Eve's Wine 101

GAMBERO ROSSO ANNOUNCES TRE BICCHIERI U.S. TOUR TO CONTINUE IN FEBRUARY AS SCHEDULED

by

ROME, Italy – Italian media company Gambero Rosso has announced the 2022 U.S. Tre Bicchieri tour will happen as scheduled in February. Kicking off on Wednesday, February 16 in Los Angeles, the tour will continue through Monday, February 28 with stops in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City and Boston, respectively.

“After carefully reviewing health and safety guidelines in each city and developing a plan to ensure the wellbeing of our guests, we have decided to proceed with the 2022 tour as scheduled,” says Luigi Salerno, Gambero Rosso CEO. “We are very excited to be returning to these cities and look forward to once again helping connect these extraordinary producers with the U.S. wine market.”

2022 Tre Bicchieri and Vini D’Italia Tour Schedule

  • ●  Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – Los Angeles
  • ●  Friday, February 18, 2022 – San Francisco
  • ●  Wednesday, February 23, 2022 – Chicago
  • ●  Friday, February 25, 2022 – New York City
  • ●  Monday, February 28, 2022 – BostonGambero Rosso will also return to the U.S. in Spring and Summer 2022, visiting Houston on Thursday, April 21 with additional cities and dates forthcoming in June. All Gambero Rosso events are open to qualified, currently-employed members of the wine trade only.

    Additionally, in accordance with local city regulations, guests must confirm their status as fully-vaccinated upon RSVPing and be prepared to show proof of vaccination prior to admittance to any event.

    Wineries showcased in the Tre Bicchieri tour are those awarded the highly coveted tre bicchieri (three glass) designation in the newly-released 2022 Vini D’Italia. Considered to be the ultimate

Authority of the best Italian wines, the 2022 Vini D’Italia guide features a curated list of 2,634 producers selected by more than 60 tasters who traveled throughout the country tasting some 25,000 wines collectively. Wines are evaluated using Gambero Rosso’s bicchieri rating–or glass ranking–with the tre bicchieri rating reserved for just the top one percent of wines from that vintage. Of the 1,982 wines given bicchieri designations, just 476 wines were awarded the coveted tre bicchieri.

The 2022 guide is available for purchase at amazon.com and will be available for sale during Gambero Rosso’s 2022 invitation-only U.S tour.

###

About Gambero Rosso

Gambero Rosso® is Italy’s publishing and training leader in the field of wine and food, known primarily in the U.S. for its renowned annual Guide to Italian Wines (Vini d’Italia). It is the only multimedia company in the sector that offers magazines, books, guides, a website, smartphone applications, and a television channel – Sky 412. Since 1987, Gambero Rosso has represented Italian-made food and wine, testing and certifying the quality of products, telling the stories behind the flavors and traditions of the Bel Paese. In Italy, Gambero Rosso offers Città del Gusto® training courses in five cities. Gambero Rosso has developed a rich, worldwide network of partnerships with prestigious culinary institutes to promote authentic Italian culinary traditions and products.

Eve + Friends Taste Through Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri Tour

by

Once again, as I sometimes do, I get an invitation so remarkable I share the details with you. This is one of those times. Three cases of award-winning Italian wines to be tasted and reviewed over three zoom meetings in two weeks. This was literally the best two weeks I have spent over the last 52 weeks of our Covid year.

The tasting featured exceptional wines that have been awarded the coveted 2021 Tre Bicchieri designation, a designation given to only 1% of the top wines of Italy… 

Just some of my favorites from the three tastings!

Tasting 3 of 3 (I’m starting with these as this was my favorite case. Note: Sup is Superior, Cl. is Classico, Ris. is Riserva)

Ottella-Veneto-Lugana Molceo Ris. 2018 EB: Notes of ripe apple, sweet limes, riverbed, minerality, fresh and balanced. Right out of the gate – I liked this first wine.

Perla del Garda-Lombardia-Lugana Sup. Madonna della Scoperta 2017 EB: Bruised apple, cream, salinity, stone, butter – Chardonnay-like. I liked this wine even more. 

Tacchino-Piemonte-Barbera del M.to Albarola 2016 EB: Big dark fruit, black pepper, spicy with a beautifully balanced mouthfeel, my first red of the day and another on my favorite list.

