Time to play catch-up with some notes from the past couple of months - from a variety of events at home and away.
2009 Coenfer (Coopérative de l’Enfer Soc. Coop) Vallée d’Aoste DOC Mayolet “Vin des Seigneurs”
Mayolet is normally a blending grape in Vallée d’Aoste, so it is interesting to try a wine solely based on it. Per the retailer’s advice, I opened this bottle 45 minutes to an hour before pouring.
Nose of cranberries, fresh earth, mint, spices, and sorrel. Light in weight, airy, and nicely balanced; with good underlying acidity and very fine tannins. Tastes of dark berries, tangy wild herbs, and white pepper, with alpine and lightly citrus undercurrents. Almost like a high altitude cross of Gamay and Pineau d’Aunis. Excellent. Definitely worth a try if you like either of those two grapes.
2008 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia
First time that I've tried Sassicaia. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon/15% Cabernet Franc. Full-bodied, silky, concentrated, and elegant; well balanced, with good underlying acidity. Shows notes of crème de cassis, dark fruits, minerals, and dark chocolate. Excellent+; should evolve quite nicely.
2007 Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy Barbaresco Martinenga
Nose of roses and berries. Full-bodied, smooth, very elegant, deceptively structured, with good underlying acidity; shows notes of cherries, mixed berries, and roses. Excellent – really nice.
2007 Poderi Aldo Conterno Langhe Dolcetto “Masante”
From various vineyards in Bussia. Full-bodied, dry, well balanced; more structured than most Dolcettos. Displays attractive aromas/flavors of blackberries, crème de cassis, and violets, with a light mineral note. Very good/excellent.
2006 Azienda Agricola Tomasso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
This is the Amarone that used to be labeled as “BG” (as opposed to “TB”) up through the 2003 vintage. A blend of 65% Corvina and Corvinone; 30% Rondinella, and 5% Molinara and other varieties. Nose of dark berries and dried fruits. Full-bodied, concentrated, and well balanced, lightly to moderately raisiny, with currant, mineral, and lightly spicy notes. Excellent – not at all bad for a “second wine”. Would love to try the TB Amarone and Recioto sometime.
2004 Azienda Agricola Cesconi “Moratèl” IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Teroldego, Lagrein, and Syrah. Medium-bodied, lightly mineral, moderately acidic, with notes of mixed berries, cinnamon, and mountain air. Very good.
2003 Fattoria Le Terrazze Rosso Conero DOC “Sassi Neri”
100% Montepulciano, aged in barriques. Decanted about 4 hours. Mixed berry/plum/floral nose. Full-bodied, dense, dry, and balanced, with moderate acidity; rich and smooth. Tastes of black cherries, plums, tar, earth, toast, and charred meat. An impressive modern Marche red. Starting with the 2004 vintage, this has been labeled as Conero DOCG Riserva.
1994 Azienda Agricola Giorgio e Luigi Pelissero Barbaresco "Vanotu"
Decanted for about 1 ½ hours before pouring. Brownish around the rim. Nose is a mix of smoke, tar, dark chocolate, and baking spices. Full, definitely modern, well balanced, with just a bit of sweetness; silky and concentrated. Tastes of cherries and mixed berries, with notes of roses, leather, espresso, and spicy oak. More tar on the finish. Even if I tend to prefer the more traditional Barbareschi, this is an excellent mature modern Barbaresco, especially considering the mediocre vintage.