Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/688647
{ SOMMjournal.com } 105 Lamole di Lamole 2012 Chianti Classico 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. "Cherry liqueur on the nose; light cedar and vanilla. Beautiful texture and tannins; oregano, under-ripe berry, cherry pit. Finish continues into savory herbs and sun dried tomato." —Shaun Adams "Cherries and earthy nose. Herbaceous palate with medium body. Medium-long finish that calls you back for more. Marries well with the loaded mac and cheese—the smokiness is an exceptional pairing with the pork!" —Andrew Fritz "Ripe cherry, dry earth on the nose, with rose petals. Sour cherry and light tannin; very approach- able." —Raini Keyser, Director of Operations, Vinum 55, Phoenix Lamole di Lamole 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva "This wine is historical in character and style," said Piotrowski. "This is very char- acteristic of Chianti Classico Riserva, and is a steal at this quality." For both the Riserva and the single-vineyard Gran Selezione bottling, the wines undergo a process that Daldin calls "metodo dif- ferita," or deferred fermentation: Grapes are sepa- rated from skins, temperature-control fermented to six percent, then the skins are added back in. "A soft nose of rose petals and dried red cher- ries. Very big tannin and acid on the front of the palate. In the middle, bright and very tart cherries last a very long time on the finish. Big acid makes this a very food-friendly wine." —Jared Sowinski "Grippy tannins well-integrated into ripe fruit. A clean and fun Chianti. Food and wine pairing of the day: The wine works wonderfully with the steak and also with the sweetness of the polenta. Also especially delightful with the salsa verde." —Andrew Fritz "Bam! Oh my! This wine ransacked my mouth with bracing acidity and vibrant red-fruit cherries. Delicious!" —Wednesday Nowak Lamole di Lamole 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione "Campolungo" Single Vineyard "With this wine, we show what is our greatest piece of land, the Campolungo vine- yard," said Piotrowski. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged two years in French oak before bottling. "Wet rock, sour cherry, rose petals. Lavender, firm tannins, smooth." —Raini Keyser "Beautifully elegant red fruit—strawberry and orange— on the nose. Dried, soft and supple cher- ries with rose and very well-blended tannins. Great acid that lingers in the finish." —Jared Sowinski "Cherry, raspberry. Spicy, lightly intense. The acid is clean and bright, complements the array of sweet and savory." —Wednesday Nowak THE HEIGHTS OF CHIANTI CLASSICO Although it's a 500 year-old winery that was formerly part of a 14th- century castle, Lamole di Lamole has mastered modern production techniques and is committed to using modern innovations to con- tinuously improve their winemaking methods. For example, Friedman explains, winemaker Andrea Daldin employs an innovative barrel- aging program using the Taransaud Ovum, a large, 2,000-liter-capacity egg-shaped barrel (only one of two in Italy) that matures the wines with more rounded results thanks to a slow, constant motion of the juice inside. However, their commitment to the natural environment hasn't waned in the face of modern technology: They are on track to be Certified Organic in Italy next year. At the heart of this winery's longevity lie incredible vineyard sites, including some of the highest-elevation vineyards in Chianti, reaching 1,600 to 1,800 feet above sea level. In addition, the winery has iden - tified two site-specific Sangiovese Grosso clones over the past 25 years that work best with their specific soil types and microclimate. This helps continue the "Lamole legacy," notes Friedman. "Andrea has worked this land and these vines for 22 years. His vast body of knowledge and specific experience with these vineyards and soil is what makes our wines so special." Of particular note is the winery's Campolungo vineyard, which has a distinct microclimate within the overall estate. Situated 1,800 feet above sea level, with southwest-facing slopes, this vineyard is a prime example of the best of the best when it comes to Chianti Classico. Lamole di Lamole BLIND POP QUIZ After tasting through six incredible wines, we threw three more at our panelists, including one wine from the 1997 vintage, considered the Chianti Classico vintage of the 20th century. Kettmeir 2011 Moscato Rosa "Roses! Fresh and dried! Toffee, eucalyptus, orange. My favorite of the day!" —Wednesday Nowak "Sweet and floral on the nose; soft and honeyed on the palate." — Jared Sowinski Lamole di Lamole 1982 Chianti Classico "Fully developed wine; sour cherry, acid, herbs, nutty." — Raini Keyser "Dried flowers, shoe leather, light presence of fruit. Dry, complex—at least 20 years old." —Andrew Fritz Lamole di Lamole 1997 Chianti Classico "Dried fruit and earth. Crisp fallen leaves. At least ten years old and still going strong, with a bright and lingering palate." —Andrew Fritz "A little funk, mushroom on the nose, with dust and citrus. Lovely baked fruit, wooded middle; still bright with good acid." —Scott Stephens Richie Moe, Beverage Director of Square One Concepts, holds a bottle of Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico 1982.