Fumanelli Dinner at Cafe Maxx with Special Guest Armando Fumanelli

“Sometimes it would be nice to just have some red wine with dinner, but it’s not worth the risk. I have a great life, a great situation. Why would I want to risk self-destructive behavior?”

Kristin Davis

If wine with dinner is destructive then I am a wrecking ball!!

I love Italian wines.  It is hard to believe that when I bought the store 18 years ago we only had 4 different Italian labels on the shelf.  Today, we have one of the greatest collections of Barolos, Barbarescos, Super Tuscans, Chianti, and of course Amarone available not only in South Florida but anywhere in the world!

The wines of Marchesi Fumanelli were introduced to me through a good friend when he brought a magnum of the 2003 Fumanelli Amarone Octavius to our Dal Forno Romano Amarone tasting.  Although these wines are very different in style, the Fumanelli Amarone Octavius was impressive next to the most famous wines of the land of many cellars, Valpolicella.

Tonight, we will taste through a selection of Marchesi Fumanelli's wines and Armando Fumanelli will be here to guide us through the tasting and tell us more about these magical wines from the valley of many cellars.

The price of this event is $125 per person, tax and gratuity not included.  For reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Fumanelli Dinner at Cafe Maxx with Special Guest Armando Fumanelli
Friday, February 19th
7pm

Reception

Sea scallops and strawberry papaya

Crab and lemon aioli

Triple cream brie and whole wheat toast

Valdo Prosecco Brut
Price: $14.75       Sale $12.98          Case $151

Straw yellow color, joined with a fine perlage and a fruity taste are the distinguishing features of Valdo's Brut Prosecco DOC. Well-balanced structure, matched with its flavorful and aromatic fruity fragrance make it the perfect pairing with starters and particulary with delicately flavored dishes and especially seafood.

First Course

Almond & fennel seed sautéed hog snapper, apple sausage pearled couscous and minted chive beurre blanc

Fumanelli Terso Bianco Veneto IGT 2011
Price: $40.50       Sale $35.64          Case $414

Golden green, with hints of white acacia blossoms and honey on the nose. Intense perfume of fresh apricots, green apple and perennial herbs such as mint and eucalyptus. Tangy acidity plays off of the silky texture, joined by flavors of green apple, fennel seed, white peach, tangerine and almond.  This is a lively white, enveloped by sweet tannins and lingering nut and anise tinged finish.  Grape Varieties: 50% Garganega, 50% Trebbiano Toscano

Second course

Pepper and tea seared filet mignon, macerated balsamic berries and vanilla sea salt

Fumanelli Valpolicella DOC Classico Superiore 2012
Price: $31.50       Sale $27.72          Case $322

A ripe and juicy red, balanced by tangy acidity and flavors of candied currant, cherry and blackberry with hints of vanilla dried herbs and tea leaf. Mouth watering finish, a wine of great structure and elegance. Grape Varieties: 40% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella Very Good +

Dinner Course

Lamb T bone over wild mushroom spelt risotto blend and green beans

Fumanelli Squarano Valpolicella DOC Classico 2010
Price: $55.25       Sale $48.62          Case $564

Intense ruby red with violet reflexes, pronounced and characteristic bouquet of mature red fruits such as cherries and wild berries with a slightly spicy note.

Dinner Course

Wagyu beef short rib of beef, crispy potato cake and roasted vegetables

Fumanelli Amarone Della Valpolicella DOC Classico 2008
Price: $83.25       Sale $73.26          Case $850

Pretty dried cherry and red plum fruit with pretty dried flowers, a bit of that fresh clay like mineraliity and red licorice spice.  Plump ripe cherry berry fruit on the tongue with silky smooth tannins and that exotic spice and clay like minerality through the finish, fine tannins.  finish 45+    Excellent +

“Octavius” Riserva Amarone Della Valpolicella DOC 2007
Price: $149.75    Sale $131.78       Case $1528

VINEYARD PROFILE: From grapes growing on the Squarano Estate The vines are 40 years on average and grow with the traditional Pergola system. The grapes are carefully hand selected and then placed into the traditional wooden plateaux and left to rest for 120 days with drying and concentration of all the elements. TASTING NOTES: An intense ruby red with slightly brick colored reflexes. Typical nose of cherries under spirit and sweet notes of vanilla, spiced with nutmeg and cocoa. Full bodied and warm on the palate, soft yet powerful and incredibly long lasting. HARVEST NOTES: The wine making takes place with the greatest respect for the grapes using a combination of traditional and innovative techniques. The grapes are de-stemmed and soft pressed in January, maceration with daily periodic pump overs follow for 30 days. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Refinement takes place for 48 months in French oak 500 Litre tonneaux and barriques and a further 8 - 12 months in the bottle. Alc. 16 % vol.

Dessert

Red wine raspberry chocolate tart and red wine chocolate sauce

A bit about Marchesi Fumanelli:

Located in the Lessini Mountains, northwest of Verona and east of Lake Garda, the Valpolicella district features a series of verdant valleys and steep, vine-covered ridges. Viticulture and winemaking in the region dates back to the Bronze Age. The Marchesi Fumanelli family has been vinifying wines in the Veneto since 1470. Today, they are the region’s largest and most important landholder. The winery is located on the Squarano Estate near the village of San Floriano in the heart of the Valpolicella district. This ancient site, cultivated by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago, possesses many archeological remains including the vestiges of a temple dedicated to the goddess Flora.

The vineyards of the Squarano Estate are planted on southeast facing hillsides at altitudes ranging from 95 to 450 feet. Soils are a mixture of lime and clay at the foot of the hill and chalky clay in the higher elevations. The Estate’s vineyards are quite mature with an average vine age of 40-50 years. Varieties planted include Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinari with small amounts of Garanega and Trebbiano. The trellising features the traditional Veronese pergola and spalliera systems with vines closely spaced at 2,500 per hectare. Yields are kept low the overall average is 50 hectoliters per hectare with many blocks producing fewer the 25.

After harvesting by hand, the best grapes are air dried for 120 days, fermented and then aged in French barriques for two years. The wine is deep red with ripe aromas of cherries, prunes, nutmeg, vanilla and chocolate. The flavors are rich, round, ripe and luscious. Balanced tannins ensure this wine will improve in the cellar.