Italian Wine Night at Kenwood, Minneapolis

What a great lineup of wines with Jason, Joe, Mike, Bruce, Inti & new guy Jeb. Some really nice wines in the mix.

• 2012 José Michel & Fils Champagne Special Club – France, Champagne
  Fingers with the 93 and agree. Wonderful offering with shells, orange peel, lemon, lime, spices and floral notes. (93 pts.)

• 2008 Azelia Barolo San Rocco – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Day 2: This was classic Barolo with a rustic edge. Floral, dust, spices, dried herbs, cherry, raspberries and stone. Medium plus finish Very nice wine. (93 pts.)

• 2012 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Day 2: Great wine and classic Barolo. My second favorite wine. Mild funk, dried cherries, menthol, tar, exotic spices, game and underbrush. Awesome wine. 96 points
  Day 3: So close to a 97. This wine will benefit with 10 plus more years in the cellar. Classic Barolo. Funk, dried cherries, floral, menthol, tar, spices, earth and mushrooms. Medium to long finish. Wow! 96.75 points
  Recommendation: YES! (96 pts.)

• 2010 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia – Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore
  At the 94 average. Others liked this better. A really good wine with blueberries, spices, dust, earth, coffee beans and floral notes. Medium plus finish and think more time will benefit this one. 94+ (94 pts.)

• 2011 Antinori Tignanello – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  For sure in the decline. The 16 was my wine of the night. Color is fading. Rustic with clay, earth, dried cherries, floral, spices and dust. Medium finish. Drink now but still enjoyable. (92 pts.)

• 2016 Antinori Tignanello – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  Well wine of the night for me and second place tonight. Blueberries, cherry, tar, spices, dried flowers, earth and pencil lead. Outstanding wine. Opened a day prior and paid off. (97 pts.)

• 2019 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Like this but not top 3 tonight. Earth, floral, dried cherries, plum, dust and forest floor. Medium plus finish. Very smooth wine overall. (93 pts.)

• 2019 Tenuta di Arceno Arcanum Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  Hard to believe this is the first review on this. Very good wine with cherry, floral, dust, bell peppers, spices and minerals. Very balanced and really like this wine. (93 pts.)

• 2008 Monte Faustino Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
  Nice wine with baking spices, dust, figs, dried cherries, plums and earth and medium finish. Good overall. (92 pts.)

• 2019 Padelletti Brunello di Montalcino – Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  Very young and tight as others have noted. Dried twigs, spices, floral, earth, leather and darker fruits. Medium finish. Would benefit over 3 days. (90 pts.)