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Sangiovese tasting - Italy vs California...

107.205.10.55

Posted on April 19, 2018 at 11:03:55
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003



...6 of us blind tasted 6 sangioveses. Low points wins.

6. 2014 Nozzole Chianti Classico Reserva $20 - 30pts - 2 lasts (my last) - not much fruit, a little astringent.

3 way tie for next place.

5/4/3. 2015 Di Majo Melise, Italy $9 - 23pts - 1 last - again, not much fruit.

5/4/3. 2015 L'aura Chianti Classico $17 - 23pts - 1 first - I thought this was ok and would be good with food

5/4/3. 2016 Macchia Lodi $24 - 23pts - 2 firsts, 3 lasts - this started out as a fruit bomb but the fruit dissipated a little over time and it improved some - one taster said it had no sangiovese flavor.

2. 2014 Noceto Rosso Amador $20 - 15pts - 1 first (my #2) - started off good and stayed that way

3. 2014 Noceto Riserva Amador $24 - 12pts - 2 firsts (my #1)- really nice balance of fruit and complexity

Interesting that the California wines were mostly better than the Italians. The wines changed quite a bit over the hour or so of tasting.

The Macchia (promoted by Total Wines) was the most controversial.

Two members of the group were in Amador last month to pick up their Turley wines and stopped by Noceto to try their sangioveses - which turned out to be the favorites by a wide point margin. Unfortunately, they appear to be only available at the winery.

 

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Damn Italians, posted on April 21, 2018 at 08:02:34
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
Don't know how to make their own wine.

But seriously, they make their wines to go with food. Higher acidity and less fruit forward for a reason.

As you have said in the past, your group goes for California style fruit bombs, so I'm not surprised with the results.

 

RE: Damn Italians, posted on April 24, 2018 at 20:41:02
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
...I don't think I can remember having any wine like the Nozzole or Di Majo when I was in Italy.

The thing is when the group tastes a bunch of wines side by side, especially blind, the fruitier ones, at least to a point, tend to stand out.

The fruit bombs fail (Macchia) but the ones with forward fruit and balance stand out (Nozoles).

 

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