Belliviere and Castello di Ama

J

Jay Miller

Jay Miller
2004 Belliviere 'Rouge Gorge'
liquid quartz, intense tart read fruit, intense and pure. I like this a *lot* more than on release.

1995 Castello di Ama 'Bellavista'
The story - back on release I liked the 'Casuccia' but not the Bellavista. I've had the Casuccia several times over the years and the last time earlier this year was by far the best. So when a wine store put the 1995 on sale over the summer for only a little more than I paid on release I picked up a bottle. Unfortunately it turned out the wine they had for sale was the Bellavista rather than the Casuccia. The retailer offered to take it back but managed to make me feel guilty enough for asking (since the cost of shipping one bottle back was a substantial fraction of the cost of the wine) that I decided to keep it.

Wrong choice. It's no better than it was 12 years ago. Harsh oak tannins. Not undrinkable but not worth drinking. Amazing the difference between the two bottlings.
 
That 1995 Bellavista has gone on closeout at the wholesale level several times in the last few years. I guess now I know why.
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:
2004 Belliviere 'Rouge Gorge'

1995 Castello di Ama 'Bellavista'
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I found neither one of these appealing. The Belliviere is too young, I think. It was tart and dry and closed for business. The Bellavista was limp.

As long as you posted these two, let's memorialize the other wines drunk that afternoon:

There was the remnant of the Ch. Musar 1995 Blanc, which, as I recall, pleased absolutely no one who tasted it. Another wine that was limp and that certainly did not pay me back for its being so oxidized.

There was Dom. Chezeaux 2000 Chambertin, which spewed incredible perfume from the glass, although I recall it was less interesting to drink.

There was the lovely Prager 1999 Wachstum Bodenstein Riesling Smaragd, described hereabouts by several.

What else was poured after I left?
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

What else was poured after I left?
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'99 FX Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd.

And a bunch of other stuff that I couldn't stick around to try, my sister et al. coming for dinner in a rush.
 
You can't blame the Musar for showing poorly the second day open when there was only about 1/8th of the bottle left.

The Chambertin continued to improve with air though I won't open any of my bottles for a few years.

There was also a 1999 Roulot 'Luchets' which was nice out of the bottle and beautiful an hour later. And a beautifully perfumed 2001 Beaucastel that was young but enjoyable nonetheless.

Not to downplay the Pichler but the Prager showed much better that day.
 
originally posted by Cliff:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
originally posted by Cliff:
Something is wrong with this picture, no?
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Beaucastel has a large percentage of non-grenache grapes in it.
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True, but it is still Chateauneuf, even with all the Mourvdre et al.
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But it does not possess the characteristics that make me dislike most (not all) Chateauneuf.

The Charvin had them all.
 
originally posted by David M. Bueker:
I hope tonight's 1997 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico is a better experience. I'll report back tomorrow.
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I liked that one on release. A bit ripe to be sure, but a fun wine.
 
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