Tuscan Wine Tasting at Café Maxx

We are born at a given moment, in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born. Astrology does not lay claim to anything more.

Carl Jung

Tuscany is one of Italy’s leading wine producing regions and is home to some Italy’s most popular wines like Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico as well as "Supertuscan" wines like Tignanello, Sassicaia and Ornellaia.

There are four DOCG's for red wine today in Tuscany with Morellino Di Scanscano being added as of the 2006 vintage.  The most famous is Chianti Classico and the best in my opinion in terms of overall quality is Brunello di Montalicino.  Then there is the best value of all the little known Vino Nobile di Montepulcino, these wines offer similar quality to the wines of Montalcino but at a much more reasonable price.

Join us as we experience all four of these DOCG's for red wine and a few others along with our host this evening Luigi Maresco from Tuscan Imports.  This is one of the newest importers of Italian wine in the state of Florida.  Chef Oliver Saucy will be sending out a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines. The fee for this event is $35 all-inclusive, for reservations call 954-782-0606.

Tuscan Wine Tasting at Café Maxx
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
6:30 PM

Tasting Wines:

2010 Capannelle Chardonnay IGT                                                            
Price: $52.75       Sale $46.42          Case $539

Winery Notes: The color is bright straw yellow, gold reflexes, crystal clear and consistent.  On the nose you have an intense bouquet, initial flint and mineral, then pear, almond, citrus fruit and toasted bread aromas.  On the palate the wine is dry, pleasant acidity. Persistent and intense taste exaits balance and guarantees a long life to wine. Dry mouth with a toasted aftertaste, vanilla. pear and a slight bitter inkling of liquorice. Delicate and well-balanced.

2010 Fattoria San Lorenzo Verdicchio Jesi Superiore "Le Oche" DOC      
Price: $24.50       Sale $21.56          Case $250

Winery Notes: "Vigna delle Oche" Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore DOC 2010 Fattoria San Lorenzo is a white wine made from biodynamic farming. Demonstrates excellent softness on the palate and a savory flavor.  All-right for those of you smart Italian wine lovers this is not from Tuscany but Luigi wanted to show it and we needed another white for this tasting.

2008 Villa Le Prata Rosso di Montalcino DOC                                     
Price: $29.75       Sale $26.18          Case $304

Winery Notes: Villa Le Prata was founded in the 1860 by the count De’ Vecchi as a small hunting reserve for family and friends. After few decades it became the country house of the Bishop. In 1980 doctor Losappio bought Villa Le Prata from the nephew of the Montalcino Bishop’s. Villa Le Prata is on the road from Montacino and Tavernelle, about 3 km's north of the world famous Soldera, at an altitude of about 500-520 meters above sea level. The first hectare of vineyard was planted in 1989. In 1997 two hectares more were planted in the area of Castelnuovo dell’Abate and Castello della Velona, a wonderful medieval hamlet facing south towards the Amiata mount.  A lovely Rosso di Montalcino, fresh and silky, with layers of wild red berries, cherries and red petals flowers.

2008 Carpineta Fontalpino Montaperto IGT                       
Price: $24.50       Sale $21.56          Case $250

This super Tuscan is a blend of Sangiovese, Gamay and Alicante, this wine spends 8 months in barrique.

2007 Godiolo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG                       
Price: $31.25       Sale $27.50          Case $318.75

This wine is a blend of 98% Prugnolo Gentile and 2% Canaiolo-Colorino.  This wine is made in a traditional style and spends 18 months in tonneaux.

2009 Poggio Trevvalle Morellino di Scansano DOCG                       
Price: $21.75       Sale $19.14          Case $222

Winery Notes:  A smooth, pleasingly ‘warm’ wine with persistent fruity notes. Made from Sangiovese grapes with a small percentage of Alicante and Merlot, the wine has balsamic notes and a flavour of blackberry that ends in dry and spicy finishing notes.

2007 Capannelle Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG                               
Price: $44.75       Sale $39.38          Case $457

(91 Points) Juicy red cherries, flowers, spices, leather and new oak are some of the notes that emerge from Capannelle’s flashy 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva. Soft and luxurious on the palate, the Riserva impresses for its superb balance and long, harmonious finish. The open, seductive personality of the vintage is on full display. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2019. This is a fabulous set of new releases from Capannelle. Only the 2007 Chardonnay was disappointing, but then again, the hills of Chianti Classico aren’t exactly well suited to that grape. Wine Advocate #191, Oct 2010

2006 Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino DOCG                            
Price: $60.75       Sale $53.46          Case $620

Wine Watch Review:  Bright black cherry with a smoky nuance along with black licorice spice, dark damp earth, lovely intensity on the nose, dark coco very complex array of aromas lifting from the glass, you almost just want to sit here and just smell it.  Only 15,000 bottles produced and only 5,000 bottles of the Rosso.  Very full and rich on the palate big and chewy with lots of earth and firm tannins but lots of everything else another blockbuster vintage for Montalcino, this wine needs 10 years+ in the cellar.  Finish 50+               Most Excellent

Chef Oliver Saucy will be sending out a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines. The fee for this event is $35 all-inclusive, for reservations call 954-782-0606.