This page last updated February 25, 2002
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By my count, there were 16 attendees at the home of Rick and Lynne Konlon
at their home in Orinda. Rick and Lynne did a terrific job in
their "maiden
voyage" hosting duties, enjoying their hosting roles in true "Twits"
fashion.
Disclaimer: The following notes are mine, and do not necessarily
reflect the impressions, tastes or opinions of other Twits present.
Rick has sent me the voting tally, so the vote for each wine will appear
in parentheses after the vintage in the lefthand column.
As always, other Twits are encouraged to send me their notes and I
will gladly post them on the web site. Don't be shy! Everyone
is
entitled to their own preferences and opinions.
That's what being aPompous Twit is all about!
Tom Regner's Tasting Notes for "Wines of Italy"
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| Martini & Rossi
Sparkling wine NV (Votes: 0) |
A cloyingly sweet sparkler that yields more sugar than fruit,
though it gives up a distinct impression of canned pears with a slight golden delicious (sweet) apple flavor on the finish. This is not my favorite style of sparkling wine, and while it was mildly interesting to revisit this wine after a two-decade hiatus, I would not choose this wine from a cellar for any occasion. |
| Rotari
Sparkling Wine NV (Votes: 0) |
Much drier than the M&R, this wine is made in an oaky, slightly
tannic style that has more bitter apple peel than grape on the mid- palate and finish. |
| Zenato
Pinot Grigio Della Venezie 2000 (Votes: 5) |
Slightly biting, astringent nose with wet wood odors (noticed in
all three of the still white wines, it says right here...), mirrored in the oak that hits the tongue first, followed by some spice notes and a healthy dose of green bell pepper. NOTE: None of the three still white wines showed well on
their
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| Mesi
Pinot Grigio Trentino 2000 (Votes: 4) |
This wine was smoother, with an oilier mouthfeel than the previous
wine, quite dry and crisp, but lacking depth of expression and devoid of any distinct fruit flavors. Longer finish, but desperately needs food to be enjoyable. |
| Macrina
"Garofoli" (Variety unspecified) 1997 (Votes: 5) (Donated by Tom & Susan) |
Yet another crisp, dry white without much fruit, but showing slightly
better than the previous two since the tannins are more integrated and it shows only slightly more complexity. This one also would benefit a great deal from pairing with compatible food. |
| Vigna Sori San Martino
Dolcetto Dogliani 1998 (Votes: 5) |
Spicy nose reminiscent of steak sauce (tamarind?)
with noticable
wood notes. Yields mild fruit and firm tannins, a solid mid-palate that carries a bracing backbone of acid that is slightly out of balance in this wine, but still a very nice table wine on its own; would show very well with pasta or grilled, spicy meats. |
| Taurino
Rosso, Riserva Salice Salentino, Apulia 1998 (Votes: 6) |
This is a softer, more fruit-forward red with
less scructure and
backbone than the previous wine. Lacks complexity and finesse, but is nonetheless quite drinkable as a table wine with dinner. |
| Centine
Banfi (red table wine) Montalcino 1998 (Votes: 6) |
Brighter fruit on the nose with noticable piney
odors, and easy, light
bodied red with restrained fruit and almost delicate structure. Slight vegetative quality, but flavors are, overall, in balance for this simple table wine. |
| Folonari
Merlot - Sangiovese Veneto 2000 (Votes: 7) |
Though frightfully young for an Italian sangiovese,
the merlot tones
it down a bit to give an untamed blast of fruit on the attack with merlot-moderated tannins, a fruit-bombish mid-palate and a sudden, clean rolloff on the finish. This is clearly a wine made in the international style, with little of real Italy in the glass. It is nevertheless quite drinkable and should pair well with dishes like mushroom-stuffed pastries, grilled portabello, etc. |
| Monte Antico
Sangiovese Tuscany 1998 (Votes: 3) |