Badia a Coltibuono-Toscana-Chianti Cl. 2018 EB: Bright red fruit, tart cherries, dust, rose petals, stemmy. This would be liked by my Pinot friends for sure.

Barone Ricasoli-Toscana-Chianti Cl. Gran Selezione Colledilà 2017 EB: Rich red fruit, balanced fruit and spice, earth, minerals, dry.

Tenuta di Arceno-Toscana-Chianti Cl. Ris. 2017 EB: Much darker on the nose and palate then the last two. Dark dry berries, espresso, dark chocolate, spice, drying tannins.

Tenuta Monteti-Toscana 2016 EB: Made with Petit Verdot, Cab and Cab Franc, this may have been my favorite wine of the day. Aged dark fruit, bark, cigar, sweet char, extra-long finish.

Piaggia-Toscana-Carmignano Ris. 2017 EB: Pungent dark fruit, rich, spicy, peppery, a hint of mint. A blend of Sangiovese, Cab and Merlot, and you guessed it, another favorite in the tasting.

Aria di Caiarossa-Toscana 2016 EB: A beautiful nose filled with rich fruit, pepper, concrete, toasted oak and sweet berry. A blend of Cab, Cab Franc and Merlot and yep, another one I wanted more of.

Tenuta di Sesta-Toscana-Brunello di Montalcino 2015 EB: A powerhouse of a wine with notes of dusty mature fruit, a lively palate that included cream and oak, heightened by floral notes and a fresh garden of herbs and flowers on the nose.

Speri-Veneto-Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Sant’Urbano 2016 EB: This may have been the one wine I had enjoyed in the past and did again today. This one was velvety, just perfect with fruit, spice and dust, with a lovely lightly sweet long finish.

Tenuta Sant’Antonio-Veneto-Amarone della Valpolicella Campo dei Gigli 2016 EB: Our last wine of the day had a big nose filled with plums, prunes, oak, cigar, cigarette and smoke. Another great wine.

For the first two meetings I benefitted by having two collectors and two sommeliers joining me. The notes below are from Steve Roebuck, SR, Founder of Friends Who Like Wine in the Glass Facebook Group, edited down a bit due to space, with only additions from me as EB in italics. 

Tasting 1 of 3:

2019 Bortolomiol Valdobbiadene Brut lus Naturae SR: Ocean spray/salt on the palate with warm pears and apples, hints of wet river rock blending with lemon, bread, almonds and grassy notes. EB: Fresh fruit cocktail and Golden Delicious apple. My first favorite of the tasting.

2019 Biancavigna Conegliano Valdobbiadene Rive di Soligo Extra Brut SR: Bouquet of marzipan, apple, pear, creamy oats, brine, lime, peach and minerals. The wine had bright acidity but lacked depth and harmony. EB: Bruised fruit, minerality, earth and a marked tartness.

2019 Borgoluce Valdobbiadene Rive di Collalto Extra Brut SR: Aromas of warm pears, apricots, brine, wet slate and almond paste. The wine was balanced with nice layers of fruit, minerals that gave way to a lovely finish with hints of candied ginger. EB: Wet pebbles and cream.

2018 I Campi Soave CI. Campo Vulcano SR: A hint of petroleum and notes of lemon, lychee, wet gravel, nutmeg, grass and a nice earthiness. The wine had a lovely refreshing finish with a crisp note of pineapple. EB: Tropical fruit, Meyer lemon, and no acidity. Another fave for me.

2018 Leonildo Pieropan Soave CI. Calverino SR: Lovely aromas of salted ginger, white pepper, white peach, fuzzy kiwi and wet minerals.  The wine was intriguing with more lovely layers of peach, ginger, bitter chalkiness, baking spices and a nice savory quality. EB: Fresh citrus fruit, a sweeter nose that grew over time and great balance. My second favorite of the day.

2018 Tenuta Luisa Friuli Isonzo Friulano I Ferretti SR: Hints of beeswax, lemon zest, wet minerals, brine, apple, white peach, pear, almonds and band-aid. The palate was clean with hints of white peach, wet stones, cut herbs, with a touch of almond paste on the finish. EB: Lemon-lime.

2019 Tenuta Stella Collio Friulano SR: Wafting from my glass was a bouquet of honeysuckle, peach, apricot, buttered popcorn, anise seeds botrytis and a slight hint of burnt molasses. The wine was rich on the palate with integrated acidity that gave balance and structure to the wine. There was a luxuriousness to this wine, yet it was restrained and elegant. EB: Honey, churned butter, apricot. And another I really liked.

