Our second Master Sommelier class was a hit! Last month we started with the wines of Northern Italy, for last night’s event, we polished off Italy with the best of the best red wines from the multiple and very proud regions of central and southern Italy. These are some killer Italian favorites Ryan put together for this tasting and for those who missed it, pick out the favorites from each flight and you’ll have yourself a perfect central and southern Italian sampler to enjoy at home.
As members arrived, we poured the only white of the flight which technically was not as ‘bianco’ as you would imagine. The 2011 Azienda Agricola COS ‘RAMI’ is a white blend of indigenous Sicilian grapes- Inzolia and Grecanico- that is purposely oxidized in concrete tanks. This gives the finished wine a wild complexity and depth of flavor and a deeper hue that is unique- Citrus, deep smoky minerals, bruised pear and almond were in the forefront while savory elements of fennel, sage, and rosemary and a touch of honey were more apparent in the deep textured mid-palate.
Flight #1: Classic Tuscans
Wine 1- 2010 Fontodi Chianti Classico DOCG- Sangiovese expressed in the most classic way, bright red cherry fruit, brilliant spice, and classic Tuscan herbs. This easy drinking Chianti will do the job on pizza night with the kids.
Wine 2- 2010 Fontondi Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Sorbo’ DOCG- From older Sangiovese and Cabernet vines and wine with greater age, the Riserva ‘Sorbo’ was amazing! Forget the kids and pizza, grab a bottle of this stellar Chianti Classico Riserva and treat yourself to a pasta date night with your better half.
Wine 3- 2007 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino DOCG- The favorite of the first flight! Valdicava is one of the best Brunellos we have opened at Graileys yet! From 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes native to the town of Montalcino, just east of Chianti Classico- this Sangiovese clone showed lively aromatics and intense flavors of dark black cherries, loads of deep spice, layers of tobacco and leather with a rich and seamless texture.
Wine 4- 2011 Poliziano ‘Asinone’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG- Like the fickle Pinot Noir grape, Sangiovese is another think skin grape that likes to mutate into multiple, yet distinctive clones. Vino Nobile from the town of Montepulciano focuses on the Sangiovese Gentile clone but can produce flavors all over the board, depending on the producer’s style. This Vino Nobile is a deeper, richer expression as Poliziano’s style is polished and slick- ripe black cherry, loads of spice, licorice and tobacco, hint of menthol and leather with a compelling inner sweetness of ripe fruit and floral tones.
Flight #2: Tuscans That Are Super
Wine 1- 2011 Antinori Tignanello IGT- Antinori’s Tignanello needs no introduction as it was the first Tuscan wine to be aged in small oak barrels and to use non-traditional varieties- a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet- going against the restricting laws of Chianti Classico. We have opened a lot of 90’s Tignanello in the past, but this mere baby showed powerfully with its youth- rich and harmonious, savory and precise- dark cherries, wild herbs, licorice, a gamut of spice, leather, and everything nice- that’s what Tigs are made of.
Wine 2- 2010 Fontodi Flaccianello IGT- From the best parcels of Sangiovese this mono-varietal superstar was the show-stopper of the night and probably of the vintage! The same dark cherry and spice of Sangiovese was expressed in a seductive style paired with dark chocolate, tobacco and black tea.
Wine 3- 2010 Le Macchiole ‘Paleo Rosso’- 100% Cabernet Franc is what is inside Le Macchiole’s Paleo Rosso bottle. Aromatic and lively perfumed in the nose, the palate was more rich with deeply concentrated flavors of dark fruits, leather, mocha, wild flowers and herbs. Tannins were polished and seamless and finished with great length. A killer Cab Franc
Wine 4- 2012 Ornellaia ‘Serre Nuove’- A second label from younger vines of such pedigree- Serre Nuove is a Bolgheri Bordeaux Blend. Intense dark black fruits, sweet tobacco, chocolate, and herbs all perfectly engaged with its mouth-coating texture.
Flight #3: Best of the Rest
Wine 1- 2009 Tascante ‘Tascante’ Etna Rosso DOC- From the intricately terraced vineyards off Mt Etna (Sicily’s active volcano) is the Nerello Mascalese grape. One of my favorite varietals and one that is becoming quite trendy, this Etna Rosso was bright and lively with sweet and tart red fruits, lean minerality and hints of white mushroom and fresh soil. After trying the weightier Super Tuscans, it was nice to break the palate with a much lighter red to start the final flight.
Wine 2- 2008 Mastroberardino ‘Radici’ Taurasi DOCG- Going into Campania and into Taurasi, Mastroberardino’s Radici is a concentrated red from the Aglianico grape. Dark cherries, luscious purple flowers, loads of spice, tobacco and black tea all in a velvety textured package.
Wine 3- 2008 La Valentina ‘Binomio’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo- Montepulciano grape of Abruzzo, this wine was packed with sweet blackberry fruit and herbs. Full-bodied and wildly rich, Montepulciano is capable of power and depth- which La Valentina proves with their ‘Binomio’ label.
Wine 4- 2007 Paola Bea ‘Pagliaro’ Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG – One of my favorites of the night and one of my favorite Italian producers in general, this wine comes from the Sagrantino grape grown in the town of Montefalco in Umbria and is expressed in a dense, dark style. Rich wild berries, cigar, organic soil, leather, tobacco, wild herbs, smoke and a shot of rustic animal funk were the flavors in this silky, yet powerful wine. From all the reds in this Italian Master Class, this is one you need to experience for yourself.
