Tag Archives: Europe

April 7, 2013 · 9:33 am

Poggerino – 17/04/2012

Labarinto Chianti 2010
Lovely and bright, with juicy dark cherry and blackberry fruit, and is a totally uncomplicated easy-drinking wine for every day.

Chianti Classico 2009
Very full and soft, intense in both fruit and savoury notes, but is one of the most balanced and elegant from the 2009 vintage.

Bugialla Riserva 2007
Avery dense yet delicate and complex nose, with black fruits and some walnut characters, is very expressive but also structured and textural. It is however still very young and needs at least two more years to soften a little.

Primamateria 2008
An IGT blend, of 50% sangiovese and 50% merlot coming from a different vineyard lower in the valley. Whilst an excellent wine is not what I consider to be particularly inspiring. It shows great balance and composure, with texture and focus, but shows as very young and not really expressive at the moment.

Poggerino Rosato is a personal favourite

Poggerino Rosato is a personal favourite

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April 7, 2013 · 9:27 am

Fonterutoli – 17/04/2012

Castello Fonterutoli 2007
Significantly showed the difference of having more oak than the sangiovese samples, and also the small addition of cabernet sauvignon. On the nose it combined roasted red capsicum with black cherry and red currants, and on the palate showed very youthful power and texture, looking very masculine.

Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2009
Had an interesting floral black fruits nose, very good concentration and balance, a clean finish with nothing sticking out.

Siepi Toscana IGT 2007
A very dense mature nose, and on the palate was soft and plum jammy, very fruit sweet and warm and quite bold in fruit and oak.

Belguardo Serrata 2009
Blend of 80% sangiovese and 20% Alicante. Wasn’t showing anywhere near as well as the 2008 did when I sold it back in Australia.

Tenuta Belguardo 2007
Very soft and full, but still elegant and structured, with expressive blackberries and powerful breadth.

Belguardo Vermentino 2007
Very big aromatics somewhere between riesling and pinot grigio, but on the palate looked like a fruit-driven viognier.

Zisola 2009
From the Sicilian property was quite dull and lifeless, also not a patch on the 2008.

Fonterutoli tasting

Fonterutoli tasting

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April 6, 2013 · 2:22 pm

Giorgio Meletti Cavallari – 18/04/2012

Rosato 2011
A blend of syrah and merlot, and was a very pale pink colour made only from pressed juice, with plenty of fresh balanced fruit characters of strawberry and cherry.

Bolgheri Bianco 2011
Showed bright peach and lemon peel freshness and texture, with balance and a green spice element.

Borgheri 2010
Blended merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah, and was a nice combination of spice, earth, plum fruit and soft well structured tannins.

Impronte 2007
A blend of 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% cabernet franc, had power and elegance, structure and finesse, and showed blackcurrant fruits with supple yet firm tannins.

Two of the wines made by Giorgio Meletti

Two of the wines made by Giorgio Meletti Cavallari

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April 6, 2013 · 2:17 pm

Grattamacco – 18/04/2012

Vermentino 2010
Fascinating nose of salty oily apricot kernels, was fresh yet bold and textural on the palate, rich and contemplative with creamy nutty complexity.

Bolgheri Rosso 2010
Made from wines that don’t qualify for the top wines, spending less time in oak and barrel. Delicate yet tight and fresh, expressing dark fruit focus and restraint, and is not at all jammy or hot.

Grattamacco 2008
A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 15% sangiovese, a unique putty earthiness with the black fruits, with a supple velvety tannin texture and exquisite structure and potential.

L’Alberello Bolgheri Superiore 2009
Comes from younger vines, and includes no sangiovese, made up of 70% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc and 5% petiti verdot. Showed a softer yet fuller wine compared to the Grattamacco, more fruit sweetness and juiciness, with the same structure and finesse.

The four wines produced at Grattamacco

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April 6, 2013 · 1:47 pm

Isole e Olena – 18/04/2012

Chianti Classico 2009
Probably the best I tasted during the week, as it showed very bright and pure red fruits with great harmony, intensity, purity and elegance. This wine is intended to be a classic approachable food-friendly style, but the quality is so exemplary it betrays its unpretentious intent.

Cepparello 2008
Fantastic combination of bright red mineralic freshness with earthy rustic complexity, building generously on the palate with elegant concentration and balance, but will benefit from at least 10 years of cellaring.

Syrah 2006
Had a similar earthy edge to the blackberry and carob notes, but introduced savoury toast and charcuterie elements on the palate, but was not the best example of the variety.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Showed great stalky yet opulent and intense approachability on the palate, and is drinking very well now, it makes me wonder if there really is a terroir for the variety.

Vin Santo 2004
Very surprised to discover a wine that had freshness, balance, complexity and creamy texture, combining custard, raisin and lots of nuts.

The bedrock under Isole e Olena

The bedrock under Isole e Olena

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April 6, 2013 · 1:31 pm

Brancaia – 18/04/2012

Bianco 2011
A blend of 95% sauvignon blanc and 5% gewürztraminer, and had a classic sauvignon aromatic sweat coupled with bright fresh herbaceous kiwi and guava fruit sweetness.

Tre Rosso 2010
A blend of the three estates, and is composed of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. A very bright colour but is very light, showing dark ruby plummy aromas, fresh and tight fruits and tannins, with very little oak to overcomplicate.

Chianti Classico Riserva 2009
Had a very intense and fruit-driven nose, was focused and tight on the palate with full yet approachable personality.

Il Blu 2008
Made up of the two Chianti Classico DOCG estates, a blend of 50% sangiovese, 45% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon, and is Barbara’s original ‘super tuscan’. Had a wonderful dark currant and savoury chocolate nose, with some dusty and plummy fruit notes, fine yet firm and focused tannins and wonderful ageing potential.