2018 Edi Keber Friuli Venezia Giulia Collio SR: An alluring bouquet of honey, apricots, brine, cinnamon, and anise seeds. On the palate there was a nice level of acidity that interwove through layers of tropical fruits, melon, honey and savory baking spices. Not as rich as the last wine but soft and elegant. EB:Favorited by one of the somms, lively lemon and a hint of licorice.

2019 Tiare – Roberto Snidarcig Friuli Venezia Collio Sauvignon SR: Typical old word aroma of Cat Pee blending in with hints of grass, salt, minerals, wet rocks, tree sap, slate, white peach, and spring flowers. The taste was crisp with nice acidity that lent balance to the palate, giving off hints of white peach, pear, wet slate, lemongrass and salted minerals. EB: Stone fruit, grass and earth.

2019 Bosco Del Merlo Veneto Sauvignon Blanc Turranio SR: This came across like a new world Sauvignon Blanc with a bouquet of honeycomb, lemon, apricot, bell pepper, white flowers and freshly cut herbs. The wine had lovely acidity that harmonized playfully on the palate with hints of lemongrass, apricot, honeysuckle, bell pepper and soft herbs. EB: Lemon rind, earthy, tart acidity. 

2019 Cantina Kurtatsch Aldo Adige A.A. Sauvignon Kofl SR: The aromas coming from the glass were bold and constructed a bouquet of burnt matchstick, grinding stone, burnt popcorn and smoldering car tire. EB: Mown grass.

2018 La Roncaia Friuli Venezia Giulia- Eclisse SR: Briny minerals, peach, fennel, gun flint, and savory spices and somewhat muted. EB: Bright citrus fruit, cream.

Tasting 2 of 3:

Part Two from Steve Roebuck, SR, and only additions from me, as EB, in italics.

Cusumano-Sicilia-Etna Bianco Altamora 2019 SR: Notes of peach, apricot, brine, kiwi, lime and wet limestone. The wine displayed a plush creamy palate with a hint of lemon drop hard candy on the finish. EB: Floral.

Pala-Sardegna-Vermentino di Sardegna Stellato 2019 SR: A bouquet of white flowers, white peach, brine, wet river rocks, honeydew melon and lemongrass. It had a nice level of acidity that allowed for hints of white peach, melon and a touch of honeysuckle on the finish. EB: This was another favorite amongst our somms. Very floral, lemon peel, kiwi. 

Surrau-Sardegna-Vermentino di Gallura Sup. Sciala 2019 SR: Aromas of Spring flowers, honeydew melon, brine and apricot. Similar on the palate with crushed gravel and lime notes. EB: Pear, salinity and minerality.

Feudo Antico-Abruzzo-Tullum Pecorino Biologico 2019 SR: An interesting bouquet of fresh cut fennel, baked bread, cheese yeast, pears, brine, limestone and lemons. A nice acidity that brought harmony to the layers of orchard fruits that played off the crisp minerals. EB: Our somm liked this one as well, found it savory. Lots of fruit and earth.

Tenuta Terraviva-Abruzzo-Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Giusi 2019 SR: The wine  seemed a bit off to me; however, the bouquet gave off aromas of strawberries, cranberries, lime and gunflint. EB: Cooked fruit.

Valle Reale-Abruzzo-Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Vign. di Popoli 2015 SR: A lovely bouquet of dusty earth, coffee, pepper, cherries, pine nuts and Jolly Rancher hard candy. Medium plus in body with rounded tannins that gave way to hints of cherries, dusty earth, minerals and soft herbs. EB: Balanced.

Poggio Le Volpi-Lazio-Roma Rosso Ed. Limitata 2017 SR: An expressive bouquet of cherries, espresso, white pepper, prunes and molasses. Full bodied with rounded tannins and a palate displaying hints of cherries, prunes, cut dill and wood. EB: Dark fruit, spice and incense. 

Donnachiara-Campania-Taurasi 2016 SR: An alluring bouquet of cherries, coffee, caramel, herbs, vanilla, burnt sugar and cassis fruit. Full bodied with gripping tannins that painted the palate with hints of dark berry fruit, earthy minerals, herbs, spice and a touch of caramel.  EB: Our two collectors liked this one. Espresso, dark dusty fruit – black cherry – and tannins.

