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
