TN: Barolo and the Tannat Salon blind

Mark Golodetz was hosting his local tasting group and invited me to Briarcliff as his guest. About a dozen people, wines were served blind with no information. I'm not particularly good at blind tasting, but really enjoy doing it.

First flight of four: Wine #1- oldest of the flight by nose and color. Mature tannins, some distinct tar, red fruit that turns a little pruney with time. B-B+

Wine #2 - initially closed nose, but even from the beginning rich deep cherry and raspberry fruit. Longest finish of the flight. Tannins still stick out a bit. Nose eventually opens up with red fruit, flowers,and a little tar. A-A-

Wine #3 - also closed at first. As it opens up I think I get a bit of VA, but that's fleeting. Sweet red fruit, roundest and lushest of the group, medium ripe tannins. Some earthy notes. A-

Wine #4 - Most open-floral nose, red berry fruit. Some hard tannins and a bit oaky. B (group liked far better than I).

We took turns commenting before unveiling. Several people noted they thought it was a vertical. When it was my turn I said I initially thought Nebbiolo because of that tar note in several wines, but the color seemed to dark, so I guessed Northern Rhone.

Mark unveiled: Wine# 1: 1995 Paolo Scavino "Bric del Fiasc" Barolo Wine# 2: 1996 Paolo Scavino "Bric del Fiasc" Barolo Wine# 3: 1997 Paolo Scavino "Bric del Fiasc" Barolo Wine# 4: 1998 Paolo Scavino "Bric del Fiasc" Barolo

I was happy I had gotten the tar, even if I missed with my guess. I was surprised at the maturity of the 1995 (I've had 1991 Barolos recently that were more youthful). I liked these modern Barolos more than I would have guessed. I looked up my note for the '99 on WLDG, found this from two years ago: 1999 Scavino "Bric Del Fiasc" Barolo Modern-oaky, but great red fruit and not as soft as some new-wave Baroli. Needs time. B+-A- Scavino looks like someone I should keep an eye on.

Flight number two was a flight of 6, all Mark would say was that there was one ringer:

Wine#5- Mediumbodied, ripe forward red plum fruit, rather short finish. B--C+ Wine# 6- Some oak sticking out, medium red fruit. B- Wine# 7-better integrated than previous two, not as overripe, more black (cbuttis, plum) fruit than red. B Wine# 8- at first I thought I got some brett from this, but it blew off. Medium body, ripe red fruit. B-B- Wine# 9 - also some initial brett, but again it blows off. Distinct earthy note to the nose than is rather appealing. Blackcurrant fruit and a little hint of tobacco. B+ Wine# 10- Young cabernet nose, very ripe, I find a little too soft. Other like far better than I . B-

I think we were all puzzled by this flight. Guesses were all over the place. All but 4 of us did think that #9 was the ringer. When it was my turn to guess, I thought of the fruit profile and ripeness and guessed these could be minor 2003 Bordeaux. Oops. Wines were all from the Tannat grape:

Wine# 5- 2003 Toscanini Tannat (Uruguay) Wine# 6- 2000 Juanini Vinson Richards Tannat (Uruguay) Wine# 7- 2004 Bouza Tannat (Uruguay) Wine# 8- 2004 Quara Tannat (Uruguay) Wine# 9 -1999 Ch. Peyros Madiran Wine# 10- 2003 Stagnari (Viejo) Tannat

I was pretty surprised. I don't have any clear vision of Uruguayan Tannat, I think prior to this I did taste one, but I think of Madiran as a rather brooding tannic wine. Most of these were rather fruit forward and simple. Very educational, if not ego-affirming. :)

Mark then sent around the 1991 Quinta do Vesuvio Port. Very nice, more medium-bodied than powerful, black plums and chocolate over fine tannins. A-

Nice evening with nice people.