Felline-Puglia-Primitivo di Manduria Zinfandel Sinfarosa Terra Nera 2017 SR: A rich bouquet of blackberries, cherries, toffee, coffee, pepper, bell pepper, molasses and notes of raisins. Full bodied with gripping tannins that brushed the palate with hints of dark berry fruit, coffee, white pepper, dusty earth and herbs. A nice level of extraction going on that brought richness to the wine. EB: Sweet tobacco, rich and layered, ash. My husband’s pick of the day.

Coppi-Puglia-Gioia del Colle Primitivo Senatore 2017 SR: Notes of cherry, powered chocolate, coffee, dried herbs, white pepper, bell pepper, decaying forest floor, graphite, brine and dusty earth. The wine was medium plus in body with gripping tannins that gave way to hints of cherries, chocolate, bitter coffee, herbs, and lead pencil. EB: Tri-color peppercorn, blackberry jam, more fruit than spice, balanced.

Pietradolce-Sicilia-Etna Rosso Archineri 2017 SR: Hints of dried cherries, leather, menthol tobacco, mint and pomegranate. Medium plus in body with layers of fruit that harmonized nicely with hints of olives, cedar and dusty minerals. EB: Like a Pinot Noir with stewed cherry, brambles and rich earth.

Cottanera–Sicilia-Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo 2016 SR: A vibrant bouquet of rose petals, cherries, coffee, chocolate, bell pepper, brine and cedar. Medium plus in body with gripping tannins that gave way to a palate painted with hints of cherries, pomegranate, chocolate, earthy forest floor, minerals and wood. EB: Again, like a Pinot Noir, with pungent berry fruit.

These are links to the two photo albums Roebuck made:

https://www.facebook.com/roebuck.steve/posts/10221692263527457

https://www.facebook.com/roebuck.steve/posts/10221704825561500

Social Media Handles

@bortolomiol_proseccosuperiore @biancavigna_prosecco @borgoluce
@icampiwinery @pieropanwine @tenutaluisa @tenutastellacollio @edi.keber
@tiarevini @boscodelmerlo @cantinakurtatsch @laroncaia @cusumanowinery @palawines @vignesurrau @feudo.antico @tenutaterraviva @valle_reale @poggiolevolpi @donnachiarawinery @agriculturalfelline @vinicoppi @pietradolce @cottanera @ottellawinery @perladelgarda.official @luigi_tacchino @badia_coltibuono @ricasoli1141 @tenutadiarceno @tenuta_monteti_official @piaggia_winery @caiarossa @tenutadisesta @speriwinery @tenutasantantonio

https://www.gamberorossointernational.com/wines/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

 

My Fave Wines From 2020: The Year When Drinking Wine Became Everyone’s Favorite Pastime

by

Lots pop into our heads when we think of 2020, and of course we aren’t out of the woods yet, or even close, so far for 2021. For me it was a windfall of wines sent for review, often accompanied by a Zoom tasting led by the winemaker. I (virtually) traveled to Germany, Spain, Argentina, France, Italy and more in those meetings and via my own cellar. And before Covid shut things down I did have quick trips to Los Olivos, Paso Robles and the Lompoc Wine Ghetto. Below is a collection of some of my favorite wines from 2020. If any of this sounds good to you, go find these wines!

It turns out that I had about 50 wine tastings, if not more, in 2020. These shout-outs are from EveWine101 website articles: the 2020 Gambero Rosso Master Class, 2017 Bordeaux presented by the Union des Grand Crus, Vega Sicilia collectors dinner with Pablo Alvarez, Fontanafredda Barolo, wine from New Zealand’s Waipapa Bay, Folded Hills Winery with winemaker Angela Osborne, California Wine STARS 2020, LA County Wines (Byron Blatty, Acri Wine Company, Angeleno Wine Company and Cavaletti Vineyards), Zoom tasting with Suzanne Phifer Pavitt and their 2012 Date Night Cabernet, Camins 2 Dreams, Gary Farrell single vineyard Pinots with winemaker Theresa Heredia, revisiting Montemar, catching up with winemaker Mark Cargasacchi and Jalama wines, also visiting Ampelos and Zotovich in Lompoc, Switchback Ridge via the Grand Reserves Reward Master Card, tasting from family-owned wineries with Dr. Laura Catena, Anne Trimbach, Laure Colombo and Alessia Collauto Travaglini, great wines that stole my palate but not my wallet from Guarachi Wine Partners, reviewing DAOU’s Soul of a Lion, Tenuta Montemagno sparkling Barbera, Castello di Fonterutoli with Giovanni Mazzei, Paul Kornell Sparkling…

