1999 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso, Tuscany, Italy

Not decanted - the first thing you notice in this ruby red Brunello is the alcohol. But is vanished after some time and as it stood in the glass it developed a lot of flavours . Cherry, sweet licorice, plums, raisins, blackcurrant and extremely pure ripe fruit. The taste is elegant but bold in terms of strenght and finish. Still very young there was a lot of difference from the first nosedive to the last sip of the glass, where the plum raisins flavours had the advantage. I found it very easy to drink with and without food (93)

Sat 23 Oct, 2004

1999 Castello di Ama, L'Apparita, Tuscany, Italy

Maybe it was corked. There was certainly something wrong with it. No rating

1999 Argiano, Solengo, Tuscany, Italy

Not as good as the 2000, but still a great Solengo. English liquorice, mocha, vanilla (barrrique), rubber and very charming and lush. The barrique influence is defiantly present but IMHO it’s balanced and the taste is long soft and precise. (93+)

Tasted 11 of March 2005. Glass Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

1999 Antinori, Guado al Tasso, Tuscany, Italy

Smooth surface med deep black fruits. Plums and sweetness from liquorice. Also, mocha, tobacco and all together a deep and compact fruit composition. Taste is great – dry, tar but also minerals, and by far the best Guado ever made. (93+)

Tasted 11 of March 2005. Glass Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

1999 Allegrini, Amarone Classico, Valpolicella, Italy

Very tight wine and even on day three it was not showing much. I must confess that I didn’t like this that much. It’s very heavy on alcohol, raisins, black fruits, pepper and spices. Defiantly we are in the well-made-wine-zone, but I guess I am not that into Amarone anymore. It suited the Christmas food perfectly (90).

Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru (Christmas Eve 2005)

1998 Tenuta di Trinoro, Palazzi, Tuscany, Italy

Incredible sweetness emerges from the very first glass of the night. Blackberries and blueberry mixture, exotic spices, marzipan, kirsch liqueur and vanilla. The taste is at first dry and my first thought was “ahhh not that nice – too dry and too light” – but then it adds a final touch of mineral bite back. And - when tasting it again and knowing this secret weapon it suddenly balances itself and a lot of elegance is added to the wine. Nice start. (93)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1998 Sportoletti, Villa Fidelia, Umbria, Italy

Tasted this wine 10 times before. Has lost it's Cotarella baby fat, but has slowly gained a lot of classic notes. Very close to a Bordeaux and with lots of roasted coffee and dark chocolate. (91-93)

Tasted November 13th 2004. Brief Thoughts

1998 Sportoletti, Villa Fidelia, Umbria, Italy

It’s been almost 1½ year since I last tasted this. Opened directly from the bottle it showed the classic Cotarella blackcurrant show with seductive fruit. However the wine developed nicely in the glass putting on weight, character and overall impression. The fruit picture consist of blackcurrant, tobacco, dark bitter chocolate and some herbal dust patterns that seemed to transform themselves into a tar component when the wine enters the mouth. The taste is nice – a bit tame on the meditation level, but easy drinking with a good roughness of fruit, tannin and tar. (92) Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

Fri 16 Jun, 2006

1998 P Scavino, Barolo, Bric del Fiasc, Piemonte, Italy

A very seductive Bric del Fiasc. Extremely sexy with: Red fruit, hint of truffles, rubber and cherry stones. The wine has a incredible purity and seldom seen elegance. The taste doesn’t disappoint with precision, purity and harmonic length. Drinking so well at this stage – what a great wine. (96)

Tue 26 Apr, 2005

1998 P Scavino, Barolo, Bric del Fiasc, Piemonte, Italy

This wine was not very drinkable on day two as I forgot to seal the cork probably. My memories at this stage is a bit blurred, but I remember is as being as very nice with truffles, smoke and cherry stones. Not as seductive as my first visit, but still a great wine. (91-93)

Glass: Riedel Sommelier Burgundy Grand Cru Brief TN from a dinner with friends.

