Notes from a combined Piemonte Tuscany tasting.

2010 Elio Grasso Educato Chardonnay (Langhe) – light colour, nice
lemony nose, clean and fresh, but also too expensive.

1999 Rocaccio Fontenova – an old favourite – a blend of Sangiovese and
Ciliegiolo, this had good colour, a nose of earthy plum, some up front
tannin, and good length. Tasty.

1995 Fonterutoli Chianti Reserva – dark wine with a caramel and
vanilla nose, good weight and length, smooth and soft. Perfect right
now.

1995 Ornellaia – this cabernet from Ludovico Antinori, made in
Bolgheri, was also at peak. Herbal peppery nose, smooth and supple in
the mouth, may improve but great now.

2001 Cannonico a Ceretto Sandiavolo – very slight TCA, but easy to see
the quality underneath. Nice fruit, tannin on entry, some trailing
blackberry and medium length.

2003 Uccelliera Brunello – Dark, lots of vanilla in this nose, big in
the mouth with lots of tannin, quite ripe fruit – definitely a
pleasant but new age take on Brunello.

1997 Rocche Costamagna Barolo Bricco Francesco – floral and acidic
elements in the nose, high toned with some nice complexity, supple
middle and medium length.

1997 Giacomo Conterno Barolo (Serralunga) – good colour, lovely floral
and tar nose sweet and supple lost of soft tannin, a leathery touch
and good acidity. Excellent.

2000 Frescobaldi Mormoreto – this Tuscan Cab had an odd nose with low
fruit, a bit hot and primary, medium length, still pretty firm and
needs time to see what will be there.

Franco Martinetti Alcedo Vino da Uve Stramature - Timorasso grapes,
dried and sweet, slightly oxidized and with too little acidity for
good balance.

1997 Isole o Olena Vin Santo – delightful wine with a brown sweet
oxidized presentation, nutty figgy wine.