In SCV Elite Magazine this year I got to write about wine tasting in Paso Robles just before the shutdown. Had exceptional experiences at Thacher Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Derby Wine Estates, Steinbeck Wines, Cass Wines, Eberle Winery, Oso Libre Winery, HammerSky vineyards and the Allegretto Vineyard Resort.

January started out great with my first, and last, visit and dinner at Marstons with my VP/BFF Michael Perlis, our wonderful spouses, all over lots of wine ($10 corkage!) including 2013 Audacious Grenache/Syrah/Cab blend by Law Estate, 2013 Comstock Rockpile/Sonoma County Zinfandel, 2009 Regusci Zinfandel Napa Valley…

At Wine 661: Lucas And Lewellen tasting where we sampled five of their Santa Barbara County wines, including a Rose of Pinot and a Bordeaux blend. Had a couple of wines off of the Happy Hour menu. This was not the last time I went to Wine 661 in 2020…

Now some single bottle shout outs:

Vinos Zanzonico 2017 Syrah Reserva: 100% Syrah, 13.5% alcohol, from the Valle de la Grulla area of Baja. With a regal dark purple color, I was drawn in to fantastic aromas of sweet black cherry, plum, tri-color peppercorns, layers of rich bark, milk chocolate…all very welcoming. I went in for a taste and was rewarded with a very rich and layered mouthfeel, with dark and dry blue to black fruit, grilled mushrooms, peppery spicy goodness and tannins that held my back palate at attention for a length that just would…not…quit. 99 Eve points.

2014 Old Vine Zichichi Family Vineyard Zinfandel from the Dry Creek Valley: The 14.8% alcohol didn’t translate at all to a hot wine on the palate, instead it delivered incredible substance. It started with a nose full of sweet dark plums, pipe tobacco, black licorice, toasted oak, black pepper and popcorn kernel. Going in for a taste my mouth was filled with delicious dried blueberry and blackberry, that same black pepper, tannins that held firm, and a great balance of the dark fruit and tannins to keep it lingering a long time on the palate. This was a new Zin discovery for me, will definitely be looking for it again!

Entourage by Two Papas Wine barrel fermented (1) and stainless steel (2) 2019 Chardonnay, Thompson Vineyard, Santa Barbara County: 1. Barrel: Designated by a gold wax top (the stainless has a silver wax top) I was amazed that this was a young 2019 vintage! It had lovely notes of creamy butter, pineapple, golden delicious apple and popcorn kernel that morphed into caramel apple on the palate, mild acidity, with a long, balanced and lush finish. 2. No barrel: Our stainless sibling gave off nicely scented whiffs of Meyer lemon, both cantaloupe and honeydew melon, and a little unsalted butter. When I tasted the wine I got homemade fruit cocktail, wet pebbles, low acidity and a medium finish.

2018 Kindred Rose of Pinot Noir: The color of rose gold, complete with sparkles! Then on the nose I found pink grapefruit, lemon pith, French Toast, Creme Brûlée, and Mandarin orange = all very inviting! In for a taste next, there is a very round mouthfeel, and the same citrus fruits I found on the nose – grapefruit, lemon and orange – with a medium acidity. Enjoy now, with or without food IMO! 

2015 Phifer Pavitt XRoads Cabernet Sauvignon: Crushed dark cherry, wet forest floor, grilled steak and mushrooms, dark chocolate, black licorice, pipe tobacco, toasted oak, a hint of sweet cream and more all on the nose. Flavors included that same black cherry as well as blackberry, blueberry, a gamut of spices, velvety and firm drying tannins that of course require that you go back in for another sip…and another.

2012 Regusci Patriarch Proprietary Red: aroma: dark berries, dried leaves, figs, toasted oak and a bit o’ mint. Some of the same aromas in the flavors with the addition of dark chocolate.