Mon 06 Feb, 2006

1998 Ornellaia, Ornellaia Lodovico Antinori, Tuscany, Italy

Ornellaia 1998 is very different from previous vintages. It has a very exotic style and could have been mistaken for an Californian Cab. But what a wine...cedar, plum and a beautiful sweetness (95)

Tasted October 2003

1998 Ornellaia, Ornellaia Lodovico Antinori, Tuscany

Dark red. Opulent nose with blueberry, tobacco and high alcohol. Almost overseas in profile. It’s only in the taste you notice the Italian touch and it’s big and bold. More herbs developed during the time in the glass. I am usually a great fan of these wines but I am concerned about the obvious new style of this wine. (92+) Tasted 8 of March 2005, Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

1998 Le Macchiole, Scrio, Tuscany, Italy

Dark red and much more open than the 97-vintage. The licorice is more sweet and the vanilla and black currant is more apparent, more approachable but not so complex.You can sense more barrique here but the mineral is also here. More a bluckbuster than the 97'. (94)

Tasted May 2003

1998 Le Macchiole, Paleo, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

(85% CS, 10% CF, 5% SG)

The blend has now changed. I can’t stop comparing this with the 1998 Ornellaia. Not that they are totally alike, but there are both not very Italian. The 1997 vintage is defiantly more exotic – but that comes from a lot of heat that turns out to be a liqueur component. The ’98 is for me a much more simple wine, with heavy load of barriques flavours, sweetness and a somewhat warm fruit core. It could easily have passed for an overseas wine in a blind tasting. It’s excused by its age and the barriques vanilla seems a bit too noticeable and in time they might settle down. The taste has a bold structure, but again too much blackcurrant and I really missed a different layer and the minerals I so much love in Le Macchiole’s wines. (89)

Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru Details: Paleo Vertical 1992-2002

1998 Le Macchiole, Messorio, Tuscany, Italy

Very dark color WOW! a BIG nose. Tasted along side the 97-Messorio, but very different. A thick layer of black currant with vanilla and licorice..not much but just a touch. Amazing . Like the 97, the taste and finish last for over 1min. Very powerfull but as with Le Machhioles other wines not clumsy but feminine (100)

Tasted May 2003

1998 Le Macchiole, Messorio, Tuscany, Italy

Second time I try this wine and I scored it a perfect 100 pts. Back in May-2003. My initial thought was – nope not perfect as the first expressions from the glass made their entrance. But then the magic starts. If this wine was served to me blind, I hope that I would be able to spot its superb Italian warmth, but it would not be an easy task – why? It has such an exotic nose, that it initially could be mistaken for an overseas wine, but then again the supreme elegance – Pomerol maybe? Compared to the height of elegance; ’97-Messorio and the muscular ’99 version – the 1998 could be labelled as the Exotic-Messorio. The nose has so many notes and they are shifting tempo and volume for each new nose-dive. We have – caramel, marzipan, raisins, coconut, melted valrhona chocolate, notes of Christmas and black luxurious fruits – to die for. As a mineral hunter and the appreciation for Le Macchiole high profiled Tuscan herbs the ’98 don’t fulfilled my dreams and on paper not a subject for a perfect wine. But how about a 1min and 12 second finish, extreme elegance, overload of fruit and most importantly a drinking pleasure so high that the bottle was finished before I could write, for the fifth time in my short life in wine – 100 Points.

Thu 03 Aug, 2006

1998 Le Macchiole, Messorio, Tuscany, Italy

Crazy and Opulent wine compared to the 1997. Pouring out blueberries, glycerine, paint, wax, coconut with bit fat overripe cherries. With air some more structure building up, with herbs evolving. Taste is intense, warm blooded with dark melted chocolate. Uhhh it’s a tough call this one as the oak seem to be one of the providers of this wildness, but my god there is so much fruit and the wine never becomes heavy. If you are in doubt don’t give it the perfect score – so (99+pts)

Messorio Vertical Thu 14 Sep, 2006

1998 La Zerbina, Scacco Matto, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Caramel, apricot, brown sugar, overall good weight of sweetness, purity and balance. Taste has good grip and it’s quite elegant, but missing some depth and concentration to score higher. (93)

