Short notes from Monday night tasting of Fontanafredda samples at Ralph's.
Fontanafredda Roero Arneis Pradalupo 2006 - Perfumed nose. Some sweetness. Very fruity with a powerful finish. For some reason reminded both me and Johnny of Sauvignon Blanc although it doesn't smell or taste like SB.
Fontanafredda Gavi di Gavi 2006 - Crisp, slightly bitter. Peppery, lemony, angular. Strong stuff. Tastes like Gruner Veltliner. Needs food. So so wine for me.
Fontanafredda Barbera d'Alba Raimonda 2005 - Lovely berry nose. Lots of fruit with a good deal of acidity that provides the structure as this wine is already quite smooth in the tannins department. Dry, dried herbs. Slight oakiness in the long finish. Very good and drinking very well now.
Fontanafredda Barbera d'Alba Superiore Papageno 2003 - Oaky, very dry and a little spicy. Still tannic. Very modern, international in style. Lacks Italian character and could be from anywhere. A good wine that lacks a sense of place. I preferred the regular Barbera.
Fontanafredda Nebbiolo d'Alba Marne Brune 2003 - Tannic with lots of sweet fruit. Closed, still young. Some tobacco notes. Well balanced, good complexity. Could be OK to drink with some food. Definitely more ready than the Barolos which followed. Very good with potential for more improvement.
Fontanafredda Barolo 2003 - A little hot on the nose. Forest notes. Closed tight. Give it a few more years.
Fontanafredda Barolo Lazzarito 2001 - Earthy, sweet, tobacco. Good acidity. This wine could take a few more years for further development as it seems to be opening up just now. Seems to have very good potential.
Fontanafredda Le Fronde Moscato d'Asti 2006 - Lots of peach. Very fresh and intensely sweet. Rich mouthfeel. Excellent stuff.
Fontanafredda Asti 2006 - This should have been served before the Moscato as it seems, watery and short in the finish by comparison.
Not content with all this, Ralph opened a CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja 1995 which, unfortunately, seemed over the hill. This was followed by a Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and finally Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d'Or Champagne 1992 - Bready and yeasty but with some shrill lemony acidity which seemed to make the wine disjointed. Still alive but needs drinking up.