Wine Tasting this weekend

Wife and I hosted our annual wine tasting party with friends. Each person brings one bottle and we conduct the tasting blind. Lots of fun....

This year I made the theme Italian Wines...nothing specific, just wanted to try something outside of our element, which usually consists of Napa Valley/California wines.

We tasted 5 whites and 13 reds,

Concensus was....we really really like California wines...

None of the Whites received much praise....and the only red that the group enjoyed was the 2006 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre. I don't set a price range, but we had a couple Barolos in the mix, some Chianti...the empty bottles are at home...but a rather dissapointing lineup and result.

I will post some of the other wines later tonight.....

-Mike

Mike
Do indeed post your thoughts, but also do keep an eye on the Barolo in case they emerge with some air.

regards

Ian

The Barolo: Rosati Barolo 2004

Some of the others:

Aglianico Terredora Dipaolo 2007
Azienda Casale Daviddi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2004
Planeta La Segreta 2007
Tormaresca Puglia Neprica 2008

I have to say, I am drinking the Barolo right now...and I am enjoying it much more...2 days later!!

I truly believe, for myself and my friends, that after a couple drinks of sparkling wine, beer, captain and cokes...by the time we get 3-4 wines in our palettes are shot...and I always have room temperature bottled water open, crackers and bread...I just don't think we can truly judge these reds based on the tasting.....but it's still fun!

drinks of sparkling wine, beer, captain and cokes...

Served at the same time?

Yes, sounds more like fun drinking than wine tasting. But who's complaining!!

Hahaha...not served during the wine tasting. I try to encourage just sparkling wine...we usually do an hour or so of appetizers with sparkling wine prior to moving into the tasting room. however, some people prefer beer or capt and coke...

When we move into the wine tasting, it's strictly the wine...

I never have understood the logic of "a palate cleansing beer" - which is a pretty efficient way to stuff my palate up! I've never tried Rum and Coke before wine tasting, but wouldn't have high hopes!

Rosati is a new one for me - perhaps Birger will know them?

Was the Aglianico also a bit tight and tannic? I'm not sure in which style they make their Aglianico.

regards

Ian

Was the Aglianico also a bit tight and tannic? I'm not sure in which style they make their Aglianico.

This is an IGT bottling that is lighter in body. Its not really all that tannic but it still needs some time to show its stuff. It should be better in a couple of years. If you open one right now it needs food.

[Jenise]

Wife and I hosted our annual wine tasting party with friends. Each person brings one bottle and we conduct the tasting blind. Lots of fun....

This year I made the theme Italian Wines...nothing specific, just wanted to try something outside of our element, which usually consists of Napa Valley/California wines.

We tasted 5 whites and 13 reds,

Concensus was....we really really like California wines...

None of the Whites received much praise....and the only red that the group enjoyed was the 2006 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre. I don't set a price range, but we had a couple Barolos in the mix, some Chianti...the empty bottles are at home...but a rather dissapointing lineup and result.

I will post some of the other wines later tonight.....

-Mike

Gotta say, any palate that prefers rum and coke to beer or sparkling wine is not going to 'get' Italian wine if the choice is that or (the lower acid, bigger fruit) California style. Especially wines that were possibly not prepped for tasting, but which are usually made for aging and therefore do not show well young. Like that Barolo you're sipping!