The Italians know how to live life with a certain flair. This weekend's Strade Bianche was a prime example. This 190 km one day race sends the pro bike racers across 57 km of unique white gravel roads in Tuscany, hence the name Strade Bianche.
In terms of the One Day Classic Races, the Strade Bianche is an infant. This is just the seventh edition of the race and, surprisingly, no Italian had won the race. Until this past Saturday when Moreno Moser took the race by storm attacking the main peleton on the final gravel road section. He bridged to the remainders of the day's break away in the race's final 10 kilometers and then bided his time, finally attacking on the final climb leading into the Piazza del Campo. Ultimately, soloing to victory and driving the Italian Tofosi into a frenzy.
This week's challenge honors Italian style and the strade bianchi with a Super Tuscan matchup.
2007 Brian Carter Tuttorosso v. 2009 Antonio Sanguineti Nessun Dorma Maestro Super Tuscan
Showing posts with label Super Tuscan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Super Tuscan. Show all posts
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Washington Cabernet v. Italy
Last week was the first European road race of the year. This week is the first Italian road race of the year - G.P. Costa degli Etruschi. This race is so Italian the race's official website is only available in Italian. The race starts in the South near San Vincenzo and heads North tracing a route along the Western coast through the Tuscan wine region toward Livorno for a big circuit before heading South for several small circuits that pass by Bolgheri.
Following the race route this week's challenger comes from Bolgheri featuring a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated Super Tuscan Luchador Greppicante Bolgheri Rosso up against a Walla Walla Stunner from Amavi Cellars.
2008 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon v. 2008 Greppicante Bolgheri Rosso
Tale of the Tape
2008 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 5% Syrah and 3% Cabernet Franc
Grape sources: 45% Seven Hills, 41% Pepper Bridge, 8% Les Collines, 6% Goff all in the Walla Walla AVA
Aged in 30% new oak barrels of 88% French, 6% Hungarian, 6% American
Purchased from Full Pull Wines for $24.99
2008 Greppicante Bolgheri Rosso
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the Bolgheri DOC in Tuscany. Said to be a Cabernet Sauvignon dominanat blend, but the percentages are a mystery.
Aged for 10 months in oak barrels with an additional 3 months of bottle aging.
Purchased from Garagiste for $17.81.
Round 1. First Opening
The Amavi Cab floats into the ring with a nose of light red berries some floral notes and hints of Cheerios. The palate shows medium red berries with similar notes of oats and some cheerio tartness on finish.
The Bolgheri Rosso wastes no time. Bringing the noise from the opening bell with a nose of dark currant, dusty earth and Asian cedar spices. The palate backs up the bravado with currant, herbal tartness and a spicy tart finish that trails off with some nice cherry bark notes.
Bolgheri brings the pain punishing the Amavi cab with a series of bruising body shots to take the first round.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
That first round was a wake up call and Amavi is answering the call of the alarm clock. The nose has bulked up showing dark currant, black cherry and some smokey barnyard funk. The palate is equally bold with dark currant and cola with dry tart cedar finish.
The Bolgheri is building more complexity into its attack with a nose of dark currants, leather, earth and menthol spices. The palate also shows dark currants along with Asian spices that lead to a tingly tart pepper spiced finish.
This round was closer, but Bolgheri takes the points with an aggressive attack. Amavi took some punishment but isn't backing down.
Round 3. One day later
Amavi is looking for an edge and an angle to land a knockout blow. The nose is smokey and dark currants with some menthol and spices. The palate is dark currant, cherry cola leading to a dry cherry bark finish.
Bolgheri is dropping bombs - look out below! The nose has bold character of dark currant along with dusty, smokey cracked pepper. The palate has notes of dark currant, black cherry cola and a tart finish.
The Amavi Cab showed big time character by not backing down from the onslaught of the brutish Bolgheri. In the end, the Italian from Tuscany was too much to handle taking all three rounds of the match.
Wrap up and over all observations
These Luchadors were a close match in terms of make up even if the names indicated different weight classes with Washington Cabernet Sauvignon v. Italian Rosso.
The Washington Cabernet Sauvignon could just as easily have been called a Red Blend with Cab, Merlot, Syrah and Cab Franc coming together to create some fine character.
The Bolgheri Rosso was Cab, Merlot and Cab Franc. These three grapes created a big and bad Luchador that dished out a massive amount of punishment.
I give the Bolhgeri an 88 and the Amavi an 87.
Following the race route this week's challenger comes from Bolgheri featuring a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated Super Tuscan Luchador Greppicante Bolgheri Rosso up against a Walla Walla Stunner from Amavi Cellars.