2001 Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia, a Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont…I  looked for the roses, tar, licorice and red berries (notes from a professional critic) and also found tart berries, spice and tannins after decanting for 7 hours. So interesting.

Have you tried Guentota, aka the “Soul of Cuyo”, a “100-YR-OLD-VINE PREMIUM 2016 MALBEC” from Mendoza, Argentina? It’s from Belasco De Baqueano and was awarded 91 points from James Suckling. And I was far too busy lapping it up to make any tasting notes. But find it at Newhall Press Room. (Truth be told I had a LOT of wine from Newhall Press in 2020!)

2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia, I have no notes as I was also too busy drinking to take any. A stellar wine as it’s been proven vintage after vintage.

1999 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo: The nose and taste had really changed and mellowed over the 7 hours, with aromas of dried dark fruit, grilled mushroom, balsamic, dust and oak; on the palate I got both bright and dark fruit in a very fine balance.

From my local Pulchella Winery we had: Suspect sparkling wine, 2019 Latitude Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier blend, 2017 Mercenary Zinfandel blend, 2018 Witness Grenache…among others!

A note on Los Olivos: this was a non-press trip so no notes were taken. With that in mind we loved: Barbieri and Kempe are “Boutique wines made by Master Sommelier Paolo Barbieri” along with his wife Erin Kempe = bought a case! The second, Bella Cavailli Farms and Vineyard, produces some amazing wines against a backdrop of a working horse ranch, as well as some fun distilled spirits from Dorwood Distillery. Jeff Lockwood is the winemaker and his brother Jay the head distiller. We left there with both wine and spirts to enjoy at home.

A note from Wine on the Porch: During the summer months we enjoyed Hanzell Chardonnay, Saintsbury Chardonnay, Parhelion Cellars Light Pillar Chardonnay, St Supery Virtu Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blend, Pagter Brothers 2018 Viognier, and from Hoi Polloi I snatched up their 2018 Rose of Grenache and Double-Gold Best-Of-Class 2018 Chardonnay!

A note about spirits: Yea, I wrote a lot about spirits this year too, stay tuned for a roundup of those next!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

How About An Invitation to Gambero Rosso’s 1st Virtual Master Class?

by

Gambero Rosso is a huge name in Italian wines. They usually have walk around tastings for press, sommeliers, distributors and consumers. With Covid-19 ending all of that I had the remarkable luck to have been offered bottles from 12 wineries to review at home along with a live Master Class on Zoom.

The Invitation

I’m writing with a special invitation to you on behalf of Gambero Rosso, the global authority on Italian wines and publisher of the annual Vini d’Italia (Italian Wines) guide. We would like to invite you to join a small group of U.S. wine writers and key wine trade for Gambero Rosso’s first-ever virtual Master Class, hosted by Marco Sabellico, the guide’s editor-in-chief.  

…12 wines will be tasted and discussed, meaning you will receive 12 full bottles of wine…You would be one of just 25 hand-selected participants from the entire U.S. This will be an interactive experience, with opportunities for you to ask questions throughout the tasting… 

Wine List and Notes (some are from the winery representatives/technical sheets, the tasting notes are mine and those marked with a plus sign + were my favorites. My husband Eddie joined me for the class.)

PANIZZI

+Vernaccia di S. Gimignano 2019

The name Gimignano on the label is the town in Tuscany where the Vernaccia grapes are grown. It’s not a very well-known wine grape but of top quality. This is their 30th vintage but back in the medieval times of the 12th century this wine was the most exported wine. The wines sees no time in oak, it’s all stainless steel. This vintage was described as “not very aromatic” though I found it quite lively with stone fruit and pineapple notes.

 

  1. BOCCADIGABBIA

Colli Maceratesi Ribona Le Grane 2018

The Ribona grapes, also known as Maceratino, are indigenous and grown in the Maceratesi area. They are 25 kilometers from the sea with both sandy and clay soils. The vineyards are 20 years old. According to the technical notes “whole grape berries, picked slightly over-ripe are added to the wine” following the first fermentation. I noted the salinity in the wine, due to the proximity to the sea air, fresh fruit, as well as an earthy quality.

 

  1. ZORZETTIG

FCO Pinot Bianco Myò 2018

This winery is in Fruili, and the Spessa vineyard is designated as historical and dates back to the 1950s. The grapes are harvested by hand within the first week of September. I found spice and bruised yellow Delicious apple notes. The tech sheets mentioned having this wine with light appetizers, fish, canapes, Adriatic crab with Arugula. The crab pairing sounded just perfect to me.

