Slow Food's Golden Glass 2005
June 18, 2005

This was a very well run event. I confess that Golden Glass 2004 didn’t leave me excited for 2005. But this event exceeded all of my expectations. Great wines and the best-food-ever at a large tasting. It wasn’t too crowded, but nor were there too few people; kudos to the staff and organizers at Slow Food San Francisco for pulling off a great event! Click here for the Food Tasting Notes.

If there’s such a thing as bottle shock, an unknown number of the wines suffered from this to some degree. Others, of course, needed serious decanting, aging, or both, before they could show their true stuff. I suspect this is why some of the wines failed to excite us.

One note: I can't recall being at a consumer wine tasting where the public was so serious about the tasting. The ZAP tasting, in comparison, had many there just to socialize and drink lots of zin. Not here.

In general, the quality of these wines were really, really great, and as a result of the tasting I am more excited about Italian wines than ever. The whites, in particular, showed incredibly well. We usually just taste a few whites and then focus on the reds - we couldn’t stop tasting the whites – and tasted just about every one.

Most of the notes below are Joanne’s.
But the Bottles Desired numbers in right-most column are mine. – Jack

2003 Accademia dei Racemi Primitivo Manduria Giravolta Bright. Good acids. Best primitivo we’ve had.
2+
2003 Accademia dei Racemi Susumaniello Sum Kinda nice.
 
2001 Albino Armani Corvara Vallagarina Black currants. Don’t like.
 
2002 Albino Armani Foja Tonda Vallagarina High acidity. Good with food. Made from 100% Casseta, an endangered varietal.
1+
2001 Allegrini   Palazzo della Torre Attractive nose. Slightly bitter. Tannic finish. Great Value.
4+
1999 Allegrini Amarone   Sweet! But tasty. Big Wine.
4+
2000 Allegrini Amarone   Oakier. Sweet. Big.
4+
2000 Angelo Nicolis e Figli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Ambrosan High alcohol.
 
2004 Roberto Anselmi Capitel Foscarino Yeast on nose, hay and strawberries= and slightly coriander. Really interesting.
2
2002 Roberto Anselmi Capitel Croce We like this varietal? Yellow fruit punch with minerally base. Interesting.
 
2001 Anzivino Bramaterra   Tannic. Good acids. High alcohol.?? Jack – Hard to judge.
 
1999 Anzivino Gattinara   Oak! Good acids. Hard to judge.
 
2004 Arnaldo Caprai Colli Martani Grecante Grechetto Malo. Ick.
 
2001 Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni Oak bomb. $105. Maybe worth $80?
 
2003 Riccardo Baracchi Cortona Sangiovese Smeriglio Raspberry. Concentrated. Drink now. $30.
 
2002 Riccardo Baracchi Ardito   More elegant. Good balance. $50.
6+
2002 Bastianich Colli Orientali del Friuli Tocai Friuliano Plus Tocai-like. Buttery. Graham cracker finish. Ja: unpleasant finish
0
2002 Bastianich Vespa Bianca Buttery long finish.
 
2003 Cà Viola Langhe Dolcetto Barturot Great fruity nose. Tannic. Mouth coating. Drinkable.
 
2001 Cà Viola Langhe Rosso Bric Du Luv 14.5% alcohol. Jo: Liked. Very tasty.
3+
2004 Cantina Sociale Di Trapani Drepanum Bianco Tart and bitter. White currants. Needs food? Kinda like.
 
2004 Cantina Sociale Di Trapani Forti Terre Rosso Raspberry, fruity. Really raspberry finish. Great Value! $16
3+
2000 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino   Balanced. Good acids.$58
1-2
1999 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Really Oaky. Balance good. $80
6+
2000 Cascina Adelaide Barolo Cannubo Yum. Balanced. Acidic with a tannic finish. $69
6
2000 Cascina Adelaide Barolo Preda Dried black fruit. Puckery. Yum. $79
1-2
2003 Cascina Ca’ Rossa Langhe Nebbiolo Slight sweet. Creamy. A lot of tannins. Blackberries. Puckering.
 
2001 Cascina Ca’ Rossa Roero Audinaggio Slight musty nose. Too tannic. Chewy. A lot of acids. Pretty good. Too young to judge
2
2001 Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Castello di Fonterutoli Great acids. Thinner. Not exciting.
 
