The VinItaly fair is an event that every wine fan has to attend once in their life. Make a pilgrimage, fight the crowds, immerse yourself in vino! Harris, our director, and Chris, your blog author and friendly neighbourhood salesman just returned with great memories, new friends and purple teeth! I counted my notes - more than 150 in only three days, and if I had the stamina it could have been nearly double.
A very brief recap - the 2008 Tuscan wines are better than most magazines would have you believe. The 2006s and 2007s were so great - but also in some instances so locked down by tannin that the 2008s sing by comparison. Ignore the scores and go for it, you'll be rewarded with freshness and drinkability.
The 2007 Brunellos from Altesino were absolutely knee-wobblingly good.
We had a lesson in Barolo terroir courtesy of Lucca Currado of Vietti. Their collection of Grand Cru sites is unparalleled and tasting each side by side is a once in a lifetime experience.
If you have any 1998 high end Tuscans, I bet they're in their prime now, I experienced some that were ethereal. The 1997s, not so much.
I can also check horse and donkey of my foodie bucket list. Been there, ate that.
Cheers!
Chris.
