Last week we met for our traditional SuperTuscan-Tasting at my home. Thanks to my friend Fedor Brunner, we had the chance to taste some wonderful tuscan wines with great drinking pleasure and in addition the tasting proved that 1999 is a very good vintage in Tuscany.
Fedor brought 6 wines based on the grape Sangiovese and 6 wines based on blends like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Cabernet franc. In every flight was one Sangiovese and one blend, served blind.
Like in our previous SuperTuscan-Tastings, a Sangiovese was the Wine of the Night, but this time a Cabernet Sauvignon was close behind. Here are the wines:
LABEL
1999 La Massa, Chianti “Giorgio Primo”
Lovely perfume! Hedonistic notes of strawberry. On the palate the typical warm, round fruit from Tuscany, spices like clove/cinnamon and the food-friendly acidity from the grape Sangiovese. Fine body and elegance. Modern style, but well-made. Based on 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot.
92
1999 Poggio al Sole, “Seraselva”
Here we have a blend based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. Plum, menthol, chocolate. A very charming international wine, which reveals its tuscan origin by the typical acdity. For 25 Euro a good QPR.
91
1999 Castagnoli, “Vigna Hortulus”
100% Merlot. Ripe, opulent bouquet of strawberry. Very sweet fruit with a hint of nail-polish. Lacks of structure and length.
88
1999 Isole e Olena, “Cepparello”
Oh my god, how disappointing! Cepparello is based on 100% Sangiovese and one of the TOP wines from Tuscany. But he performed like a “Farmer-Sangiovese”. Unbelievable unstructured, lack of harmony and the flavors were dull. Faulty bottle or the wine is in dumb phase right now? Or any kind of accident at the winery??
84
1999 Querciabella, “Carmartina”
A wine at its peak. Sweet, ripe, lush fruit and very charming. Based on 50% C.S. und 50% Sangiovese. Yes, very delicious, but lacks of a certain TOP class.
The most expensive wine of the tasting and therefore the QPR is not satisfying. Drink now!
91
1999 Fontalloro
cork!
Substitution: 1999 Ricasoli, Chianti“Castello di Brolio” faulty bottle
1999 Ciacci Piccolomini, Brunello “Pianrosso”
Mineral nose. Fresh, young fruit and smooth tannins. A lot of cherry and some hint of chocolate. Fine and yum,yum. But the aftertaste show some dry tannins, maybe too heavy use of oak?! Time will tell.........
90
1999 Fidenzio, “San Luigi”
Too young at the tasting. A bodybuilder and couldn´t walk anymore due to the power. 80% C.S. and 20% Cabernet franc. But on Day 3 he showed its quality. Blackberry, Cassis and powerful body. Very firm structure, impressive length and promising complexity. Big cellar-potential!
92+
1999 Fossi, “Sassoforte”
WOW, this wine rocks! A little winery near Florence and under the leadership of Enrico Fossi. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Typical Cassis-Bordeaux-Bouquet. Impressive power and firm structure, but on the other hand also a certain playfulness and easiness of being. Of course, a Bordeaux from Tuscany. Focused flavors of cassis, licorice and cigar-box. Fantastic depth and length. And what an amazing harmony. Also great potential for the coming years. “Sassoforte” is considered to be the best italian Cabernet. For me also a touch better than the legendary ´90 Sassicaia. Unfortunately, it is not possible to buy this wine in Germany.
95
1999 San Giusto a Rentennano, “Percarlo”
Here comes my favourite tuscan wine. A textbook Sangiovese and not to love this wine is impossible. In comparison to one year ago, the tempting fruit is now perfectly integrated and combined with an intriguing spiciness. Elegant texture and a complexity which is World Class. For further information, here is a link to a Percarlo-Vertical from last year. WOTN
96
1999 Tua Rita, “Giusto di Notri”
Bombastic coffee and roast flavors.......clearly an international style. Amazing concentration and really a looooong finish. Your palate will be wrapped up in Cashmere. Not a wine with intellectual appeal, but instead so delicious. YUM, YUM. Normally, such kind of wines are not my favourites, but “Giusto di Notri” is well-made. No hurry to drink this wine, some good years ahead.
93
1999 Poggio Scalette, “Il Carbonaione”
Classic Sangiovese. Amazing fresh fruit. Very creamy and broad on the palate. Pure elegance. A must-buy Sangiovese! Here are more TN from a Il Carbonaione-Vertical together with the winemaker Jurij Fiore last year.
94