Notes taken at the Brancaia-tasting, Zurich.

Brancaia Tre, IGT Toscana, 2000: Nice sour-cherry nose. Medium bodied, well balanced acidity. Crispy finish and good length: 89 P.

Brancaia (Blue Label), IGT Toscana 2000: Overdone. Vanilla nose. Very concentrated, jelly-like blackberries and more vanilla. Composition not recognizable (must have some Cab however). Tough, coarse-grained tannins that dry out in the finish. Highly probable that this will be a dead bottle after some aging: 85 P.

Giorgio Primo Chianti Classico 2000 (La Massa): Is this really Chianti?: Slight rubber note in the nose. Very dark colour. Blackberry and cassis. Tight structure. Low acidity. One-dimensional. Long, quite pleasant finish: 86 P.

Castello di Brolio, Chianti Classico 1999: Nose of licorice. Medium bodied with fresh acidity. Chocolate and plum notes. Well integrated tannins. Sligthly too much oak. Long, a bit spicy finish: 88 P.

I Siepi, IGT Toscana 2000 (Fonterutoli): Very deep nose of blackberry-jelly and vanilla. Mighty, concentrated body, but in balance. Finegrained tannins. Chocolaty finish, complex. Needs some years of cellaring time. IMO a bit overdone, but very well crafted and with a lot of potential: 90 P.

Chianti Classico Riserva 1999, Fattoria Valtellina: Not as great as the 1997, but still good. Red-berry scents. Medium bodied. Sour cherries and earthy flavours. Racy acidity. Somewhat wild, will come together with more aging. Interesting and long finish: 90 P.

Convivio 1999, Fattoria Valtellina: Not as oaky as the other Supertuscans. Currant nose, full bodied, herbs and cherries. Finegrained tannins and a spicy, earthy finish: 90 P.

Nardo IGT Toscana 2000 (Montepeloso): Sweet nose. Primary Cab flavours. Medium to full bodied. Sweet, floral finish. Uninteresting and a bit overdone: 85 P.

Brunello di Montalcino 1997, Tenuta Corte Pavone: Quite open already. Cherry nose. Medium to full bodied, fine accidity. Integrated tannins. Flowers (violets). Rather short finish: 88 P.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2000 (Domaine de Pégau): Wonderfully open nose of ripe prunes. Sleak and complex. Medium-to full-bodied. More Prunes, wet autumn leaves. Spicy, complex finish: 93 P.

Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1999 (A. Brunel): Nose still quite closed. Full bodied, roasted bacon and black pepper. Packed with tannins, but complex already at this stage. Long, mineralic finish: 92 P.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000, Le Vieux Donjon: Very closed, hard to taste: Dark, mighty body, roast and carcoal notes, opulent, earth and plums. Tough tannins. Long, complex finish: 91 P.

Rasteau Vieilles Vignes, 2000 (Tardieu-Laurent): Sweet and deep nose. Thick, full bodied, modern wine. Earth and vanilla, black fruit packed together in a tight corsett. Deep, long and smooth finish. This is very concentrated, but it still doesn't hide its origin: 91 P.

[ 10-30-2002, 05:31 AM: Message edited by: Marc ]

Thanks for the notes, Marc.

In tasting the few '00 Tuscans I've had, I am noticing an overripe quality to alot of the wines. Sometimes it is pleasant, but other times too sweet. It seems like some of your notes are also picking up a similar observation.

Cheers,

Otis

thanks,

happy expovina!

Unfortunately,

a percentase of Cab. is allowed by the Chianti's Disciplinary...