Masi, Campofiorin, 2013

A gift from John & Susan, a deliciously full bodied, mellow fruity wine.

Masi describe it as “nectar angelorum hominibus” or Nectar of the Angels for Men and this 50th anniversary 2013 vintage doesn’t disappoint.

from their website

Rosso del Veronese IGT

Full bodied, smooth and velvety, but approachable and versatile in its food pairings. Combines simplicity with style, strength and majesty.

This is the original Supervenetian created by Masi in 1964 and internationally recognised as a wine of “stupendous body and complexity”, the prototype for a new category of wines from the Veneto inspired by the Amarone production method (Burton Anderson). Its own production method was described by Hugh Johnson as “an ingenious technique”.

Chianti Ruffina 2011, Fattoria di Basciano

Very well made – solid wine from Tuscany. Dry, ripe warm fruit. A dinner gift from Graham.

A webtrawl doesn’t yield much info other than this fact sheet and that the Masi family have owned the vineyard since 1925.

Bascianosellsheet

Christmas and New Year 2012

A motley cru of wines we enjoyed over Christmas and into the new year:

It’s a sparkler, classy:

 

One of the most reliable wines of the last few years. From Cellar Master. Alan tells me this is the House Wine in Rick Stein’s of Padstow. Smashing grapefruit hit, if you like that kind of thing.

  

Consistently good claret. Half Merlot, half Cabernet blend. Silky, unobtrusive.  Went well with New Year

 

Always reliable, the Old Widow:

 

Nice and light, in-offensive and not unpleasant (!):

Vouvray (Chenin Blanc from Vouvray) is a style that appears to have disappeared from fashion, a shame, because this was competent:

  

Looks imposing but a pussy cat. Enjoyable, but didn’t live up to the cover:

 

A real stonker, explosive nose, great length, powerful stuff:

 

This Berbera by Berro from Piedmonte was very pleasant. Must research it properly.

 

 

 

 

In honour of our Spanish guests, we served the Marques as the Red with the Christmas Dinner. Consistently good.

 

 

 

 

This was surprisingly good value in Baan Thai, Leopardstown, where we had our annual Christmas catch up with John & Susan