2008 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon v. 2008 Greppicante Bolgheri Rosso
Tale of the Tape
2008 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 5% Syrah and 3% Cabernet Franc
Grape sources: 45% Seven Hills, 41% Pepper Bridge, 8% Les Collines, 6% Goff all in the Walla Walla AVA
Aged in 30% new oak barrels of 88% French, 6% Hungarian, 6% American
Purchased from Full Pull Wines for $24.99
2008 Greppicante Bolgheri Rosso
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the Bolgheri DOC in Tuscany. Said to be a Cabernet Sauvignon dominanat blend, but the percentages are a mystery.
Aged for 10 months in oak barrels with an additional 3 months of bottle aging.
Purchased from Garagiste for $17.81.
Round 1. First Opening
The Amavi Cab floats into the ring with a nose of light red berries some floral notes and hints of Cheerios. The palate shows medium red berries with similar notes of oats and some cheerio tartness on finish.
The Bolgheri Rosso wastes no time. Bringing the noise from the opening bell with a nose of dark currant, dusty earth and Asian cedar spices. The palate backs up the bravado with currant, herbal tartness and a spicy tart finish that trails off with some nice cherry bark notes.
Bolgheri brings the pain punishing the Amavi cab with a series of bruising body shots to take the first round.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
That first round was a wake up call and Amavi is answering the call of the alarm clock. The nose has bulked up showing dark currant, black cherry and some smokey barnyard funk. The palate is equally bold with dark currant and cola with dry tart cedar finish.
The Bolgheri is building more complexity into its attack with a nose of dark currants, leather, earth and menthol spices. The palate also shows dark currants along with Asian spices that lead to a tingly tart pepper spiced finish.
This round was closer, but Bolgheri takes the points with an aggressive attack. Amavi took some punishment but isn't backing down.
Round 3. One day later
Amavi is looking for an edge and an angle to land a knockout blow. The nose is smokey and dark currants with some menthol and spices. The palate is dark currant, cherry cola leading to a dry cherry bark finish.
Bolgheri is dropping bombs - look out below! The nose has bold character of dark currant along with dusty, smokey cracked pepper. The palate has notes of dark currant, black cherry cola and a tart finish.
The Amavi Cab showed big time character by not backing down from the onslaught of the brutish Bolgheri. In the end, the Italian from Tuscany was too much to handle taking all three rounds of the match.
Wrap up and over all observations
These Luchadors were a close match in terms of make up even if the names indicated different weight classes with Washington Cabernet Sauvignon v. Italian Rosso.
The Washington Cabernet Sauvignon could just as easily have been called a Red Blend with Cab, Merlot, Syrah and Cab Franc coming together to create some fine character.
The Bolgheri Rosso was Cab, Merlot and Cab Franc. These three grapes created a big and bad Luchador that dished out a massive amount of punishment.
I give the Bolhgeri an 88 and the Amavi an 87.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Washington Super Tuscan v. Italy
This match pits a Washington state Super Tuscan from Walla Walla against an Italian Super Tuscan.
The matchup was inspired by the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race which rode through the region of Tuscany last week. I have been holding on to a bottle of Five Star Cellars Quinque Astrum waiting for the right moment to open it. This seemed like a great reason to pop its top!
2008 Five Star Cellars Quinque Astrum v. 2008 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso
Tale of the tape
5 Star Cellars Quinque Astrum
58% Sangiovese, 33% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 2nd use American and European Oak
Purchased for 27.99 at Corky Cellars
Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso
50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 5% Sangiovese aged for 10 months in first and second use Italian oak barrels.
Purchased for 16.99 from Garagiste (compare at up to $30 on wine searcher)
Round 1. First Opening:
5 Star on first opening the nose is mostly sour pie cherry, currant, mineral and a bit of toasty oak. The palate is sweet clean red berries with a finish that is full of cherries with some notes of tart cedar at the end.
Le Macchiole on first opening the nose is pie cherry and currants with a hint of mineral and leather. The palate is quite tart with pie cherries and the finish is also showing quite a bit of tannin with character of cherry pit.
The first round was very close. Both contestants are showing very similar characteristics and there is not much to differentiate one from the other.
Round 1 goes to 5 Star for having a slightly more refined finish.
Round 2. One hour after Opening:
5 Star is developing some black cherry, currant and toasted smoke on the nose with the palate showing toast, currant, toffee and some slight cedar tartness on the finish.
