1997 Fontodi, Flaccionello, Tuscany, Italy

Dust, strawberry, cherry, kirsch and has a nice freshness. Not that complex and the taste is seductive sweet and the finish and thin and tame. Very disappointing. (87)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Felsina, Chianti Classico Rancia, Tuscany, Italy

Stones, minerals, kirsch and subtle sweetness. It’s very open fruit and I’d swear that I noted some leather and Bordeaux flirting signs in it. The taste is wild with dark berries and the young contrast to the nose is striking as this wine has a lot of dry warm elements. It will gain many secondary notes in time. (93)

Mon 05 Dec, 2005

1997 Felsina, Chianti Classico Rancia, Tuscany, Italy

Talk about transformation –Rancia ’97 has always been a brutal beast – with Cabernet infected fruit, leather and even Bordeaux animalistic flirting. Now -Stunning nose – with raspberries, medicine, pencil, simply stunning clarity and complete and utterly divine Sangiovese definition. Taste is a combo between classic sangiovese dry bite – minerals, purity and Tuscan warmth. Drinking so well and have finally entered its drinking window. (94) Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Grand Cru

Sat 16 Sep, 2006

1997 Fattoria Valtellia, Il Duca, Tuscany, Italy

Also a 100% Merlot wine. Production 900 bottles. And to be up against Masseto is not easy and it is not far behind. A wine with a smoother surface. You also find mineral stones here, but a more exotic expression of the merlot grape with a higher level of alcohol and a sweeter and more overseas version. Taste is simply great and if the alcohol was replace by a more classic cut we would have had a equal rival to Masseto (96)

Tasted 1st of April 2005 - Era Ora

1997 Dal Forno Romano, Amarone, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

Dark red. Immensely sweet, with super deep nose. Raisins, Vanilla, blueberry, plum and it's almost too much. The "almost"-dilemma is saved by the great purity the wine posses. The taste is so concentrated and the finish last forever. I drank two glasses of this and it was more than enough for me. What score does one put on something like this? Again the lack of drinking pleasure and the fact that this wine is fascinating stuff is for me in this case not so easy to divide. I hope my comments show that it’s a fascinating and a extremely well made wine, but drink with caution. (97)

Fri 19 Nov, 2004

1997 Clerico, Arte, Piemonte, Italy

Strawberry, forest, medicine, dirt, hint of truffles and a candy like perfume. The wine is light on its toes with Clerico Burgundy style. Pleasant nose, but the depth of the ingredients is a bit too dimmed without the final touch of precision. Taste is nice – giving a fair Piemonte dust tannin blow, but again without the final strength. (90)

Fri 11 Nov, 2005

1997 Ceretto, Barolo Prapó, Piedmont, Italy

Very light brownish colour. Fart, leather, “horse”, cherry and strawberries. The taste teased me somewhat as it initial was lacking in fruit and the colour could suggest an elderly wine – but despite the dominate acidity it has a great warmth in the closing. When its identity was revealed it’s profile suddenly made sense. So why didn’t I guess it was Piemonte…bummer! (94)

Sun 26 Feb, 2006

1997 Ceretto Barbaresco Bricco Asili, Piemonte, Italy

With short notice I decided to have a red wine for dinner. Taken directly from the wine cabinet and decanted for two hours. Instantly the wine made me smile. The red fruit surrounds the wines character with, violets, cherries, herbs and a dried note of spices and leather. The fruit is fresh and in it’s prime drinking window with elegant brushes of acidity attack with a cherry and vanilla closing. (94)

Glass: Riedel Sommelier Burgundy Grand Cru.

Tue 06 Feb, 2007