Italian dinner notes
2006 Ch. St-Jean des Graves – of course we had to wet whistles while cooking, so popped a cork on one of these modest white Bordeaux. Fresh and with a fair bit of sauvignon.
1997 Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Riserva – excellent nose, traditional with some nice deep sweet fruit, slightly pale edges, still lots of tannin and acidity but smooth and long.
1997 Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva – nose very similar if with a bit more depth, and a bit more leathery, full mouth feel, good length, a classic Chianti that seemed still a little tight.
with rabbit and hazelnut terrine
1990 Terrabianca Campaccio Reserve – this sangiovese cabernet blend showed very well indeed. The nose was quite earthy at first, which played off the food nicely, and then became sweeter as it opened in the glass. Dark, deep and big, this wine (sadly my last bottle) was really hitting stride. Great match with:
wild mushroom lasagne with shaved truffles
1990 Seghesio Barolo La Villa – lovely colour, great nose with tar and flowers, still lots of tannin, excellent length .
1994 Seghesio Barolo La Villa – big wine with great concentration and length, and a much bigger hit of anise. Surprisingly close in quality to the 1990.
with wild venison in Port sauce
1995 Masi Recioto della Valpolicella Casa dei Ronchi - perfect cheese wine (unless you are one of those that believes only white wines suit cheese). Only slightly sweet, slightly warm nose, and a long soft slightly off dry finish, smooth in the mouth, with a big almost fuzzy mouth feel.