Notes from a lunch blind tasting.
2006 Vertice Pinot Noir – pink bubble from the Douro. Decent nose and mousse (but the latter faded a bit with time) and some cherry fruit, with decent length.
2006 Di Maio Norante Don Luigi – 90% montepulciano and 10% aglianico. Dark wine with a dark plumy nose with some spice and good fruit on palate. Medium length.
2009 Passopisciaro – from the slopes of Mt. Etna, this wine was Burgundian in colour and showed a sweet toffee nose, and tons of acidity. Interesting.
1995 Clos des Papes CNduP – medium colour, funky bretty nose but in a good ay, with good dark fruit levels, mellow, complex and long. Still excellent.
1986 Sassicaia – still a dark wine, with clear edges rather than brick, cedar and greenish fruit in nose and a hint of black olive. Long smooth finish, the tannins having finally softened. Very good.
2007 Sesti Rosso di Montalcino – lighter colour, mellow nose of dark cherries, spice/pepper and good acidity. Drink very well right now.
1997 Grahams Port – I thought this might be too young, but it showed good development with a slightly warm, sweet nose of ripe fig and orange rind, and was very smooth and integrated in the mouth with significant tannin.