1997 Cave de Tain L’Hermitage Hermitage Nobles Rives
Imp: Wines Limited, Hanover, MD. 13% abv.
Decent co-op hermitage. Good nose of dark fruit with spice, leather, and a faint hint of merde. Not much fruit left in the taste. Mid-palate is lacking somewhat and the tannins are still pretty firm. The wine fills out more on day 2 and then falls apart on day three.
2000 Validnera Sontuoso Nebbiolo d’Alba
Imp: John Given Wines, Manhasset, NY. 14.5% abv.
Clean, ripe nebbiolo. Big nose of dark cherries and dried flowers with some new oak in the mix, lots of great fruit flavor, still pretty primary, velvety rich palate, nice acidity, and tight tannins. Enjoyable now but has the stuffing to age a while.
2001 Castello Della Paneretta Chianti Classico
Imp: Classic Wines. 90% sangiovese, 10% canaiolo, 13%abv.
Rich with leather, earth, beef blood and dark fruit with some toasty oak. The fruit is fading and more leather and barnyard is developing over the past 6 months. Good complexity, well balanced, rich mid-palate, and a full finish. Very good with fresh fusilli and bolognese.