Not a lot of wines to review for this release as the board was rather stingy with the amount of wines it shipped to preview. Featured wines this time around are from Italy’s big three, Tuscany, Veneto and Piedmont. Few wines wowed me, but as always, there are one or two bottles that are worth seeking out.

Piedmont

4275 MALGRÀ FORNACE DI CERRETO BARBERA D’ASTI SUPERIORE 2006 $17.95
Lots of muddy underbrush aromas with a good support of black fruit, chocolate and mushroom. It shows nicely on the palate, lively acidity and some dusty tannin on the close.Find this wine

134726 LA SPINONA BRICCO FASET BARBARESCO 2004 $38.95
Dried porcini mushrooms, cola, underbrush and cherry lead to a palate of cooked red fruit with plenty of spicy notes. The fruit does not stick around as long as I would like and it pales too soon. There are lots of tannins that maybe mask the fruit, but I think it lacks the oomph required to excite down the road.
Find this wine

712273 FENOCCHIO BUSSIA BAROLO 2004 $41.95
Initial aromas are of sweet red fruit, rhubarb, plum and a medicinal trait. Underneath there is a layer of pure blackberry with plenty of spicy black pepper notes. The palate has plenty of punch, a fair degree of tannin and well balanced fruit and acid.  Find this wine

Veneto

134601 ZIRONDA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2006 $36.95
The Port like aromas of sweet blueberry, caramel, mocha and dark chocolate are at first enticing. The palate however is fat and spicy, more like pepperoni than Amarone. It finishes hot, the fruit fades allowing the 15 degrees of alcohol to overpower.  Find this wine

134544 MONTE DEL FRÀ BARDOLINO 2008 $13.95
A light fresh and nicely balanced wine showing notes of smoke, black cherry and plum. Black fruit acids on the palate are appealing; it has a souring note on the finish making it perfect for tomato based pasta. Find this wine

Tuscany

963199 $24.95
A meaty game laden nose supported by nice red currant and raspberry with a touch of cola, anise and fennel seed. Good structure on the palate, a solid layer of fruit, some mineral and iron with just enough silky tannin to make this wine last at least three to five years.  Find this wine

947440 BANFI CENTINE 2007 $16.95
A fruit based wine with a note of raisin, a touch of mineral and good concentration on the palate. The touch of tannin on the finish does not overpower. Find this wine

656538 COLLAZZI 2005 $46.95
Wow, a stellar New World styled wine highlighting blackcurrant, minty dark chocolate, vanilla and Asian spice. It coats the palate with its silky layers of  fruit. It has impeccable balance and its long spicy finish has plenty of fruit and gripping tannin. Another wine best destined for the cellar for at least two years. Find this wine

135640 BASILE CARTACANTA Montecucco 2007 $18.95
For those that love wines with aromas of pig farm, earthy and mineral, this is one for you. Its organic components blend nicely with notes of almond, black  cherry and a touch of vanilla. Acids are fine; the finish is decent although right now, it carries a layer of astringent tannin that an hour in a decanter or a year in the cellar should soften. Find this wine

134817 VOLPAIA CITTO 2007 $13.95
No oak treatment whatsoever results in a fruit driven wine showing damson, blueberry, with just a hint of tobacco leaf and walnut. The palate is nicely balanced, has good structure and a lovely Old World fruit and mineral driven finish. Well priced and well worth seeking out. Find this wine

33498 FATTOI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 $38.95

This is a beautiful nose of black fruit, a note of fresh picked herbs, clay, mineral and barnyard. The fruit has a good level of concentration on the palate, but falls short on the finish. The acids are lively and balanced.  Find this wine

135277 TENUTA DI CAPRAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 $19.95
Comforting aromas of mincemeat pie and sweet black raspberry dominate the nose. A secondary layer of earthy mineral elements combine well with the touch of sweet Mediterranean spice. There are tannins, but the fruit is focused and shows well. It finishes showing the terroir of its native land and although tasty now, it will only get better. Find this wine

716266 IL GRIGIO DA SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2005 $28.95
This raw and rustic wine features a strong earthy streak of barnyard earth that is perhaps too powerful as it overshadows everything else. A few more swirls show hints of Basset’s licorice sticks with damson and black fruit. The mid palate is thin and shows little then tannin overpowers the finish. Find this wine

72306 CASTELLO DI NIPOZZANO MORMORETO 2006, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi $29.95

Highly polished and dense, showing layers of blackcurrant, blackberry, milk chocolate, underbrush and prune. The mouth feel is thick and leathery with lots of ripe dark fruit, a note of thyme, solid tannin and plenty of spicy oak. This is a wine that will reward the patient collector after several years in the cellar. Find this wine

The rest of the pack

British Columbia

143792 INNISKILLIN DISCOVERY SERIES MALBEC 2007 Okanagan Valley $23.95
Inniskillin’s West Coast Malbec has aromas of grape, herbs and sawdust. It hassweet blueberry on palate and little else. Find this wine

143784 SUMAC RIDGE BLACK SAGE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 Okanagan Valley $23.95
A wine with plenty of spicy mint, plum, black cherry and coffee aromas. There is good fruit on the palate, but a green note does show through. The finish has cherry and currant with powdery dusty chocolate tannin. Find this wine

The one and only French wine

138792 CHÂTEAU THÉBOT 2005 Bordeaux $16.95
Vintage’s panel wrote; “A terrific value-priced Bordeaux from the great 2005 vintage” and I couldn’t agree more. It carries subtle notes of lead pencil, wet  soil and dried herb that subside to let the plum, currant and vanilla come forth. One of the best Bordeaux wines I have tasted at this price in a long long time. Find this wine

Germany

140756 STUDERT-PRÜM RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2004 Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer $23.95
Baked Northern Spy apple aromas couple with lemon grass, honeycomb and guava. It has an oily texture, a pleasing sweetness tamed by bright acidity and good balance.  Find this wine

129536 SCHLOSS REINHARTSHAUSEN RIESLING SPÄTLESE, Rheingau 2007 $23.95
This Schloss Reinhartshausen estate Late Harvest Riesling has aromas of lemon/lime, lemon balm and pink grapefruit. It has a full fat mouth feel, a lower degree of acidity and a surprising dryness on the finish. Find this wine

341461 BODEGAS ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ TINTO PESQUERA CRIANZA 2006 Ribera del Duero $29.95
A tightly wound wine exuding aromas of plum, black cherry, sandalwood, coffee, mineral and dusty tannin. The palate is fleshy, full and silky. It needs years to really come around and show its best. Find this wine

323345 BODEGAS ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ TINTO PESQUERA RESERVA 2005 Ribera del
Duero $47.95
A mixture of red and black fruit, smoked meat, mineral, leather, black olive and creamy oak. It is both a monster and an elegant wine that is fruit and mineral laden, racy and rich. The palate is packed with powerful cassis and dark fruit flavours. A cut above the delightful Pesquera Crianza, this wine is made to age, and age it will. Don’t be in a rush; I have tasted older vintages of this wine that have been exceptional after passing their twentieth year. Find this wine

129676 MIGUEL TORRES MAS LA PLANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 Penedès $44.95
Intense New World crafted wine bursting with toasty oak, red and black berry coulis, forceful tannins and mocha. It has a rich, but tight texture on the palate where blackcurrant and black berry fight for supremacy. It has a creamy sweet black licorice note on the finish along with tons of silky dark tannins.  Again, being patient is the key. Find this wine

Cheers,

CZ

Related posts:

1. Alan’s September 26th, 2009 Vintages Release Tasting Notes