Tasting of Argiano Brunello di Montalcino and Bodega Noemia Malbec tasting at Wine Watch

Wine is the Answer- What was the Question??

Argiano Brunello di Montalcino and Bodega Noemia Malbec tasting at Wine Watch
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
7:00 PM

This is a unique opportunity to taste wines from one of the leading estates in Tuscany- along with one of the leading wine estates in Patagonia??  Most would not think to put these two wine producing regions together but the potential of the new world wine regions like Patagonia in Argentina have attracted some of the best names in the wine industry.  Argentina has a large population of Italians, so our Tuscan friends feel right at home in this South American Country. 

We have the newly released 2009 vintage wines from Patagonia and the 2006 vintage of Argiano Brunello di Montalcino, an outstanding vintage for Tuscany in general.  This is such a great vintage for Brunello I have also included all the 2006 Brunelli that we have in the store at the end of this offering.

Join us as we welcome the Marketing Manager of Argiano and Bodega Noemia Patagonia, Anne-Louise Mikkelsen, along with our good friend Alberto Preolani from Vias Imports.

We will experience a line-up of new releases from these two wineries and Wine Watch Catering’s Toni Lampasone will be making a few tasting treats to accompany the tasting wines.  The fee for this tasting is $45 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Tasting Wines:

Argiano

ARGIANO NON CONFUNDITUR 2008
Price: $20.25 Sale $17.82 Case $206

(88+ Points)  The 2008 Non Confunditur is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 20% Sangiovese. This is a relatively fleshy 2008 with excellent depth in its dark fruit, spices, licorice and herbs. Some slightly hard edges remain, but a few months in bottle should help the wine find its balance. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2013.  Wine Advocate # 188, Apr 2010

ARGIANO ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2008
Price: $30 Sale $26.40 Case $306

(88 Points)  Argiano’s 2008 Rosso di Montalcino offers up floral red fruits in a fresh, vinous style. This is one of the more refined Rossos readers will find in 2008 and is among the better wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012.  Wine Advocate # 188, Apr 2010

ARGIANO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006
Price: $60 Sale $52.80 Case $612

(93 Points)  The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a gorgeous wine laced with red cherries, tobacco, cedar and underbrush, all supported by a firm tannic spine. Argiano’s 2006 Brunello shows beautiful inner perfume and the structure to develop positively for a number of years. Floral notes appear on the vibrant, polished finish. The estate’s Brunello spent 12 months in French oak (which is mostly felt in the wine’s textural richness) and completed its aging in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.  Wine Advocate # 194, May 2011

ARGIANO SOLENGO 2006
Price: $79.50 Sale $69.96 Case $811

(93 Points)  Argiano’s 2006 Solengo is an explosive dense wine packed with blueberry jam, grilled herbs, tar and smoke. This is another structured, powerful wine that needs time for the tannins to soften but the wine is quite promising, even at this early stage. In 2006 Solengo has taken on elements of a Bordeaux-like classicism I find very appealing, although the Tuscan warmth inevitably comes through. Not a bad combination. The Sangiovese is gone, and Solengo is now 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 25% Syrah. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.   Wine Advocate # 183, Jun 2009

ARGIANO SOLENGO 2007
Price: $79.50 Sale $69.96 Case $811

(92 Points) The 2007 Solengo (30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, 20% Syrah) is sleek and refined in its blackberries, blueberries, grilled herbs, spices and graphite. The wine reveals gorgeous length and fine balance in a relatively accessible, mid-weight style for this bottling. The 2007 doesn’t appear to have the structure of the 2006 and it should be enjoyed over the next decade, give or take. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2019.  Wine Advocate # 188, Apr 2010

BODEGA NOEMIA

BODEGA NOEMIA PATAGONIA MALBEC A LISA 2009
Price: $26.25 Sale $23.10 Case $268

A Lisa is a blend of 90% Malbec, 9% Merlot and 1% Petit-Verdot. 

BODEGA NOEMIA PATAGONIA MALBEC J. ALBERTO 2010
Price: $49.50 Sale $43.56 Case $505

J.Alberto 2010 is a field blend of 95% Malbec and 5% Merlot

BODEGA NOEMIA PATAGONIA BODEGA NOEMIA 2008
Price: $133.50 Sale $117.48 Case $1362

The vines were planted in 1932. The grapes are 100 % malbec. They are irrigated up to four times a year. A green pruning is carried out in mid January during veraison thus leaving only 30 hl/acre.

