It's been a busy week, and I did not have a chance to post these notes from last Saturday.
February 18, 2012 – Weekly Wine Tasting, Lower Falls Wine, Newton, MA
All Italians this time, and a very nice group. My recent interest in Chianti came a bit late to buy many 2004s, so this was a nice chance to try a couple from well-regarded producers. Otherwise, Foradori seems unable to do anything wrong, and I sampled a very attractive "basic" Verdicchio that made a strong case for Matelica being the equal of the better known Castelli di Jesi DOC.
2009 Fattoria La Monacesea Verdicchio di Matelica DOC
Medium-bodied, rich, bone dry, well balanced, with good underlying acidity. Shows peach, citrus, pear, and lightly mineral/nutty notes. Very good.
2010 Azienda Agricola Elisabetta Foradori Manzoni Bianco “Fontanasanta” IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti
Moderately full-bodied, elegant, and well balanced, with moderate acidity; shows peach, citrus, and mineral notes. Very pleasant.
[Unlike the Nosiola “Fontanasanta”, this wine was not aged in an amphora. The grapes are fermented on the skins for a week, but the effect wasn’t really noticeable to me in this wine.]
2004 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti DOCG Rufina Riserva Vigneto Bucerchiale
100% Sangiovese. This was decanted for a while before I tried it. Full-bodied, still rather tannic, seamless, well balanced, with moderate acidity. Lightly oaky, with notes of sour cherries, mixed berries, plums, licorice, and spices. Excellent.
2004 Azienda Agricola Capannelle Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
Mostly Sangiovese, with some Canaiolo and Colorino. This was also decanted before I tasted it. Full, moderately tannic, well balanced, smooth, with moderate acidity. Shows mixed berry, sour cherry, leather, and mineral notes, with some charred oak. Very good/excellent.