2002 Castello di Fonterutoli   Tenuta Belguardo Very bitter. Slightly tannic. Great acids.
1-2
2001 Castello di Neive Barbaresco Santa Stephano Barnyardy nose. Light color. Good acids.
 
1999 Castello di Neive Barbaresco Santa Stephano Riserva Lots of acids. Could be great. Too young to judge.
 
2004 Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle Valle d'Aosta Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle Rayon Not good with Robiola cheese.
 
2004 Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle Valle d'Aosta Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle Liked better. Not imported to US. Jack liked both.
 
2003 Centorame Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Castellum Vetus White candy. Good essences of white strawberry. Great Value! $16 Lorenzo Scarpone will begin importing in July 2006
 
2003 Centorame Montepulciano d’Abruzzo San Michele Dried Fruit Nose. Dried Plums. Creamy. Tannic finish. Berries on Finish. Jack: “Good Juice!” $26
 
2003 Coffele Soave Classico Alzari Interesting nose – slightly flowery. Interesting wine. (possibly slightly corked?) Slight sweetness. Liked better than the Ca’Visco.
 
2004 Coffele Soave Classico Ca’Visco Good acids. Minerally. Something I don’t like though… Butter on finish. Jack liked “really good” – slight tartness – delicious.
 
2004 Cornarea Roero Arneis Good with cheese? Very long finish. Great!
 
2003 Cusumano   Cubia No notes…
1
2003 Cusumano   Sagana Blackberry essence! Yum! Very Good. Blueberry. Buy some!
5
2000 Damilano Barbera d’Alba   Smells like coffee. Slightly bitter finish. Yummy fruit.
2?
2001 Damilano Barolo   Bitter finish. Tannic fruity center. Hard to judge.
3?
2002 Di Majo Norante Biferno Rosso Ramitello A lot of acids and tannins. Lots of oak. Don’t like winery style.
 
2004 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese   Sweet nose. Too sweet. Too much oak.
2
2001 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Non descript. Ok. Oaky. Not worthwhile.
1
2000 Elvio Cogno Barolo Vigna Elena Very tannic finish. Hard to judge. Biting acids.
2
2003 Eugenio Collavini Colli Orientali del Fruili Ribolla Gialla Turian Clean. Slightly bitter finish. Good acids. Probably good with food. Flinty. Minerally.
 
2003 Eugenio Collavini Collio Bianco Broy Slightly effervescent. Tastes like chardonnay - first notes. Finishes like a Tocai.
 
2001 Fattoria di Felsina Chianti Classico Rancia Riserva Great nose. Slightly grassy. Very tannic. But great.
2-3
2001 Fattoria di Felsina Fontallloro   Way too young. Very harmonious. Concentrated nose.
3++
2002 Fattoria Le Corti Corsini Chianti Classico Le Corti Dry tannic. Elegant. Ok Could like more.
1
2001 Fattoria Le Corti Corsini Chianti Classico Don Tommaso More fruit tannins. Hard to judge. Really young. Potential
3
2003 Feudi di San Gregorio Falangina   Really clean. Good acids. Good balance. Granny Smith apples and minerals. Good. Try again!
3
2003 Feudi di San Gregorio   Rubato Oak on nose. Oak on finish. –enh…
 
2004 Filippo Gallino Roero Arneis Jack just likes Arneis. Slightly watery. Ok. Slight effervescence.
 
2003 Filippo Gallino Roero Arneis Fishy! Shellfish! Shrimp. Oysters. Yum. Minerally.
 
2000 Filippo Gallino Roero Superiore Stinky Nose. Melon finish – cantaloupe. Interesting.
1+
2002 Firriato Ribeca   Berries. Yum. Approachable. Integrated. Happy wine. At 15% - too hot.
0
2003 Firriato Santagostino Rosso Baglio Soria Barrel samplish.
2
2000 Fontanafredda Barolo Fontanafredda Vigna La Rosa Vanilla. Oak. Raisiny. Prunes – dried fruit. Fat. Grilled meat.
 
