At Vidalia, a nice restaurant in DC I brought...

Heidler Thal Gruner-Veltliner (2000?) Very good. 90.5

2001 Martinelli Moonshine Ranch PN. Still one of my all time favorites. I've posted complete TNs at least twice before. So rich and lush. 93.

To celebrate the Sopranos...

2002 Seghesio Sonoma Zin. Found for $12.99. 1/3 went into the meat sauce. 2/3 went into our mouths directly. Deep, medium-full bodied, dark fruits, oak spice, black pepper. Great value for $13. 88.

1998 Zenato Amarone. Drinking this right after the Seghesio reminded me the problem with wine -- a $50 bottle really is often that much better than a $15. Amazingly dark, rich, well balanced. Black fruits, a bit of bramble and charcoal on the nose and palate. There is a lot of fruit submerged here that I think would come out and make this wine that much greater in about 3-5 years. I have a few more and I'm gonna try to hold them until 2007, or at least the end of 2006. However, this is great now. 91.5(+?)

PS. While the 1995 Zenato Amarone is drinking just as well, if not better, now, I believe this is the better wine.


a

"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields

Thanks for the notes Whiner15. Couldn't agree with you more on the Zenato Amarones. Their reserve and regular bottlings are always good and even better with bottle age IMHO(still working through some 88 and 90 reserves).
Cheers!

geegee,

If you have any '95 Riserva hold off on that for a long time -- I had it 8 months ago and found it to be a long time from when i would ideally drink it.

Like you, I love Zenato Amarones -- they are great young and even better aged

a

"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields

I really enjoyed the 2000 Riserva.... An Italian Rhone, so full of juice and so hard to resist. It may mayure well, but it was o so delicious. And with lots of alcohol

And on the Seventh Day the wine was sour...

I gave the 1995 Zenato 90-91 points last November at an Offline at Harry Carry's with Emilio and some Chicago members. Unfortunately I did not take detailed notes.

VM