Had the pleasure of attending a Piedmont tasting with the Sacramento Cork-Dorks tasting group, headed up by our very own WineBrat. Here is a list of the flights and some abbreviated TNs.

Flight #1

• 2001 Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis - Golden in color; light, fruity, crisp nose; on the palate: very plain. Little fruit.
  
• 2000 Ceretto Blange Arneis - Golden in color; Smelling this wine was like smelling a jar of honey. On the palate: slightly sweet and peachy. This was my choice for wine of the flight.
  
• 2000 Crocus Vernaccia di San Gimignana - RINGER (this wine was served at our Tuscan tasting, but the wine was corked then) - Golden in color; sweet, raisiny nose, almost like a muscat. On the palate: big, earthy, bold fruit.

Flight #2

• 1999 L'Ecosse Dolcetto Napa Valley - RINGER - Blood red in color; fruity, strawberry nose. On the palate: soft tannins and very fruity. This was my choice for wine of the flight.
  
• 2001 Sandrone Dolcetto d'Alba - Dark purple in color; oaky nose. On the palate: soft tannins, nice legs, tasted like a piece of wood.
  
• 2000 Filippo Gallino Barbera d'Alba - Ruby in color; huge butterscotch, caramel nose, very rich. On the palate: sharp tannins, rhubarb and cranberry.
  
• 1999 Camp du Rouss Barbera d'Asti COPPO - Purple in color; very bretty nose. On the palate: nice fruit and quite complex but cannot get past the nose.

Flight #3

• 1999 Pola Scavino Barbera d'Alba - Deep purple in color; big fruit and slightly oaky nose. On the palate: tart and sharp. This was my wine of the flight.
  
• 1996 Stefano Farnia Barberesco - Deep ruby in color; rotten eggs, bretty, then a sode (Coke or Pepsi) aroma.
  
• 1998 Franco Fiorina Barolo - Ruby in color. For some reason, I found 2 and 3 to be almost identical in nose and palate.
  
• 1997 Michele Chiarlo Barolo - Light ruby in color; strawberry jammy nose. On the palate, light and fruity.
  

Flight #4

• 1999 Camp du Rouss Barbera d'Asti COPPO - This happened tp be the second bottle of this wine tasted. Something can be said for bottle variation. This wine was TOTALLY 180 degrees opposite of the first wine. Very nice purple hue. Honey on the nose. On the palate: very nice fruit and soft tannins.
  
• 1999 Andrea Oberto Barbera d'Alba - Tar and brett on the nose. Palate was fruit and a little anise.
  
• 1997 Gabutti Barolo - Boasso - Nice light ruby in color; beautiful floral and strawberry nose. On the palate: very soft tannins and tons of fruit. This was my pick for wine of the flight and it also was WOTN.

A great time was had by all.

Next month, May 18th at 1:00pm, the wife and I are hosting a Petite Sirah tasting for this group at our place, but if anyone else wants to join in the festivities, please PM or email me!!!