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quote:
Originally posted by Azwiese:
quote:
Originally posted by wineismylife:
2009 Keplinger Red Slope


I had a Keplinger Basilisk on Saturday. I love what she does with grenache. Packs a nice punch, but it is really well balanced. Hopefully I can keep my hands of a few of them for another 7-10 years, and see how they develop.


Az,

What vintage was the Basilisk? Also, any thoughts on what vintages of any of the Keplinger wines are drinking the best right about now. I believe I have most of her wines since the 2009 vintage. I'm heading to Boston/RI in a couple of weeks to visit friends and see the Bears-Pats game, and thought I'd bring a Keplinger among the wines I take out. TIA
quote:
Originally posted by eyesintime:
Az,

What vintage was the Basilisk? Also, any thoughts on what vintages of any of the Keplinger wines are drinking the best right about now. I believe I have most of her wines since the 2009 vintage. I'm heading to Boston/RI in a couple of weeks to visit friends and see the Bears-Pats game, and thought I'd bring a Keplinger among the wines I take out. TIA


It was the 2011. I had seen less than favorable notes on CT regarding the 2011's, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. I enjoyed it. Definitely has room to grow. I also had a 2010 Caldera in May, which was good, but not great. I had an 09 Lithic (which is my favorite of her portfolio) a couple of months ago, and I really enjoyed it. I guess if I was choosing, I'd start with the 09's.

Although, if you happened to buy the 2012 El Dorado (the white rhone blend), Whine-oh and I had it about a month ago and really enjoyed it.
quote:
Originally posted by Azwiese:
quote:
Originally posted by eyesintime:
Az,

What vintage was the Basilisk? Also, any thoughts on what vintages of any of the Keplinger wines are drinking the best right about now. I believe I have most of her wines since the 2009 vintage. I'm heading to Boston/RI in a couple of weeks to visit friends and see the Bears-Pats game, and thought I'd bring a Keplinger among the wines I take out. TIA


It was the 2011. I had seen less than favorable notes on CT regarding the 2011's, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. I enjoyed it. Definitely has room to grow. I also had a 2010 Caldera in May, which was good, but not great. I had an 09 Lithic (which is my favorite of her portfolio) a couple of months ago, and I really enjoyed it. I guess if I was choosing, I'd start with the 09's.

Although, if you happened to buy the 2012 El Dorado (the white rhone blend), Whine-oh and I had it about a month ago and really enjoyed it.


Thanks AZ. Great minds must think alike, as I was thinking of bringing a 2011 Caldera to try and get a read on the 2011s. I might go with a 2009 Red Slope though, since by WIML's note it is should be drinking pretty well.
Visits to two producers in Veneto today, and there couldn't have been a bigger contrast in the experiences.

At Giuseppi Quintarelli we tasted:

2006 Valpolicella Classico Superiore
2002 Rosso del Bepi
2004 Amarone Classico
2003 Amarone Riserva
2005 Alzero
2001 Recioto Della Valpolicella

And at Michele Castellani we tasted:

2011 Valpolicella Classico Superiore i Castei
2010 Sergio Rosso Veronese
2005 Amarone i Castei Campo Caselin

At Quintarelli, we were first greeted by Fiorenze, Giuseppe's daughter and current proprietor. She had her son, Francesco, give us the tour and tasting, since he speaks English better than she does. Francesco was gracious, warm and incredibly informative. What a treat to tour the entire facility, even while it's under extensive renovation.

Meanwhile, Mara Castellani, Michele's daughter, was cool and fairly dismissive - and she chewed gum through the entire tasting (which lasted perhaps 15 minutes). Then she left us to do our own self-guided "tour" of the cellars. Weird.
Last edited by sunnylea57
quote:
Originally posted by futronic:
Very weird and disappointing about your Castellani visit. They didn't even pour any of the good stuff like the Amarone Cinque Stelle, et al.


Agreed. But as disappointing as Castellani was, Quintarelli exceeded expectations. I hadn't expected to be able to get in to visit them at all. I called 6 weeks ago and was told they were too busy with the harvest and the renovation. But our host at the agriturismo called this morning and was able to secure an appointment for us.
- 1997 Rocca Albino Barbaresco Brich Ronchi -- I last had a bottle of this in 2010, and it seems that it was better than tonight's bottle which has significant bricking, still a lovely floral and cherry nose, but now the flavours seem just slightly faded, and while the wine is silky in the mouth it is certainly lighter than in the past, with troubling, drying tannins that outlast the fruit on the finish. It's not bad at all, but a somewhat diminished version of what it once was.

I first opened a bottle of this in 2004, when it seemed powerful and timeless, and bought a few more earlier this year in the hope that I was right, but it seems that the wine may be on its slow decline. I'll be drinking my other 4 bottles in the next few months, and I look forward to discovering whether this was a one-off or a typical bottle.

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