Wine Raconteur

Hello everyone ! I just finished crushing the grapes from my first harvest. There gonna be 100% Syrah from one of the most profound viticultural area in north of Napa, Clear Lake. I m very excited ! However, fermentation is not gonna kicked started til another 4 days. There are some documented video of the harvest posted very soon, let me know what you think.

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.