Had Vino Me, Lady Vino Me, Frankie and Dame Frankie over for a N. Ital. wine dinner. Team VM brought fantastic appetizers and Team Frankie brought dessert. Everyone contributed wines to match with various courses. I prepared grilled lamb, eggplant parmesan and risotto (which was a bit too firm imo). Listed below are my impressions:

~ 1996 Bellavista Grande Cuvee Brut Franciacorta. A nice sparkler that complimented the appetizers very well. Well balanced and nice acidity. Score = 90.

~ 1999 Fratelli Pecchinino Siri d'Jermu Dolcetto di Dogliano. A disappointment. I didn't get this wine. Noticed some blackberry hidden behind a wall. Lacking fruit. "off" bottle perhaps? Tasted twice (next day) with consistent notes. Score = 85.

~ 1997 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi. Ah, blackberries and cherries with a firm mouthfeel. Hedonistic. Well-balanced. Score = 92.

~ 1997 Ceretto Barbaresco Bricco Asili. Great nose. Smooth, medium-bodied. Vanilla and cherry notes. Score = 90.

~ 1997 Ceretto Barolo Brunate. It's all there for a great wine. Too early for this one. Full-bodied, tannic. Score = 92+.

~ 1988 Marchesi di Barolo Riserva Grand Annati Barolo. Leather and cherry notes. Represents a more "signature" nebbiolo? Score = 89.

~ 1996 Orsolani Sule' Caluso Passito. This dessert wine matched well with assorted cookies. Better Half Blue Ovals' fav. Honey, nectar. Not too sweet. Score = 92.

After much merriment, Frankie convinced me to uncork a cab. Doesn't quite fit into the theme, but who cares? . . .

~ 1998 Behrens and Hitchcock Napa Cabernet "Cuvee Juanita." Weighing in at 15.3% alc., this fruit bomb had nice blackberry aromas. Tannins were well integrated - drinking fine now. Score = 91.

I am sure VM or Frankie will also respond. Everyone seemed to have a good time - with very little wine left over!

Blue Oval

[ 11-04-2002, 08:27 AM: Message edited by: Blue Oval ]

Blue Oval and his wife did an excellent job hosting this dinner. The food was fantastic. When we planned the dinner and picked the wines I thought we would have too much wine and not finish them all. Well it did not work out that way. We finished everything and then broke into Blue Ovals cellar for another bottle.

Here are my scores for these wines (I will post my notes seperately when I have more time):

~ 1996 Bellavista Grande Cuvee Brut Franciacorta. 89.

~ 1999 Fratelli Pecchinino Siri d'Jermu Dolcetto di Dogliano. 86

~ 1997 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi. 95.

~ 1997 Ceretto Barbaresco Bricco Asili. 94.

~ 1997 Ceretto Barolo Brunate. 91.

~ 1988 Marchesi di Barolo Riserva Grand Annati Barolo. 92.

~ 1996 Orsolani Sule' Caluso Passito. 89-90.

~ 1998 Behrens and Hitchcock Napa Cabernet "Cuvee Juanita." 89.

The Barbaresco's were the best wines of the night in my opinion. Surprisingly, 4 of the above wines were given the Tre Bicchieri award although only 2 of the 4 tasted like they deserved it.

VM

VM,
I will need to be more diligent with the notes during the event. From (foggy) memory this is alittle difficult. To make matters worse, I picked up a bug from one of the kids that kicked in the next day (although I knew it was coming since I had a sore throat on Sat).

Glad you had a good time.

Blue Oval

I (we) had a wonderful time as well. Unfortunately my barolo was too young, but I agree with BO, this has the stuffing to be great, but I'd say a few more years in the bottle at minimum for this. Yes, I worked my wiles on BO and the Behrens was promptly drank with nary a decant. My vote is higher than VM on the Behrens, however I agree fully on the Barbarescos, definitely the shining star of the night. Also unlike VM, I don't worry with this crew that we have too much wine, usually not enough time to laugh together and share some excellent vino. This Behrens was quite pleasing and unlike any Cal Cab I'd yet had. An interesting, almost smooth taste on the tongue and palate, like an older vintage, yet this was a 1998. I'd recommend.