A few Italians from EVS…and the Lemberger returns
I went back to European Vine Selections today for an Italian red wine tasting. Here’s the selection for the day:
- 2000 Santa Barbara Cooperative, Baraglio, Rosso ($10/bottle) - A very interesting wine, and a great value I’d say. Dry, smooth red with some nice vanilla overtones (aged in old brandy barrels). I’d drink this with Italian food anytime.
- 2003 Portinale, Roero ($13/bottle) - Not very interesting to me; sort of a bland, understated Nebbiolo. I think I’m not quite the target audience for this wine somehow (I mean I don’t quite appreciate it yet).
- 2003 Castello di Monterinaldi, Chianti Classico ($15/bottle) - A bit dry and young with too much acid yet; could stand to be aged in the bottle longer. Again, perhaps this isn’t quite what I like in a red wine.
- 2000 Castello di Monterinaldi, Chianti Classico Reserva ($20/bottle) - This is more like it! Incredible red fruit aromas; very jammy mouthfeel, quite tasty. I’d drink this again anytime.
So there you have it! It was a fun afternoon…the guys at EVS are always friendly and helpful, which is a welcome and refreshing change from some of the other wine stores in Seattle (cough, cough, Esquin, ahem).
Also, later this evening some of my friends had a wine-themed party at which I was lucky enough to have a glass of Alexandria Nicole Lemberger. I had a bottle that I purchased at the winery last August, but I drank it a while ago…tonight’s bottle was from the same trip. I liked the wine much more this time around, very light and fruity and extremely tasty. I need to get some more this year!
A few links for your edification: