futronic

I've been using the Uncorked Cellar for a couple years. It doesn't offer cellar mapping options for finding bottles, but it's great for inventory, tasting notes, tracking drinking windows etc. It's written by an Australian fellow and you can find it online here.

None of the decanters I own have stoppers. Besides, when is wine actually in the decanter enough to require one?

Katie, The Amazon deal is still on. 6 Bordeaux + 6 Burgundy stems for $29.99 with free shipping to boot. Too bad the offer is only for the US. They won't ship to Canada, and Amazon.ca doesn't sell stemware. If they did, I'd have a dozen of each on their way as I type this. :(

I'll be sure to think, "Hey, I bet tj would like this" when I'm tasting, okay? :) Just kidding, that'd be cruel. But if and when you head back to Tuscany, let me know, and I'm sure I could arrange some stuff for you. I can't wait to visit Eredi Fuligni. Roberto Guerrini is a really nice person to dine and chat with. It'll be good to say hello again. Oh, and his '97 Brunello Riserva was unreal. I'm sure the '99s will be just as phenomenal.

I'll likely make a day trip to Siena, but the rest of the time will be in Montalcino. I have several winemakers to visit after meeting them in May at a Brunello dinner. Definitely looking forward to tasting the '99s while I am there and perhaps some barrel samples as well.

BTW, awesome photos from your trip, tj. I forgot to thank you for sharing them. The Castello at Volpaia was gorgeous. Hopefully I'll be able to make my way northeast to Chianti for at least a day, but the majority of my time in Tuscany will be focused in Montalcino.

Thanks Craig. Either the '98 or '99 of this wine is being released in January in Ontario at around $55CAD.

Judy, I think you were just lucky. Generally speaking, not many people buy splits at restaurants, but if you're having multiple courses, I think it's always a nice option to have. At that price, you should have bought some to take home!

I'm Italian as well, and understand your confusion. What they're talking about it something similar to Cantuccini di Prato. Here's the recipe I use: Combine in a bowl: 1 3/4 cup flour 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup toasted almonds In a separate bowl, whisk 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add to the flour and knead until firm. Shape into 3 1-1/2" thick logs and bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 30 minutes. Slice diagonally into 1" slices, spread out on the baking sheet, and bake 5 minutes, turning once.

Thanks Craig. Hopefully Bill will chime in when he get a minute. With respect to buying six-packs at wineries, I don't think that will be an option (unless it's a mixed pack). I will likely only have enough room to bring back 30-36 bottles of wine and I'd like to get a variety.

Excellent article, Craig. Can you recommend any enotecas in Piemonte, around Alba, Barbaresco, Neive, small towns in between, that you think have a good selection and good prices? I know of the Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco and the Enoteca at Marchesi di Barolo, but do you think they would offer good pricing for the wine available? Since I'll be in Alba during Barbaresco 2001 and likely attending one of the dinners during the festival, I'll be looking to pick up many bottles from the 2001 vintage and don't want to get hosed on pricing when I can it elsewhere.

Thanks Bill. Do you think reservations are necessary for lunch or dinner, or can one just walk in and get a table?

Bill, Thank you for your notes on the trattoria. Do you have the address? I'd like to eat there when I am in Alba in May.

I assume you were drinking a tawny port and not Vintage? Tawny ends up being more on the nutty side in comparison to Ruby, and people often recommend Graham's or Taylor's.

I just don't find it appealing to my palate. If they fermented and aged it a little longer, maybe it would be a little better. Don't get me wrong, I like a good Beaujolais Villages, but not the Nouveau. And I'd rather have Welch's because as the kid from the commercial says, "it explodes in my mouth!"

I haven't had the Vigne Caselle, as it's not available in our market. I have, however, had the 1998 Canneto, and it's delicious, but still needs a few more years.

It's well worth the price. I'm hoping to visit the winery when I'm in Abruzzo next year.

Thanks Andre. I guess the difference between the sets of notes I posted is that this was at a tasting with a bunch of Chianti, while the others just happened to be bottles I drank with dinner and jotted a few notes down afterwards. I think both are effective in describing the wine, however.

I can't drink any form of Nouveau wine, be it French or Italian. I'd rather drink Welch's.

I concur with that. I don't know many women that don't like champagne. Since it's usually served at my house, however, it's Brut or Extra Brut. Funny ... I never get any complaints.

Thank you for your recommendation. The hotel looks lovely, but I'm looking for an agriturismo-style apartimenti with kitchen facilities.

