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VINO FINO TASTERS

Mostly 1998 NEBBIOLO WINES
June 20, 2001



I thought we might need sandpaper as a palate refresher, rather than the customary French Bread....but host Alex Hoeppen (right photo) assembled a good set of Nebbiolo wines representing the full spectrum of styles....old schools, modernists and sloppy schools of winemaking.

 

 



Piemontese vineyards.

Recent harvests have been very promising in Piemonte.  The 1996 vintage was very fine.  The 1997 vintage provided big, ripe, deeply-colored wines of extraordinary fruit.  The 1998 vintage is regarded by the winemakers as not quite as good as its two predecessors, but certainly above average. 

We tasted wines of the Nebbiolo d'Alba denominazione (don't confuse these as "declassified" Barolo or Barbaresco wines, please) as well as some "Roero"-designated wines (Roero D.O.C. wines must be 95-98% Nebbiolo as a minimum and the rest can be the local white grape, Arneis).

Here's what we found:

The Wines Gerald's Rank GROUP RANK Total Points 1sts/2nds/
LASTS
CASCINA VAL del PRETE
1998 Roero
$39
1 1 21 7/4/0
CASCINA VAL del PRETE
1998 Nebbiolo d'Alba "Vigna di Lino"
3 3 53 2/1/0
Luciano
SANDRONE
1998 Nebbiolo d'Alba
"Valmaggiore"
$38
6 6 70 1/0/2
MATTEO CORREGGIA
1997 Nebbiolo d'Alba
"La Val dei Preti"
$35
2 2 44 1/5/2
Cantina ISNARDI
1996
Roero
$7
8 8 78 0/0/5
STEFANO FARINA 1998 Nebbiolo d'Alba $10 4 7 77 0/0/2
CASCINA CA'ROSSA di Ferro Angelo
1999 Roero
$13
5 5 68 0/2/2
LUCA ABRATE 1998
Nebbiolo d'Alba 
"Bricco Rotondo"
$23
7 4 59 2/1/0


"Is this really wine?" asks taster F. Allan Anderson.

8th Place:  CANTINA ISNARDI 1996 Roero
Though modestly-priced, this wine was beyond "old school" winemaking.  This would be most kindly described as "rustic."  Old, feeble, weak red wine which fits the stereotype of Italian wine.  The outspoken Mark Naismith was disappointed this wine did not have 13 last place votes.

7th Place:  STEFANO FARINA 1998 Nebbiolo d'Alba
Displaying some attractive berry and violet fragrances, this wine is moderately rich with a modest tannic bite.  I gave it a one star (out of three) rating.



6th Place:  LUCIANO SANDRONE 1998 Nebbiolo d'Alba "Valmaggiore"
Mildly earthy with a note of cherry-like fruit, this is a good example of basic Nebbiolo.  Medium-bodied, standard flavors echoing the nose with a bit of tannin.  One judge (photo on the right) rated it "Damn, that's good!" and gave it a first place ranking.


5th Place:  CASCINA CA' ROSSA di FERRO ANGELO 1999 Roero
Having some up-front berry fruit, a hint of orange peel and a spice note, this Roero is a bit astringent, but certainly a solid and typical example of Nebbiolo.  One star.

4th Place:  LUCA ABRATE 1998 Nebbiolo d'Alba "Bricco Rotondo"
With fruity aromas of apples, a bit of tar and some wet earth, the wine is, at best, of standard quality. Not unpleasant.

3rd Place: CASCINA VAL DEL PRETE 1998 Nebbiolo d'Alba "Vigna di Lino"
Hints of berry fruit and a suggestion of a violet fragrance on the nose....the wine is significantly bigger and richer on the palate than you might imagine from the nose.  The tannins are such that aging this for a couple of years would not be out of the question.
One-and-a-half stars.

2nd Place:  MATTEO CORREGGIA 1997 Nebbiolo d'Alba "La Val dei Preti"
The sad news of the day is that owner/winemaker Matteo Correggia just died this past week in a horrible tractor accident.  The 39 year old Canale resident leaves behind a legacy of fine winemaking.  
The fragrance of this wine is very complex, with plums, prunes, earthy notes and a touch of oak.  The tannins match up nicely with the fruit, balancing very well.  Better than some Barolo and Barbaresco wines.  Two stars.

1st Place:  CASCINA VAL Del PRETE 1998 Roero
While this was the runaway winner of the tasting, I can appreciate the critics who might argue this wine is all flashy oak and difficult to identify as any particular grape variety.  In this tasting, being the only wine of this style, the wine won handily.  Lots of sweet, oaky, vanillin notes to the nose and the same elements are found on the palate.  Of course, you need a certain amount of fruit to make this work.  While the wine succeeds at being a fine example of "internationally-styled red," I was unable to say this is, indeed, made of Nebbiolo.
Mark Naismith was disappointed this wine did not have 13 first place votes.
Two stars.

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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