Thu 03 Aug, 2006

1998 Arnaldo Caprai, Sagarntino di Montefalco 25 Anni, Marches, Italy

(Tasted blind) Dark red. Extremely tight and closed. Almost impossible to penetrate the nose and it comes down to minerals in terms of iron and metal. The taste is equal tight with dry extract and a finish with tar and herbs. Developed no new flavours as it sat in the glass. Still a well made wine (89)

Tasted 8 of March 2005, Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

1998 Altare, Insieme, Piemonte, Italy

From a magnum bottle, not blind. Very dark colour and a compact nose with a certain amount of fresh herbs mixed with tobacco. After one hour in the glass some sweetnes emerged together with chocolate and licorice. But the "green" element from the Cabernet was still there....I actually like the taste better, maybe because the wine has such a mixed picture on the bouquet. The taste is powerful and very long with great fruit. (93)

Wed 30 Jun, 2004

1998 Allegrini, La Poja, Veneto, Italy

One of the first wines I ever tasted was 1988 La Poja, I have enjoyed many since but almost forgot all about it after being seduced by so many other wines. This example – 10 years later, disappointed me. La Poja has always in my belief been a very seductive and satin layered wine with healthy concentration and elegance. I found way too much plum, prunes and cooked fruit in this 98’. Taste is full-bodied but a bit clumsy. (87)

Tasted 28th of May 2005, Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

1998 Allegrini, La Poja, Veneto, Italy

Still disappointing showing for this vintage. It has a dull prune tone, which with more air toned slightly down. But it’s screaming for a cooler tone which could provide it with some sort of edge and refinement. (88)

Tue 19 Dec, 2006

1997 San Giusto A Rentennano, Percarlo, Tuscany, Italy

My worst experience so far with this wine. Simply don’t touch it for the next 5-6 years. Nose is actually wild. Again this kirsch liqueur feeling, but this time with some marzipan, dust, rubber and it’s not balanced at all. The taste safes it from totally disaster, as there emerges some herbs, spices which give purity and harmonises Percalo. Again the taste is exotic and knowing know that it’s Percarlo I can’t recognize it at all. (90)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 San Giusto A Rentennano, Percarlo, Tuscany, Italy

Yes here it was again. This time not decanted. We have kirsch liqueur again, more fleshy (bacon). The fruit core is more compact and smells of octane, potatoes and glycerine. Taste is again good – fair purity in the first part, but more metallic in the finish than the first decanted version of the night. (90)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 San Giusto A Rentennano, Percarlo, Tuscany, Italy

Deep red color. With leather, roasted cofee, cherry and a very complex nose. This is the second time I try this wine and it is by far the best 100% Sangiovese wine I have ever tasted. In the mouth the wine has so much structure and the finish is outstanding and last for 1min (98+)

Tasted April 2003

1997 San Giusto A Rentennano, Percarlo, Tuscany, Italy

What a shame. To serve this wine with fried Fois gras was disaster. It’s seriously closed down – even more after I tasted it in April this year. There is still a lot of fruit, herbs and very dry finish with harsh tannins. Leave it to sleep for at least 4-5 years. (93)

1997 San Giusto A Rentennano, Percarlo, Tuscany, Italy

At first it didn’t show much of it’s usual stuff. Closed was my first note, but comes back with a deep core, but nothing like previous encounters – the wine is more smoked. Taste is the wines main force and here it all comes together, with mind-blowing structure and although it is dry, it’s just my palate. Should note that this is the lowest I have scored this wine (96)

Tasted 1st of April 2005 - Era Ora

1997 Querciabella, Batar, Tuscany, Italy

Heavy nose with a lot of alcoholic disturbance. It’s lacking freshness and fruit and not at all nice. The taste is again not that well balanced. Hard on the palate, with very little floral components and the influence from the oak gives a lot of heat to the wine and it hasn’t got enough fruit to sustain and balance. (82)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Querciabella, Camartina IGT, Tuscany, Italy

Opened up nicely in the glass and shed the firs dull Tuscan blackcurrant profile quite rapidly. Buttermilk, Tuscan herbs, deep/sensual and a high level of complexity. Taste was round and soft and the finish was nice with good herbal bite and personality (93) with better food it could have reached a higher score.

