Marchesi Fumanelli Dinner at Cafe Maxx

“The only way of rendering life endurable is to drink as much wine as one can come by.” - James Branch Cabell, Beyond Life

That is my motto and we usually give you, our wine drinking people,  a chance to come out and drink with us at least once or twice a week but next week you will have five chances to drink with us!!

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 in Magnum 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.

Naturally I jumped at the chance to break bread with this producer when my local rep from the Sorting Table David mentioned that Armando Fumanelli would be in town.  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.

Chef Oliver Saucy will be making a special five course tasting menu to pair with the wines, dinner is $125 + tax + gratuity, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Marchesi Fumanelli Dinner at Cafe MaxxFriday, November 8th7pm

Reception

Apple compote with foie grasSea scallops with walnut-mint pestoMolten brie grilled cheese with apricot chutney

Marchesi Fumanelli Terso Bianco Veneto 2005 Price: $38.25    Sale $33.66     Case $390

A blend of 50% Garganega, and 50% Tuscan Trebbiano.  After hand harvesting, the grapes are macerated for a few hours and then chilled prior to beginning fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Half way through the process the wine is transferred to barriques where it completes fermentation and is aged on the lees with regular lees stirring. The wine is light green with hints of yellow. The bouquet offers fresh apricots, ripe apples, mint and eucalyptus. The flavors are elegant and delicious.

First Course

Sage and green peppercorn seared tuna carpaccio, sundried cherries and feta

Marchesi Fumanelli Valpolicella Classico 2011 Price: $17.00 Sale $14.96 Case $174.00

A blend of Corvina Veronese 40%, Corvinone 40% and Rondinella 20%.  Ruby red with hints of violet, bouquet of red fruits such as cherries and blackberries. Well balanced, optimum contrast between tannins, acidity and sweetness. A wine to be enjoyed on all occassions.

Marchesi Fumanelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2004 Price: $34.00 Sale $29.92 Case $347

A blend of Corvina 40%, Corvinone 40%, and Rondinella 20%.   Intense ruby red with violet reflexes, pronounced and characteristic bouquet of mature red fruits with a slightly spicy note. A wine of great structure and elegance. 

Pasta Course

Paccheri Di Gragnano pasta with grilled veal, prosciutto, sausage and fennel in red wine tomato sauce with leeks and mushrooms

Marchesi Fumanelli Squarano IGT 2005 Price: $46.50 Sale $40.92 Case $475

A blend of Merlot 50%, Corvina Veronese and Corvinone 50%.  Red with purple reflexes, nose of sweet ripe fruits, raspberry and blackcurrant with hints of spice. Enters the palate intensely warm and enveloping with soft tannins, a lingering finish reminiscent of tobacco and licorice.

Dinner Course

Grill braised lamb osso bucco with raisin and spaghetti squash risotto, cipollini onions, parsnip chips and natural sauce

Marchesi Fumanelli Amarone Classico 2006 Price: $79.00 Sale $69.52 Case $806

This wine is a blend of Corvina Veronese and Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara. The average age of the vines is 40 years and they grow with the traditional Pergola system. Harvest is done by hand, then the grapes are placed in plateaux and left to dry for 120 days.  Intense garnet red, typical nose of dried grapes, ethereal and full. Full bodied and warm on the palate, soft and perfectly balanced with hints of vanilla, mature fruit and sweet nutmeg. An important wine of rare elegance.

Cheese Course

Selection of artisan cheeses and salamis with appropriate accompaniments

Fumanelli Amarone Octavius Riserva 2005 Price: $166  Sale $146.08 Case $1694

The grapes for this cuvee come from the Squarano estate situated on a hill with 150 m altitude and with an optimal south east sun exposition.  A blend of Corvina Veronese and Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta. The average age of the vines is 40 years and they grow with the traditional Pergola system.

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.

Fumanelli Amarone Octavius Riserva 2007 Price: $159  Sale $139.92 Case $1622

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.

A blend of Corvina Veronese 40%, Corvinone 40%, Rondinella 20%.  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.

DessertTiramisu with chocolate sauce

Dinner is $125 + tax + gratuity, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

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.