Italian dinner notes

2006 Ch. St-Jean des Graves – of course we had to wet whistles while
cooking, so popped a cork on one of these modest white Bordeaux.
Fresh and with a fair bit of sauvignon.

1997 Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Riserva – excellent nose,
traditional with some nice deep sweet fruit, slightly pale edges,
still lots of tannin and acidity but smooth and long.

1997 Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva – nose very
similar if with a bit more depth, and a bit more leathery, full mouth
feel, good length, a classic Chianti that seemed still a little tight.

with rabbit and hazelnut terrine

1990 Terrabianca Campaccio Reserve – this sangiovese cabernet blend
showed very well indeed. The nose was quite earthy at first, which
played off the food nicely, and then became sweeter as it opened in
the glass. Dark, deep and big, this wine (sadly my last bottle) was
really hitting stride. Great match with:

wild mushroom lasagne with shaved truffles

1990 Seghesio Barolo La Villa – lovely colour, great nose with tar and
flowers, still lots of tannin, excellent length .

1994 Seghesio Barolo La Villa – big wine with great concentration and
length, and a much bigger hit of anise. Surprisingly close in quality
to the 1990.

with wild venison in Port sauce

1995 Masi Recioto della Valpolicella Casa dei Ronchi - perfect cheese
wine (unless you are one of those that believes only white wines suit
cheese). Only slightly sweet, slightly warm nose, and a long soft
slightly off dry finish, smooth in the mouth, with a big almost fuzzy
mouth feel.

Thanx for the nice information.