TN: 4 recent ones


Arnaldo Caprai, Montefalco Rosso, 2001 Caprai's basic bottling, a blend of Sangiovese 70%, Sagrantino 15%, & Merlot 15%. The color here is very dark cherry red. With the high percentage of sangio, I thought this would tend towards fruitiness, but the aromas are hard and meaty, with a touch of fresh cut anise bulb. In the mouth are gamy cherry, carbon, and an igneous rock feel to the finish, relying on a distinct animale quality (that's most likely related to the Sagrantino component) to carry this through insteaad of fruit. Give this a few years to tame the rough edges. B+

Pascal Jolivet, Sancerre, 2003 My first 2003 Loire white. This isn't the horror story we'd been led to believe, but neither is it as racy as I prefer my sauvignon blanc. There's the typical calcium, limeflower, elder, and grapefruit blossom, but the finish is soft. Wouldn't want to age this past 4 years. B+

LAT:L Who's killing the great wines of France
Los Angeles Times WINE & SPIRITS Who's killing the great wines of France? Facing a crisis, the French wine industry is finally forced to loosen its grasp on tradition. By...

M. Marengo, Barolo 'Brunate', 1990 Some oranging along the rim. Very pruny aromas with some cherry, but the nose is muted and feels old. Tree-fallen plums, cherry leather, without much complexity beyond a slight beef ravioli note. On the downside of life, this was better in earlier bottles last tasted 6 years ago. B-B+

Bucci, Rosso Piceno, 'Pongelli', 2002 Color a lightish cranberry red. Strawberry and bright cherry aromas. Pleasant red fruits (strawberry, cherry, cranberry, redcurrant) backed by gracious acidity. After a day or two, a gamay-like medicinal funk trails at the end. There is not a lot of complexity here, but Loire lovers will find this utterly charming. A blend of Montepulciano & Sangiovese (50-50) from the Marches. B+

Grosslage
Hi Mike Ian was as always quite correct - but you have missed it a little bit :-) The Grosslage of Michelsberg straddles 7...



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