Tuscany in Manhattan

Rahsaan

Rahsaan
I don’t buy or drink a lot of Tuscan wine. But my good friend is a fan, and he wanted to open some bottles last night.

First was 2015 Sassicaia. This had been opened for a while prior to my arrival, and was probably all the better for it. I got very nice fleshy elegant fruit, which I enjoyed, but still with some angles to it that could stand to resolve. Apparently the initial glasses were even tougher on the angles.

So we went older with 2010 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino. This was resolved and silky but still with vibrant fruit. Perfect for our tastes.

Still thirsty, and with food on the table, we opened 2010 Fontodi Chianti Classico. Bigger bramblier fruit than the 2010 PdS, but nicely tamed by age, with a fine mineral frame. This was fun drinking.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Tuscany in ManhattanI don’t buy or drink a lot of Tuscan wine. But my good friend is a fan, and he wanted to open some bottles last night.

First was 2015 Sassicaia. This had been opened for a while prior to my arrival, and was probably all the better for it. I got very nice fleshy elegant fruit, which I enjoyed, but still with some angles to it that could stand to resolve. Apparently the initial glasses were even tougher on the angles.

So we went older with 2010 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino. This was resolved and silky but still with vibrant fruit. Perfect for our tastes.

Still thirsty, and with food on the table, we opened 2010 Fontodi Chianti Classico. Bigger bramblier fruit than the 2010 PdS, but nicely tamed by age, with a fine mineral frame. This was fun drinking.
The high alcohol and oak didn't bother you? None of them are under 14%.
 
originally posted by mark e:

The high alcohol and oak didn't bother you? None of them are under 14%.

Diversity is the spice of life!

I may not have the broadest palate, but these were certainly within my range. None of them were pumped up gob monsters. YMMV.

We did also open a 2009 Fabio Gea Barbaresco Riserva that was 15%. That number frightened me and the wine followed through with being a bacteriological mess. So we left it alone.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:

We did also open a 2009 Fabio Gea Barbaresco Riserva that was 15%. That number frightened me and the wine followed through with being a bacteriological mess. So we left it alone.

I've tasted several of Gea's wines over recent years. I have mostly found them as you did. There's one ( I think) that's bottle aged submerged in water. maybe his swimming pool or something?
there's also one that's pretty expensive at around $80/bottle and you're not allowed to know what the grapes are. silly. although, I imagine it's barbaresco. to my palate at least.
 
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:

I've tasted several of Gea's wines over recent years. I have mostly found them as you did. There's one ( I think) that's bottle aged submerged in water. maybe his swimming pool or something?
there's also one that's pretty expensive at around $80/bottle and you're not allowed to know what the grapes are. silly.

Yes, I read about that. Sounds like quite the character.

My friend bought this 2009 on release on a retailer recommendation. First bottle he opened. Might have been wiser to try them earlier!
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
I have a 2014 dolcetto by Gea. Maybe time to open it?

The dolcetto (not the same vintage as yours) was the one wine from Gea I really liked. I bought 4 and left 3 in the cellar. opened another a year or so later and it was awful.
so yeah, open it up.
 
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