Ilatraia2009
Comes from the Maremma estate, a blend of 40% cabernet, 40% petiti verdot and 20% cabernet franc, is decidedly softer and more mellow than the Il Blu, but with wonderful length and elegance.

The bright cellars of Brancaia

The bright cellars of Brancaia

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April 6, 2013 · 12:51 pm

Boscarelli – 19/04/2012

Prugnolo Rosso di Montepulciano 2010
Made from 90% sangiovese and 10% mammolo, had wild green pepper expressiveness on the nose, showing bright red fruit on the palate with some complex spice and great drive on the back of the palate.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2009
Much more intense and closed, with some floral earth and darker fruit notes, focused acids, gentle tannins and some very subtle crushed herbs and dried apricots on the palate.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2007
Deeper black fruit sweetness, showing the toastiness of additional barrel ageing, violet floral elements and great balance.

Nocio dei Boscarelli 2007
One of the most seductive of all the wines I tried in Tuscany, combining floral, black cherry and yellow plum fruit aromas, with amazingly pure yet complex and concentrated elegance and tannins.

Boscarelli IGT 2006
A very perfumed cassis oak and dust element, with full and dense tannin and bold structure, but for the time being looked a little hot and needs some time in bottle to balance.

Familiae Vin Santo 2002
Was only the second of the style to impress me, having a caramel colour with some oxidative, flan, toffee, vanilla and hazelnut aromas, and whilst rich and sweet still had plenty of fruit and sweetness to offset the higher alcohol level.

The entire Boscarelli range

The entire Boscarelli range

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April 6, 2013 · 12:39 pm

Poliziano – 19/04/2012

Rosso di Montepulciano 2010
Spicy and juicy on the nose, expressing purple and red fruits with plenty of fresh acids and balance. This is a classic style for the region, and is made up of 80% sangiovese and 20% merlot.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2008
A subtle rustic earthy nose, with great intensity and plump mellow tannins, a wine of approachability and elegance. This was yet another wine to show the majesty of the 2008 vintage in Tuscany.

Asinone 2007
100% sangiovese wine. Quite open and broad yet subtle and concentrated, very soft and generous with plum, cranberry and cassis.

Asinone 2006
A much more focused and expressive nose, with significantly more elegance and structure, drive and focus on the middle of the palate.

Le Stanze 2006
A ‘super tuscan’ blend of 90% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot. Rich and textured, with bold fruit sweet tannins and very integrated oak, showing approachability and complex nutty characters.

In Violas Cortona Merlot 2008

A dusty earthy aromatic wine, had some structure but was very broad and unfocused.

Lohsa Morellino di Scansano 2010
Unctuous and full, was uncomplicated and flavoursome with some earthy mineralic elements.

Mandrone di Lohsa 2008
The reserve of the previous wine, but is made from 80% cabernet sauvignon and other varieties whilst the Lohsa is led by sangiovese. Similar to the In Violas, being quite approachable and soft with plenty of flavour, but lacking distinction and focus.

The Poliziano wine librabry

The Poliziano wine library

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April 5, 2013 · 8:31 am

Costanti – 20/04/2012

Rosso di Montalcino 2010
Very bright floral raspberry tightness, with fresh fruit sweetness and generosity on the palate making it balanced, focused and approachable.

Brunello di Montalcino 2007
Had that fantastic stinky reductive power, but also showed dried cranberries and spices with full bright yet soft tannins, balance and harmony with great focus down the middle of the palate.

Brunello di Montalcino 2005
A lot more earthy development on the nose, but was also quite closed. On the palate it had developed suppleness and balance, and was wonderfully approachable.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2006
Very closed and needs a lot of time to soften out and open up. On the nose it combined earthy minerality with toasty black cherries, and whilst expressive and full, with time it will become more opulent as the very tight tannin structure mellows.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004

Probably the best wine I tasted in Tuscany, and with good reason as it came from one of the best vintages ever. Exquisitely aromatic, combining delicate florals, juicy blackberries, red liquorice, delicate herbs and spices with a molasses character to boot. On the palate it was so gentle and rich, yet elegant, balanced and focused, and the classic faecal notes where hauntingly subtle to make it unmistakably great Brunello.

The Costanti range

The Costanti range

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April 5, 2013 · 8:28 am

Poggio Antico – 20/04/2012

Rosso di Montalcino 2009
Had a stalky cherry and pomegranate juiciness on the nose, coupled with approachable gentle tannins and full flavours on the palate, with some nice blackberry fruit sweetness.

Brunello di Montalcino 2005
An oxidative banana skin oak note on the nose, with chocolate, tar, blackberry and raspberry liquorice, and whilst soft and broad was a little hot at the moment, and will need some more time in bottle.

Altero 2005
A much better wine, showing more exuberance and integration, the oak reacting better to the conditions of the vintage. On the nose it of course showed toasty caramel and aniseed notes, but was showing some slight fennel notes as well, dense and powerful tannins and fruit with some earthy complexity and plenty of life left.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2003
Not a strong vintage, was looking good now but won’t hold up for much longer. On the nose it showed charred wood and smoky spiced notes combining with salty caramel, prunes and crushed violets. On the palate were powerful tannins and warm oaky texture, and was decidedly more new world in style.

Madre 2006
A blend of 50% each of cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese, and expressed the volcanic nature of the soil, with complex salted liquorice and blackcurrant, herbal tea and savoury elements adding depth.

Le Martine 2010
50% sangiovese, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 25% petit verdot. It was a very soft and mellow yet tight wine, showing sweet oak and fruit tannins combining with plum, blueberries and raspberries, but also had a slight bruised character to the wine, making it look a little simple.

The Poggio Antico range

The Poggio Antico range

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