Dinner with Ezio & Raffaella
@ Ristorante La Panoramica, Loranzè, Italy
5/15/1992


1989 Regaleali Cremant Conti d'Almerita Spumante di Qualitá Brut Metodo Champenois
Nose of Macintosh apple skin. Light-bodied but full in the mouth. Very dry, pleasantly acidic. 90 points.

1989 Regaleali Chardonnay (Sicily)
Big nose of almond. Exotic, complex, rich, herbaceous. 90 points.

1989 Poderi Aldo Conterno Chardonnay del Piemonte
Crisp, refreshing, simple, citrusy. 86 points.

1958 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo Riserva
Intense, ethereal, complex nose of roses and cherry pie. Elegant, soft, gentle, sweet. Expansive and whole. The taste is perfect. The harmony fantastic. Worth waiting 34 years for this experience. Every positive adjective I have ever used about a Barolo or Barbaresco applies to this wine! Nose of sweet cherries and tobacco blows out the back of my head! FANTASTIC!!! 100 points. The first wine I have ever given 100 points to, and it was an easy call!
My host's comment (which he emailed me later) was If you ever wanted to taste a perfect-score wine, this is the one to try. No, Barolo cannot become any better. This says it all. This must be the house wine of God's cafeteria. 100.

1983 Chateau d'Yquem (half bottle)
Already golden amber color. Intense nose of caramelized oranges, honey, and tree sap (?). Tightly concentrated. Drink 2000-2040. Finish of candied oranges lingers for 2 minutes! The nose is so complex and distinctive but I can't identify it. So young, buy 5 for 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040 (if we're lucky). Tremendous acidity and sweetness. Harmony in waiting. 96-100 points.

Ezio (left) with Adriano, the owner of Panoramica,
in the restaurant's cellar.
Click on a photo for a larger view of that photo.

 

 

 


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