Fattoria Valtellina Vino da Tavola Convivio 1997
A blend of 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in barrique. Lightly pruney-evolved ruby-black, bit watery at the rim, but all in all, an amazingly youthful colour. Our last bottle of a wine that is no longer made (since the winery no longer exists), and the best we have had, in absolutely terrific shape. “Earthy ’97 Fontalloro-like”, Oliver said. Lead pencil. Dried/cured horse meat, almost salty. Dried flowers with a touch of chives. Firm fruit. Good body. Quite powerful. Soft viscosity. Merely faint nutty oak left, ever so faint charcoal. Slightly grainy, still a bit hard tannin. Softly warming alcohol. Long finish. Lightly sweaty-animal with airing. Rating: 91-
Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2002
From a yield of 15 hl/ha. Pretty ruby-red. Extremely tannic. Rose petal and suggestions of white and black truffle. Intense tight berry and cherry fruit, and herbs. Unusually concentrated and tough and yet, perfectly balanced. Soft viscosity. Complex and potentially deep and expressive tannin. Strong blood and blonde orange acidity. Long, firm, persistent finish. Lacks the femininity and charm of e.g. the 1990, but represents a more typical, masculine style of Serralunga Barolo. Impressive body. Palate-stainingly tannic, a bit more peppery, longer if more closed with airing. Forest strawberry and orange zest/rind. Amazingly, this was even better the following day, with truffley-sweet tobacco, fruitier with rose-hip and dried lemon and candied blood orange. Some roasted herbs and a meatier quality, too. Longer, more subtle and black tea-like, more gingery, fresher, livelier, racier. Afraid this will close down soon, and for an enormously long time. But: already envy those who are going to have some when it reaches maturity. Rating: 96++
Greetings from Switzerland, David.
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„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
(sorry, I'm only jealous ..)