Italian Wine Tasting 02.05.08, Slyne

 

I did the following things for the first time in my life this weekend:

1. Have my photo taken with the Eric Morcambe statue (a delight!)
2. Eat a Twix up a Wainwright (a FULL Twix, not just half like chocolate wimps Helen and HelJ)
3. Eat potted shrimp
4. Manage to use the Virgin train toilet, without somebody opening the door mid pee. (shame I had to return to farting man in the seat next to  me)

I also hosted a great tasting for Mick’s wine group.  All wines were  ordered from www.italianwinesociety.co.uk  Here’s some chat about the wines…

 
Prosseco di Valdobiadenne, Aneri
From Italy’s version of Max Clifford, this bubbly has great peachy notes with underlying minerality. Went down well, like 90% of prossecos do.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico D.O.C 2006, Fazi Battaglia
Very well received – Helen had seconds!  Apple and yeasty aromas with some floral touches in there too. 
Sereole Soave D.O.C. 2006, Bertani
Perhaps the least popular of the serata… the acidity was a tad harsh – someone mentioned acetone.
Greco di Tufo D.O.C 2007, Antica Hirpinia
 Peaches, pears, almonds and flint… I could go on.  Wonderfully complex wine that has superb balance and finesse.  The producers may have a lot of philosophical rubbish on their website, but they sure do know how to make wine.
Antinoo I.G.T 2006, Casale del Giglio
A Chardonnay (90%) Viogner (10%) blend.  Gorgeous heady perfume from the Viogner, but it wasn’t as full bodied as I remember. 7 outta 10… the £12.27 price tag was a little too much for what it was.
Nero d’Avola Lasios I.G.T 2006, Vignali Roccamora
Wonderful, fruity tipple.  Blackberry and fig aromas with touches of vanilla and spice.  A near perfect example of Sicily’s most famous grape.

 
Barbera d’Alba laBlu 2004 D.O.C, Damilano
This one definitely pushed all my wino buttons.  Scrummy dark fruit flavours (morello cherry, cassis) with sprinklings of cinnamon and vanilla.  Worth the 16 quid.
Chianti Classico 2005 D.O.C.G, San Felice
Helen and Sally’s favourite, although Mick was disappointed at the absence of a straw basket.  Silky tannins, rich red fruit flavours and just a hint of liquorice on the finish. 
Geresemi Vino Nobile de Montepulciano D.O.C.G, 2001,
Only made in the best years, this wine has lashings of mocha, hazelnut and black fruit flavours.  Very chewable tannins.  Would be great with a stew, but not one to have on a first date – it will turn your mouth black!
Savuto Rosso D.O.C 2003, Odoardi
A wild card from Calabria that worked.  The main grape is Gaglioppo and there’s some Greco Nero and Magliocco too.  Try saying that after you’ve had a few glasses… Big, hefty man of a wine with lashings of figs, prunes and cherries.  Like it.  Like it a lot.
Amarone della Valpolicella 2004 D.O.C, Tinazzi
Everybody was pretty merry by this point and everybody loves an Amarone.  Velvety chocolate tones, with enough dried fruit flavours to do you until Christmas 2020.  Traditional big barrel style, not too oaky.
Zibibbo I.G.T Sicily, Lombardo
What a find! This Muscat d’Alexandria was under 7 quid.  A favourite of Cleopatra’s, this sweetie has beautiful orange peel aromas.  The slightest hint of earthiness gave the wine great complexity for the price.  Very refreshing.  
Recioto della Valpolicella 2003, Masi (Bought from Oddbins, Byres Rd) 
A splendid finish to the evening.  Tastes like liquidised Christmas pudding and cheered us up after watching Boris’ speech on telly.