Tue 28 Mar, 2006

1997 Petrolo, Galatrona, Tuscany, Italy.

Kirsch, liqueur a lot of glycerine and milk chocolate which gives the fruit core a smooth surface and it’s a bit too easy for my preference. The taste has actually got a fair structural bite, with a velvet finish, but the exotic sweetness takes focus and alcohol disturbance as well. (90)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Ornellaia, Ornellaia VDT, Tuscany Italy

What I remember most about this was a ravishing sweetness in the fruit, so delicate and breathtaking. The taste was long and seductive with dozes of melted chocolate. I really liked it. (96)

Thu 14 Sep, 2006

1997 Ornellaia, Masseto, Tuscany, Italy

It doesn’t get much better than this. Compact deep fruit core with vibrant complex nose. A wine with style and Italian charm. The overall impression is a wine that stands tall and gracefully. Infused in this cabinet is minerals and purity seldom seen. I was like many captured and seduced by the depth the nose that has chocolate, strawberries and flint. Taste is sublime and has an arrogant surplus of structure and fruit. WOW! (98)

Tasted 1st of April 2005 - Era Ora

1997 Montervertine, Le Pergole Torte Riserva, Tuscany, Italy

Light nose of mature fruit. The only two notes I have written down is raspberry and sweetness. I have underlined that wine was very tame and not giving any impression of a big wine from a good vintage. If anything it has got a fair charm over it with sweet mature ready to go fruit. The taste confirms the aspect from the nose and again a light weighted wine, rather innocent and a way too short finish. (84)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Le Pupille, Saffredi, Tuscany, Italy

At first I wasn’t the biggest fan of the nose. It has a lot of dark liquorice tickle and what I normally connect with an overseas wine. The fruit core has an overwhelming level of dark berries – grassy/spicy almost and as it got more air it has several Bordeaux similarities. The taste is however awesome and like the Palazzi it now gives meaning and definition. The taste is very intense, the dark berries it still there, but it has such a perfect structural body, definition and purity despite it bold style. There are many good years of drinking pleasure in this. (95).

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Le Pupille, Saffredi, Tuscany, Italy

Same feeling here – last tasted with the Berlin boys in Dec-05. Maybe a fraction lower in score.

Fri 09 Mar, 2007

1997 Le Macchiole, Scrio, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

It’s almost 1½ year since I tasted the ’97 Scrio. The wine has developed nicely and the nose is far from shy now. Plum, vanilla, many complex layers and these fantastic Le Macchiole Tuscan herbs – from here I almost forgot to take further notes, just enjoyed it and finished my glass very quickly. Taste is awesome – high intensity and immediately setting its footsteps on the front part of the mouth – youthful, but slowly more velvet when pushing further back in the closing and leaving with the Le Macchiole mineral/herbal bite. 96

Mon 06 Mar, 2006

1997 Le Macchiole, Scrio, Tuscany, Italy

Very dark red. The nose..Hallo Scrio..no nose. Very closed. After 2 hours still tight but licorice, black currant and vanilla. The taste shows a better picture with a good balance. In the taste there is a lot of minerals which still reveals that Scrio is young. (94)

Tasted May 2003

1997 Le Macchiole, Paleo, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

(85% CS, 10% SG, 5% CF)

More exotic fruit core. The berries are somewhat sweeter, almost liqueur like with classic Tuscan blackcurrant and vanilla. There are some herbs and minerals here to, but there are more sealed and distant as the sweet fruit takes too much focus. The taste has a seductive profile with good Italian warmth and velvet tannins. As I prefer more bite and mineral overload I preferred the 1996 Paleo. (91)

Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru Details: Paleo Vertical 1992-2002

Tue 31 Jan, 2006

1997 Le Macchiole, Messorio, Tuscany, Italy

"Messorio". What can I say..flawless. Second time I have tasted this wine. The rating is the same. To make a wine that has such a concentration, but yet feminine nose with a finish that last over 1 minute. Very dark color.The wine is so complex and you can sit with your nose i the glass for hours..you are in love. I kept a little portion of Messorio in one of my glasses during the whole *evening...Hypnoticed every time I returned. (100)

*During a tasting at Era Ora in October 2003

1997 Le Macchiole, Messorio, Tuscany, Italy

Flawless, perfect an unbelievable wine – the 1997 Messorio is IMHO the best Tuscan wine ever made. Cigar box / Cedar wood, chocolate, subtle sweetness with unheard complexity level. You are in love. Since I last tasted the 1997 in Aug-2005 the wine has become far more Bordeaux look-alike, but still with the Tuscan warmth. Taste is….ahhh man – outrageous it gives you goose bumps with its extremely long feminine, mineral packed finish. (100pts) - if possible more.

