Wine Raconteur

10) Le Macioche


Score: 13.5/20

Enticing aromas of Pomegranate, apple and bilberries. Has some great fruit character but alcohol not balance. Wine seems over riped. Bold but lack definition. Much of oak lingering around with a nice bright acidity on the finish. It’s a monster.

11) Pertimali di Livio Sassetti

Score: 17.5/20

A sturdy, well defined tannic structure. Trace of earth from the nose and the back palate. Impeccable balance and subtle minerals on the finish. The wine seems shy at the moment. Fruits evolve gradually in the mid palate. A very focus wine, need time to unfold. I will re-visit this wine in 3-5 years.

12) Le Potazzine


Score: 18/20

This wine is elegant than power, it is symmetrical and harmonious. Multi-layers of earth, marjoram & dash of pepper as overture. Silky and well paved tannins grips firmly with the acid. Undertone of cassis emerging to the front. Mineral subtleties marry playfully & graciously with the thyme nuances. Finish has good length but a bit one dimensional.

7) La Poderina


Score: 14/20

Spicy & bold blackcurrant, smoky & oaky. Some dusty strawberry expanding in the mid-palate. It certainly not as sexy as its nose. The wine lack depth. It gains some points on the subtle mineral and bright tone of acidity. Finish is decent but overall lack a nice frame.
It doesn’t evlove much, the flavors stay the same from the nose to the back.

8) La Serena


Score: 17.5/20

Extravagant & engaging. Young vibrancy rings in the palate like blackberries, currants & cedar. Nose of some barnyard in a good way. Elegant and persuasive. The dense fruits evolve into black tea and basil in the middle. Gently expending into luscious fruits again at the finish. Great depth with earthy subtleties. A lot of wisdom in this wine. The only complaint is the tannins was a bit too low.

9) La Serena , Gemini


Score: 15.5/20

Massive concentration of bilberries, black currant & strawberries. It has a complex profile of fruits. Well extracted & define. Its a big but tight. There are no subtleties to be found. Very toasty at front. Lacks of posture. The finish is long enough to impress but comes along predictable flavors.

Something to discuss before I post the rest of the reports.
I recently read an article from a wine writer, John Radford. He stated that the wine world never going to have another appalling quality like we witnessed before, like the 1965 and 1968 in France. He explained with many of the technologies developed for the wine growers for the past years, the crops are no longer ruined by bad weather or some of the diseases.
I have to say I agreed mostly of it. But I doubt it is completely a good thing.
Yes, it is true that the state of the art techniques might help to avoid disastrous vintage, however not many small growers can afford them. The wineries backed by the deep-pocket mother companies or financial giants may have no trouble installing thousand of dollars of equipment. But for the individual farmers or small family owned business, it might not be affordable. Their produciton might not justify the investment. On top of that, what is the beauty left into tasting a wine if all wines are the same and they all lost the subtleties identification of an vintage ?

Anyway , let’s carry on with my reports…

5) Brizio


Score: 17.25/20

Multiple layers, demonstrating black currants ,violets, earth. wide spectrum of dark fruits dominates the whole palate with a lively acidity. It’s rather tight, mineral slowly revealing & tackle along the way. The stiff & unyielding frame promise a bright future.

6) Fossacolle


Score: 18/20

Immense concentration. The core is a meaty blackberries with tons of minerals support to it. It probably has the best texture among all the 2004 that I ve tasted. The subtle earth subsided with the pepper & leather and dusty berries. Its muscular & precise. Well rounded tannins give it an impeccable lush & balance. Hint of mint & dried herbs mingling in the finish which is long & fabulous.

There are going to be 12 wines reported, many of those are freshly released.
The vintage considered to be one of the best, some people even made comparison to the 1997. Its rival or not, time will determine. Now let me give you my report.

1) Le Presi


Score: 17.25/20

Complex nose. Herbs, rosemary, touch of gamey like venision.. Smooth & gradually unfolding flavors of black currant, fresh peppercorn, supported by good & balance acidity. Ripeness were spot on, not over done. Great length of finish, soft but tangible subtleties.

2) Argiano


Score: 12/20

Nose of butter, cooked black plum. one dimensional, quite predictable. Ripe fruits like black currents & cherries fill my front palate. Lack of depth, and where is the acidity. It got me turned off by the hint of medicinal nuances like Band-aid in back of my palate to finish. It got some muscle on the finish but boring.

3) Camigliano


Score: 11.75/20

Tons of up-front fruits with dark cherry & coffee beans. Layers of black fruits punctuated with cinnamon spice at the middle. Overwhelming alcohol and sugar mask any possible subtleties. A lot of force but no brains. Finish with ripe fruits and oak linger on. Straight forward wine.

4) Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona


Score: 16.75/20

Nose of bitter skin of plums. Well extracted, layer of herbs.
Palate of dark coffee, cherries, cinnamon, mocha, wide spectrum of flavors fill the sensation. Firm structure of fruits along with some vanilla nuances but not dominating. Beautfully paved tannins supporting the immense extraction. Finish is medium long and tight. It will certainly gain more ground in the next 3,4 years.

Tenuta Alberice - Tocai Friulano - Corno di Rosazzo 2008 - Colli Orientali del Friuli

Score: 18.75/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

I don’t remember when was the last time I ve tasted a wine with so much of minerals like crystal of clarity. The rocky elements of subtleties are the unbearable force of lightness. Young vibrancy rings my whole palate. This is truly the pinnacle moment when acidity , ripeness in its finest tune. I m expecting to give it a perfect score next time I revisit this vintage, may be in 5,6 years.
Oh..I forgot to mention the floral & dried autumn leaves left behind…

MORE stories on this producer are coming later on this year……

Poliziano 2005 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano


Score: 16.5/20 Concluded by my 5 element tasting method.
The wine is 85% of Prugnolo gentile, 15% Colorino,Canaiolo & Merlot
Soil type of soft clay

This picture was taken during the first tasting of his wine in Los Angeles.
I was holding my favorite bottle of Barolo made by him, Guido, owner of Conterno Fantino. Great guy !

Conterno Fantino - Barbera d’Alba “Vignota” 2006

Score: 16.50/20
Elegant earth. remarkable sense of energy. Dried herbs, sweet plum with hint of spice mingling. seamless tannins gliding thru the end.

Conterno Fantino - Barolo - Sori Ginestra - 2004

Score: 18.75/20
Closed at the beginning , opened up in an hour. Great deal of minerals. Concentrated fruits, black licorice, tar, dried flowers. Earthy bass notes. Classy elegant multi layers structure. Need some more cellar time to enjoy this wine fully. 8-10 yrs.

Conterno Fantino - Barolo - Vigna del Gris 2004

Score: 17.75/20

Still not playing balls after an hour, indicates some serious cellar time. I picked up subtleties of herbs, intensely mineral driven along with spice. fabulous acidity. Velvety dense fruits but very shy. Finish has some harsh edges. Don’t touch it til another 10 yrs at least.