Super Tuscan tasting
2023 Torre Zambra Pecorino Poggio Salaia – the starter white was showing salt water and lime in the nose and a hint of lychee. Clean, long and tasty.
1982 Sassicaia – dark very Bordeaux-like wine with dark fruit and pencil shaving nose, a smooth entry and lengthy finish. Excellent! It had been in my cellar sincerelease in our market and I wondered how it would be as I hadn’t opened one for 30+ years but it was in great shape and it didn’t deteriorate with time in the glass. Too bad it goes for C. $500 now or I’d go looking for more.
2012 Monsanto Nemo – this cabernet based wine has been around for awhile (1982 = first vintage) . Fairly dark with a nose of dark fruit and significant tannin – still fairly tight, but with time it opened up a bit (slowly).
1995 Antinori Solaia – dark wine with a bell pepper nose, quite smooth and ready for current drinking A claret like wine lighter than the Sassicaia and drinking well now.
2015 Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia – dark with soft tannins and good acidity. 70/30 cab sauv/merlot. Good fruit levels.
2015 Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco – dark wine with a smoky nose and not too much tannin, nose with dark fruit and hints of smoke, black currant and a nice long finish. Very good.
2004 Ornellaia – big dark wine, excellent floral nose and with notes that reminded me of a cigar packed with a cedar shaving around it.
1982 Grahams Malvedos Port – out of my cellar and my last bottle. It showed very well with deep colour only lightening a bit, a nose of sweet fruit with apricot overtones and figgy back drop. It was in excellent shape and in prime drinking condition.