Blog 76 by the Wine Baron.

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Blog Note 78 - Haute Cool Wine Tasting in a Classical Italian-meets-Goth Setting by the Wine Baron

We were invited to the suburban Buffalo home of Joseph Gallo for dinner and a wine tasting. We had been introduced to him at the tasting bar at Southbrook Vineyards a week ago by resident Sommelier, Archie. Here we are, a week later, walking into the home of Dr. Gallo. Oh, did I mention, he's a Dental Surgeon by day and a Sommelier by night?

First cool thing about his spacious home in outlying Buffalo is that it has an indoor pool. But it keeps getting better as you advance deeper into this beautiful home. The Baroness, Ashley and I traverse the Foyer, or is it an Italian Courtyard (gas lamps and all) ... and are led into the dining room. Everything in this house is custom designed and built, often by Joe himself. Little surprise then that we sit down at a dining room table with unique high back benches, above us the ceiling is draped cloth with backlighting. Joe cooked everything for the four of us this fine evening, and attended to every detail with perfection. The consumate host. I say this with a lot of experience being hosted over the years, yet this is the best experience I've ever had as a guest of a private individual.

Following dinner we're led into the Bistro (no, we haven't gone to the nearest Starbucks; we're still in the house). The bar, barista station, glasses, decor, everything is as it should be. Just as we begin to take in the authenticity of it, he opens another door and we're led into a kind of boardroom of wine, full of thick dark ornate furniture. Each of the four place settings has 6 different shaped Riedel glasses. Joe leads us to the far end of
the room and we step through decorative glass doors, with custom blown glass artistry, into the wine cellar.

Domaine Des Haut Chassis, Croze Hermitage 2007 ($18 US) RATING: 92.

Second best value of the night. This affordable French wine is dark with a mature nose of clove, dusty earth, and white pepper. Its enticing flavours included red berries, cassis, tangerine, and blueberry compote with smokey components and minerality. It has astounding complexity that goes on and on. The finish exhibited vegetal qualities of asparagus and black olive. This wine is like a young person with an old soul. Long finish.

Silvio Grasso Barolo Bricco Luciano 1998 ($45 US) RATING: 92.

A very dark wine for a Barolo Nebbiolo. Very aromatic notes of spices and black liquorice. Aromas and flavours of black tea, oranges, and candied cherries with a hint of cinnamon and dried fennel. Serious acidity. Long finish.

Chateau Grand Picque-Caillou - Bordeaux Rouge, 2005 ($20 US) RATING: 90.

A charming Bordeaux with fruity, earthy and subtle spicy aromas. A very nice nose. A light wine with nuances of black and red berries, subtle cherries, raisins and vanilla. Many of the aromas continue in the flavours with additional notes of ultra
ripe strawberries. Light tannins. Smooth finish. It's a round wine. Delicate, lively and easy to enjoy. Joe called it "An elegant silky seductress!" 60% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc, 30% merlot. Not oak-aged.

Collazzi Toscana 2005 ($28 US) RATING: 96.

Best of the tasting. Best value. A dark and significant wine with notes of oregano, green tea, green bell pepper and vanilla. Ongoing layers reveal baking spices, cinnamon, brioche-like flavours of custardy bread, and dark bitter chocolate. A very big wine, stunningly integrated and complex with good acidity. A long, seamless and balanced finish. Masculine nose, feminine finish. Overall, The
Baroness and Ashley felt that this was "Clark Gable in a glass."

Tinto Roa Reserva - Ribera del Duero 2004 ($27 US) RATING: 92-93.

A dark and expressive wine with distinct aromas and flavours of dark chocolate, caramel macchiato, black tea and espresso. Very extracted. Tons of tannins. A beautiful example of a Spanish barrel-aged Tinto Fino (same as Tempranillo).

Pelissero Long Now 2000 (Barbaresco) ($38 US) RATING: 97-98.

This blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo is from Piedmont. It has an intense nose of fruit with bursting aromas and flavours of leather, cedar, horse stable, chocolate and violets. It is such an intense wine that we remarked that "it has more flavour and aroma than seems possible in the amount of space that it takes up!" Several comments were evoked as we basked in the beauty of this honey. "Sexy seductress... Charlize Theron on the red carpet on Oscar night... a midsummer night's dream... this wine commands your attention... like a female gymnast in intensity. Firm tannins. A chewy and enticing wine.

The evening of sumptuous food, wine and good company ended as it began: with a sense of wonder and appreciation of the fine things of life!

A NOTE ABOUT RATINGS. In just one evening, Joe convinced me to go from a 10 point rating system, which I had used for 15 years, to the international 100 point scale. Following are Joe's suggestions on how to rate a wine using this scale:

- 85 to 89... "Nice"
- 90 to 94... "Wow, real good"
- 95 + ... "I'm having a moment; the room is spinning"

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