Giacosa Dinner with Riccardo Campinoti of Le Ragnaie
at Il Corso Restaurant, 54 W 55th St., NYC (2/8/2011)
The outside and the back room at Il Corso Restaurant.
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Kelly Walker was in NYC attending The Italian Wine Masters event at the NY Hilton.
His good friend Riccardo Campinoti was also there pouring his wines.
Kelly set up this dinner with the note that Riccardo was always impressed with the old Giacosas that our group drank.
So, since any friend of Kelly's is a friend of ours, Greg dal Piaz made a reservation at Il Corso, and
we all dug out some Giacosas that we thought would be ready to drink. The food at Il Corso is excellent!
Riccardo Campinoti of Le Ragnaie & Sara Steingart.
Flight 1: Riccardo's Wines
Riccardo brought with him the wines he had been pouring at the Italian Wine Masters event.
It was a treat to taste these wines and meet the winemaker.
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- 2008 Azienda Agricola Le Ragnaie Rosso di Montalcino
- Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino
Subtle cherry and spice nose. Delicious, sweet bright red fruit. A charming wine well worth drinking over the next few years. (89 pts.)
- 2005 Azienda Agricola Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino
- Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Tighter, darker nose hints of black fruit and spice. Medium body, tart. Seems very young, perhaps shut down. 89-? points (90 pts.)
- 2006 Azienda Agricola Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino
- Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Brighter, richer, showing better today than the 05. A lovely wine with a good future.
The one thing that gnaws at me a bit is a slight green streak, perhaps from young vines? Hopefully that will fade with time. (92 pts.)
Flight 2: Giacosa Barbarescos
With POLIPO ALLA GRIGLIA: Grilled octopus with grilled romaine and roasted tomatoes in a basil dressing. Oh my, this was good!
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- 1986 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano
- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Open 2pm. DD 6pm. Drunk about 8pm.] Red with onion skin edge, a more youthful appearance than I would have expected.
Gorgeous, classic nose of red fruit, iron, and fruit cake. Exquisite in the mouth with surprisingly sweet fruit.
Excellent length. (93 pts.)
- 1990 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Gallina di Neive
- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Gorgeous nose of iron filings and black fruit. Terrific sweetness due to the vintage, I suspect. Still young.
Really sings with grilled octopus! 93-4 points. (93 pts.)
Kelly and Greg, the Barolo Brothers! (Click on an image with a border for a larger view of that image.)
Greg and me. Dan and Riccardo. (Click on an image with a border for a larger view of that image.)
Flight 3: 1979 Giacosa Barolos
With a half portion of MALTAGLIATI ALLA GENOVESE: Uneven cuts of fresh pasta with veal onion ragout.
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- 1979 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Speciale Bussia di Monforte
- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Decanted at 8pm. Drunk about 9:30.] Nose is a touch dirty, but the mouth is sweet, with a big beefy long finish.
Not the best bottle I've had of this, but still excellent to drink tonight. (93 pts.)
- 1979 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Villero di Castiglione Falletto
- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Decanted at 8pm. Drunk about 9:30.] Earth, cherries, heaven. Exquisite in the mouth. Wonderful length. Singing a full opera tonight!
Such a great, manly Barolo. My WOTN and Greg's. (96 pts.)
Group Shot: Dan, Riccardo, Sara, Kelly, Greg. (Click on an image with a border for a larger view of that image.)
Flight 4: Giacosa Santo Stefanos
With CODA DI BUE: Ox Tail braised in a red wine and marjoram, mashed sweet potatoes, legumes and pancetta,
with polenta instead of sweet potatoes.
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- 1979 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano
- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Surprisingly dark and rich fruit in the nose. Big and rich in the mouth. Superb length. This is certainly the best bottle of this wine I've had.
Has great length and a very appealing vibrancy. Greg says the "vibrancy" is VA, but what does he know? ;) (95 pts.)
- 1990 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano
- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Decanted 8pm.] Big smokey nose. Quite tannic and very young. Should have been decanted all day.
Great potential, but not showing too much of it tonight. (96 pts.)
Flight 5: A Gaja
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- 1989 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo
- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Decanted at 8pm. Drunk about 10pm.] Sweet licorice nose. Silky, oaky, astringent. Tastes very spoofy.
Not sure if that is due to following all these old Giacosas, or because it didn't get enough air. Tarry and ugly. (85 pts.)
Portuguese Winery Owner João Portugal Ramos
and his wife visit us from the front room.
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Flight 6: One of Greg's Leftovers
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- 2007 Epiphany Petite Sirah
- USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
[Opened during the day for a Snooth tasting. Brought to dinner by Greg.] Lovely nose of ripe blackberries.
Big, rich, sweet, tannic, but balanced and delicious! (92 pts.)
It was great to get together again with Kelly, Greg, and Dan, and to meet Riccardo and his friend Sara Steingart from San Francisco.
Riccardo also brought a magnum of 1990 Le Pergole Torte Riserva, but we did not open it because we were only 6 people.
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Posted from CellarTracker
The waiter shows off the dessert tray.
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Crème Brûlée for dessert.
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Hey! Don't pick your nose in my restaurant!
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All original content © Ken Vastola