All of our eleven hectares of estate vineyards are cultivated with organic and biodynamic techniques and are certified by Argencer & Demeter. On the farm we produce seven out of eight biodynamic preparations (502,503,504,506,507) with our own raw material, exclusively. We also prepare our own horn manure (500) and biodynamic composts.

Menu

Selection of Cheese:  Reggiano Parmesan, sharp white Cheddar, and drunken goat

Grilled Eggplant/Squash Rollatini stuffed with herbed goat cheese mousee

Chicken Parmesan Sliders

Kobe meatballs with Mushroom, tomato and sage ragout
               

A bit about Argiano:

Argiano is thought to be an ancient place, full of history, where wise men searched for Ara Jani, the legendary altar of the roman god Janus.

At the summit of a wonderful hill, south-west of Montalcino, the magnificent Villa of Argiano was built in the Renaissance by the Peccis, a noble family from Siena.

Remaining for some decades under the Pecci family, it then passed to the counts of Pieri, who bequeath it to the marquis of Ballanti Merli and to the duchess of Caetani from the counts Lovatelli. In 1992, it was acquired by the countess Noemi Marone Cinzano.

The estate of Argiano expands over 100 hectares in a fantastic rural environment, where rows of vines alternate with olive grooves and meadows, surrounded by luxuriant Mediterranean maquis.

The mount Amiata, in the South-east, acts as a natural protection against climatic inclemencies of unusual intensity, like cloudbursts and hailstorms.

The reasonable altitude and the consequent ventilation allow to take advantage of the presence of the warm winds from the Maremma, thus creating a mild microclimate, with many clear days during the entire phase of vegetation, essential for the healthy and complete maturation of the grapes.

Since 1500, the noble families produced wines from these vineyards, that were aimed only to their own consumption. Many international awards - some dating back to the far 1934 - proof the superb virtues of the agricultural production of Argiano. The excellent quality has further been consolidated in the last decades thanks to the production of prestigious wines of international fame.

The vineyards extend over 48 hectares (120 acres) with perfect year-round south exposure during midday. The soil is of eocenic origin and is formed by marly limestone with some clayey areas.

In ancient times, the sea covered the whole area, and thus the soil contains large quantities of minerals available to the vines and crucial for their optimal development. With this climatic and geological prerogatives, the vines can reach quality peaks.

The grape production, deriving only from the own vineyards, is much reduced, thus favoring a high concentration of the skins, which result rich in antocyan and noble tannins. The grapes are picked by hand with great care and collected into small baskets.

Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano

Although she grew up in the vineyards that belonged to her family, Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano did not feel the passion for the wine until much later.

She went to Brazil when she was 17 years old. Before she joined the family’s business, she acquired experiences in other relevant fields. In 1992, after many years of fascinating experiences, she decided to initiate a new journey inside the wine’s universe. Montalcino and the estate of Argiano were chosen as the best spot to seek for the highest quality in wine production.

A bit about BODEGA NOEMIA:

Trigger to the project of Bodega Noemia de Patagonia was the finding of an ancient Malbec vineyard, that was planted in the 30's somewhere in the Rio Negro Valley. A distant journey to reach the spot; some 620 miles southwards of Buenos Aires, some 280 miles eastwards of the Andes, 310 miles westwards of the Atlantic or a further 1240 miles from Tierra del Fuego.
PH: HIROSHI KOSAKA

Partners in this project, Italian wine producer Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano and Danish winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers found the place and the valley's microclimate perfect for wine grape growing. The magnificence of the Rio Negro Valley, which is influenced by two rivers deriving from the Andes, the Neuquen and the Limay, had already been discovered in 1828 by British colonists, who decided to dig channels to irrigate the valley and create an oasis in the middle of the desert.

It was then and is still today famous for it's excellence in pears and apples production. In the early 1900's, the immigrants then introduced the first vineyards, which mainly consisted of French varietals.

The estate is situated in Rio Negro Valley, which is 620 miles South of Buenos Aires, 280 miles east of the Andes, 310 miles west of the Atlantic and a further 1240 miles from Tierra del Fuego. In other words, it is located in the middle of the desert. The valley’s microclimate is under the influence of two rivers deriving from the Andes, the Neuquen and the Limay which form into the Rio Negro, which throws itself into the Atlantic. The Rio Negro valley is an ex glacier which is 310 miles long and 15,5 miles large at 250 yards above sea level. In 1828, the British colonies, having observed the large amounts of water flowing down the river, decided to create channels which would irrigate the valley thus forming a type of oasis in the middle of the desert.

