Tuscan Wine Tasting at Café Maxx

Marriage is like wine. It is not be properly judged until the second glass.
Douglas William Jerrold

I have become a big advocate of tasting the wine on the second day as this is the sign of a well made wine.  But I also have to admit that most wines that I open at home do not make it till the second day.

We started out this year’s wine tasting series at Cafe Maxx with a bang and will probably sell out our next two events as the theme of Tuscany and California Cabernet Sauvignon have been very popular in the past.  We already have 30 reservations for next week's tasting so I don't know if I even need to hit the send button on this e-mail. 

Well... if you do see this e-mail you may want to call quickly as we can only take 50 wine drinking people at this event and last week’s event sold out a few days before the tasting.

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. Our host tonight is Tuscan Imports, one of the newest importers of Italian wine in the state of Florida. Luigi Maresca has an excellent portfolio of wines from Tuscany and this tasting will include wines from three of the five of the DOCG's in Tuscany as well as a few of the Super Tuscan variety.   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 9, 2012
6:30 PM

2008 Capannelle Chardonnay Tuscany
Price $51.50 Sale $45.32 Case $525

(88 Points) Capannelle’s 2008 Chardonnay is made in a rich, buttery style that showcases the more extroverted qualities of the grape. In 2008 the wine has more minerality than is often the case, which helps maintain freshness. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. Wine Advocate #196, Aug 2011

2009 Poggio Trevvalle Morellino di Scansano
Price $20.25 Sale $17.82 Case $207

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 flavor of blackberry that ends in dry and spicy finishing notes.

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

Produced in three different vineyards with Sangiovese grapes. Is the younger and fresher expression of Brunello perfumes. A blend of 90 % Sangiovese, 7% Merlot and 3% Alicante. Fermentation in steel, malolactic in concrete, refining in concrete and second passage 225lt barriques.

 

2007 Capannelle Chianti Classico Riserva
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

2004 Capannelle Solare
Price $52.75 Sale $46.42 Case $538

(91 Points) The 2004 Solare is a powerful, dense offering that bursts from the glass with an array of earthiness, tar, smoke, black cherries and grilled herbs. This rich, sensual wine reveals superb depth and a long, harmonious finish. Solare is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Malvasia Nera that spent 2 years in French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. Wine Advocate #184, Aug 2009

2009 Carpineta Fontalpino Chianti Classico
Price $25.75 Sale $22.66 Case $263

Assistant of Carlo Ferrini vineyards for Chianti located in Greve en Chainti, a blend of 100% Sangiovese, big Slovonian Oak. Lovely perfumed bouquet with lots of pretty floral notes lavender with black soy and exotic floral nuance black cherry and black raspberry like fruit. Bright black raspberry fruit very rich and concentrated with layers of spice and floral nuance, licorice spice.  Finish 45 Excellent

2007 Carpineta Fontalpino Do Ut Des
Price $42 Sale $36.96 Case $428

2007 Carpineta Fontalpino Do Ut Des Magnum
Price $89.25 Sale $78.54 Case $455

(94 points) "Very ripe and intense on the nose, with prune, licorice, blackberry and flowers. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, powerful finish that offers lots of toasty oak and ripe  fruit. A full-throttle style. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2012. 1,650 cases made. -JS" - Wine Spectator

2007 Carpineta Fontalpino Dofana
Price $78.50 Sale $69.08 Case $801

(93 Points) Fabulous on the nose, with dark fruits and smoky, meaty undertones. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. There's a lovely richness and slight decadence to this.  Equal parts Petit Verdot and Sangiovese. Best after 2012. 400 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator