@rhythmSOULdier
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2019 classico pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of sour cherry, cranberry, red flowers, dried herbs, gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and satisfying. To my palate, this is a fine classico from Serralunga d’Alba. Drink now with patience but I expect this will show better after 2029 and through 2044. — 6 days ago
Opened and decanted at least an hour before service; enjoyed over the course of several hours where it held service the entire time. The 2014 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of cassis, tobacco, purple flowers (a beautiful potpourri actually), iron rich earth, and delightful baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and lovely. As a vintage, 2014 is sneaky good and this Figeac is showing so well on this early window. Drink now with patience and through 2054. — 7 days ago
Opened and decanted about an hour prior to service. The 2016 San Valentino is a blend of mostly Sangiovese mixed with some local varieties. It pours a deep ruby purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the palate, the wine is developing with fascinating notes of ripe cherry, blackberry, exotic spices, wild underbrush, old leather and rich woody notes, some VA and dried rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ viscosity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and lovely and despite the concentration of flavors, surprisingly nimble and super versatile with the variety of fare on the table including sturgeon in a miso with noodles (it kinda blew my mind actually). Sublime. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 10 days ago
This is my 3000th tasting note on Delectable so I suppose I should celebrate by opening something fun. Flaccianello? Ovviamente!
While it’s labeled an IGT and colloquially considered a Super Tuscan, Flaccianello delle Pieve could legally be labeled as a Chianti Classico Riserva. However, Giovanni Manetti of Azienda Agricola Fontodi opts not to do so (despite the fact that he’s the current Chairman of the Conzorsio). The name, “Flaccianello delle Pieve” comes from the eponymous single-vineyard; the original source of grapes. However, around the turn of the millennium, Flaccianello became a blend of Fontodi’s best fruit throughout the estate. Over all the years, despite the changes in fruit source and aging regimen, Flaccianello remains 100% Sangiovese and 100% Panzano in Chianti.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2011 pours a deep, translucent garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried Morello cherry, raspberries, red flowers, leather, mushrooms, cigar box, menthol, organic earth and wonderful fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, delicious and warming as the alcohol is pretty elevated. But whoa…what a beauty.
Okay, yeah…this is a modern take on Chianti Classico but my goodness, this is undeniably delicious and unabashedly Italian. Back in 2011, Flaccianello was aged in a combination of barriques from Troncais and Allier, all 100% new; an era that was arguably the most modern for this wine. Over the last 10 or so years however, there has been a shift towards less time in new barrique and large casks have now been introduced for the last six months of cellar aging. While I look forward to trying some of these more contemporary examples, I am very impressed with this 2011 and expect it will continue to show well through 2035. — 2 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days. Consistent throughout, though the nose opens a bit more after Day 2. The 2020 “Les Beaumonts” pours a deep ruby (strikingly dark) with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with very light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of tart blackberries, licorice, peeled carrots, forest floor and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and super zippy; tart even. Alcohol is a little elevated but this has an overwhelming impression of freshness. Drink now with patience and through 2035. Thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 7 days ago
Clos des Forêts is a monopole of Domaine de l’Arlot in the commune of Premeaux-Prissey. It’s located south of Les Saint Georges with Les Didiers directly in between and planted exclusively to Pinot Noir.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2021 “Clos des Forêts” pours a bright ruby with a transparent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart forest strawberries, tart brambles, cranberries, orange rind, charming old-world notes of horse blanket, mushrooms, sous bois, and soft warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and deliciously savory. I realize the 2021 vintage isn’t for everyone but I find the wines to be charming and this was a lovely example. Drink now through 2036. — 10 days ago
Planted entirely to Sagrantino, “Cerrete” is a very special vineyard in Montefalco as it occupies the highest point in the DOC where it’s drier and cooler than Pagliaro. Typically, this is Bea’s most dense, most savage expression of Sagrantino di Montefalco. I can confirm that is the case for this wine.
Poured into a decanter about an hour before service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2010 pours a deep garnet color near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and, true to varietal form, overwhelmingly sanguine. Remarkable notes of demi-glacé, tart black cherry, and black plum, blood, the smell of a flower nursery’s greenhouse, and dry underbrush. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is impossibly long, iron rich and savory.
An absolutely brutal wine and positively stunning. This is awesome if you have the patience to allow it to open up however this will be better towards the end of this decade and drink well through 2045, easy. Bottle No. 0996/6111. — 6 days ago
This is technically a “Superiore” now so there probably ought to be a distinction but this remains Nicoletta’s precocious expression of Dolcetto regardless.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2021 “Valdibà”pours a deep purple color with medium viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart blackberries, plums, purple flowers, and mineral laden earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This is a workhorse of a red and was a fine compliment to a variety fare at the table including pork Ossobucco and duck confit crepes. Drink now. — 7 days ago
Popped and poured and enjoyed over lunch so no formal notes. I thought this was a wonderfully delicious Friulano with lovely floral notes and orange candies. Acid was great and it worked so well with marinated octopus salad with anchovies. — 9 days ago
Jay Kline
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Splash decanted; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2017 “Tip Top Vineyard” pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe black and red fruits: brambles, plums, cherry lozenges, black pepper, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This worked really well with a variety of grilled fare though I suspect a few more years in the cellar would help add some complexity. Drink now with patience through 2032. — 12 hours ago