Other wines that we have available from the outstanding 2006 vintage Brunello di Montalcino:

2006 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $68.75                       Sale $60.50
Quantity in Stock: 31

Dried herbs and red berry fruit on the nose with notes of licorice spice. Notes of tar and black spices on the finish, a very classically fashioned brunello with layers of dried herbs and porcini notes. Excellent +

2006 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova
Price: $82.25                       Sale $72.38
Quantity in Stock: 12

(95 points) The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is an explosive, heady wine endowed with considerable richness in its dark wild cherries, licorice, tobacco, herbs and cedar. This generous, exuberant Brunello shows awesome depth and richness in a style that captures the essence of the warmth of the southern reaches of Montalcino. The Tenuta Nuova dazzles with its stunning depth, textural polish and captivating, sensual personality. A round, inviting finish has the last say in this majestic Brunello. The 2006 is easily the best vintage I have tasted of the Tenuta Nuova. The harvest took place between September 29 and October 7. Maceration and fermentation lasted 25 days, after which the wine was racked into 600-liter barrels for 36 months. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. Wine Advocate # 194 May 2011

2006 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $64.00                       Sale $56.32
Quantity in Stock: 25

2006 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino (375ml)
Price: $37                             Sale $32.56
Quantity in Stock: 25

Fresh wild strawberry like fruit on the nose with distinct Tuscan terroir and leather saddle nuance. Fresh red berry fruit on the tongue with firm tannins and a long finish. A very nice savory finish on this wine with a good amount of tannins with notes of graphite minerality and dark spices through the long finish. Finish 50+ Most Excellent

2006 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso
Price: $67.00                       Sale $58.96
Quantity in Stock: 13

2006 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso Magnum
Price: $142.50                    Sale $125.40
Quantity in Stock: 13

(88 Points) The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso offers plenty of richness and density in its soft, caressing fruit. The Pianrosso is made in a decidedly opulent style that pushes the limits of ripeness to the extreme. The wine’s balance is acceptable today, but I am less convinced about the future. Both bottles I tasted were overripe and pruney. This is one of the disappointments among Montalcino’s elite bottlings in 2006. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. Wine Advocate # 194 May 2011

2006 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalicino
Price: $52.50                       Sale $46.20
Quantity in Stock: 15

2006 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalicino
Price: $27.25                       Sale $23.98
Quantity in Stock: 6

(90 points) The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is an attractive entry-level wine. Dark red berries, crushed flowers, licorice and mint are some of the nuances that emerge from this fleshy, mid-weight offering. The aromas and flavors are decidedly on the ripe side of the spectrum in the racy 2006, but the intensity of the fruit covers the tannins nicely, making this an attractive wine for near-term pleasure. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. Wine Advocate # 194 May 2011

2006 Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $55.00                       Sale $48.40
Quantity in Stock: 28

A bit more well endowed on the nose very dense and rich with lots of ripe black cherry and wild strawberry jam like fruit black truffle and more…Big and chewy on the tongue with a full array of black truffle tar and earthy nuance to the ripe fruit firm tannins and a good amount of acidity holding things togheter nicely. Finish 50+ Most Excellent

2006 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $69.00                       Sale $60.72
Quantity in Stock: 12

(96 Points) The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a striking wine blessed with gorgeous clarity and precision in an effortless, weightless style. Dark cherries, tobacco, incense, dried flowers and minerals come together beautifully in the glass in this sensual, understated wine. Tobacco, licorice, menthol and an assortment of other balsamic aromas and flavors add complexity and character to the vivid, textured finish. This is a fabulous effort from proprietor Andrea Cortonesi. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026.

I would be hard-pressed to name another grower who has made such huge strides in recent years as has Andrea Cortonesi. The artisan tradition of Montalcino is alive and well in this small, no-frills winery, while the wines have never been better. Wine Advocate # 194, May 2011

2006 Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $133.00                    Sale $99               
Quantity in Stock: 16

Intense nose of crushed raspberry and wild strawberry jam like fruit with notes of raw meat and fine herbs. Big and chewy on the tongue with chalky dry tannins showing on the finish, this wine needs time. Big and chewy with layers of nuance on the finish, keep it open for at least 1 day before serving. Finish 50+ Most Excellent +