Extremely attractive aromas of plum and coffee follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. Delicious already. Very close to the 1999 in quality. Always outstanding. Best from 2006 through 2009.
Score - 90.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
May 31, 2005)
IL PALAZZONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 1999 DOCG
21063
(XD) 750 mL $89
TASTING NOTE: Three unanimous glasses went to the Riserva '99, a wine from a seriously superior growing season. The fruity sensations run from the territory's typical blackberry and morello cherry with further hints of balsam and rosemary in the background that add breadth to the spectrum of aromatics. The attack on the palate is austere, sustained by balanced alcohol that heralds a broad, winning progression, thanks above all to the lovely balance of fine-grained tannins and textbook acidity that is an integral feature of all sangiovese-based wines. The finish is broad and deep.
Score - 3 Glasses (out of 3).
(Gambero Rosso Italian Wines,
2006)
Le Salette PERGOLE VECE AMARONE della Valpolicella Classico 2001 DOC
19984
(XD) 750 mL $100
Pergole Vece is Le Salette's flagship wine. This modern styled Amarone is made only in the best years from a selection of their finest grapes and sourced from their three top vineyards. It is cellar worthy but will shine now when matched with pheasant or mature cheeses.
La Querce 2004 IGT Toscana
48835
(D) 750 mL $44
TASTING NOTE: Gorgeous aromas of ripe plum, currant and Indian spices. Full-bodied, with a wonderfully concentrated palate of silky tannins and ripe fruit. Long and powerful finish. Sangiovese and Colorino. Best after 2007.
Score - 93.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
Oct. 31, 2006)
POGGIO ANTICO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2000 DOCG
700443
(XD) 750 mL $99
TASTING NOTE: Impressive for the vintage. Loads of blackberry, chocolate and floral aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky, refined tannins and a long, long finish. Best after 2006.
Score - 93.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
July 31, 2006)
Giuseppe Quintarelli's wines inspire the mild mannered and reserved to be uncontrollably effusive. His wines are legendary for a very good reason. “When you meet Bepi Quintarelli, you are instinctively reminded of Michelangelo.”(2005 Gambero Rosso Italian Wines). His Rosso Ca'del Merlo is a single vineyard Valpolicella, though he uses the broader IGT designation. Merlo means bird and is a tribute to a large winged creature that used to sit on a tree glaring down at the workers as they moved through the vineyard.
QUINTARELLI ROSSO DEL BEPI 1999 IGT
991356
(XD) 750 mL $199
TASTING NOTE: Delicious, showing exotic plum-based fruit, spice and earth on the nose, following through to a silky, full-bodied palate, with very fine, fruit-coated tannins and a long finish. Nicely done, with lots of clean, spicy fruit character. Quintarelli declassified his Amarone to this red in 1999. Drink now.
Score - 90.
(Jo Cooke,
www.winespectator.com,
April 30, 2007)
TASTING NOTE: But the champion this year is the splendid Valpolicella Classico 1999, mouthfilling and velvety, it gives gamey, warm aromas rich in red berry fruit and so aristocratic you would almost think it was an Amarone. All in all, it's a peerless, starry wine that won our tasting panel over unreservedly and was awarded Three resounding Glasses.
Score - 3 Glasses (out of 3).
(Gambero Rosso Italian Wines,
2007)
