Notes from a combined Piemonte Tuscany tasting.
2010 Elio Grasso Educato Chardonnay (Langhe) – light colour, nice lemony nose, clean and fresh, but also too expensive.
1999 Rocaccio Fontenova – an old favourite – a blend of Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo, this had good colour, a nose of earthy plum, some up front tannin, and good length. Tasty.
1995 Fonterutoli Chianti Reserva – dark wine with a caramel and vanilla nose, good weight and length, smooth and soft. Perfect right now.
1995 Ornellaia – this cabernet from Ludovico Antinori, made in Bolgheri, was also at peak. Herbal peppery nose, smooth and supple in the mouth, may improve but great now.
2001 Canonico a Ceretto Sandiavolo – very slight TCA, but easy to see the quality underneath. Nice fruit, tannin on entry, some trailing blackberry and medium length.
2003 Uccelliera Brunello – Dark, lots of vanilla in this nose, big in the mouth with lots of tannin, quite ripe fruit – definitely a pleasant but new age take on Brunello.
1997 Rocche Costamagna Barolo Bricco Francesco – floral and acidic elements in the nose, high toned with some nice complexity, supple middle and medium length.
1997 Giacomo Conterno Barolo (Serralunga) – good colour, lovely floral and tar nose sweet and supple lost of soft tannin, a leathery touch and good acidity. Excellent.
2000 Frescobaldi Mormoreto – this Tuscan Cab had an odd nose with low fruit, a bit hot and primary, medium length, still pretty firm and needs time to see what will be there.
Franco Martinetti Alcedo Vino da Uve Stramature - Timorasso grapes, dried and sweet, slightly oxidized and with too little acidity for good balance.
1997 Isole o Olena Vin Santo – delightful wine with a brown sweet oxidized presentation, nutty figgy wine.