Italian megamix

The Great Winemakers of Italy dinner organized by Bordeaux Index at Domani Ristorante.

2003 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore - smoky, plum, ripe, pine forest notes.  Very sweet on the palate.  Delicious.  The wine spends 4 years in large oak barrels, then another 2 years in bottle.

2005 Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione - smoky, fruity, oaky.

1974 Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Riserva - nose of salty plum, savory, fermented soy bean (豆豉), sweet on the edges, smoky.  Interesting and lovely.

2010 Petrolo Galatrona - minty, so sweet and ripe, with vanilla, forest.  Still a little tannic on the palate, of course.

2009 Petrolo Torrione - nose of red chili pepper, maybe espelette?  A little savory.  Really interesting…

2001 Giuseppe Quintarelli Alzero - beautiful nose with full-blown forest notes.  Very smooth on the palate.  Massimo the distributor called it a "meditation wine", and I can close my eyes and imagine myself in a forest surrounded by giant trees.

1998 Salvioni Brunello di Montalcino - smoky, a little ripe, some fruit, slightly mineral on the edges.  Tannins were noticeable but velvety, and the body gained weight with a little more time.  Shared by a kind gentleman at the next table who apparently reads my blog and somehow recognized me.

2005 Soldera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva - smooth and surprisingly accessible.  Smoky with animal notes.

2006 Feudi di San Gregorio Pàtrimo - nose was sooo vanilla, really sweet, minty, spicy.  Alcoholic and very New World, but I like this Merlot.

2008 Roberto Voerzio Barbera d'Alba Riserva vignetto Pozzo dell'Annunziatta from magnum - nose was forward, very sweet, minty, a little sharp and alcoholic.

1990 Conterno Fantino Barolo Sorì Ginestra - savory nose with soy sauce, stewed fruit, minerals.  Smooth on the palate.

1998 Sassicaia - minty, smoky, cedar and a hint of green pepper.  Very classic Cabernet nose.  My contribution.

2010 Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione - forest, pine, potpourri, sweet, ripe, a little alcoholic.

2006 Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione - nice.  A little more tannic than the 2005.

Full post on dinner is here.