This past Wednesday night, some of us joined Longboarder at a favorite haunt and consumed the following:

2003 Galardi Terra di Lavoro
2001 Palazzo Montanari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
2003 L'Arco Pario Veronese Rosso
2003 Aglianico del Taburno, Fidelis, Cantina del Taburno
2001 Conti Sertoli Salis Sforzato di Valtellina Canua
2001 J. Hofstatter Barthenau Vigna S. Urbano
1996 Falesco Montiano
2006 Bastianich Vespa Bianco
NV (Antinori) Montenisa Franciacorta Brut
NV Azienda Agricola Scammacca Del Murgo Emanuele Murgo Brut

The theme was Italians--but not Piedmontese nor Tuscan. We enjoyed pate, cheeses, snails, racks of lamb, veal scallopini and beef bourginon, and some chocolates and more cheeses, and probably a few other items I missed.

As Lentini observed "I really enjoyed the mix of wines... Such different styles. Everything was
great. That's what I love about Italy... You get such diversity, and you can find high quality from so many varietals and regions."

Longboarder regalled us with stories of his numerous trips to Italy and it was nice to host him.
In attendance: Festiva, Jace, Purple Haze, Klymkev, Longboarder, Lentini, and Irwin.

I had spent the earlier part of the day at one of our state prisons with a client. Prisons are not a nice place to visit and I certainly wouldn't want to live there. It is a relief when you leave the jail.
After dinner, I had to leave a tad early as I had an early court appearance the next morning, in a different matter, fittingly, with a Judge who learned Italian before he learned English.

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:

2001 J. Hofstatter Barthenau Vigna S. Urban

What did you think?

Well, first, I know very little about Italian wines. So, keep that in mind when you read this.

I think Longboarder contributed this one. I thought it was probably the most fascinating wine of the evening. An Italian wine from a guy named Josef Hofstatter? The label had an umlaut on it! Pinot Nero I think.
It had a shade of sweetness, but certainly not cloyingly so. It was very pleasant and had a lightish color upon pouring, (sort of reminiscent of a Pinot Noir) but in the glass it coalesced into a medium dark color. (Later we had some bruisers that were deep, deep dark).
I thought I tasted faint cherry. It was quite enjoyable.
Have you had this, wine+art?

I think the list might be incomplete, because I am thinking we had a second Aglianico. Probably I am confused.

Yes Irwin it is a Pinot Noir, or as it's called in Italy Pinot Nero. Hofstatter makes quite a few very nice wines. I especially like their Guwurztraminer. Alto Adige or South Tyrol is the German speaking part of Italy. Aside from being a scenic wonderland, they make some excellent wines there, mostly white.

Bah, those people in northeast Italy are Germans, not Italians.

Sounds like a good night!

Austrians futronic not Germans. Keep your Aryans straight now.

I think Fut (or VT2IT rather) is right. But at least with my German training I can pronounce the words on the labels.

That Pinot was very interesting... Almost more interesting because it was very typical pinot... Almost New Worldy in style. More California than Oregon in flavor profile (if I can generalize on my limited experience), but a bit lighter - not as big as most Cali pinots I've had. Made very well, too. I could easily have been convinced it came from the US.

The second Aglianico, Irwin, was the Galardi. That's 90% aglianico and 10% piedirosso. And made like a first/second growth, imho. It was a bit tight... I think the Galardi needed about six or eight more hours in the decanter based on my luck opening the 2004s last month. The rest of the wines on the whole seemed pretty approachable.

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:


Have you had this, wine+art?

Irwin, the J. Hofstatter wines I buy and enjoy are the Lagrein and the Lagrein Steinraffler.

I have not had their Pinot.

Any notes on the '03 Galardi Terra di Lavoro. I've got several vintages of this but have only tasted the '99 (April, '07), which was pleasantly 'ready to drink.' I'm curious how an even younger one might show... particularly in the warm '03 vintage.

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:

2001 J. Hofstatter Barthenau Vigna S. Urban


What did you think?

I thought the pinot was an excellent wine, especially in light of the fact it was made by a bumbling Major from the SS: Clicken Sie Hier!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Festiva,

stickman - I had to slow down by the time the 2003 Galardi was poured... I had been drinking a little too much for my drive back to Virginia. But my impression was that it was quite tannic, but not harshly so... very smooth tannins. Darker fruits with the aglianico clearly front and center, but with an interesting structured almost (non-vegetal) cabernet-like side that I attributed to the piedirosso. It was decanted at the beginning of dinner and probably poured two hours later or so. It needed several more as I mentioned.

Other Galardi notes re: your vertical:

I've had the 2002 before - It was very good, so don't be afraid of "bad" vintages - Fill in that vertical!

The 2004 is very drinkable now if you decant it in the morning and drink it at night. I find it very bordeaux-like in style. First/Second growth quality wine-making. Silky sheets with a chocolate on the pillow.

I'm going to be trying to get a Galardi vertical going, too. I've only got 2003-2005 at the moment, but it's more than worth the $50-$80 price point at which I've been finding it. (or where Festiva has been finding it, in the case of the 2003s)

quote:

Originally posted by Lentini:
I've had the 2002 before - It was very good, so don't be afraid of "bad" vintages - Fill in that vertical!

Funny you should say that; I haven't tasted the '02, but when it got three glasses from Gambero Rosso, that was enough for me - CHA-CHING! I'm not afraid! I'm missing the 2000 (not for lack of trying), but otherwise, I've got these back to 1999. I tasted the '99 back in 4/'07, and it was everything I'd hoped for, so I plan to keep buying these in the near term. With vintages like '04 and following, I can't go too far wrong, right?

quote:

The 2004 is very drinkable now if you decant it in the morning and drink it at night. I find it very bordeaux-like in style. First/Second growth quality wine-making. Silky sheets with a chocolate on the pillow.

Nice image. I felt similarly about the '99. Though there was definitely a rustic, stony character from the volcanic soils, there was also plenty of polish (Cotarella, no doubt).

What I'm finding as I grow out of my infancy in collecting is: the beginning is the hardest part. I probably won't feel the urge to pull a cork on the '04 anytime soon simply because I'd rather open a '99 or '02 (saving my '01s for special occasions). Nonetheless, thanks for the response, information, and encouragement.

No matter what PH says, the MD/N.VA. crew is first rate. They all treated a southerner with truly great hospitality. The wine and the conversation were both interesting. They even allowed me to drone on and on about my love of the boot. Thanks again guys for a great evening.

W+A - The Hofstatter was drinking well, and not just because I brought it. The wine evolved very nicely in glass and even after drinking the bigger wines later in the evening, several of us went back to what was left in the bottle. By the 2nd hour, the wine had gained some weight and the red fruit was more prevelant. I think Festiva said he detected a little heat but I have to say I thought it was a very balanced Pinot, especially one from Italy.

I am looking forward to our next encounter - golf, cigars, food, and wine.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Longboarder,