TN: Supertuscans

Small group focused tasting of Supertuscan wines today.

1991 Solaia - medium dark some citrus in the nose, obvious cabernet, cedar, clean soft finish, adds acid, mint and soy with time. Opened 2 hours earlier but continued to develop for at least two more. Good.

1990 Fontodi Flaccionello - medium dark, some brett, lots of tar and balsamic. Medium body

1994 Sassicaia - dark with herbal nose, Tuscan character, smooth and ready.

2014 Antinori Guado al Tasso - very dark with a sweet jammy fruit nose, ready now.

2008 Frescobaldi Mormoretto - dark lovely sweet fruit nose, finishing dry and medium long.

2013 Tignanello - really dark with ripe nose and some floral elements, mellow and ready in the mouth, unlike some of the older wines.

2001 Conti Sertoli Salis Sforzato di Valtellina Canua - medium colour, tar, roses and slight cherry motes. excellent with cheese.

IMG_7608.jpg

[David M. Bueker]

Not a bad night.

The increase in price of Flaccianello has been one of my greatest wine disappointments. I bought the 1997 for under $50.

Yes, it was a good afternoon finishing with Partagas in the garden.

Sadly, several of those wines are now at a price level that is off-putting.

I bought 1985 Sassicaia for around $40 a bottle....

Not a bad night.

The increase in price of Flaccianello has been one of my greatest wine disappointments..

Agreed
Bill thanks for notes.

Here are my brief comments on these wines. The first three wines were from the early 1990s.

The 1991 Antanori Solaia was a light-medium brick colour, obviously an older wine. light blackfruits and cedar on the nose, with powdery tannins, blackfruits, and tar in a medium bodied palate (B+). This seemed to be on the downslope, but others remarked this improved over time, but I didn't have a second taste.

The 1990 Fontodi Flaccionello was also a light to medium ruby in colour. Lots of tar and balsamic notes, along with cherry on the nose. More cherries and healthy tannins on the medium bodied palate (B+). This didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders, but it didn't seem to be flawed in any way.

The 1994 Sassicaia was the most impressive of the three older wines. Darker in colour then the previous wines, there was an interesting nose, with herbal notes and blackfruits. Is was a rich, concentrated wine with healthy tannins and more blackfruits, herbal notes and tar (A-). I thought this the most Bordeaux-like of the first three.

The next three wines were from the 2000s, and were certainly more robust wines that shared similar traits.

The 2014 Antinoro Guado al Tasso was impressive. Deep ruby in colour, there was menthol, blackfruits and plums on the nose. Rich, concentrated and with solid tannins. Lots of blackfruits, tar and menthol on the silky, medium to full palate. Lovely wine (A-).

The 2008 Frescobaldi Mormoreto was also very deeply coloured. Rich blackfruits and tobacco on the nose. Similar flavours and healthy tannins on the medium to full bodied wine. Maybe a touch too big, but tasty (A-).

The 2013 Antinori Tignanello was another dark wine, with more blackfruit and a silky texture. Didn't have many notes on this, but this was another impressive wine and definitely young but drinkable now (A-).

I also brought a wine to have with the cheese course at the end of the tasting, and the 2001 Conti Sertoli Salis Sforzato di Valtellina Canua served very nicely. I didn't take notes, but Bill's notes describe it well. I was wondering if it would be close to the end of its life, but I think it can last a while yet. But it's in the zone right now (A-).

That Sforzato went really well with cheese! I have had old Infernos and such that were far older and stood up well. A shame that we never seem to get much from Valtellina in our market. I used to have a few but looked and I am down to exactly one and it is not really old enough to drink yet.

In the past I have enjoyed serving them blind against other Nebbiolo based wined from Piemonte.