1997 Fontanafredda Barolo Riserva Stinky nose. Lean long finish. Good –great acids. Pickley finish.
 
2002 Fontanafredda   Eremo Langhe Chewy. Pickley. Slightly bitter. Good acids. Interesting.
 
2000 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo   Sausagey nose. Great acids. Ready to drink now.$52?
3+
2000 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Monvigliero Yum Yum Yum. $62. (or $50 where I shop!) (Jack note: This is a producer I was unfamiliar with, and definitely one of the “finds” of the show.)
12
2002 Gianfranco Alessandria Langhe Nebbiolo Tannic but quite integrated.
1-2
2001 Gianfranco Alessandria Barolo - Perfumey nose. Very tannic. Hard to judge.
2-3+
2000 Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà Balanced. Good acids. Yum. Drinkable now. $45?
3
1996 Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà Riserva Huge amount of sediment. High alcohol. Color fading. Good! High acids.
3
2004 La Boatina Collio Ribolla Gialla Alright. White berries. Interesting. Jack: tart crisp apples.
2
2003 La Boatina Collio Pinot Grigio Slight effervescent. Buttery.
0
2004 La Crotta di Vigneron Valle d’Aosta Chambave Muscat Big Muscat nose. Malo. Jack loves it, Joanne did not. $29
 
2001 La Crotta di Vigneron Valle d’Aosta Chambave Superior Overripe fruit. Malo. Creamy. Joanne: Ick.
 
2004 Les Crètes Valle d’Aosta Petite Arvine Vigne Champorette Sort of like a really clean unoaked chardonnay. A different bird. Interesting. $33
 
2002 Les Crètes Valle d’Aosta Fumin Vigne La Tour Smells like fruit. Tastes like cheap wine. Fumin is indigenous to this area. $40
1+
2001 Lungarotti Torgiano Rosso Rubesco Fruity nose. Bitter. Tannic. Lots of acids. Ok.
1
2003 Lungarotti Torre di Giano   Sweaty nose. Slightly effervescent. Tastes like eggs and cheese. Try with food. Thought it was corked but it’s not. Not to my taste.
 
2001 Malvirà Roero Superiore Trinità Very oaky. Lots of fruit. High acids. $40
3?
2002 Manara Valpolicella Classico Superiore Le Morete Bitter. Good acids.
-
2000 Manara Amarone della Valpolicella Classico   Doesn’t do it for me.
1-2
2004 Marotti Campi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jessi Classico Superiore Luzano Too cold. Still effervescent. Very clean. Slight Malo. $12.50
2+
2001 Marotti Campi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jessi Classico Superiore Salmariano Riserva Slight sweetness. Great. $18.59
3+
2003 Marotti Campi Lacrima di Morro d'Alba Orgolio Nose of Roses. Buy for the nose! Really interesting wine. $19. We like this producer!
12
2004 Marotti Campi Lacrima di Morro d'Alba Rubico Rosé wine. Integrated. White meat and fish. VF
-
2000 Melini Chianti Classico I Sassi Yum. Meaty. Good acids.
0
2000 Melini Chianti Classico Riserva La Selvanella Great nose. Lots of complexity. Good acids. A bit of medicinal component.
6+
2004 Monchiero Carbone Roero Arneis Re Cit Still efferevescent. Good. Good acids. Round finish.
1
2001 Monchiero Carbone Roero Printi Balanced. Good acids. Drinkable. Very tannic. $37
2
2001 Moris Farms   Avvoltore A lot of oak and tannin. Not sure.
2-3
2002 Moris Farms Monteregio di Massa Marittima Very long finish. Lots of fruit. Great acids.
4+
2003 Moris Farms Morrellino di Scansano (100% Sangiovese) Tasty. Dry finish. A lot of creamy fruit.
2+
2002 Palari Rosso del Soprano Raisiny. Jack doesn’t like the winery style.
 
2002 Palari Faro Palari Slightly sweet. Very tannic. Dried fruit. Tasty.
1+
2003 Pierpaolo Pecorari Altis Pinot Grigio Tastes like Sauvignon Blanc. Ok.
 
2004 Pierpaolo Pecorari Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso Cattle dung. Very dry. Cold. No.
 
2004 Poggio dei Gorleri Riviera Ligure di Ponente Vermentino Vigna Sori Green apple nose. Poured way too cold. Very clean and tasty. Good!
 
