Notes from our Tuscan night on Saturday.

After all my headaches and stress we all managed to arrive on time and enjoy the night
It was a tight squeeze for the ten of us, 12 I think would have been awkward to eat and move freely.
Three new faces for me, Abby, Beth and Rajiv all most welcome and hope to see you all again at Sheffield III.
Rajiv you seemed to impress the ladies at your end of the table with your tails and trips around the globe.
Food I thought was pretty good, my main dish was superb !! Amanda mentioned the steak was ok.
I cant recall others views but most plates went back empty !!

Here are my usual amateur tasting notes.

Whites

Dreolino Bianco Toscano IGT raffaello 2009

Colour Pale Straw
Nose Not very impressive very little bouquet to pickup.
Taste Good acidity, as we say in Yorkshire it had a touch of wide banana on the finish, crisp light zipping.
Improved nose/flavour once it had warmed up a little still lacks a third dimension though. 6/10


Fattoria Michi vigneta del cavaliere IGT 2007

Colour Light Yellow.
Nose Refresher sweets jumped out of the glass, a real fresh lively nose with a flowery edge.
Taste The first glass left me slightly puzzled it just fell away so quick, 15 mins out of the ice bucket certainly helped.
A lovely soft buttery with a touch of oak gave it good structure and length. 7/10


Vernaccia si San Gimignano 2009

Colour Very Pale Yellow.
Nose Tight Green Apple, a touch of green leave
Taste Zippy citrus with a nutty touch mid length well balanced just a little two dimensional and simple for my taste buds 6/10


Reds

Promis 2007 Gaja, Toscana IGT

Colour Deep red berry one colour
Nose An explosion of plum, cherry, strawberry jam with a dusting of spice just an amazing bouquet (best nose of the night award)
Taste I was surprised by the youthfulness of this wine a real beauty.
Lovely deep red berry with a spicy peppery touch with soft integrated tannins holding this together really well.
Velvety texture nice grip and great length, I loved this wine and can only think what an extra 5 years age would do !! 9/10


Pian del Querci Brunello d Montalcino 2004

Colour Ruby red brown/orange rim
Nose Big Sweet Red Berry nose
Taste Blackberry, Plumy, chocolate, with a rum note in the background followed by a peppery mid finish.
Tannins still fresh and starting to integrate now, plenty of years ahead for cellaring. 7.5/10


IXE Pietro Beconcini 2007

Colour Ribena, deep purple
Nose Fresh picked berries cherry,raspbery zippyness
Taste I enjoyed this much more than the big brother Nicchie 06, lovely soft red berry notes tannins already well integrated.
Smooth and mid length finish. 8.5/10



Castello di Bossi Girolamo Toscana IGT 2000

Flawed, I should have gone back to check this at the end of the night.
I think we dismissed this to quickly but we will never know.


Vigna delle Nicchie Pietro Beconcini 2006

Colour Bright Purple/Violet shades
Nose Fresh sweet red currant, blueberry sharpnish, with some dried herb coming though.
Taste Not as smooth as the IXE this wine will need future maturing to show its best side.
Still enjoyable some preferred this though, I love a wine that splits a room !!
15.5% wasn’t noticable though. 7/10



Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 1983

Colour Garnet to brown rim
Nose Rich red berry, warm, earthy, dried herb, leather typical old nose.
Taste Surprised as I thought this would be well past its best, lovely warm smooth with that leathery blackberry fade 7.5/10.


La Casella Rosso di Montepulciano 1990

Colour Ruby red turning orange to the rim
Nose raspberry with ripe cherry
Taste Still plenty of grip left here, I think another 5 years will help soften this wine.
Tannins still a little harsh , big red berry with a splash of spice, good length.7.5/10


Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1988

Colour Deep blackberry with a brown rim.
Nose Complexed nose of mixed roasted spice/herbs, leather, smokey cherry.
Taste A real cracker !! Full body, smokey, black berry layers which develop a warm spice note with great length indeed 9.5/10

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Sounds good (as did the first). Could you expand on the format, personnel (remember those?) and cost please.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Hi,

Find a good restuarant who allows byo.
Decide on a theme
Decide/declare what wine/s to bring and hopefully get a balance of white/red.
The set menu including corkage was £30.00 per person.

Sounds good (as did the first). Could you expand on the format, personnel (remember those?) and cost please.

Next one is planned for early Sept at a friends garden.
This will be bring a dish of food and the wine theme looks like German whites with the odd red included.

Are you interested in joining our happy crew.

Richard

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Thanks for the invite, very kind. Somewhat impractical though I'm afraid.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

.... Because beans on toast is the most exotic food he does !

Got to be Heinz 59 varieties on proper baked bread - I don't like Tesco's value

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Duncan

Can't remember my last beans at home, would drain most of the juice out and add puree and lemon juice.
I have used my secret powers to make it rain on you.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.