Last Wednesday I was lucky enough to attend a tasting at the delicious Tocqueville Restaurant in NYC & for those who haven't had a chance to dine here I highly recommend it. Jo-Ann & Marco are great hosts & the food was on point as usual!

It was a tasting built around great wines from Tuscany & they did not disappoint. Here are the flights along with my tasting notes for each.

Enjoy!

First Flight:
2006 Vinnaioli Jermann "Dreams" - 92 WS - (Jermann is one of the wineries that put white wine from Friuli-Venezia Giulia on the map) An Oaky full bodied Chardonnay with lots of carmel & butterscotch undertones. Plenty of fruit... definitely needs to be paired with food. Enjoyable for a glass but not my favorite Chardonnay.

2004 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 'Montosoli'- 95 WS - This is their single vineyard offering that is always one of the top Brunellos year in and year out. The 2004 vintage is definitely one of the best I've ever tasted. Loads of blackberry and dark fruit on the nose with silky tannins & hints of vanilla on the finish. Still an infant, but definitely one of the best Brunellos from the great 2004 vintage.

2004 Collemattoni Brunello di Montalcino - 95 WS - Very small artisanal producer that made their best wine to date in 2004. Strawberries & cherries explode from the glass with a hint of vanilla. It has a solid core of fruit with supple tannins. A well crafted Brunello that was definitely drinking great this evening.

Second Flight:
2006 Tua Rita Giusto dei Notri - 96 RP - Massive wine built for the long haul. This is the second time I've had this wine and both times I've been amazed at how well balanced it is. Lush, supple wine with plenty of ripe fruit & cassis make it hard to resist now, but will be singing in a couple years!

2006 La Massa IGT Giorgio Primo - 94 RP - For me this was one of the best drinking wines from the tasting. The Merlot definitely helps soften this wine and makes it very approachable. Earthiness, tar, tobacco make for a great nose followed by a well-balanced, medium-full bodied wine.

Delicious!

Third Flight:
2005 Sassicaia - 94 WS - Upon first opening the 2005 was definitely showing better. Not near as big as the 2006, but still a great Sassicaia. Lots of spice and dark fruit lead to a full bodied wine with plenty of tannins but not disjointed. This will do well with another couple of years in the bottle.

2006 Sassicaia - 97 RP - Slightly closed when first popped but 2 hours later it was off the charts! Definitely the wine of the night. Gobs of dark fruit, leather and tar open up to an amazing full-bodied wine with precision and balance that must be tasted to be believed. Great now but will be even better down the road.

All in all a great evening made special by delicious food and amazing wine for a client who asked us to set up a fun tasting to help celebrate their new offices in New York City. Please give us a call to see how we can make your next event or corporate gathering more special.