Italian Super Tasting including Sassicaia at the Wine Watch

Strategy is buying a bottle of fine wine when you take a lady out for dinner. Tactics is getting her to drink it.
Frank Muir

We are finishing out the year 2012 strong with an amazing month of tastings in November and this Kobrand Italian tasting is one of the best events that we have done this year and at an incredible value.

When most people in the wine industry think of Kobrand they may think first of their marquee French wines like Louis Jadot and Taittinger or their California labels like Cakebread, Sequoia Grove, Benziger and St. Francis.

But Kobrand is also one of the leading importers of Italian wines in the U.S. toady.  They have quietly amassed one of the most impressive collections of Italian wines brought into this country.

With names like: Sivlio Nardi, Tenuta del Cabreo, Tenuta TorCalvano, Tenuta Sette Ponti, Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia), Tenuta La Fuga, Tenuta di Salviano, Tenuta di Nozzole, Tenuta Campo al Mare, Spalletti, Feudo Maccari, Michele Chiarlo and Pighin.

Join us as we taste through a selection of wines from this incredible portfolio of Italian wines along with a few small courses from Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone. The fee for this tasting is $75 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Italian Super Tasting including Sassicaia at the Wine Watch
Friday, November 2, 2012
7:00 PM

ANTIPASTO

Charcuterie, Burratta, Casaveltrano Olives, bruchetta with Tuscan Olive Oil

Tenute Silvio Nardi Manachiara Brunello 2006
Price: $105.00    Sale $92.40          Case $1071

(92 Points) Packed with plum and cherry flavors, along with dense tannins, this red is a bit monolithic now, yet well-proportioned, so give it time to stretch out a little. Best from 2013 through 2026. 750 cases imported. –BS. Wine Spectator, Issue: Jul 31, 2011

Tenute Silvio Nardi Manachiara Brunello 2004
Price: $105.00    Sale $92.40          Case $1071

(93 Points) Shows blackberry and black cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and lots of dense fruit. Builds on the palate. Juicy and rich. Has more concentration than the average Brunello. Best from 2010 through 2015. 760 cases made. –JS. Wine Spectator, Issue: Web Only - 2009

Tenute Silvio Nardi Manachiara Brunello 2003
Price: $105.00    Sale $92.40          Case $1071

(91 Points) There's wonderful ripe fruit, tea, tobacco and cedar aromas. Full-bodied and complex, with chewy yet velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Best after 2010. 830 cases made. –JS. Wine Spectator, Issue: May 15, 2008

Tenute Silvio Nardi Manachiara Brunello 1999
NA

(93 Points) Earthy and decadent on the nose, with lots of ripe fruit, turning to jam. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins. Very chewy and raisiny, showing coffee and toasty oak. A little rustic, but with eye-opening richness. Still needs time to mellow.—'99 Brunello blind retrospective (2009). Best after 2011. 1,200 cases made. –JS. Wine Spectator, Issue: Web Only - 2010

Pasta

Wild Mushroom cream sauce over Pappardelle Pasta with reggiano and roasemary crunchy Italian bread

Tenute di Nozzole Il Pareto Flight

This historic estate is located in the Chianti Classico region at Passo dei Pecorai, Greve in Chianti (30 Km south of Florence). Part of the Folonari family since 1971, the estate consists of 385 hectares with more than 90 planted with vineyards. The estate dates back to 1300 and is well known for the quality of its wines. The Fattoria di Nozzole was first mentioned in the Cronache Fiorentine by Villani, an author of Tuscan history.

In addition to "Pareto", a classic among Super Tuscans, the vineyards also produce "Nozzole" Chianti Classico, "Villa Nozzole" Chianti Classico, "La Forra" Chianti Classico Riserva , "Le Bruniche" Chardonnay and a prestigious Vinsanto del Chianti Classico. The estate also has around 15 hectares of olive-groves.

Made with grapes coming from one single vineyard in Nozzole estate, located in Greve in Chianti region at an altitude of approximately 350 meters a.s.l.  100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tenute di Nozzole Il Pareto 2009
Price: $84.00       Sale $73.92          Case $857

(93+ Points) The 2009 Il Pareto (Cabernet Sauvignon) is striking in this vintage. There is plenty of varietal Cabernet character in the glass, but just as much distinctly Tuscan personality. Black cherries, plums, graphite, minerals and smoke all meld together beautifully in this supple, generous version of Il Pareto. The warmth of the year has given the 2009 a seamless, opulent quality that is noticeable. Layers of fruit build towards a rich, powerful finish laced with tobacco, incense, licorice and tar. This is a great showing. I can’t remember tasting a Pareto this convincing. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2029. Wine Advocate #201, Jun 2012

Tenute di Nozzole Il Pareto 2008
Price: $90.00       Sale $79.20          Case $918

(90 Points) The 2008 Il Pareto is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 16 months in French oak barrels. Super-ripe blackberries, grilled herbs, smoke and crushed rocks are some of the nuances that emerge in this big, tannic wine. The fruit is jammy and racy all the way through to the big, tannic finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. Wine Advocate #196, Aug 2011

Tenute di Nozzole Il Pareto 1995
NA

This is a classic "five star" vintage according to the Gambero Rosso from Tuscany. These wines are some of the most underrated wines in the market and today are drinking at their peak.

