Bertani Wine Tasting at Wine Watch

"I like to drink wine more than I used to."
Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972)

I like to drink Amarone more than I used to.  The Dal Forno and Quintarelli event last night was spectacular and has given me new thirst for great Amarone.  On Thursday October 8th we will be drinking Amarones back to the 1959 vintage from one of the regions top producers.  Bertani is an old school producer of Amarone, they don't have temperature controlled drying rooms like most of the modern Amarone producers today, they feel that the weather is one of the characteristics that determines the style of the vintage.  The 2000 vintage was outstanding for Amarone and these wines age exceptionally well as those of you that choose to come to the INCREDIBLE tasting of 9 different vintages spanning the course of 40 years will see. 

Thursday Oct 8th
Bertani Amarone Vertical Tasting at Wine Watch
7pm

Amarone Classico Bertani is a timeless wine, in the unique style that Bertani has always been dedicated to preserving. The grapes are grown on the slopes around Villa Novare in the Valpolicella Classica area, in vineyards where only grapes intended for appassimento are grown. Produced since as long ago as 1958, Amarone Classico Bertani is a perfect example of total harmony between time, nature and man. The natural appassimento (semi-drying) process of the Corvina and Rondinella grapes on the "aréle" (cane mats) and the ageing in large casks for no less than six years give this wine a stable and long-lasting structure, making it one of the longest-living red wines in the world.

Ever since it was first established, Bertani has always striven to produce wine with great ageing potential. The purchase in 1957 of the Novare Estate at Arbizzano di Negrar in the Valpolicella Classica area made it possible to perfect the production of Amarone Classico, a wine which matures over a long period; right from the early years a good number of bottles of this wine have always been set aside. Starting from 1960, there are more than 20 historic vintages still available for purchase. Please contact us to find out whether the vintage you are interested in is still available.

Almost 7,000 bottles of 1928 Acinatico which had miraculously survived the Second World War were discovered by chance in the 1980s. The wine, a product of the appassimento of Valpantena grapes, was wonderfully preserved, and today the bottles are opened only for very special tastings. An extraordinary wine from the distant past, a lasting sign of the care that we lavish on our wine-making.

Join us as we experience sevaral new releases from Bertani along with a vertical tasting of Amarone back to 1959.  The Fee for this event is $115 all-inclusive.

Reception

Bertani Due Uve Pinot Grigio Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2008
List $17.75       Sale $15.62      Sale $181

Light and crisp, a very refreshing wine that has a short and pleasant finish, a real crowd pleaser.

Bertani Secco Bertani Ripasso 2004
List $21.75       Sale $19.14      Case $222

Dried tobacco Dried flowers and a good hand of spice and brown spice and clay like minerality, sundried cherry notes.  Brown spice a nice hand of zesty spice and smooth tannins a nice hand of spice fresh earth, typical wine from this region.  Finish 35+        Very Good +

Bertani Villa Arvedi Amarone 2005 
List $52.75       Sale $46.42      Case $538

Sweet black cherry liqueur like fruit with brown spice and clay like minerality and a host of brown spice sweet tobacco.  Ripe and forward with nice red cherry liqueur like fruit and good balanced freshness and a short but clean finish light clay like minerality on the finish.  Finish 35+        Excellent

  
Menu

Chicken-Feta & Chickpea Pakoras wrapped in Crispy Phyllo offered with Minted Yogurt

Pork Carnitas "Taquitos" with Corn, Queso Fresco, and Chili Cream

Braised Beef Short Rib & Stilton Cheese Tartlets

Cheese Plate Gorgonzola, Aged Gouda, Epoisses

Vertical Tasting of Bertani Amarone

1962 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella (12pk)
List $495          Sale $420

Little rainfall inferior to the average of the previous years; Temeprature in the averange of the last years. Harvest of grapes fairly healthy.

Garnet red with hues of brich red.  A bit closed at the nose, There are scents of medlar, dry fruit, plum, tobacco and dry figs.  The mouth is warm and wrapped with medlarand almond notes; in comparison to the other vintages it has soft tannins and low acid taste.

1967 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $495          Sale $420

A very good vintage for Amarone production: a fairly dry and very hot summer followed a wet spring. Harvest of perfectly healthy grapes.

Intense garnet red with a slightly orange rim.  Well - defined aroma of dried plum, hazelnut, black truffle, walnut and chocolate. Intense scents that ontinue to change and to vary.

1972- Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $312          Sale $265

Rainfall in the average, some rain in the first decade of september. The month of august was torrid and grapes achieved optimum level of ripening.

Intense garnet red with orange-hued rim. A powerful bouquet recalls medlar, almond and plum; good spicy presence and a good long finish in the mouth. The palate is elegant, warm and velvety. Low acidity. This wine has reached a good maturation.

1975 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $289          Sale $245

Rainfall in the average of the earlier years, while we had hotter temperatures in the second decade of july and in the first one of august. In spite of some rains, September had ideal temperature for the ripening of the grapes that was harvested at the beginning of october.

Even if 1975 is not consider a great vintage, this Amarone is very interesting for the flavours of plum, leather, walnut and dried flowers. Gifted with great structure, it seems younger than it really is. In the palate, aromas of plum and medlars, typical of the withering. It has personality, is spicy with a touch of vanilla and medlar. It is fresh and gifted with great aromatic consistence.

1976 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $289          Sale $245

1980 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $240          Sale $211.20

Springtime precipitation were in the average, on the other hand quite high temperature characterized months of july and august (above all the first decade), less the month of september.Though reduced in quantity, the quality of the harvest was good.

Deep garnet red with an orange rim. The nose is dried plum,leather and walnut. In mouth is a full-bodied, well structured wine, with youthful tannins, it is well balanced on account of a slightly lower level acidity. It will better without being considered at the top, it is elegant, persistent, spicy and with a good structure.

1986 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $199          Sale $169

A year with a lot of rain during the months of june and july. The seasonal temperatures were average, favouring an excellent completion to the ripening of the grapes.

Ruby red colour with a rim tending orange. Intense nose, with hints of ripe fruit typical of the withered grapes and spicy notes. The palate is warm, intense, velvety and sustained by great acidity.

2000 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $125.25     Sale $106.46    Case $1278

(90 Points)  The 2000 Amarone (70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara) is big, rich and sexy in the way it combines fresh, vibrant rose petals, red cherries and spices with a firm, structured personality. Although it is not especially generous in its fruit, it does offer notable poise in a powerful, muscular style. Anticipated maturity: 2007 - 2012.  eRobertparker.com # 173 Oct 2007

2001 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella
List $125.25     Sale $106.46    Case $1278

Bertani Amarone Vertical Package
Includes: 2x 1964, 2x 67, 2x 68 get 1x 1959
List $2835        Sale $2399