Here are the rest of the wines from the Antinori tasting organized by Summergate and hosted by the Italian Ambassador, Mrs Riccardo Sessa and Alessia Antinori. Wines were available from Umbria and Tuscany, the original Antinori home (see separate posting for the three whites on show and the Umbrian and Tuscan wines we tasted) as well as Piemonte (Prunotto) and Puglia (Tormaresca), both also under Antinori control.
2005 Dolcetto d’Alba, Prunotto
Appearance: deepish purple colour, clear rim.
Nose: lots of red and black cherry but with noticeable almond nose and some white pepper. No oak.
Palate: chewy medium tannins (well managed here for Dolcetto!), medium-high refreshing acidity, lovely fruit and impressive length. Alcohol is well-balanced too.
Conclusion: a lovely example of Dolcetto from a strong vintage. Retail 203RMB.
Rating: 18/20
2005 Barbera d’Asti ‘Fiulot’ Vineyard, Prunotto
Appearance: medium red-purple, clear rim.
Nose: light red cherry nose with some stalky fruit. Some other savoury smells, but no oak.
Palate: bright fruit, nice acidity, and moderate spiky tannins. Quite good length.
Conclusion: medium-range Barbera in a light style. Well-made. Retail 179RMB.
Rating: 17/20
2000 Barbera d’Asti ‘Costamiole’ Vineyard, Prunotto
Appearance: dark purple-red, slight orange rim.
Nose: complex nose with intense black cherry fruit and several different savoury aromas including herbs (rosemary, oregano). Some of the spice here must be traceable to oak.
Palate: very ripe chewy tannins, great acidity and fantastic complexity of fruit and oak. Well-balanced throughout.
Conclusion: part of the Prunotto 'Cru' range and a superb Barbera! The wine does actually spend 12 months in barriques and is then aged for a year in bottle before release. Retail 660RMB.
Rating: 18.5/20
2001 Barolo ‘Bussia’ Vineyard, Prunotto
Appearance: medium to dark purple-red, slight orange rim.
Nose: immensely perfumed Nebbiolo with a mixture of black cherry and redcurrant fruit, peppermint and florality (although what flowers we couldn’t tell you!). Oak is well-integrated here as the grape variety is allowed to sing.
Palate: seems tighter in flavour on the palate (this is not a function of the gripping tannins as such). Very good length, however.
Conclusion: obviously high-class Barolo from a really good year that has an impressive life ahead. The 'Bussia' vineyard is in Monforte. The wine is aged in large French oak barrels, then in smaller barriques before being aged for a further year in bottle. Approx. 839RMB retail.
Rating: 18.5/20 [might be higher with time]
The Puglian reds from Tormaresca:
2004 Rosso Puglia IGT, Tormaresca
Appearance: medium red, clear rim.
Nose: attractive red and black cherry fruit, ‘warm’ and quite alcoholic on the nose. ‘Rustic’ in a good sense.
Palate: chewy and spiky medium tannins, refreshing acidity, pleasant fruit, quite good length.
Conclusion: 70% Negroamaro and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is an attractive blend for everyday drinking. Retail 167RMB.
Rating: 16.5/20
2003 ‘Masseria Maime’ Salento IGT, Tormaresca
Appearance: medium purple-red, clear rim.
Nose: ‘crushed berries’ with leathery notes, also savoury and, again, ‘rustic’, although that needs qualifying. There’s an alcoholic quality to the nose, probably helped by the 2003 heat. This is attractive though.
Palate: nice ripe tannins, pleasant fruit, decent acidity and a good overall balance despite the ‘warm’ alcohol nose. Good length.
Conclusion: 100% Negroamaro and very drinkable. Impressive. Retail 419RMB.
Rating: 17.5/20
2005 Dolcetto d’Alba, Prunotto
Appearance: deepish purple colour, clear rim.
Nose: lots of red and black cherry but with noticeable almond nose and some white pepper. No oak.
Palate: chewy medium tannins (well managed here for Dolcetto!), medium-high refreshing acidity, lovely fruit and impressive length. Alcohol is well-balanced too.
Conclusion: a lovely example of Dolcetto from a strong vintage. Retail 203RMB.
Rating: 18/20
2005 Barbera d’Asti ‘Fiulot’ Vineyard, Prunotto
Appearance: medium red-purple, clear rim.
Nose: light red cherry nose with some stalky fruit. Some other savoury smells, but no oak.
Palate: bright fruit, nice acidity, and moderate spiky tannins. Quite good length.
Conclusion: medium-range Barbera in a light style. Well-made. Retail 179RMB.
Rating: 17/20
2000 Barbera d’Asti ‘Costamiole’ Vineyard, Prunotto
Appearance: dark purple-red, slight orange rim.
Nose: complex nose with intense black cherry fruit and several different savoury aromas including herbs (rosemary, oregano). Some of the spice here must be traceable to oak.
Palate: very ripe chewy tannins, great acidity and fantastic complexity of fruit and oak. Well-balanced throughout.
Conclusion: part of the Prunotto 'Cru' range and a superb Barbera! The wine does actually spend 12 months in barriques and is then aged for a year in bottle before release. Retail 660RMB.
Rating: 18.5/20
2001 Barolo ‘Bussia’ Vineyard, Prunotto
Appearance: medium to dark purple-red, slight orange rim.
Nose: immensely perfumed Nebbiolo with a mixture of black cherry and redcurrant fruit, peppermint and florality (although what flowers we couldn’t tell you!). Oak is well-integrated here as the grape variety is allowed to sing.
Palate: seems tighter in flavour on the palate (this is not a function of the gripping tannins as such). Very good length, however.
Conclusion: obviously high-class Barolo from a really good year that has an impressive life ahead. The 'Bussia' vineyard is in Monforte. The wine is aged in large French oak barrels, then in smaller barriques before being aged for a further year in bottle. Approx. 839RMB retail.
Rating: 18.5/20 [might be higher with time]
The Puglian reds from Tormaresca:
2004 Rosso Puglia IGT, Tormaresca
Appearance: medium red, clear rim.
Nose: attractive red and black cherry fruit, ‘warm’ and quite alcoholic on the nose. ‘Rustic’ in a good sense.
Palate: chewy and spiky medium tannins, refreshing acidity, pleasant fruit, quite good length.
Conclusion: 70% Negroamaro and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is an attractive blend for everyday drinking. Retail 167RMB.
Rating: 16.5/20
2003 ‘Masseria Maime’ Salento IGT, Tormaresca
Appearance: medium purple-red, clear rim.
Nose: ‘crushed berries’ with leathery notes, also savoury and, again, ‘rustic’, although that needs qualifying. There’s an alcoholic quality to the nose, probably helped by the 2003 heat. This is attractive though.
Palate: nice ripe tannins, pleasant fruit, decent acidity and a good overall balance despite the ‘warm’ alcohol nose. Good length.
Conclusion: 100% Negroamaro and very drinkable. Impressive. Retail 419RMB.
Rating: 17.5/20
Labels: 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, Antinori, Barbera d'Asti, Barolo, Dolcetto, Negroamaro, Prunotto, Puglia, Salento, Summergate, Tormaresca
posted by Wine Dragon
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