 

  1. CASALFARNETO

+Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Cl. Crisio Ris. 2016

This was a reserve Verdicchio, grown close to the mountains, dating back to 1995. The wine had a rich mouthfeel with lots of citrus and apple notes. It normally spends some time in oak and a minimum one year in stainless steel. This 2016 has just been released. As it’s a reserve they are aged 18 months. Had it again, two days later, still fresh, vibrant, with tons of fruit.

 

  1. VELENOSI

++Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Prope 2016

This was my favorite wine in the tasting. I got notes of sweet ripe plums, crushed black cherry, black berry – and a developed maturity for being so young and not decanted. (We left it open and enjoyed it even more with dinner later.) It is 100% Montepulciano grapes, hand-picked mid-October, vineyards are in Controguerra, gravelly soil. The maceration period can extend four weeks according to the technical notes.

 

  1. CONTE LEOPARDI DITTAJUTI

+Conero Pigmento Ris. 2016

This 100% Montepulciano wine was harvested mid-November from a vineyard in Sirolo in the Conero area. That grapes are picked late harvest – early October to the end of November, barrique aging. Many of the experts in the class had decanted this Riserva Montepulciano wine, some up to 24 hours before, so we swirled like mad and really liked what we found: ripe fruit, forest floor, dusty and tannic.

 

  1. CONTE EMO CAPODILISTA – LA MONTECCHIA

Colli Euganei Cabernet Sauvignon Ireneo 2016

Another to decant, the wine is a blend of dried wine grapes including 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 4% Carmenere, vineyards are 200 meters above sea level and in barrique barrels for 12 months. Because the grapes are dried, like an Amarone, there is more sugar and a higher alcohol content, 15.5%. They also freeze their yeast for fermentation for all of their wines. The wine was filled with dried fruit, olive, mint, balsamic and tannins. After more time in my glass it was earthier.

 

  1. DE STEFANI

+Colli di Conegliano Rosso Stefen 1624 2015

This wine is from the Marzemino grape, which is grown in the hillside 50 kilometers north of Venice. (One of the somms remarked that the Marzemino grape is related to the Lagrein grape.) The owner Alessandro De Stefani spoke to us about his wines, and is the fourth generation to run the family-owned winery. The wine was dry, dark, sweet with both honey and Port wine notes as it developed in the glass.

 

  1. TENUTA MONTETI

+Caburnio 2015

This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Alicante Bouschet and 25% Merlot, the percentages change with each vintage, 14% alcohol, no fining, no filtering and expected to age over 15 years according to the technical notes. The vineyards are in “the tail of Tuscany, at the coast.” It tasted older than five years to me as it was very balanced, dark fruit, earthy with a lovely nose. Would benefit from decanting too.

 

  1. COPPI

Gioia del Colle Primitivo Senatore 2015

This wine is from Puglia, chalk and clay soils, 100% Primitivo, handpicked the first 10 days of September, 12 months in Slavonian oak barrels, 13.5% alcohol. We noted that it was aromatic and tart, with raspberry and mint leaves. Most of the somms loved the wine. Fred Swan commented Primitivo has “the same DNA as Zinfandel. (They are) twins that grew up in different neighborhoods.”

 

  1. CÒLPETRONE

Montefalco Sagrantino 2012

Made with the Sagrantino grape in Umbria, this eight year old wine has the highest percentage of polyphenols in the world according to winery representative Giacomo Alari. Pungent, tart, mushroom and tannic – the wine could probably go a few days in an opened bottle for added depth.

 

  1. TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO

+Amarone della Valpolicella Campo dei Gigli 2015

Sant’Antonio is known as the father and protector of the poor. Gigli is the name of a flower from the region in Verona. The vines are 40 years old, three months of raisining, three years in new casks. Another favorite in the tasting, and our last. The dried grapes that made up this Amarone offered huge aromatics and flavors, including a nice black cherry.

 

Facebook links:

Boccadigabbia
CasalFarneto
Còlpetrone
Az. Agr. Conte Emo Capodilista
Vini Coppi
De Stefani
Panizzi
Tenuta Monteti
Tenuta Sant’Antonio
Velenosi Vini
Zorzettig Vini

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.