2003 Poggio dei Gorleri Riviera Ligure di Ponente Pigato Cycnus Overripe fruit. Awful.
 
1999 Prunotto Barolo Bussia Slightly bitter. Not as approachable. Tannic finish.
 
2000 Prunotto Barolo Bussia Bitter. Licorce. We like the Prunotto style.
 
2000 Prunotto Barbaresco Bric Turot Good acids. Nice complexity. Yum. Really balanced. Drinkable now. Will age. Well made wine. Dried cherry.
4+
2004 Ruggeri & C. Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry Gold Label Drier, bubblier, cleaner.
 
2004 Ruggeri & C. Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Melon, peaches. Great! Tasty! Good finish. Slightly sweet.
2
2003 Cantina Produttori San Michele Appiano (a.k.a St. Michael Eppan) Alto Adige Sanct Valentin Sauvignon (blanc) A lot going on. Rich and good acids. Really interesting. (50 cases for the US – we’ve since bought some and I think it’s one of the great Sauvignon Blancs of the world. This is a producer I was unfamiliar with and definitely one of the “finds” of the show. – Jack)
12
2003 San Romano Dolcetto di Dogliani Bricco delle Lepri Very dry. Very tannic. Good fruit and young.
2+
2003 San Romano Dolcetto di Dogliani Vigna del Pilone Hard to judge. Very, very tannic.
3
2002 Santi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Solane Great nose. Fruity drink. Great Value. Drink now. Wholesale $11.
 
2001 Sassotondo San Lorenzo   Grass and oak nose and mid notes. A lot going on. Jack says Yum. $14
4-6
2004 Sassotondo   Rosso Lots of berries. Bitter finish. 13% alcohol. $35
0-1
2001 Serafini & Vidotto Il Rosso dell’Abazia   Grassy. Not remarkable. Like the Phigaia better.
 
2001 Serafini & Vidotto Phigaia After the red Yum. Good acids. Tasty. Grassy. Yum.
 
2003 Tasca d'Almerita   Leone d'Almerita Unusual. Musty earthy. White. Not bad. Read to drink. $20
 
2002 Tasca d'Almerita   Cygnus Great nose. Chewy. Drink now. Great value. Big.
4-6
2000 Tenuta Col d’Orcia   Olmaia Oak on nose. Too much oak.
 
1998 Tenuta Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino    
3
1998 Tenuta Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento Bitter oak. More integrated. Not approachable.
2
2001 Tenuta Colle del Giglio   Franconero No. Too much oak. High acid.
 
2001 Tenuta Colle del Giglio   Marcoaurelio Much better. Good.
 
2002 Tenuta Coppadoro   Radicosa “This is wine”-Jack. A lot of oak. (A lookup in Italian Wines 2005 (Gambero Rosso), their write-up make it sound like they would have given this 3 glasses (rather than 2) except that it was a high-priced first year wine. I didn’t know that price or vineyard age affects taste or their ratings.
4+
2003 Tenuta Coppadoro   Pescorossa Weird. Fruit bomb. Oak on finish.
 
2003 Tenute dei Vallarino Barbera d’Asti Nizza Bricco Asinai Best Barbera of the day! (- Jack)
Very tannic. Balanced finish. Slightly bitter. Lots of fruit. Good acids.
3+
2003 Tenute dei Vallarino Monferrato Rosso Dialogo Lots of tannins. Great wine.
4-6
2000 Mauro Veglio Barolo Vigneto Arborina A lot of tannins. Puckering. Lingering tannins. Not showing fruit. Can’t judge.
2-3
2000 Mauro Veglio Barolo Vigneto Gattera Tannic. Hard to judge.
 
2001 Vigneto delle Terre Rosse Colli Bolognesi Sauvignon Blanc Grassy. Okay!
1-2
2001 Vigneto delle Terre Rosse Colli Bolognesi Il Rosso di Enrico Vallania Lean acids. Good. Tannic finish. Too young to judge. Drink in 10 years.
3+
2000 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico   No notes.
2
AddThis Social Bookmark Button   Bookmark this page.

AddThis Feed Button
Subscribe to our RSS feed.