RTN: Minetta offline (Aug 3, 2001)

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
(originally published Wed Aug 8 18:23:06 2001)

Guests: Brad & Marsha Ballinger, Greg Dal Piaz, Bob Ross, Jeff Grossman, Jay Miller, Mike Schachner, Joe Czerwinski, Eden, Joe Moryl, Elyse Fradkin, Tony Fletcher, Brad Kane

1998 Villa Fidelia, Sportoletti - dry, quince-y, short finish, but it beats the heck out of Pinot Grigio :^)

1989 Huet, Vouvray "Le Haut-Lieu" Sec - cooked, dead, another of Jay's mindless relief efforts for the undeserving folks at mumble mumble

NV Nino Franco, Prosecco "Rustico" - bubble gum nose, erythromycin (does anyone else remember that antibiotic syrup served to children?), good acidity, some apricot and kumquat flavors

1998 Fattoria Coroncino, Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi Classico Superiore "Gaiospino" - nutty, good acidity, almost tannic?!

2000 Feudi Di San Gregorio, Fiano Di Avellino - watery, no acid, turpentine

2000 Lamoreaux Landing, Gewurztraminer - whiff of fresh-cut lawn, not very true to type but pleasant anyway

2000 Nicolas Cartier, "Mas de Gourgonier" Les Baux de Provence Rose - no nose, faint palate, hardly worth the time to sip it

2000 Castello Di Ama, Rosato - modest flavor, a good porch wine

1999 Scagliola, Moscato D'Asti "Volo Di Farfalle" - slight spritz, fresh cut apples and pears, zingy, a better porch wine!

2000 La Spinetta, Moscato D'Asti, Vigneto Biancospino - the label calls it "a low alcohol white wine" and at 5.5% it ain't kidding, pretty apricot nose, very slight spritz, orange rind, low acidity to go with that low alcohol

1993 Ceretto, Monsordo "La Bernardina" - meaty, tannic, but where's the fruit?, for that matter, as a VdT, what is the fruit?

1988 Lungarotti, Rubesco, Monticchio Vineyard, Torgiano Rosso Riserva - funky nose, medium body, black fruits with secondary aromas of leather, one of the best wines of the evening

1996 Alois Lageder, Pinot Nero "Krafuss", Alto Adige - bologna! I smell bologna! high acidity, palate weak but a pretty finish

1999 Prunotto, Barbera D'Asti "Fiulot" - bad, something must be wrong with this bottle

1990 Lungarotti, Rubesco, Vigna Monticchio, Torgiano Rosso Riserva - less funk than its sibling, alas, less interesting too, more tannic, let's wait two more years and try again

1996 Ca Del Baso (Giulio Grasso), Barbaresco Asili - tannic, lotsa berries, a really good QPR at US$25, young but well-made

1998 Caparzo, Rosso di Montalcino - fruity, acidic, a nice young table wine

1997 Viticcio, Chianti Classico Riserva - OK but nothing special

1990 Guigal, Cote-Rotie "Cotes Brune et Blonde" - old nose, citrus notes, very comfortable (and very unlike everything else on the table!)

1995 Iacopo Biondi Santi, Sassoalloro - slightly sour but good fruit, this was just a baby

1995 Antinori, Brunello de Montalcino "Pian Delle Vigne" - fruit completely overwhelmed by the tannins, not exciting but nothing wrong with it

1996 Castello Di Ama, Chianti Classico - pretty! good cut, red fruits, really a model of its kind

1994 Mastroberardino, Taurasi "Radici" - fried foods on the nose?, soft, slightly bitter

1997 Masi, Amarone Classico "Costasera" - robust, almost rustic, hot alcohol, very closed, opened years too soon?

1996 Gini, Recioto Di Soave Classico "Col Foscarin" - not very sweet, quite elegant, acidity a little low, pruny?

1998 Benotto, Freisa D'Asti "Rung" Dolce - fizzy red! but doesn't have much more flavor than a rose, quite oaky

1999 Hauner Carlo, Malvasia Delle Lipari - Windex and tea, very light flavor

1998 Maculan, Torcolato - hazelnuts, marzipan, wow!, another of my favorites this evening

1999 Maculan, Dindarello - high acidity, then my notes say "strange nose, odd nose" how to characterize it? (Brad B.: "Vegetal.")

1996 Avignonesi, Vin Santo "Occhio Di Pernice" - caramel, roasted, yummy

Jeff
 
Back
Top