Italian Tasting to Remember

•2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (7/14/2010)
Sexy, OMG kind of wine. Silky red fruit, great richness. Elegant, soft tannins. Cherries and some plum. This was a ballet dancer compared to the Casanova de Neri which was a boxer. Both great, just at two ends of the pleasure spectrum. (97 pts.)

•2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (7/14/2010)
Licorice, violets, velvety, great weight to this wine. Layers of red fruit, great depth. Chocolate, cherry and some nutmeg. Tied for WOTN (96 pts.)

•2004 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (7/14/2010)
100% Sangiovese. Smooth mouthfeel, young red fruit, perfumed nose with a bit of grilled meat. Still a baby. (94 pts.)

•1999 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia (7/14/2010)
Deep brooding purple color, mushroom and chocolate on palate and nose. rich deep red fruit, amazing acidity, nice oak. (93 pts.)

•1997 Agricola San Felice Vigorello Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (7/14/2010)
Nice minerality on nose and palate, mature cherries, ample acidity, red rose pedals on nose (90 pts.)

•2001 Argiano Solengo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (7/14/2010)
Would have been a dead ringer for a bordeaux. Somewhat one dimensional, plums, cherries. Hollow mid palate. A bit acidic but the back end was rich and full of sweet tannins. The finish kept you coming back for more. (90 pts.)

•2003 Gravner Ribolla Gialla Anfora Venezia Giulia IGT - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT (7/14/2010)
Thick, oily, with a yellow straw center. Nutty. Mature citrus. Unusual wine. (86 pts.)

•1999 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (7/14/2010)
I am not going to rate this wine as I think this bottle was in a wierd place or I had palate fatigue. The table was mixed between amazing and not getting it. Maybe a dumb stage. Butcher blood color, still very young. Extremely complex but the flavors were muted.