Vias Tasting at The Wine Watch Wednesday February 15th
"Clearly, the pleasures wines afford are transitory - but so are those of the ballet, or of a musical performance. Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living." --- Napoleon, 1769-1821
We have had an incredible year of tastings already this year with wines like, 1795 Terrentez from Barbeito, 1953 Chateau Latour, 1978 Jacques Prieur Musigny and the 1997 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon just to name a few of the highlights so far…
With personalities like: Bo Barrett, Anthony Bell, Stephanie Honig and Tom Rozner- with many more to come. The year 2012 will be the best year of wine tasting events that we have come up with yet!
This event features our good friend Alberto Prealoni from Vias Imports for an Italian Wine Tasting with not one… but three great producers from Italy; Colpetrone Sagrantino Montefalco, Fattoria Del Cerro Montepulciano and La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino.
Join us as we welcome the Export Manager for Saiagricola, the parent company that owns these three excellent properties in Italy. We will taste through selections from each winery along with a few tasty treats prepared by Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone. This will be a walk around event and the fee for this tasting is $35 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.
Vias Imports Italian Wine Tasting with Colpetrone Sagrantino Montefalco, Fattoria Del Cerro Montepulciano-Tuscany, La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino
with special guest Giovanni Lai Export Manager for Saiagricola
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
7:00 PM
Tasting Line-up:
2009 Fattoria Del Cerro Manero Rosso Di Toscana
Price: $12.75 Sale $11.22 Case $131
A large estate in Montepulciano owned by the same group that owns Coleptrone and and La Poderina, the insurance company Sai. A blend of 80/20 Sangiovese and Merlot with a bit of caramel like toasty oak nuance to the ripe plum and red cherry berry fruit on the nose very forward and pleasant. Soft and round on the palate with smooth tannins and a good amount of ripe plum and cherry fruit very forward and appealing with a touch of that Tuscan terroir showing on the finish, herbs and earthy nuance to the finish. Finish 40+ Very Good
2009 Farrotia Del Cerro Rosso di Montepulciano
Price: $18.75 Sale $16.50 Case $191.25
A hint of roasted saddle leather, a blend of 80 Prunolo Gentile, 20%Canaiolo Nero/Mammaolo, notes of underbrush, fine herbs like nuance, very Tuscan with light red cherry fruit. Smooth and very forward and drinkable style with elegance and freshness to the finish and lots of fruit in the mid palate the tannins are very ripe and charming right now. Finish 45+ Very Good +
2007 Fattotia Del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Price: $20.75 Sale $18.26 Case $212
A blend of Sangiovese with 10% Canaiolo Nero and Mammaolo, they also use a bit of French barrique in aging this wine 30% the rest is large Slovonian oak cask. Dried spiced tobacco on the nose with aromas of dried sausage/animal mushroom and red cherry berry fruit. Smooth and plush a very forward wine with immediate appeal very fresh and bright with notes of fresh earth and fine herbs to the red berry fruit, good freshness on the finish and some dry tannins at the end but fairly smooth. Finish 45+ Excellent
2005 Fattoria Del Cerro Antica Chiusina Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano
Price: $47.25 Sale $41.58 Case $482
This is their top expression of their best vineyard sites. The same blend as the other wines but the oak is all French oak and it is aged for 18 months. Lovely aromas on the nose with a host of brown spices, hints of soy, saddle leather, porcini mushroom and toasty oak spice, very forward and seductive black cherry and strawberry jam like fruit. A very forward and drinkable style with some dry tannins showing on the finish with notes of toasty oak, a pencil lead and graphite like mineral and a very approachable nature, a bit oaky but has enough fruit and good freshness on the finish. Finish 45+ Excellent +
2006 La Poderina Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $54 Sale $47.52 Case $551
They own about 9 hectares in Montalcino located in San Angelo in the Colle region of Montalcino near Pieve di Santa Restituta. A very nuanced spice and a slight roasted character to the red cherry fruit very elegant and subtle but has lots of hints of black tar and truffle like nuance. A smooth and silky approach to the palate like silk on the tongue with some dry tannins showing on the finish and that rustic earthy character of Montalicino along with excellent freshness and a tangy note to the finish. Finish 45+ Excellent +
2007 Colpetrone Sagrantino di Montefalco
Price: $27 Sale $23.76 Case $275
The 2007 Sagrantino di Montefalco is a huge hulking wine bursting with masses of dark fruit that manage to (mostly) cover the Sagrantino tannins. It shows marvelous balance in a full-throttle, opulent style. There is marvelous intensity in the glass as the wine builds towards the imposing yet beautifully balanced, utterly radiant finish, where varietal notes become more prominent. The 2007 Sagrantino is a great introduction for readers who are new to the grape, although this is one of the more exuberant expressions on the market. Colpetrone gave the Sagrantino 18 months in mid-size French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. Colpetrone makes some of the most concentrated Sagrantinos readers will come across. The Rosso and Passito are generally less consistently outstanding, which I found to be the case this year. Wine Advocate #195, Jun 2011
Menu:
Seared Sirloin-Gorgonzola-Arugula Rolls with Balsamic Glaze & Basil Oil
Crispy Pork Belly Taquito with Dark Cherry-Plum Chutney
Sundried tomato, caper, calamata olive & lemon balm Tuna Tartar served on a rice crisp finished with Lemon Roasted Shallot Aioli
Bacon wrapped Grilled Shrimp offered with duo of sauces: Honey-Mustard Curry Sauce & Smokey Red Wine BBQ Sauce
What I Drank Yesterday:
Holly from Opici was in with a few wines that continued with the average theme continued from our last edition of what I drank yesterday, some days it takes a few wines to get through before the really good stuff comes out.
