Once again our Bordeaux group veered, this time to Italy. Everyone managed to make it to Il Corso despite heavy security (a block from Drump Tower, just before he left for debate).
2012 Vilmart Emotion Rose Champagne
2013 Vilmart Emotion Rose Champagne
I really loved both of these, though the ‘13 was a bit colder and I think it helped with crispness. Similar profiles - lovely red berry fruits and rhubarb, rye bread, some citrus zest. Finish on ‘12 was rather chalky while ‘13 more flinty. But loved both- A-
Croquettes with cheese and prosciutto, eggplant parmesan, and beef carpaccio, salad
1963 Sella Lessona
I believe my first ‘63 Piedmont. I was a bit concerned with the volatility on the nose, but this was quite lovely on palate. Cherries, smoke, mint, and more smoke. As I got used to the nose liked even more, and it held up well throughout dinner. B+
1990 Campogiovanni San Felice Brunello di Montalcino
Black cherry and coffee, some saddle leather and coffee, savory and fun. B+
2008 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino
Big, somewhat tannic, black and sour cherry, a bit tough. Some others liked much more. B/B-
2006 G. Conterno Cascina Francia Barolo
A bit shut in on itself and ponderous, but nice base of red fruit, roses, and tar underneath. I didn’t love this night but lots of potential, in a brawny sort of way. B- for drinking now
2011 G. Conterno Francia Barolo
Big but open, red plum and floral notes, some tannin but not hard. B/B+
I had a nice veal parmesan.
1996 G. Mascarello Monprivato Barolo
Corked! Such a shame! NR
1999 G. Mascarello Monprivato Barolo
This was not pleasant- not corked, and not definitely maderized, but pruney and stinky.. The stink had a bacterial edge but didn’t strike me as brett. I’ve had excellent bottles of this, and have one in my cellar, which I hope is a lot more like previous bottles than this one! C/C-
2014 A. Conterno Bussia Barolo
Kirsch and vanilla, modern but actually fairly tasty. B
1995 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
Lovely elegant midweight, floral/roses with red berries and a touch of licorice. Quite pretty. A-
1998 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
Cherry, tar, and roses. In a very nice place. A-/B+ (I think group preferred to 1995 by a hair)
Fun night, even with a couple off bottles.
Last night I made linguini with clams. I was driving to get Betsy at Newark airport, but took a tiny taste of the cooking wine, the 2010 Ch. Faugeres Bordeaux Blanc. Low expectations (white from a St Em producer, at 14?), but at least it was alive (unlike previous bottle). Pineapple, apple, grass, lower acid. B-/C+
(subject line edited as I left off most wines!)
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.