Messorio Vertical

Thu 14 Sep, 2006

1997 La Spinetta, Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi, Piemonte, Italy

Superb nose and at first extremely wild – making it very hard to blind guess at. It calmed down a bit in the glass, but thankfully never lost its first impression of a big wine. Coconut, vanilla, mint and deep floating fruit core. Raisins with a sprinkle of alcohol – not heavy at any stage, even though this is a 14.5% monster. Taste is great, intense, pure and again wild with liquorice ending the show. (96)

Fri 19 Aug, 2005

1997 Isole Olena, Collezione De Marchi Syrah IGT, Tuscany, Italy

(Tasted blind) Very smooth fruit core – a bit neutral at first, but made its impression on the elegant side with subtle dozes of liquorice, mocha and plum. The wine is easy to drink – elegant, but too smooth on the finish line and not gripping and attacking enough to create a convincing finish. (90)

Mon 17 Apr, 2006

1997 Isole e Olena, Cepparello, Tuscany, Italy

This wine was tasted vs Tignanello 1997 and cleary won that battle. This wine is a profe of what can be achived with a 100% sangiovese IGT-wine. So much purity and a huge surplus in fruit. Also with chocolate and vanilla. (96+)

Tasted October 2003

1997 Isole e Olena, Cepparello, Tuscany, Italy

Warm plum fruit, with dark berries and chocolate. Minerals is however present, but not with the same nerve as Percarlo. Taste is beautiful velvet tannins and rich on fruit and charm. The wine has lost concentration since I tasted it the first time 1½ year ago and with the softer structure I don’t see it performing well more that 6-7 years from now. (94)

Tasted 1st of April 2005 - Era Ora

1997 Il Palazzino, Grosso Sanese, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

Ruby red. Very pure and seductive with sweet plums, vanilla, Blackcurrant and with good complexity. The taste has the purity the nose offers and has a silky finish. (92)

Fri 19 Nov, 2004

1997 I Giusti & Zanza, Perbruno, Tuscany, Italy

Light weighted, rubber, buttermilk and with sweet liquorice. Taste is a bit short; simple and a cooler tone closes the wine. The fruit impression when chewing on this wine, was that it was floral fine, but missing in depth a complexity layers. (85)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Gorelli, Brunello di Montalcino, potazzine, Tuscany, Italy

Dark berries, liquorice, coffee and a bit shy. As the wines hits the palate and slides through and only leaving very little behind. It was like – hey where did you go. The aftertaste exist, but it’s simply too short. (88)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Gaja, Sori Tilden, Piemonte, Italy

Almost diabolic nose with dark fruits. Not particular charming, but overwhelming with supernatural powers. If you like typical Nebbiolo with red refined fruit, then forget about Sori Tilden. It’s a mean motherf… . The taste was incredible compact , but it matched the food perfectly. We had a gigantic peace of grilled T-Bone with rosemary, garlic and grilled potatoes – one of the best meat dishes I have ever tasted.

Fri 09 Mar, 2007

1997 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Lamaione Merlot IGT, Tuscany, Italy

Funny nose. Parsnip, cherry, rubber, tobacco, liqueur and missing in purity. Taste is alright – the lack of purity from the nose is added up, but still not enough concentration in the finish to gives the wine a real character. (89)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Fontodi, Flaccionello, Tuscany, Italy

Dust, strawberry, cherry, kirsch and has a nice freshness. Not that complex and the taste is seductive sweet and the finish and thin and tame. Very disappointing. (87)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Felsina, Chianti Classico Rancia, Tuscany, Italy

