Wine Tasting Event
1 Comment I was fortunate enough to go to a wine tasting event hosted by Wengler, a distributer here in Luxembourg. The event served some tastey cheeses and a pasta dish with an overflowing amount of bread.
I was able to taste a whole lot of different wines– and not even close to the number of wines they were serving– from many areas of France and Italy. The following is a list of wines and my initial impressions:
Angelo Gaja’s 2004 Chardonnay “Gaia & Rey” is a white wine, smooth tasting and simple, not complex. Good for a young wine.
Angelo Gaja’s 2004 Alteni Brassica is another white wine. A bit more complex and at twice the cost, it gave a quick bite during the sip, and faded with no aftertaste.
Angelo Gaja’s 2001 Langhe “Darmagi” Cabernet Sauvignon is a nice red wine. This French grape was grown in Italy for this fresh tasting wine.
Angelo Gaja’s 2001 Langhe Nebbiolo “Sperss” was a very dry red wine, which was I downed, but couldn’t find a difference between it and the Cabernet Sauvignon… both at 96euro per bottle.
La Spinetta’s 2001 Barolo Campe was a red that I found a bit tart, yet not overpoweringly awful… it was definately drinkable.
Luciano Sandrone’s 2000 Barolo “Le vigne”, which I found to be a very tasty glass of red. I got a business card from a Sandrone family member and will be touring their vineyard when I pass through Italy.
Clerico’s 2003 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra was a nice dry red wine. It was full bodied– good legs– and gave me a kick.
Clerico’s 1999 Barolo Percristina was another full bodied red wine, a bit dry for my tastes, but somehow better than the Clerico 2003.
Conterno Fantino’s 2000 Langhe Rosso “Monpra” was a wine that I didn’t get a good taste… I got the last of the bottle and ended up with more grape skin in my glass, which gave me a bitter taste.
Elio Grasso’s 2004 Chardonnay “Educato” was a smooth, simple, sweet white wine. Similar in taste to Gaja’s Brassaca, it is a great deal at 12euro a bottle.
Sassetti Pertimali’s 2000 Brunello di Montalcino had a mild smell, strong flavor (I think I got a sense of oak), yet did not kill me with any aftertaste.
Scopetone’s 2000 Brunello di Montalcino did not leave any impression.
Rocca di Montegrossi’s 1998 Geremia and 1999 Geremia. They were both good light, fresh reds. Don’t ask me, they both tasted the same to me.
Over all I think I like the white wines a lot more than the reds I tried tonight. I generally despise whites, so blam I want some bottles here.
To make up for not having pictures of the bottles listed above (and for such a poorly described list of wines), here are the pictures of the wines we had last friday at a gathering in Luxembourg… the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Pauillac region were by far my favorite:
“Cabernet Sauvignon from the Pauillac region were by far my favorite”
Now that is what I’m talking about!
I’m with you Ben.
That event sounds great. It’s really great that you are getting a nice taste of Italian wines. Wide selections of Italian wines are harder to find state side so it is really great that you are checking them out.
Have fun!
Comment by egoh — June 12, 2006 @ 2:42 pm