Boston Wine Expo 2000

Italy

Antinori Santa Christina Sangiovese Toscana '98 -- Smooth cherry aromas, with bright cherry and plum fruit in the mouth. Seems almost like a New World wine, but with the tannins and acidity of Italy. A nice bargain for drinking soon.
B+

Antinori Peppole Chianti Classico '97 -- Reticent nose, but some leather and cherry can be persuaded to emerge. Good earth and cherry flavors, but one wishes for a little more concentration.
B

Antinori Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva '96 -- Smells like a leather, violets and cherries, with lots of flavor, including more cherries and leather, keeping things interesting. Round and full, with less acidity than expected.
B+

Antinori Tenute Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva '95 -- You can't help but like this wine, with it's expressive violet and plum aromas, and smooth, lush flavors of cherries, plum, leather and earth. Plenty of backbone suggests that this wine will keep for a few years, but it's hard to resist now.
A-

Capellaccio Aglianico Riserva '96 -- Earthy aromas and flavors that are somewhat lacking in fruit. There's a little cherry, but not much else.
B

Umberto Cesari Colli del Re Albina di Rongsa Passito '94 -- Unusual nose of peaches and mint, with more peaches on the palate. This dessert wine is medium in both sweetness and intensity.
B

Michele Chiarolo Gavi '98 -- Light floral and peach aromas with pleasant, if simple, peach flavors. Good acidity, but also a hint of nuttiness, which may suggest some oxidation. Drink soon.
B

Michele Chiarolo Barbera d'Alba '98 -- Very little aroma, and moderate black cherry flavors with a somewhat tart, acidic finish. Simple and not very concentrated, but would be pleasant with food.
B-

Michele Chiarolo Barbera d'Asti '97 -- Cherry and leather aromas with more of the same in the mouth. A good backbone of moderate tannins and acidity. A good food wine over the near term.
B+

Col d'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino '98 -- Smells like leather, olives and cherries. More cherries assert themeselves in the mouth, but the wine is somewhat uncomplicated, if still a pleasant drink.
B

Falchini Chianti Titolato '97 -- Smooth plum and violet aromas and flavors. Not too tannic, so it's a nice wine to drink now.
B

Il Faleore Castel del Monte Reserva '95 -- Black olives, plums and earth form an interesting nose to go along with the smooth plum and black cherry flavors. Good tannic backbone, and a generous finish.
B+

Foradori Teroldego Rotaliano '98 -- Teroldego is an intriguing indigenous Italian grape, which many people say drinks best very young, but this wine shows plenty of concentration and tannin for at least short-term aging. Tobacco and plum aromas, with round black cherry and plum flavors. More plum and some red cherry on the finish, along with the tannins. Finishes slightly short, but will show better with food.
B+

Masi Serego Alghiere Valpolicella '95 -- A single-vineyard Valpolicella aged in cherry wood casks, this wine certainly shows plenty of cherry aromas and flavors. It also shows some leather and black pepper. Seems just slightly thin on the mid-palate, but there is plenty of flavor elsewhere to compensate.
B

Masi Toar '95 -- From the Valpolicella retion, this wine is a bit different, with spice and anise aromas added to the leather and black cherry. Good black cherry and earthy flavors, with a healthy dose of acidity and tannin.
B+

Masi Campofiorin "Ripasso" Veronese Vin de Table '95 -- Ripasso wines are made with a very unusual technique, with the unpressed skins of Amarone wine grapes added to a less ripe wine, after the Amarone fermentation has finished. This wine shows plum and leather aromas, but also a disturbing amount of alcohol on the nose. Full and round in the mouth, with smooth cherry and leather flavors.
B

Masi Amarone Classico '95 -- Smells almost like Port, with licorice, prune, and raisin notes. Nice plum, black cherry and anise flavors, with good acidity on the finish to keep the wine tasting fresh. Worth seeking out.
A-

Rocca di Fabri Santino Sangiovese de Colli Martani '97 -- Modest, but pleasant, plum and black cherry aromas and flavors. A bit simple, but good.
B

Rocca di Fabri Terre di Galatrone Toscana IGT (vintage missing from notes) -- A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, this wine shows leather, spice and plum aromas and flavors. Lacks intensity, but is pleasant.
B

Umeriz Ronchi Pelago Marche Rosso IGT '96 -- Big, intense aromas and flavors of plum, prune and black cherry. Smooth and inviting, with a nice, not-too-acidic finish.
B+

Villalta Amarone Classico '94 -- Made from a single vineyard, this wine shows prune and olive aromas, with more prunes on the palate. Big and lush.
B

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