(88 Points) Beautiful grape and boysenberry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with full, round tannins and a long, vanilla and berry aftertaste. A softer, more accessible style than is usual for this wine; a bit obvious but delicious. Best after 1999. 2,000 cases made. –JS. Wine Spectator, Issue: Dec 15, 1998

Tenute di Nozzole Il Pareto 1987
NA

This should be very interesting to taste, the 1987 vintage was not considered to be a great vintage in Tuscany and this is the first release of this wine so it is a historic wine for Nozzole and a rare opportunity to taste this wine.

Carne

Chianti Braised Short Rib over blistered brussel sprouts with spec

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Flight

Tenuta Sette Ponti lies on historic land in the heart of the Chianti zone at the end of the Via del Monte, known locally as the Via dei Sette Ponti, in a beautiful hidden valley. Named for the seven medieval bridges crossing the Arno River on the road from Arezzo to Florence—one of which, the Ponte Buriano, is perceptible in the right far background of Leonardo DaVinci's Mona Lisa—the estate has a storied history. But it has been the dedication and savvy of luxury goods entrepreneur Antonio Moretti that has transformed the 750-acre estate into a multifaceted farm property that is today one of Tuscany’s most innovative, quality-driven producers of world-class Super Tuscans.

Tenuta Sette Ponti's first release was the 1998 vintage Crognolo, named after a wild bush, Cornus, which grows on the estate. The estate's second release, Oreno, is named after a small river running through the estate.

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2010
Price: $108.25    Sale $95.16          Case $1103

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2009
Price: $105.00    Sale $92.40          Case $1071

(94+ Points) The 2009 Oreno is stunning. Layers of soft, well-articulated fruit caress the palate in this sweeping, dramatic wine. There is tons of depth, freshness and vitality in the glass, not to mention terrific overall balance. Sweet flowers, spices and licorice wrap around the seamless, captivating finish. Oreno is one of Italy’s most improved wines. The 2009, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, represents another move in the right direction. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. Wine Advocate #196, Aug 2011

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2006
Price: $105.00    Sale $92.40          Case $1071

(96 Points) Shows loads of black licorice, blackberry and toasty oak. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Has wonderful concentration and balance. Structured. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. Best after 2013. 3,250 cases made. –JS. Wine Spectator, Issue: Oct 15, 2008

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2004
NA

(95 Points) Fabulous aromas of ripe blackberry, cappuccino and toasty oak. Full-bodied, with masses of fruit and supervelvety tannins. Long and gorgeous. All there. Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2009. 3,330 cases made. –JS. Wine Spectator, Issue: Oct 31, 2006

Fromaggio

Beemster Gouda, Reggianno Parmesan, served with black olive tapenade and bacon crostini

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Flight

It was the drive and foresight of Mario Incisa della Rochetta, along with guidance from Giacomo Tachis (Piero Antinori's winemaker) that made enological history and created the Super Tuscan movement. Mario believed in the evolution of Tuscany's viticulture and planted a small vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Bolgheri hills in 1944. The estate, Tenuta San Guido, was influenced by the location’s similarity to Graves in Bordeaux. “Graves” means “gravel” in French, and similarly, the earth at Tenuta San Guido gave Sassicaia its name, which in the Tuscan dialect means “stony ground.” After 25 years of experimentation and relentless energy, Sassicaia entered the world stage in 1968 to critical acclaim with its first international release and thus the Super Tuscan Pioneer was born.