Le Macchiole develops a much richer nose of sour cherry, currant, leather peat bog and cedar spice box. The palate has plenty of rich dark fruit and currant that trails off slowly with a bit of cedar tartness that is much mellower after an hour of air.
Round 2 goes to Le Macchiole
Round 3. One day later
5 Star is building a nose of dark fruit and plum. The palate has black cherry fruit and leather with some cedar spice box and a bit of semi sweet chocolate.
Le Macchiole has a very similar deep dark fruit nose with hints of spice. The palate is rich with dark currant, black cherry and a long finish that shows some slight tartness at the end.
Another really close round. Both wines have really continued to build into large, full bodied heavy weight contenders.
Round 3 goes to Le Macchiloe by a very slim margin.
Wrap up and over all observations
This was a very close match and it could have easily gone to either one of our luchadors. In the end the Italian contestant edged the Washington Super Tuscan, but just barely. Both showed very similar character during each round of the competition and this contest was very difficult to judge.
Really interesting comparison considering the difference in the blends of these two wines. There are common elements of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but the percentages are quite different. I was really surprised when I went back to look at the blends after completing my tasting notes.
Final tally: Le Macchiloe 2, Five Star Cellars 1.
Le Macchiloe may have one this bout, but the margin of victory was very slim. I give both contestants a score of 87 - excellent.
Ciao!
The matchup was inspired by the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race which rode through the region of Tuscany last week. I have been holding on to a bottle of Five Star Cellars Quinque Astrum waiting for the right moment to open it. This seemed like a great reason to pop its top!
2008 Five Star Cellars Quinque Astrum v. 2008 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso
Tale of the tape
5 Star Cellars Quinque Astrum
58% Sangiovese, 33% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 2nd use American and European Oak
Purchased for 27.99 at Corky Cellars
Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso
50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 5% Sangiovese aged for 10 months in first and second use Italian oak barrels.
Purchased for 16.99 from Garagiste (compare at up to $30 on wine searcher)
Round 1. First Opening:
5 Star on first opening the nose is mostly sour pie cherry, currant, mineral and a bit of toasty oak. The palate is sweet clean red berries with a finish that is full of cherries with some notes of tart cedar at the end.
Le Macchiole on first opening the nose is pie cherry and currants with a hint of mineral and leather. The palate is quite tart with pie cherries and the finish is also showing quite a bit of tannin with character of cherry pit.
The first round was very close. Both contestants are showing very similar characteristics and there is not much to differentiate one from the other.
Round 1 goes to 5 Star for having a slightly more refined finish.
Round 2. One hour after Opening:
5 Star is developing some black cherry, currant and toasted smoke on the nose with the palate showing toast, currant, toffee and some slight cedar tartness on the finish.
Le Macchiole develops a much richer nose of sour cherry, currant, leather peat bog and cedar spice box. The palate has plenty of rich dark fruit and currant that trails off slowly with a bit of cedar tartness that is much mellower after an hour of air.
Round 2 goes to Le Macchiole
Round 3. One day later
5 Star is building a nose of dark fruit and plum. The palate has black cherry fruit and leather with some cedar spice box and a bit of semi sweet chocolate.
Le Macchiole has a very similar deep dark fruit nose with hints of spice. The palate is rich with dark currant, black cherry and a long finish that shows some slight tartness at the end.
Another really close round. Both wines have really continued to build into large, full bodied heavy weight contenders.
Round 3 goes to Le Macchiloe by a very slim margin.
Wrap up and over all observations
This was a very close match and it could have easily gone to either one of our luchadors. In the end the Italian contestant edged the Washington Super Tuscan, but just barely. Both showed very similar character during each round of the competition and this contest was very difficult to judge.
Really interesting comparison considering the difference in the blends of these two wines. There are common elements of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but the percentages are quite different. I was really surprised when I went back to look at the blends after completing my tasting notes.
Final tally: Le Macchiloe 2, Five Star Cellars 1.
Le Macchiloe may have one this bout, but the margin of victory was very slim. I give both contestants a score of 87 - excellent.
Ciao!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Preview: Super Tuscan Shoot Out
Inspired by the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race through Tuscany. This week features a Super Tuscan back alley brawl between Walla Walla Washington and Bolhgeri Italy.
Five Star Cellars Quinque Astrum will represent Washington. And La Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso will represent Itlay.
These two Super Tuscan studs should make for a heavy weight brawl featuring plenty of fireworks. Check back after the weekend for all the details.
Five Star Cellars Quinque Astrum will represent Washington. And La Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso will represent Itlay.
These two Super Tuscan studs should make for a heavy weight brawl featuring plenty of fireworks. Check back after the weekend for all the details.
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