Champagne Bérèche et Fils Brut réserve, made from 1/3 Chard, 1/3 Pinot Meunier and 1/3 pinot noir and matured 24 months in cellars before release, was delightfully crisp and refreshing with aromas of green fruit and minerals; 15.5/20+.
Collio Tocai Friulano 2000 - Borgo del Tiglio showed interestingly original fruit, refreshingly green and citrus, but also noticeable wood and creamy notes which, for me, led to a rather disjointed effect. Might have been better focussed with more air; 15/20.
Nebbiolo d'Alba Parigi 2007 - Mauro Sebaste also showed a lot of wood but I thought that it integrated better with the lively Nebbiolo fruit than with the preceding Tocai Friuliano and the overall effect was enjoyable in a smooth and silky vanillin way. Jean’s pithy comment is “not mutton disguised as lamb but nebbiolo disguised as rioja”; 15/20+++.
IGT Rosso Toscana Vigna L'Apparita 1995 - Castello di Ama was made from 100% Merlot and current vintages retail for between €150 and 200
. It was full bodied, richly fruited and not quite jammy but strangely international and anonymous. Says Jean “good as medium-range Merlot, crap as premium Super-Tuscan”; however, next day, exercising the host’s privilege of finishing the half empties, Jérôme reports “ a much more glamorous wine, velvety and harmonious”; it also clearly needed more air; as I drank it, 15/20.Vino nobile di Montepulciano Asinone 2000 – Poliziano, though quite modern in style showed much more Tuscan authenticity and class than the previous, was sweeter fruited than often, full bodied, round and complex but retained enough Sangiovese tang and leather notes together with a delicious oiliness; 17/20.
Barlo La Serra 1997 - Marcarini showed attractive floral aromas (violet) and nicely accessible fruit but was a bit short of the mineral elements, tar together wit acidic and tannic tension which make for great Barolo; a vintage effect, perhaps; 16/20.
Brunello di Montalcino1982 - Mastrojanni displayed a disconcertingly funky and eggy nose, especially at first (I would have guessed reduction but for the age and leaky cork) but the palate was complex and lovely with still present fruit, Tuscan tang and oiliness, leather and forest floor. Jean puts it nicely once again “my outing as lover of s&m (leather) and scatology (...). an absolute beauty in my eyes. ok, a fading beauty, but still a beauty. in much better shape than deneuve for instance.” For me, 17/20+ in spite of the nose.
Moscatel de Setubal 6 anos (bottled in 78) - JM Fonseca - was real gem and perfection of its kind with complex aromas, gentle sweetness and good grip; also dangerously moreish; 18.5/20.
Many thanks to Daniela and Jérôme for a lovely meal and a fun filled evening.
; none left right now . Interested in your bad experience.