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Wines from Under the Tuscan (and Umbrian) Sun
19 Aprile 2000

This was a terrific tasting of some Sangiovese-based wines from the highly-touted 1997 and 1998 vintages.

We typically include a range of wines in various price categories, hoping to get lucky and find something good and reasonablly-priced. 

Here's what transpired:

The Wines Gerald's
Ranking
VINO FINO VERDICT TOTAL POINTS 1sts/2nds/
Lasts
LA CARRAIA 1998 Sangiovese (Umbria) $9.99 5 8 65 0/0/4
COLLELUNGO
1998 Chianti Classico  $17.99
1 2 41 5/0/0
FELSINA
1997 Chianti Classico
$24.99
4 4 45 0/2/1
FONTERUTOLI
1997 Chianti Classico
$23.99
7 5 48 1/2/1
FONTODI
1997 Chianti
Classico
$23.99
8 3 45 2/2/2
ISOLE e OLENA 1998 Chianti Classico $18.99 6 7 61 1/0/3
ISOLE e OLENA 1997
"Cepparello"
$49.99
2 1 31 2/5/0
VILLA CAFAGGIO 1997 Chianti Classico
$15.99
3 6 60 0/0/0

STATS:
As you might notice, the Isole e Olena 1997 Ceparello was the run-away winner of the tasting.  Interestingly it has but two of 11 first place votes, while the Collelungo, with five first place tallies, was well behind in second place.
Second through fifth place are very closely grouped, with a third tier bringing up the rear. 

LA CARRAIA's 1998 Sangiovese from Umbria finished in last place, though I pegged it as my 5th place wine.  It had bright fruit, red berry aromas and the same sorts of characteristics on the palate.  It is nicely balanced and ready to drink now.  This caused some tasters to drop it down, being "too light." 
ISOLE e OLENA's 1998 Chianti Classico finished in seventh place.  I thought this displayed very cherryish fruit and was quite bright and focused.  It has snappy acidity and a bit of tannin, giving it some "bite."  A rich tomato sauced-pasta will remove some of that tannin, as will a bit of time in the cellar.
VILLA CAFAGGIO 1997 Chianti Classico finished a single point ahead of the Isole e Olena.  The aromas were berryish with a hint of cocoa.  I found this to be moderately tannic, with plenty of fruit to outlast the five to eight years' worth of tannin. 
FONTERUTOLI 1997 Chianti Classico came in fifth place.  This had some odd notes, showing a spicy, almost resiney, piney aroma.  Combined with jammy, over-ripe fruit, I found this to be less-than charming on the palate---quite tannic and tough.  I questioned whether or not this has enough fruit to be a well-balanced "mature" wine.   Time will tell, however!
FELSINA 1997 Chianti Classico took fourth place.  This had some woodsy, "forest floor"-sorts of aromas.  It is a rather tannic and tough Chianti needing 5-10 years to reach its peak. 
FONTODI 1997 Chianti Classico was the most controversial wine, arriving in third place. Defenders of this liked its intensity and richness. A few of us did not find this to be "the best Chianti normale of the vintage" as did The Wine Spectator. What they described as having "...terrific aromas of plum and blackberry, with hints of vanilla." some found showing H2S (hydrogen sulfide--rotten egg) and a leathery, gamey character. This blew off a little bit, but I brought the remains back to the shop and Ellen gave this an "Upside Down Glass" for having the leathery, stinky notes. I think some tasters became desensitized to this element after a while.
COLLELUNGO 1998 Chianti Classico was the second place wine. This had the most first place votes, nearly half tasters having it as their first place wine. However, a few tasters ranked this seventh, keeping it from winning the tasting! This was, for me, a fabulous wine. It was sweetly spiced on the nose, with woodsy and cedary scents. The wine is minty, woodsy and cherryish. This is lovely now and seemed to have enough structure (acidity and tannin) to warrant some aging, too. It may go for 5-10 years.
ISOLE e OLENA 1997 "Cepparello" ran away with the tasting, coming in first place. This displayed a bit more fruit than the Collelungo, but had a similar spiciness. The wine is also well-structured, having 5-10 years of aging potential. This is very fine!

Terrific tasting.