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2009
Price: $226.50    Sale $199.32       Case $2311

(94 Points) The 2009 Sassicaia is unusually big, rich and opulent. Layers of fruit saturate the palate as the 2009 explodes from the glass with a heady melange of dark berries, plums, menthol, licorice and new leather. This is an especially racy Sassicaia. Readers who enjoy the classicism of Sassicaia are likely to find the 2009 too rich, especially at this early stage. The wine needs at least a few years in bottle to drop some of its baby fat. Despite its huge fruit, the 2009 is also pretty closed down and not anywhere close to being ready to show off its pedigree. Sassicaia is arguably Italy’s most famous wine, so it’s always great when it lives up to its reputation. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. Wine Advocate #201, Jun 2012

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2007
NA

(95 Points) The 2007 Sassicaia (Cabernet Sauvignon) explodes onto the palate with masses of rich, opulent fruit that caress the palate with gorgeous length and a seamless beauty that is hard to fully capture. Dark wild cherries, plums, spices, minerals and herbs develop in the glass. This is an especially bold, perhaps slightly uncharacteristic Sassicaia in its extroverted personality, but it is beautiful all the same. The inner perfume and sweetness carries through the long finish, where the sheer weight and glycerol of the fruit leaves a lasting impression. The 2007 is more than a worthy follow-up to the profound 2006. While it may lack that wine’s freshness, structure and potential longevity, the 2007 is immensely appealing today, and should drink beautifully pretty much out of the gate. That said, Sassicaia is always the most restrained of Bolgheri’s heavy hitters. This is a superb effort from Tenuta San Guido. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2037. Wine Advocate #191, Oct 2010

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2006
NA

(97 Points) The 2006 Sassicaia may very well go down as one of the all-time great recent vintages for this Tuscan thoroughbred. The year started off very warm but by August evening temperatures had moderated, leaving the fruit with a stunning combination of ripeness, perfume, acidity and tannin. The wine is simply glorious, that’s all there is to it. Layers of dark fruit meld into smoke, leather, violets, menthol, earthiness and tar as this profound wine opens up in the glass. The creamy, silky finish lasts an eternity, as waves of fruit caress the tannins with breathtaking elegance. Everything is in the right place in this magical Sassicaia. This is one for the ages. In a word: Awesome. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2031. Wine Advocate #184, Aug 2009

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2004
NA

(94 Points) Shows aromas of chocolate, currant and blackberry, with a hint of Spanish cedar. Full-bodied, with firm, velvety tannins and a long finish. Racy and very well-structured. Builds on the palate. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. 15,000 cases made. –JS. Wine Spectator, Issue: Oct 31, 2007

Extra Flight - from the Piedmont with Love

Michele Chiarlo Cerequio Barolo Flight

It is the most beautiful concentration of great crus that Langa can express." – Atlante delle vigne di Langa, edited by Carlo Petrini – Slow Food Editore,1990 Cerequio is one of Langa's great historical crus.All the guides – Fantini 1880, Ratti 1961, Slow Food Editore 1990,Veronelli 1996 – ranked it as one of the top Barolo crus Our estate comprises 9 hectares of vineyards and a 19th-century hamlet where Palas Cerequio was born, the Barolo cru resort. In the cellars we decided to have the Caveau with our story:Barolos from 1958 to the present day,with more than 6,000 bottles of historic memory. Our Barolo Cerequio, the first harvest being in 1988, is produced only in the years that we deem excellent.

Michele Chiarlo Cerequio Barolo 2007
Price: $105.00    Sale $92.40          Case $1071

(94 Points) The 2007 Barolo Cerequio is the freshest and most vibrant of these 2007 Baroli. Sweet dark cherries, menthol, pine, mocha and spices are some of the notes that are woven together in this rich, textured Barolo. Here, too, the balance of fruit and structure is terrific. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.

Michele Chiarlo is building a luxury hotel right in the middle of Cerequio. I haven’t seen the interiors yet, but I passed by the hotel several times on my way in and out of the vineyard in late August. The location is utterly breathtaking. Wine Advocate #197, Oct 2011

Michele Chiarlo Cerequio Barolo 2004
NA

(92 Points) The 2004 Barolo Cerequio shows superb clarity and definition, with lovely notes of dark raspberries, black cherries, earthiness, menthol, spices and toasted oak. This is a wine that is all about precision and granularity in its detail. The tannins build on the finish, so a degree of patience is warranted with this bottling, yet there is lovely richness underneath that will emerge gracefully over time. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2022. Wine Advocate #179, Oct 2008

Michele Chiarlo Cerequio Barolo 1999
NA

(90 Points) The 1999 Barolo Cerequio is clearly their finest of the 1999 vintage, the most powerful and expansive in aroma, the sweetest and ripest both on the nose and the palate, and the most complex as well, with chocolate and caramel supplementing the black cherry fruit, the licorice, and the road tar. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018. Wine Advocate #149, Oct 2003

Michele Chiarlo Cerequio Barolo 1993

(86 Points) Light and succulent, with licorice, anise, cherry, and floral aromas that follow through on the chewy finish. Try in 1998 to 2000. 1,475 cases made. – Wine Spectator, Issue: Oct 31, 1997

The fee for this tasting is $75 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.