Also quite young, exhibits a "quiet" nose and
a weak mid-palate
of overripe plum and a somewhat flat, one-note quality that lacks depth or finesse. Not my favorite expression of the grape. |
| Zonin
Sangiovese Tuscany 1997 (Votes: 8) (Donated by Tom & Susan) |
Spicier nose and obviously a tad older, this
is a more typical
expression of Italian sangiovese. Substantial body, balanced acidity and well-integrated tannins, yet not terribly complex nor as interesting as some of botlings by the better producers. A mid-range wine that is drinking quite well for its class. |
| Villa Antori
Chianti Classico Riserva Firenze (Florence) 1998 (Votes: 12) |
This is a good, solid Chianti with girded structure,
bold sandy
tannins, and dark layers of plum and spice. Will age quite well, but this wine makes an emphatic statement about its youth and ambitions. Recommend holding for a couple more years at least. |
| Ricasoli
Chianti Chianti 1998 (Votes: 0) |
A more typical, inexpensive trattoria style house
wine, this Chianti
has a biting, acidic nose that gives the impression that it is still under fermentation. The flavors are unbalanced toward too much acidity, and the fruit tastes underripe. Unremarkable, but would probably be well suited for pizza or lasagne in a more social (and less wine-centric) setting. |
| Michele Chiarlo
Barbera Piedmont/Asti 1998 (Votes: 2) |
Scent of road tar and old mushrooms, this wine
shows dark
cherry flavors followed by a huge dose of vanilla extract that permeates the long finish. I am not a huge fan of barberas, I admit, and although this wine was interesting, it just didn't do it for me. |
| Costa di Bussia
Barbera Monforte/d'Alba 1998 (Votes: 5) |
Years ago, when we lived in Detroit, I had occasion
to enter a lot
of old houses in the inner city. The nose on this wine reminded me of those old houses with their old wet wood odors and old cooking smells,along with a dose of black earth. Whatever fruit was in this wine resembled pomegranate more than anything else. NOT my cup of tea (but then, so few barberas are). |
| A'Mano
Primitivo Puglia 2000 (Votes: 7) |
A real change of pace, this wine (purported by
many to be
related to California zinfandel) showed rosemary and other herbs on the nose, smoothing out with more time in the glass. Flavors of jammy blackberry mixed with savory spices, this was an odd mixture of flavors capped off by red licorice on the finish. |
| Produttori
Barbaresco Barbaresco 1996 (Votes: 1) |
At first I thought this wine was corked, but
it shared this exact
character with the second wine in the flight. More coaxing in the glass yielded a smoother nose with lest must and more tar, the fruit subdued under the pungent chemical odors. Dark stemmy flavors almost hide the fruit completely, but eventually this wine shows pruney, caramel-coated raisin with faint berry notes. Complex and earthy, this seemingly unfriendly wine shows a great deal of character. Not bad if you work at it. |
| Langhe
Barbaresco Barbaresco 1998 (Votes: 1) |
Generally similar to the previous
wine, attesting to its origins, this
wine shows less complexity but is equally dark and difficult. Not atypical of a Barbaresco, but still too young and a bit on the wild, untamed side. I'd like to try this one again in five years. |
| Costa di Bussia
Barolo Tenuta Amulfo 1996 (Votes: 13) |
Definitely my favorite of the flight, with characteristic
"tar and roses"
on the nose, complex, dark fruit flavors throughout, and a lingering finish that develops rather than subsides. I like this one. |
| BONUS WINE!!
"Goats do Roam" South African Blend Western Cape 2001 (Not Voted) (Donated by Dave Hulet) |
An offbeat blended red (unspecified grapes) that is both tasty
and complex, and real find for under $10. The story on the back label tells of the winemaker recalling stories of Yemeni goats who would escape and ravage the coffee bean crops. His own goats attacked his vineyards, and their selection of grapes is what inspired this blend of... whatever it is! A very nice quaff. |
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