VINO FINO TASTING ARCHIVE

2007 RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS  February 2010

A RANGE OF FRENCH CHABLIS WINES  January 2010

HOLIDAY DINNER & WINE MARATHON  December 2009

ROSÉ SPARKLING WINES  November 2009

ARGENTINEAN MALBECS  October 2009

WEST COAST CHARDONNAYS  September 2009

GREEK RED WINES  August 2009

2005 BUDGET BORDEAUX  July 2009

CAMPANIAN WHITE WINES  June 2009

MIXED BAG OF CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 2009

RIOJA WINES, MOSTLY FROM THE 2004 VINTAGE  March 2009

NORTH COAST PETITE SIRAHS  February 2009

SYRAH & PETITE SIRAH COMPARISON  January 2009

A VINO FINO CHRISTMAS  December 2008

MOSTLY 2005s: NAPA CABERNETS  November 2008

SONOMA COUNTY PINOT NOIRS  October 2008

SANTA RITA HILLS -2006 VINTAGE- PINOT NOIRS  SEPTEMBER 2008

NEWLY RELEASED ZINFANDELS  August 2008

WHITE RHÔNE VALLEY WINES  JULY 2008

LOIRE VALLEY SAUVIGNONS  JUNE 2008

FRENCH CHABLIS 2005-2006  MAY 2008

NORTHERN RHÔNE SYRAHS  APRIL 2008

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS PINOT NOIRS  January 2008

ANNUAL HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS DINNER  December 2007

WEST COAST CHARDONNAYS  November 2007

AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ  October 2007

SPANISH TEMPRANILLO WINES  September 2007

SONOMA'S 2005 VINTAGE ZINFANDELS  August 2007

CURRENT RELEASE (2004-2005) ZINFANDELS  July 2007

ROS WINES FROM ALL OVER  June 2007

ITALIAN LAGREIN WINES  May 2007

ARGENTINEAN MALBECS  April 2007

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PINOT NOIRS  March 2007

MOSTLY 2004 CABERNETS   February 2007

CRU BEAUJOLAIS  January 2007

A VINO FINO CHRISTMAS  December 2006

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  November 2006

PINOT NOIRS of VALUE-PRICING  October 2006

WORLD OF SYRAHS TASTING September 2006

AUSSIE CABERNET-SHIRAZ BLENDS  August 2006

ALEXANDER VALLEY (California)  and MARGARET RIVER (Australia) CABERNETS  July 2006 

CALIFORNIA PETITE SIRAHS  June 2006

2004 NORTH COAST PINOTS and a FRENCH INTRUDER  May 2006

AGLIANICO : BASILICATA & CAMPANIA'S MAJOR RED WINE  April 2006

NERO D'AVOLA - A TASTE OF SICILIA  March 2006

UNDER THE VINO FINO RADAR ZINFANDELS  January 2006

HOLIDAY WINE TASTING & DINNER  December 2005

BUBBLIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD  November 2005

NORTH COAST PINOT NOIRS  October 2005

STATE OF CONFUSION CABERNETS  September 2005

TIM ZAINER'S SIDEWAYS LOOK AT MERLOTS  August 2005

LOIRE VALLEY CABERNET FRANCS  June 2005 

CALIFORNIA SYRAHS  March 2005

2002 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  February 2005

VINO FINO HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON  December 2004

CHARDONNAYS OF MODEST PRICE November 2004

SPANISH TEMPRANILLO  October 2004

2002 CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIRS  September 2004

AUSSIE SHIRAZ-CABERNET BLENDS  August 2004

GEWRZTRAMINERS FROM ALSACE July 2004

2001 SOUTHERN RHNES (7 Chteauneufs & a Vacqueyras)  June 2004

AGLIANICO WINES FROM CAMPANIA & BASILICATA  May 2004

MONTEPULCIANO WINES FROM THE ABRUZZO & MARCHE REGIONS  April 2004

SONOMA ZINFANDELS  February 2004

1997 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO  January 2004

VINO FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA 2003

2001 CTES du RHNES  September 17, 2003

2000 OREGON PINOT NOIRS  August 20, 2003

WEST COAST SYRAHS  July 16, 2003

2000 Bordeaux  June 18, 2003

2000 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 21, 2003

OFF THE BEATEN PATH SYRAHS APRIL 16, 2003

2002 NEW ZEALAND SAUVIGNON BLANCS  March 19, 2003

1999 California CABERNETS  February 19, 2003

VINO FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA December 4, 2002

AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ  August 21, 2002

CHAMPAGNES & SPARKLERS July 17, 2002

Interesting Paired CHARDONNAYS
May 15, 2002

2001 Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS   Feb. 20, 2002

1999 ZINFANDELS January 16, 2002

HOLIDAY SEASON BACCHANALIA
December 5, 2001

1999-2000 New PINOT NOIRS November 14, 2001

1999 CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 17, 2001

1998 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 19, 2001

1999 LANGUEDOC REDS August 15, 2001

1997 SAUTERNES July 18, 2001

Mostly 1998 NEBBIOLO June 20, 2001

1999 PINOT NOIRS May 16, 2001

1996 SAINT-MILION Tasting April 18, 2001

CARNEROS CHARDONNAYS March 21, 2001

1984-1985 NAPA CABERNETS/John Vignau Memorial Tasting  October 20, 2000

1997 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS   September 20, 2000

1998 CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS   August 16, 2000

WINES FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: CLARETS  June 21, 2000

WINES FROM UNDER THE TUSCAN (and Umbrian) SUN   Aprile 19, 2000

1997 BORDEAUX: MEDOC May 17, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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