On Mar 29, 3:52�pm, DaleW > wrote:
> Friday Marc was hosting our local tasting group, with a Tuscan theme.
> I thought Thursday night of canceling, as I had a bad cold (no wine
> Wed or Th!!), and knew I'd be pooped as I was taking out a group
> Thursday night. But Friday I woke up feeling better despite 4 hours
> sleep, so that evening went to Marc's with my bottles. Wed and Th I
> had little appetite and could barely taste food, the funny thing
> Friday was I had my appetite back, could taste, but my nose was still
> stopped up. So consistent theme was that I had trouble getting much
> with nose, though flavors in mouth seemed fairly clear (retro-nasal
> smelling?). �But in any case treat notes with even more caution than
> usual. All wines blind:
>
> 1978 Castello di Monsanto " Il Poggio " Chianti Classico Riserva
> Not blind for me, my bottle. I had liked this 8 or 10 years ago, took
> a chance couple years ago, but never got around to opening. Cork is
> pure sawdust, corkscrew bores right through. No AhSo handy, I bore the
> hole and use a funnel with screen to decant (glad I have a backup
> bottle, very pessimistic). Wait a second, great color! Maybe backup
> isn't needed. Sweet lively fruit, cherries and dried cherries, some
> leather, some herb. Drinks well, everyone likes, I'm even more shocked
> when a taste 2+ hours later is still kicking. B+/A-
>
> Next wine is a light to middleweight, but with a nice underlying
> structure, more acid than tannin. Black cherry fruit, its the 2001
> Poggianto Chianti Classico Riserva, B+/B
>
> Following wine is a bit riper, fuller, very young. I guess 2003 CC,
> but it's the 2005 Querciabella Chianti Classico. B
>
> Next wine is not my fave. Simple cherry and plum fruit, short finish,
> acidic, not a fan. I can't remember thing about vintage. ??? Tomaiolo
> Chianti Classico Riserva �C+
>
> Then: Earth, a little mint, solid red plum fruit. Seems to be a bit
> more mature, ripe, I think maybe a BdM from a lighter vintage like
> '96. Nope. It's the 1998 Ciacci Piccolomini �Rosso di Montalcino. B+
>
> Next up: Round and lush, blackberry and black plum fruit, a bit of
> vanilla. A bit too international for me, but a hit with some people.
> 2000 Gaja Ca' Marcanda "Promis" Toscana IGT. B
>
> Following wine is a bit more my style. Bright red fruit, forest floor
> and cocoa. 2004 Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva. B+/B (but I think I
> liked their regular CC better)
>
> Last wine of the evening (good timing, Betsy calls that she is leaving
> city, arrange for her to pick up myself and our neighbor Rob).
> Blackcurrants and plums, moderate ripe tannins, soft but not flabby
> acidity. Good length, some pencil lead. Not Sangiovese. Several of us
> laugh when the �2004 I Greppi "Greppicante" �Bolgheri is revealed, as
> we were splitting a case of the 2005 (untasted, but Zachys had on sale
> for excellent price). If 2005 is like the 2004 I'm happy at $13.50,
> would have been more iffy at normal $20-24 price. The 2004 gets a B+/
> B.
>
> Fun night with the guys.
>
> Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
> wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
> drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
> promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Thanks for the notes. I actually have all of the BdM's that you
tasted in my cellar so the notes were quite valuable to me.