Notes from an Italian lunch.
Ruinart Brut Champagne – OK, not exclusively Italian. This was out for the turn of the millennium (both the dumbed down year and the correct year) and so has a decade of age on it. Showing some colour, clean and crisp, and has picked up some flavour interest and complexity with age. Good.
1995 Selvapiana Chianti Rufina Riserva Bucherchiale – one attendee of little faith figured that this would be fading and that I was a crazy man for not having broken open my case before this. Not so (fortunately!). It had good colour, dark, and excellent fruit with an earthiness topped off with some vanilla. Still has a fair bit of tannin, good acidity and a very long finish. About where I hoped it would be, and I’ll start moving this into my drinking regime now.
2000 La Massa Giorgio Primo Chianti Classico – also quite dark in colour, nose with more vanilla and leathery fruit. The wine had good stuffing and a slight astringency at the end (not a flaw), with pretty good length. Nice, but as usual, I preferred the more developed wine.
1990 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino – I’ve worked through a case of this, and while it went through an awkward stage in the mid 90s, it corrected and this was drinking very well. Dark, slightly sweet nose with a hint of blackberry and spice, smooth sweet entry, supple middle and soft tannins still evident. A balanced pleasurable wine.
1990 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino – first bottle corked! Second bottle (my last normal sized one) fortunately OK, as we didn’t need a magnum by that point. Cellar temperature of course so it took some time to express itself. Leather and dark cherry nose, less tannin in this one, smooth and in good shape, if not giving quite the enjoyment of the Castelgiocondo.
1994 Taurino Patriglione – this wine is made in the South from Negroamaro, and showed a dark colour, ripe nose of dried fruit, a hint of tar and anise, a weighty middle, slight sweetness at the end. I have always enjoyed this cheese with cheese when you don’t feel like a sweet wine. If you think of it as an Amarone made in Puglia you won’t be far wrong.