2010 Martinsancho Verdejo Rueda
Price: $21.50
A fresh hay and earth like quality along with lemon and lime citrus with wet stone like mineral. A refreshing wine with a nice spritz to the tongue with good length and a light musky nuance to the finish with a tart lemon zest to the finish. Finish 35+ Very Good +
2010 Due Torri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie
Price: $11.50
A nice touch of fresh herbs and flowers to the red cherry and strawberry like fruit very pretty bouquet with notes of exotic spice but none of that smoky nuance from the wood barrel as this sees no wood at all pure unadulterated Pinot Noir. Has nice varietal character and light red berry fruit cranberry and tart cherry with a short but pleasant finish. Finish 30+ Good +
2006 Lorignon Rioja Crianza
Price: $14.75
A light and classic style of Rioja with a hint of coconut and dark coco spice with good freshness on the finish just a bit light with fresh earth, dried meat like notes on the finish. Finish 35+ Good
PW Wine was back! This is one of the best wineries in Sicily we have had vertical tastings of the Harmonium in the past, which is considered their best wine, the ultimate expression of Nera D'Avola and now they will not even open the bottle as it scored (97 points) in the Wine Spectator.
2010 Firriato Chiaramonte Ansonica
Price: $15.75
This was a grape used to make Marsala but today they have elevated the status of the wines made with this varietal. White peach and pear like fruit on the nose with a touch of anise spice and a slight briny mineral component almost like a sweet tart. A good amount of fruit on the palate fairly rich with a hint of that anise in the finish with nice minerality showing and good length to the finish, that sweet tart showing at the end as well. Finish 35+ Very Good +
2009 Firriato Chiaramonte Nero D'Avola
Price: $17.50
A nice touch of coco and fresh earth with dried herbs and dried meats with dark plum and a sundried plum like quality but light. A nice freshness to this wine with light spice and a hint of coco and dried herbs on the finish but nice freshness leaves the tongue salivating for food, a nice savory red. Finish 35+ Very Good
2008 Firriato Cavanera Rosso Etna Rosso
Price: $42
This is a blend of two indigenous grapes from this region Nerello Mascarese 80% and Cappuccio 20%, a very pretty nose with incense and a bit of smoky animal nuance with dark coco and soy like nuance, dark dried cherry fruit. A very intriguing wine with firm tannins and fresh acidity and that volcanic mineraltiy showing to the end, dark spice. Finish 45+ Excellent
A short visit from Big Crush with one wine that we have had before, the Jax Y3 Chardonnay and it was nice but the Wallis Little Sister was a bit of a surprise after it was opened for a few hours- thank you for leaving the bottle for us Brigham. I always like to see what a wine is like on the second day, if it stands up for 2 days after opening usually this means the wine will age nicely in your cellar. Now I want to taste the Wallis Little sister in 3-5 years in your cellar.
2010 Jax Vineyards Y3 Chardonnay Napa
Price: $26
Fresh apple and lemon drop candy fruit with notes of vanilla spice. Smooth and creamy on the tongue with just the right touch of lightly toasted oak spice, lemon citrus and fresh green apple, a short but pleasant finish. Finish 35+ Very Good +
2008 Wallis Little Sister Diamond Mountain District Napa
Price: $48.50
A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot and 9% Petite Verdot. A good amount of currant and cassis berry fruit on the nose , black pepper and cigar box spice with sweet tobacco spice and notes of molasses spice with hints of fresh earth that mountain heritage showing through. A big and chewy wine on the tongue with a good amount of ripe forward fruit jammy and rich with layers of dark spice and ripe round tannins turning a bit chalky and dry at the end with dark spice and firm acidity. Finish 45+ Excellent
Another visit from Tout petite Vin? This is a winery that I have tried before and although the wines were not bad they were a bit ambitious in price.
