Had a nice dinner at a Persian restaurant with different stews (chicken with walnut sauce and cooked plums; lamb with spinach and cooked plums) and saffron ice cream/ saffron rice pudding for dessert. Wines were drunk at home over the weekend however.
* Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 1997
My first 1997 Barolo. Decanted up to 4 hours on the first day. This is really, like JS put it, a textbook Barolo. An elegant yet huge tar, smoke and blackberry nose with hints of orange zests. On the palate the acidity stood out a bit at the beginning but smoothed out over the evening whereas the tannins seemed to emerge more and more.... Still always loads of fruit to match them. This is drinking like let's say 94 points at the moment and there is certainly lots of room for development. 98 points? I don't know, but a classic wine anyway. WS 98, RP94 (€53).
Kracher Grande Cuvee #10 1998
My first Kracher I have to admit. Tried the classical pairing with blue mould cheeses and paté. Oozing honey and orange marmelade aromas this has an incredibly thick concentration with mostly apricot flavors. Almost too thick to drink and on the brink of being cloying I have to say. While it went well with the cheeses, one glass is really enough.... Not rated for lack of comparison. WS 98, RP 94. (€31)
I must have been a root louse in a past life....
Posts: 686 | Location: Vienna, Austria | Registered: Jun 11, 2002
Happy Birthday, Phyll, I was tempted to put THIS in bold type, but of course the evil in me made me highlight the scandal in your post instead Some of these days I must go "into Italy" but not yet... Nice couple for a birthday, outrageous price for the Kracher... Both rated WS98/RP94...so how old are you...96???
I have some bottles of the Ciabot Mentin Ginestra in my cellar as well, but I've always been reluctant to try one at this stage. Seems that waiting some more time is still a good idea.
andreadago, Keep in mind I consider myself very oak tolerant. But I really didn't find the oak in the CMG stood out inappropriately.
Marc, yes, of course, time will do it good. But I think you wouldn't be very dissappointed if you try one now. Then again, I know you wouldn't commit such a crime!
Gastro and all, thanks! If you'd consider to come to Austria for an offline I'd keep a few Kracher ready for you.... (insert picture of Kracher bottle on a string dangling in front of a donkey's nose.... )
I must have been a root louse in a past life....
Posts: 686 | Location: Vienna, Austria | Registered: Jun 11, 2002
Some of these days I must go "into Italy" but not yet... No hurry Gastro! our bottles are heavier than a 50 cl Kracher, it's more difficult to hang them dangling in front of a Gastronauta's nose
Phyll, as a matter of fact the CMG is the least oaky of Clerico's Barolos, even though I believe he's started from 97 or 98 to use 100% new oak on this as well, actually it's the only one that I can stand recently, the Pajana and the Percristina are "fruitcoffins" .
Posts: 407 | Location: Italy | Registered: Jan 14, 2002
Happy Birtday. I am glad you found the Clerico enjoyable. I opened 1 of the 6 I purchased last week. I drank it after 1 hour in the decanter and felt it was so backward it was nearly undrinkable.It sounds like more air time was helpful. I will not open a 2nd bottle for at least a decade.
Posts: 796 | Location: Stow,Ohio USA | Registered: Jan 08, 2003
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