Italians at Mario's Osteria

1995 Tenuta Friggiali (Centolani) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Nice acidic backbone. Bright red fruit with some rose pedal notes. Light on its feet. Very enjoyable. Some thought it was a bit tired but I didn't think so. (92 pts.)

1985 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
A bit port-like but still very much alive. Sweet nose with red fruit. Really nice mouthfeel in mid palate. Could have guessed Amarone if blind. Finished with some mocha. (93 pts.)

1998 Franco M. Martinetti Barolo Marasco - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Chocolate and mocha profile with rich dark red fruit. Smooth tannins and finish. Very nice mouthfeel. Lucious. Picked up some strawberry on entry. (94 pts.)

1996 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted like nail polish. Extremely acidic and tannic. Some thought it may be closed down or in a dumb phase. I didn't care for it at all and it was the one wine that I dumped for the night. (80 pts.)

2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Wow was this wine sexy. Bright red cherry fruit, a nice tartness and extremely well balanced. A wee baby but special. (95 pts.)

2003 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Some alcohol on the nose at first. This is a big and chewy wine. I would call it new world style of Italian. Well balanced, round and full bodied. Chocolate, coffee and black cherry dominated this bruiser. (91 pts.)

2006 Orma Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
One of my favorite food wines of the night, thus the short impression. This was yummy with great balance. It had all the bright red nuances that matched great with the red sauce with my veal. (94 pts.)

2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
My WOTN but it always is at an Italian tasting. This wine was off the charts friggin' good. I didn't even want to use descriptos and just sat back and enjoyed it. One of the best Italian wines I have ever had. (98 pts.)

2006 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
We didn't give this wine the respect or time that it really needed. It was the last of the tasting from a generous participant that said, hey I brought it so let's open it. This was a very nice wine that was rich and chewy. I am bummed that I didn't have more time with this beauty. (94 pts.)