1997 Castell’in Villa, Chianti Classico Riserva Poggio delle Rose, Tuscany, Italy

Wild nose this one. We all liked this and it’s so delicate with such a high level of purity and complexity. The notes are cherry, minerals, marzipan, and blackberries. Taste is just awesome. First of all it’s so Italian, with prefect richness, acidity bite and the finish is a long elegant ride with a perfect harmonized closing. WOW – I tell you we where surprised when the bottle was revealed. (96)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Castello di Fonterutoli, Siepi, Tuscany, Italy

Tasted vs Tignanello ’97 and far better. Plum, raisins, tobacco, black currant, liqueur and a very open fruit core – but still very lively and with plenty of juicy fruit to balance these primary notes. Siepi handles the liqueur components much better than other ’97 Tuscan wines as the level of fruit and nerve is much higher to balance. The taste has the Merlot softness and “chocolate tannins”, but has the structure to balance. Recent TNs has suggest “drink up” on this wine and I agree on the primary notes have come very much forward; however I see no fruit tiredness in the wine. Whatever plan or future this wine may bring, it can certainly provide great drinking pleasure at this stage. (94)

Mon 17 Apr, 2006

1997 Castello dei Rampolla Vigna d'Alceo, Tuscany, Italy

Bordeaux look-alike with buttermilk, herbs, blackcurrant, cappuccino/mocha and hint of leather. Many of these notes need definition and precision and the nose is way too shy. Maybe it’s a sign of a dull phase, but I am only saying that now as I know it was Alceo. The taste confirms that theory in some way as it is dry with good length and a fair structural base. However there was something wrong. Where were the nerve and the soul in the wine? – Way too designed for my palate I hope it’s just a phase and something could suggest it. But for now. (89+)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Casanova di Neri, Brunello di Montalcino, Cerretalto, Tuscany Italy

A bit restrained and shy at first. But underneath there is a great core of cooled toned Tuscan herbs, spices and minerals. It’s very elegant even if there is missing a sweet element. Taste is where it all happens. Incredible nice, with tons of dry extract and mouth snapping. I love such a wine, which for some could be too much dry extract, but it’s perfect for me, but admittedly best suited with food. (95).

Tue 19 Dec, 2006

1997 Capaccia, Querciaciagrande, Tuscany, Italy

Strawberry, liqueur and not in a good way as it has so much alcohol. Exotic berries, bicycle tube, coriander and really bizarre nose. Taste is light weighted with watery, flabby acidity and not nice. As it got more time in the glass, the nose lost some of its bizarre notes, but then again became shyer and less aromatic. A strange glass. (84?)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Braida Ai Suma, Barbera d'Asti, Piemonte, Italy

What a nose!! What is this stuff?..had a realy hard time to locate the grape and country, And I have tasted Ai Suma 1997 4 times .. Before I get into details I am pretty sure that the Ai Suma 97 I bought on the release is in great shape. The additional Ai Suma I bought Oct-2003 from the same Danish retailer has been expose to something that has made the wine go into a dull fase. Back to that nose...that is extremly rich on fruit. A layer of splendid blackberries infused in a sweet licorice nose.Great finish with very smooth tannins. The wine is very balanced but need some time to breath before serving. (94+)

Wed 16 Jun, 2004

1997 Braida, Barbera Ai Suma, Piemonte, Italy

This is the fourth time I taste 97’ Ai Suma. As many other 97’s it has lost some of its first intimidating impressions and baby fat. Some of my other encounters with this wine have shown a big juice wine with barriques influence, but damn sexy. But although the status of things, Ai Suma has survived the crush, and headed into a new phase - that shows the potential of the wine. The nose is divine, with simple flavours as blackberries, blackcurrant and coconut. But make no mistake – the fruit compositions leaves no opens windows for flaws as there is several layers of complexity to seek. The taste is big, fleshy and very long, with killer harmony. A classic Barbera. (95)

Tasted 15th of May 2005. Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

1997 Braida, Barbera Ai Suma, Piemonte, Italy

(TN from memory) Barbera is not for those who seek an intellectual wine. A statement often used by yours truly and when drinking a wine like the 1997 Ai Suma I can only concur to this theory. This wine is all about fruit (well almost) and on paper that sounds like a wine that will make a Wow entry and nothing more. But – there is something else about Ai Suma’s secret formula. The nose is a blackcurrant/blueberry rollercoaster, with massive layers of fruit, but the wine feeds itself from a firm drum of backbone mineral note that consist of iron and liquorice. The taste is silky, mouth-watering and deadly charming. But again it never ever became a boring wine to drink, the fruit just emerged with renewed strength from the glass and said “eat me tiger”. I recommend drinking this wine now, as it has reached perfect mature status. (95)

Wed 14 Jun, 2006

1997 Argiano, Solengo, Tuscany, Italy

Very Dark red with black currant but a little too much oak. The nose is not bad, but not very complex and hamonic. Can be the grape mixture is to funky. The taste is also somewhat barrique dominated and and lacks in concentration (91)

Tasted April 2003