Stones, minerals, kirsch and subtle sweetness. It’s very open fruit and I’d swear that I noted some leather and Bordeaux flirting signs in it. The taste is wild with dark berries and the young contrast to the nose is striking as this wine has a lot of dry warm elements. It will gain many secondary notes in time. (93)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Felsina, Chianti Classico Rancia, Tuscany, Italy

Talk about transformation –Rancia ’97 has always been a brutal beast – with Cabernet infected fruit, leather and even Bordeaux animalistic flirting. Now -Stunning nose – with raspberries, medicine, pencil, simply stunning clarity and complete and utterly divine Sangiovese definition. Taste is a combo between classic sangiovese dry bite – minerals, purity and Tuscan warmth. Drinking so well and have finally entered its drinking window. (94) Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

Sat 16 Sep, 2006

1997 Fattoria Valtellia, Il Duca, Tuscany, Italy

Also a 100% Merlot wine. Production 900 bottles. And to be up against Masseto is not easy and it is not far behind. A wine with a smoother surface. You also find mineral stones here, but a more exotic expression of the merlot grape with a higher level of alcohol and a sweeter and more overseas version. Taste is simply great and if the alcohol was replace by a more classic cut we would have had a equal rival to Masseto (96)

Tasted 1st of April 2005 - Era Ora

1997 Dal Forno Romano, Amarone, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

Dark red. Immensely sweet, with super deep nose. Raisins, Vanilla, blueberry, plum and it's almost too much. The "almost"-dilemma is saved by the great purity the wine posses. The taste is so concentrated and the finish last forever. I drank two glasses of this and it was more than enough for me. What score does one put on something like this? Again the lack of drinking pleasure and the fact that this wine is fascinating stuff is for me in this case not so easy to divide. I hope my comments show that it’s a fascinating and a extremely well made wine, but drink with caution. (97)

Fri 19 Nov, 2004

1997 Clerico, Arte, Piemonte, Italy

Strawberry, forest, medicine, dirt, hint of truffles and a candy like perfume. The wine is light on its toes with Clerico Burgundy style. Pleasant nose, but the depth of the ingredients is a bit too dimmed without the final touch of precision. Taste is nice – giving a fair Piemonte dust tannin blow, but again without the final strength. (90)

Fri 11 Nov, 2005

1997 Ceretto, Barolo Prapó, Piedmont, Italy

Very light brownish colour. Fart, leather, “horse”, cherry and strawberries. The taste teased me somewhat as it initial was lacking in fruit and the colour could suggest an elderly wine – but despite the dominate acidity it has a great warmth in the closing. When its identity was revealed it’s profile suddenly made sense. So why didn’t I guess it was Piemonte…bummer! (94)

Sun 26 Feb, 2006

1997 Ceretto Barbaresco Bricco Asili, Piemonte, Italy

With short notice I decided to have a red wine for dinner. Taken directly from the wine cabinet and decanted for two hours. Instantly the wine made me smile. The red fruit surrounds the wines character with, violets, cherries, herbs and a dried note of spices and leather. The fruit is fresh and in it’s prime drinking window with elegant brushes of acidity attack with a cherry and vanilla closing. (94)

Glass: Riedel Sommelier Burgundy Grand Cru.

Tue 06 Feb, 2007

1997 Castell’in Villa, Chianti Classico Riserva Poggio delle Rose, Tuscany, Italy

Wild nose this one. We all liked this and it’s so delicate with such a high level of purity and complexity. The notes are cherry, minerals, marzipan, and blackberries. Taste is just awesome. First of all it’s so Italian, with prefect richness, acidity bite and the finish is a long elegant ride with a perfect harmonized closing. WOW – I tell you we where surprised when the bottle was revealed. (96)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Castello di Fonterutoli, Siepi, Tuscany, Italy

Tasted vs Tignanello ’97 and far better. Plum, raisins, tobacco, black currant, liqueur and a very open fruit core – but still very lively and with plenty of juicy fruit to balance these primary notes. Siepi handles the liqueur components much better than other ’97 Tuscan wines as the level of fruit and nerve is much higher to balance. The taste has the Merlot softness and “chocolate tannins”, but has the structure to balance. Recent TNs has suggest “drink up” on this wine and I agree on the primary notes have come very much forward; however I see no fruit tiredness in the wine. Whatever plan or future this wine may bring, it can certainly provide great drinking pleasure at this stage. (94)

Mon 17 Apr, 2006

1997 Castello dei Rampolla Vigna d'Alceo, Tuscany, Italy

Bordeaux look-alike with buttermilk, herbs, blackcurrant, cappuccino/mocha and hint of leather. Many of these notes need definition and precision and the nose is way too shy. Maybe it’s a sign of a dull phase, but I am only saying that now as I know it was Alceo. The taste confirms that theory in some way as it is dry with good length and a fair structural base. However there was something wrong. Where were the nerve and the soul in the wine? – Way too designed for my palate I hope it’s just a phase and something could suggest it. But for now. (89+)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Casanova di Neri, Brunello di Montalcino, Cerretalto, Tuscany Italy

A bit restrained and shy at first. But underneath there is a great core of cooled toned Tuscan herbs, spices and minerals. It’s very elegant even if there is missing a sweet element. Taste is where it all happens. Incredible nice, with tons of dry extract and mouth snapping. I love such a wine, which for some could be too much dry extract, but it’s perfect for me, but admittedly best suited with food. (95).

Tue 19 Dec, 2006

1997 Capaccia, Querciaciagrande, Tuscany, Italy

Strawberry, liqueur and not in a good way as it has so much alcohol. Exotic berries, bicycle tube, coriander and really bizarre nose. Taste is light weighted with watery, flabby acidity and not nice. As it got more time in the glass, the nose lost some of its bizarre notes, but then again became shyer and less aromatic. A strange glass. (84?)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Braida Ai Suma, Barbera d'Asti, Piemonte, Italy

What a nose!! What is this stuff?..had a realy hard time to locate the grape and country, And I have tasted Ai Suma 1997 4 times .. Before I get into details I am pretty sure that the Ai Suma 97 I bought on the release is in great shape. The additional Ai Suma I bought Oct-2003 from the same Danish retailer has been expose to something that has made the wine go into a dull fase. Back to that nose...that is extremly rich on fruit. A layer of splendid blackberries infused in a sweet licorice nose.Great finish with very smooth tannins. The wine is very balanced but need some time to breath before serving. (94+)

Wed 16 Jun, 2004

1997 Braida, Barbera Ai Suma, Piemonte, Italy

This is the fourth time I taste 97’ Ai Suma. As many other 97’s it has lost some of its first intimidating impressions and baby fat. Some of my other encounters with this wine have shown a big juice wine with barriques influence, but damn sexy. But although the status of things, Ai Suma has survived the crush, and headed into a new phase - that shows the potential of the wine. The nose is divine, with simple flavours as blackberries, blackcurrant and coconut. But make no mistake – the fruit compositions leaves no opens windows for flaws as there is several layers of complexity to seek. The taste is big, fleshy and very long, with killer harmony. A classic Barbera. (95)

Tasted 15th of May 2005. Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

1997 Braida, Barbera Ai Suma, Piemonte, Italy

(TN from memory) Barbera is not for those who seek an intellectual wine. A statement often used by yours truly and when drinking a wine like the 1997 Ai Suma I can only concur to this theory. This wine is all about fruit (well almost) and on paper that sounds like a wine that will make a Wow entry and nothing more. But – there is something else about Ai Suma’s secret formula. The nose is a blackcurrant/blueberry rollercoaster, with massive layers of fruit, but the wine feeds itself from a firm drum of backbone mineral note that consist of iron and liquorice. The taste is silky, mouth-watering and deadly charming. But again it never ever became a boring wine to drink, the fruit just emerged with renewed strength from the glass and said “eat me tiger”. I recommend drinking this wine now, as it has reached perfect mature status. (95)

Wed 14 Jun, 2006

1997 Argiano, Solengo, Tuscany, Italy

Very Dark red with black currant but a little too much oak. The nose is not bad, but not very complex and hamonic. Can be the grape mixture is to funky. The taste is also somewhat barrique dominated and and lacks in concentration (91)

Tasted April 2003