Had dinner with a friends couple, I had to cook, the friends brought some of the wines:

Course 1: grilled turbot in potatoe scales with extra vergine olive oil, sauted vegs.

Wine: Capichera Vermentino 2000: Nose of flowers and melon, full and creamy body, citrus-fruits. Integrated acidity and a long, pleasant finish: 88 P.

Course 2: guinea fowl on balsamico-honey reduction with risotto primavera in parmigiano basket.

Wines:
Il Pareto 1997 (Nozzole): Wonderful nose of cedar and currant. Licorice, tobacco and wet earth, tied together in a warm, very much Solaia-like palate. Finegrained tannins and lots of terroir expression which is quite rare in all but the greatest Tuscan Cabernets. Full bodied, elegant and multilayered finish. Fantastic wine, almost classic: 94 P.

Almaviva 1999: I rememered this being the most old-world stylish wine in a high-end chile wine tasting. After the Pareto, my impression was not the same anymore. Nice sweet blackberry and cassis nose. Full bodied, all in balance. Fruit driven but elegant, good accidity, well integrated new oak. Nice spicy finish of green pepper, probably the Carmenère-influence here. The best version of this wine so far: 92 P.

After that we settled down at the fireplace with a bottle of Taylors 1982 Vintage Port: Fruit-driven nose, full-bodied with ripe plums and raisins, walnuts and figs. Smooth tannins and a long finish. Not the greatest VP, but quite a pleasure to drink at this stage: 89 P.

[ 11-04-2002, 03:32 AM: Message edited by: Marc ]

Hi Marc,
how much did you pay for the Almaviva? I had the 98, which got 90 pts and I was rather disappointed. I didn't want to try again for €50...

Phyll, actually my friend brought the Almaviva, I think it went for about the same price here (USD 48 or so). I concur with your remark on the 1998, but let me assure you, the 1999 is on another level of quality.

[ 11-04-2002, 03:42 AM: Message edited by: Marc ]

hi marc,

i'm already at work

but had a great time in piemont!

rainer and i drunk saturday night two bottles
1996 giacosa falletto di serralunga ris. (ett. rossa)

shhhhh..... by the way for 100 euro/bottle at a restaurant........i already took a reservation on
another 2 bottles

Tsunami-man, I'm glad you had a nice trip and a safe journey back home. When's the next meeting? I still hope you have some of the famous red-labeled piemontese wines left in your own cellar .

ohhhh, you could bet on this

maybe 09 nov
maybe 23 nov
maybe 30 nov

when could you join us?

Tsunami, both Nov 9. and Nov 30 should be ok. I would have to know soon for Nov 9. Hope to hear from you.