.

[This message was edited by Red Lover on Dec 06, 2002 at 06:25 AM.]

welcome Redlover,

I completely agree with your first TN. It is a great wine, although it's infanticide to drink it now. The 1995 is just showing at its best now. The 1997 is even more elegant and it completely lacks the mushroom/barnyard notes that a lot of old-style amarone show, which is an effect of Allegrini's new grape drying facility.
If you ever get the chance, try to find a bottle of Allegrini's La Poja - it's one of my alle-time favorites!

[ 09-21-2002, 05:49 AM: Message edited by: Marc ]

Goody, goody, I've got three bottles!

Red Lover,

I think you really made a very good job with your first TN!

Especially considering how you did carefully follow the evolution of the wine, which is a basical information for the reader, and shows some serious expertise in the taster-writer.

It's quite a rare attitude in Italy, to follow the wine not only during the evening, but the day after, also. I only saw it doing by some professionals, but I actually consider it as a basical experiment to seriously test the effective quality and character of the wine you consider.

I only regret on one thing: a wonderful pearl like a bottle of the '97, Allegrini: what a pity, that she died so young...
Well, I only talk because I'm a sinner, too: just tried the 1996 Romano Dal Forno few weeks ago, and I wonder when it will begin being close to its peak. Maybe 15 years? Or more?

By the way, do definitely follow Marc's hint, and if you find some, buy a La Poja: you won't miss your money. You'd better cellar it at least a couple of year, also, it's made out only of Corvina, which is the strongest of the grapes composing the Amarone formula, and it's a real tannic monster, but a good kind of a monster, of course. 1995 should drink quite fine now.

Best regards

.

[This message was edited by Red Lover on Dec 06, 2002 at 06:25 AM.]

Hey bman, you wouldn't happen to want to trade me one of those '97 Allegrinis, would you?

For those of us nuturing stashes, RL's sacrifice was for the greater good!!

Also, I can second all comments about the '95. Broke down two days ago and opened one of the three I had left. Just (emphasis on the "just") coming around. Tannins still very stout, but nevertheless a fine complement to the wonderfully balanced raisin and plum streaks that characterize this more traditional offering.

What are you offering? I've read so many nice things about this wine, and amarone is our favourite Italian (in fact, it's probably our favourite wine, period, after vintage port).

[ 09-23-2002, 09:05 AM: Message edited by: bman ]

bman,

have you ever had some Allegrini, and even more releavant, some Quintarelli or Dal Forno Amarone?

If you like great Port, you should consider that Quintarelli and Dal Forno are the wines that come as close as possible to the Port style that a non-fortified wine can get to, in my experience. Allegrini is in the middle of the road between "simple" high quality Amarone and the two great interpreters mentioned above.

Actually, in Italy there's a little producer in Sardinia that has just started producing some incredible wines from the sole Cannonau grape.
The vines are teribly old, some 50, some 70 and some more than 100 years, and they make three distinct bottles. The grapes are not dried after picking up, but they stay on the plants up to half October for the oldest vines.
The producer is Tenute Dettori, and the three wines are called Tuderi, Tenores and Dettori. You can see more detailed info at www.tenutedettori.it />
These wines, especially the Dettori, but also the Tenores, are even closer to the Port standards than the biggest Amarone themselves. I don't know if they export their production, which is extremely limited, in the USA. In Italy the Tuderi costs 25 euros, the two other ones 50 euros, but it's their first release...

Red L - thanks for the good review. I have only tasted this wine with minimal aeration and it is still great. Your review backs other comments I have heard about the amount of aeration required on this one.

The Wine Warehouse should have the 97 La Poja in (at least up in Tampa) - I believe about $60 - and it is a very, very fine wine.

.

[This message was edited by Red Lover on Dec 06, 2002 at 06:26 AM.]

bman,

I was only kidding, but even if you're considering a trade, I highly doubt I would have anything that you'd be interested in (except maybe the '97 La Poja, but I won't part with it ) that couldn't easily be obtained via the LCBO.

So little of quality can be "easily" obtained at the LCBO, for example, on Saturday there I was again bumping carts with the excited people (including carriedca, it seems) trying to beat me (almost literally) to the best QPR wines. And this was a release with no big names or other obvious reason to be pushy. From now on I do the legwork in advance and find out which of the smaller, less frantic shops have what I'm looking for.....

And futronic, I was only kidding too, sort of.... One day we'll do an offline and compare our holdings.

I look forward to an offline one day. I'll pour some of my Italians, and you can school me on some Aussie wines and some port (don't waste the vintage stuff on me though ... I don't have the appreciation level/experience to be worthy) .

I know what you mean when you say "doing the legwork before a release." The Thursday and/or Friday before a Saturday release, I'm calling various stores to see what they have in stock and how easy it's going to be for me to get there (the closer to home the better). I try to avoid the flagship Queen's Quay store like the plague.

.

[This message was edited by Red Lover on Dec 06, 2002 at 06:27 AM.]