2009 Sineann Pinot Noir Oregon
Price: $30
Light nose of raspberry fruit and hints of flowers and mint note. Light and spicy on the palate with a hint of earth but overall light and easy drinking, Finish 30+ Good +
2010 Sineann Red Table Wine Oregon
Price: $19.50
lacking a bit of definition on the nose but some of the herbaciousness of the Cabernet Sauvignon showing through the red cherry berry fruit light and unoffensive. A light red that resembles Pinot Noir more than any other varietal, a short finish some of that herbaciosness showing through. Finish 30 Good
2008 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia
Price: $36.75
A bit of nail polish showing through the black cherry and currant berry fruit with a light weedy character but very fruity almost liqueur like. A big and fruity wine on the palate with a spicy finish, a bit hot on the finish. Finish 35+ Good
2010 Sineann Merlot Champoux Vineyard Columbia Valley
Price: $45
A good amount of black cherry and plum like fruit with a bit of fine herbs but again the focus is on the ripe fruit. Ripe delicious cherry and plum like fruit on the tongue with silky smooth tannins and nice freshness for a wine at almost 15% alcohol. Finish 40+ Very Good
This was a nice tasting line-up but it took a lot of plunk to get here, but that is what you expect from producers like Faiveley. Well I had to make it through some pink wine to get to the burgundy.
2010 Domaines Ott Les Domaniers rose Cotes de Provence
Price: $18
Rose petals strawberry fruit and light mineral highlights very pretty bouquet. A blend of 6) Grenache, 35% Cinsault and 5% Syrah, Domaine Ott is the benchmark Rose producer from this region it was founded in 1912 by Alsatian Engineer Marcel Ott. Light red raspberry and strawberry like fruit with chalky mineral nuance and nice freshness, notes of rose petal on the finish. Finish 30+ Very Good
2010 Chateau D'Eschlans Cotes de Provence
Price: $33
A blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle (vermentino) and Sryah. Light raspberry and strawberry like fruit with hints of a chalky mineral nuance with a hint of barnyard nuance. Nice concentration on the tongue with a tangy finish, plenty of raspberry and red plum like fruit through the end with light chalky notes. Finish 35+ Excellent
2009 Domaine Faiveley Montagny
Price: $21.75
Slight musky nuance to the green apple and lemon citrus fruit a good amount of Terroir showing through in this nose. Erwan Faiveley took over 2006 and they brought in cellarmaster from Bouchard Pere et Fils, they are making the wines in a more forward and seductive style but this is also typical for hte 2009 vintage, lemon and green apple fruit on the tongue with a good amount of minerality a light salty nuance to the finish. Finish 35+ Very Good
2009 Joseph Faiveley Puligny Montrachet
Price: $60
A classic Puligny bouquet with chalk lime like mineral and green apple and pear like fruit with notes of lightly toasted oak spice, vanilla and crème caramel. A well build wine for a village with excellent concentration and good minerality showing through in the finish, lemon citrus and green apple fruit in ample quantities this wine has lots of everything. Finish 40+ Excellent
2009 Joseph Faiveley Meursault
Price: $55.50
A hint of match stix and flinty bouquet notes of brioche toast and red delicious apple and pineapple fruit. A nice and fat fruity wine on the tongue with a wet rock like mineral component, a hint of butter nuance and toasty oak hints. Finish 40+ Very Good +
2009 Domaine Faiveley Nuits Saint Georges
Price: $57
A hint of smoke and fresh earth truffle and brown spices to the red cherry fruit. A nice amount of spice and firm acidity with ample red berry fruit, very long finish for a village wine with lovely spice and nuance through the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent
2009 Joseph Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin
Price: $58.50
Smoky bacon fat, dried sausage and a host of dark spices to compliment the black cherry and raspberry fruit, nice complexity and concentration on the nose. A bit tart on the fruit, black raspberry with a host of dark exotic spices and good length on the finish nice grip on the tongue, this wine needs a bit of time to come around but has a long finish and enough fruit to last. Finish 45+ Very Good +
2009 Joseph Faiveley Chambolle Musigny
Price: $82.50
A touch of cola and fresh floral nuance to the red cherry berry fruit light and pretty bouquet. A very fine and elegant wine with fine tannins, very silky texture on the tongue with lovely freshness and that cola and spice showing through the finish good length very ripe tannins adding layers to the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent
