Fumanelli Wine Dinner at Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale 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 13 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 seventy-five dollars per person, tax and gratuity not included.  Limited seating available reserve your seat by February 13 by calling 954 563 3272.

Fumanelli Wine Dinner at Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale with Special Guest Armando Fumanelli
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
7:00 PM

MAI-KAI AND WINE WATCH INVITES YOU TO AN EXTRA ORDINAIRE  TASTE OF ITALY WINE DINNER “MAI-KAI” STYLE

Featuring wines from fumanelli cantine with guest of honor The Marquis Armando Fumanelli, Proprietor of Marchesi Fumanelli

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
6:30 pm – reception in Lanai
7:00 pm - dinner in the Tahiti Dining Room

RECEPTION
Valdo Prosecco

1st course:

MAI-KAI STYLE BOUILLABAISSE
CLAMS, MUSSELS, SHRIMP AND CALAMARI STEAMED IN A FRESH BASIL, LEMONGRASS BROTH

Marchesi Fumanelli Terso Bianco Veneto IGT 2009
Price $24.75        Sale $21.78          Case $253

WINEMAKER’S NOTES
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

2nd course:

SHANGHAI SCALLOP
JUMBO SCALLOP WRAPPED IN BACON WITH FRESH CILANTRO AND QUICK FRIED.
SERVED ON TOP OF A MIXED GREEN SALAD WITH AN ASIAN VINAIGRETTE

Marchesi Fumanelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC 2012
Price: $26.00       Sale $22.88          Case $266

WINEMAKER’S NOTES
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

3rd  course:

PEKING DUCK WRAPS
DUCK WRAPPED IN A CREPE WITH HOISIN SAUCE, CARROTTS, SCALLIONS, CUCUMBERS AND LETTUCE

Marchesi Fumanelli Squarano Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC 2010
Price: $51.75       Sale $45.54          Case $528

THE VINEYARD
The Squarano estate is located in the heart of Valpolicella, on a gentle hilltop surrounded by vineyards, cherry and cypress trees. The Marchesi Fumanelli family has cultivated grapes and produced wines from their estate since 1470. Fumanelli is one of the region’s largest and most historic family owned wineries, having 78 acres of exclusively estate grown fruit, within the walls of their ancient property, eight miles from Verona. They deftly combine traditional and modern techniques to produce authentic expressions of their distinctive terroir.

HARVEST & AGEING
Hand harvested and selected from 30-40 year old pergola and 8-10 year old guyot vines on the Squarano Estate.  Part of the grapes, about 30%, are let to dry in plateaux for 30 to 40 days during October/November. Vinification occurs seperately with cold maceration. The wine stays for 14-15 months in French barriques and for at least 6 months in bottles for further maturation.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES
A very expressive, deep, dark ruby red with violet hints, pronounced and characteristic bouquet of mature red fruits such as cherries and blackberries with black licorice, sandalwood, cedar and spice notes. Fine tannins on the lingering spiced finish. A wine of great structure and elegance. Grape Varieties: 40% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella

4th  Course:

PETIT FILET MIGNON WITH SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
THE  FILET MIGNON IS HUNG IN OUR WOOD BURNING CHINESE OVEN TO SLOW COOK, RETAINING JUICES
AND ABSORBING THE DELICATE FLAVORS OF AN OAKWOOD FIRE.

Marchesi Fumanelli Octavius Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva DOC 2007
Price: $144.00    Sale $126.72       Case $1469

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.

5th course:

BANANAS AND CHERRIES HAWAIIANA
bananas and bing cherries, sauteed in flaming rum sauce, served over coconut ice cream

The price of this event is seventy-five dollars per person, tax and gratuity not included.  Limited seating available reserve your seat by February 13 by calling 954 563 3272

Mai-Kai Restaurant, 3599 N. Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33308
www.maikai.com

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.

This wine is not being shown this evening but it is available:

Marchesi Fumanelli Amarone Valpolicella Classico 2008
Price: $81.00       Sale $71.28          Case $826

Vinification
The grapes are left to rest on the plateaux for 120 days with consequent drying and concentration of all the elements. 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. A maceration of 25 days follows with daily periodic pump overs. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Ageing
Refinement takes place for 30 months in French oak tonneaux and a further 8 months in the bottle
Tasting notes

Intense garnet red.Perfume of ripe fruits with a hint of small red berries blending into each other in a sweet vanilla flavoured note, lightly spicy with nutmeg. Full bodied and warm on the palate, soft and perfectly balanced.