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Italian Wine Dinner
Friday April 3, 2009
Italian Wine Dinner
1) La Braccesca Vino Nobile de Montepulciano 2004
Robert Parker 91:  "...A noticeably darker, livelier color than the 2003, with more delineation in its aromas and flavors. It is vibrant and full of life, with a layered quality to its fruit, terrific length and a finessed, long finish. Another few years in the bottle will be beneficial, after which this wine will drink well for another decade."  
        
2) Antinori Marchesi Chianti Classico Riserva 2004
Robert Parker 91:  "Antinori’s flagship Chianti, the 2004 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchesi Antinori, reveals greater depth, vibrancy and freshness. Ripe black cherries, new leather, menthol, smoke and wild herbs flow from this sweet, layered Chianti. The wine is approachable today, but also has the tannic backbone and stuffing to insure another decade or so of very fine drinking. It spent 14 months in small French oak barrels prior to being bottled."
     
3) Prunotto Barolo 2004 
Robert Parker 90: "The estate’s 2004 Barolo reveals impressive depth in its layers of ripe dark fruit, menthol, spices, tobacco and earthiness. The wine gets better and better in the glass, yet this is a rather firm style of Barolo that is sure to benefit from a slumber in the cellar."  
Wine Spectator 91: "Wonderful perfumes of red fruit and ripe strawberry, with hints of violet. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, caressing finish. A refined style. Very well done."
              
4) Prunotto Barbaresco 2005  
Robert Parker 90:  "Prunotto’s 2005 Barbaresco is simply beautiful and quite classic. Menthol, pine, spices, toasted oak and dark fruit are just some of the nuances in this graceful wine. Soft- textured and generous on the palate, this Barbaresco possesses outstanding balance and class to spare." 
Wine Spectator 91: "There's very pure fruit on the nose, with blackberry, blueberry and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with firm yet silky tannins and a long, caressing finish."
 
5) Guado al Tasso 2005 
Robert Parker 92: "The estate’s flagship wine, the 2005 Guado al Tasso, possesses gorgeous aromatics and a core of vibrant, dark fruit framed by finessed tannins. Medium to full-bodied, it shows superb balance, particularly in the use of French oak, something that I haven’t always been able to say in the past. With air, attractive notes of wild herbs, smoke, minerals and sweet toasted oak develop to complete this very pretty Guado al Tasso."
  
6) Feudi Di San Gregorio Taurasi 2004
RP 93:  "A serious wine.  It is sweet and dense, showing the essence of black cherries, plums, smoke, bacon fat and minerals. The vibrant fruit is beautifully framed by the wine’s powerful yet well-integrated tannins. The balance with the oak is also superb."
    
Summary
 
It was interesting comparing the color, nose and palate of these wines. 
 
Originated from the Sangiovese grape variety, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Wine #1) and Chianti (Wine #2) are cousins.  Yet they are very different on the nose, body, and palate!   The Chianti Riserva has more depth, layer, and earthiness.
 
Wine #3 and #Wine is another great couple. They come from the same quality grape, Nebbiolo. Yet the Barbaresco (Wine #3) is more approachable with perfumes of berries. In comparison, the Barolo (Wine #4) has a darker and deeper nose. No wonder the Barolo is known as the King of Italy and Barbaresco the Queen.
 
Wine #5 is the most tannic and powerful wine for the evening.  It has all the elements to age beautifully.   It is a wine worth waiting for.  
 
The Taurasi seems easy-going sitting next to the Guado al Tasso.   It is softer, more velvety with aromatic notes of blackberries, vanilla, cigar boxes, leather, and aromatic tea leaves.  
   

 

 

 
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