2006 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Cervaro della Sala Umbria IGT - Italy, Umbria, Umbria IGT (3/16/2009) Fantastic Italian white, with great floral aromatics, almost like a Condrieu. On the palate, some vanilla, pear and anise, follow by unexpected flourish of high-toned acetone or even petrol (like an Alsatian Riesling). Paired beautifully with a warm seafood salad over baby arugula. Probably in early maturity stage and would like to try again in 1-2 years. Impressive. (93 pts.)
I posted a tasting note on this back in November from our October trip to Italy but it's lumped into a large thread with all of the wines we tasted. Here's my tasting note on this wine:
2006 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Cervaro della Sala Umbria IGT - Italy, Umbria, Umbria IGT (10/21/2008) Italy 2008 (Italy): WIML95
Tasted at Badia a Passignano. Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Georgeous floral nose with seducing aromas of passion fruit, nutmeg and Mehjool dates. Full flavors of pears, apples, pineapples and lemon zest on the medium to long finish. Bright acidity, medium to full body. Drink or hold. This is one of the best young drinking Cervaros I've ever tasted from Antinori. Well done and highly recommended. . (95 pts.)
Joe ----- Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone.
Come visit me sometime at http://www.winexiles.com/
I'm also a huge fan of Cervaro. Has anyone else tried the other Chardonnay based wine from this estate called Bramito del Cervo. It is fantastic and sells for around $18. I bought a 6 pack of the '06 vintage and every bottle was great.
Posts: 384 | Location: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Aug 27, 2004
Frankly, I remember you bringing a delicious Italian white over to my table, but I didn't take notice of the producer. It was a "wow" wine as I vaguely recollect.
Originally posted by wineismylife: That's before local sales tax. Picked it up locally at my preferred local retailer.
Add TX sales tax and the present conversion of USD to CND, and you come up with about $52.50. The present exchange rate (approx 1:1.27) has made buying wine in the U.S. a 'pass' unless it's an absolute screamin' deal at this point.
(Or completely unobtainable in Canada at all. But that's another issue entirely.)
Notes from memory. Best white wine tried to date. Nose of smoky pear, pineapple, vanilla crème brulee, and butterscotch. Delicious. Super smooth texture with weight and complexity and long finish but no harshness. Very little acidity which made the wine rich but perfect integration made it not feel flabby - just rich and lush. Excellent.
94 verging on 95 points
Posts: 413 | Location: Toronto, ON | Registered: Nov 10, 2008
Originally posted by The Economist: Notes from memory. Best white wine tried to date. Nose of smoky pear, pineapple, vanilla crème brulee, and butterscotch. Delicious. Super smooth texture with weight and complexity and long finish but no harshness. Very little acidity which made the wine rich but perfect integration made it not feel flabby - just rich and lush. Excellent.
94 verging on 95 points
This was the best white ever, or the best white ever from Italy?
Originally posted by The Economist: Notes from memory. Best white wine tried to date. Nose of smoky pear, pineapple, vanilla crème brulee, and butterscotch. Delicious. Super smooth texture with weight and complexity and long finish but no harshness. Very little acidity which made the wine rich but perfect integration made it not feel flabby - just rich and lush. Excellent.
94 verging on 95 points
This was the best white ever, or the best white ever from Italy?
This is actually the best white I've tried to date. I have a bunch of white Burgs, some white Bordeaux, some from the Northern Rhone, and some interesting Rieslings sitting in my cellar but I don't think I'll be opening those up for a couple of years. It's a little difficult for me because I've built my cellar up in the last year and a half and in that time I've consumed maybe eighty of my own bottles and set aside two hundred and fifty, but those that I've set aside have depressingly long waiting windows and those that I've consumed were not of the caliber of this bottle.
I would like to drink more wines like this but I don't want to ruin the experience by opening them up too early, so I end up just buying and having to wait with nothing special to drink in the interim.
Posts: 413 | Location: Toronto, ON | Registered: Nov 10, 2008
Originally posted by Impulse: Wow, you liked it a lot more than I did! To me, it is a 89-90 pts wine, not more. I feel I can find wines that are just as good for half the price...
Could you please make a recommendation? I'd love to try some stuff out.
Posts: 413 | Location: Toronto, ON | Registered: Nov 10, 2008
2006 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Cervaro della Sala Umbria IGT - Italy, Umbria, Umbria IGT (1/24/2009) TWC 5-Year Anniversary Dinner (Crush Wine Bar, Toronto, Canada): A blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Grechetto from Umbria. Beautiful, tropical nose of vanilla, honey, peach, apricot, jasmine, and oak. Full-bodied, bone dry, with great (almost bracing) acidity. Shows notes of lemon, minerals, apple, and pencil shavings on the palate. Moderate-long finish with more minerals and white fruit. Delicious, and should be consumed over the next few years. (92 pts.)