These were part of a tasting I hosted in October. 2000 Fontodi Chianti Classico $28CAD Decanted for two hours. Initial "funk" on the nose blew off with air time. Dark ruby red, crystal clear in the glass. Nice slow legs. Aromas of cherries, earth, banana peel, bacon fat, smoke, raspberry, and coffee. Very fresh. Medium-full bodied with peppery and cherry notes. Spice and black fruits too. A hint of herbaceousness that was not unpleasant at all and a 30+ second finish. Overall, a delicious Chianti Classico, and one of the better ones I've had in a while. 89 points. 2000 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico $27CAD (I think) Ruby red colour to rim; crystal clear. Aromas of cherry, pear, glycerin, and wet earth. Very fresh smell. Almost a cola touch to it. Medium bodied, firm tannin, fresh tasting, bursting with cherry notes. 15s finish with cherries following right through to the end. Tasty. 87 points (10/14/2003). 2000 Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Approx $30-33CAD Not decanted, allowed to breathe for 3 hours. Dark ruby red, almost purple. Crystal clear with lots and lots of thin legs. Aromas of black fruits, black cherry, black raspberry, and violets. Great nose. Full bodied with oak present. Seems like there is a bit of Merlot in it, even though the bottle states 100% Sangiovese. Dark fruit, very dry. 30+s finish. Very tasty. 89 points (10/14/2003). 1999 Fattoria Corfecciano Urbana Chianti Montespertoli Riserva $21CAD From the new (1997) DOCG Chianti Montespertoli. Medium ruby red, crystal clear. Pretty, thin legs. Aromas of cherry, raspberry coulis, and mocha. Medium-bodied, very fresh. Herbaceous with lots of cherry and earth notes. Minerals follow with raspberry replays from nose. Lingering, dry finish, ~ 30s. 88 points 10/14/2003). The following Chianti weren't from the tasting, but I have had them recently and wanted to share them anyway. 1999 Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico Here's a comparison of a wine I first tasted in August of last year. I've included both my notes from Friday and the previous bottle. Only 15 minutes air time in glass. No decanting. Deep ruby red to rim. Almost opaque. Aromas of cherries, plums, strawberries. Medium-bodied, fresh tasting. Replays from nose. Short finish, 5-10s. Fleshed out a little bit over a couple hours, but still only 85 points. (10/03/2003). Crystal clear deep ruby colour, almost sparkling when held up to the light. Intense colour, nice legs. Nice fruit, plum and jam on the nose and mouth, medium-full bodied. Slightly hot and acidic still, will improve with time. Went great with the rare steak I had. 88 points. (8/03/2002). Apparently I was wrong about improving. It didn't seem shut down at all. I returned the remaining bottle I had. 1997 Grevepesa Panzano Chianti Classico $24CAD Another Saturday dinner called for some Chianti. Served this with penne in a pancetta and mushroom cream sauce. Crystal clear ruby red. Aromas of cherries, earth, and strawberries. Medium-full bodied with replays from nose. Fresh-tasting with a ~30 finish. Drink now. 87 points (11/08/2003). Not quite as nice as previous showings, but not declining, either.

$13CAD From Abruzzo Deep ruby red colour. Aromas of cherry, earth, sliced plums, red fruits, and a hint of barnyard that blows off with time. Full-bodied, with red fruit, spice, and cloves. Moderate length finish with spice continuing through. Great QPR once again with the 2001 vintage. 87 points (11/14/2003). Just a small step up from last year's vintage. Definitely a great everyday drinker for $13CAD, and a fabulous food wine.

$16CAD when purchased in April 2002. From Basilicata Decanted for 1 hour. Medium-garnet colour with a bit of bricking. Very perfumed nose of rose petals, violets, black olives, tar, and anise. Medium-full bodied with tar, violets, black fruits, and cedar. Dry, tarry finish, ~ 40s. Delicious. 89 points. (11/14/2003). Served with pork tenderloin medalions, mashed potatoes with truffle oil, and a mesclun salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

$33CAD Medium-dark garnet colour with fat, teardrop legs. Aromas of lilacs, black cherries, earth, vanilla, spice, black licorice, and truffles. Medium-full bodied with vanilla, blackberry, black cherry, pepper, and raspeberry coulis. Long, lingering finish, ~45-50s with blackberry and spice following through. Drinking beautifully right now, but will hold for several more years in the cellar. One of the best bottles of Chianti that I've had in a while. 90 points (11/15/2003). Served with this a wonderful Milanese-style veal chop with mushrooms and Grand Marnier sauce. Let's just say I could consume this pairing every day for a month and not get tired of it.