"Best of Italian" Wine Tasting at Wharton WestEvery week after class, there's a wino club meeting at Wharton West. It's been a very popular event for people to unwind after each session.
This week, our resident expert sommelier Avery selected some tasty Italian reds this week after class. Here's my rankings;
1) 1999 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino $59.99 @ K&L WS 94 WA 93
Comment: This one was delicious. I wished that I had a nice rib eye steak cooked medium rare with a little butter on top!
2) 2000 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Marramiero Inferi $29 @ Embarcadero Wine Bar
From a selected vineyard of great importance in structure and size comes INFERI, produced in limited quantities. The ageing of at least twelve months in French and Slavonies oak casks of different capacity and the following refinement in the bottle complete its maturity. Its ruby red colour with dark red sparkling reflection, its intense and vanilla speckled fragrance, its persistent, warm, rich and harmonious taste make it at the same time a distinguished and leading wine. You can appreciate its qualities completely having it with pasta with mushrooms and truffles, with beef and game, with mature cheese, salami and ham, at the ideal temperature of 18°/20° C.
Comment: This one was a keeper as well. I had to go back for a second glass after all the tastings, it was that good. Next time I'm at K&L, I'm looking for this one.
3) 2001 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva "Rancia" Price: $26.99 @ K&L WS 91
Perhaps the best Chianti available. Highly Recommended by Wine Spectator. "Attractive blackberry and cherry character with a hint of tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, long finish. Drink now." (10/04)
Comment: I doubt this is the best Chianti available now. It was good, but not great.
4) 2003 Agostino Pavia Barbera d'Asti Bricco Blina $10.99 @ K&L
No oak here, just very zesty and ripe Barbera fruit. Bricco Blina is the most straightforward of the three single-vineyard Barberas made at Agostino Pavia. This is the epitome of the bright acidity and berry flavor that are the hallmarks of Barbera, but low yields and old vines give wonderful depth and concentration, too. Single cru; stainless steel fermentation and aging, bottled before the following harvest.
Comment: Your everyday wine to go with some cheese.
5) Crivelli Ruche $25 at the Wine Specialist, courtesy of Mallika
In the hills northeast of Asti, in the community of Castagnole Monferrato, lies the Crivelli family vineyards and winery. Although it remains somewhat of a mystery, it is believed that this varietal name comes from "roche" (meaning rocks) considering that this vine can be planted in calcerous and clay soil and tolerated dry weather without any loss of the quality of the fruit. This wine was traditionally kept for special occasions because it often had a hint of aromatic sweetness that with age took on the traits that reminded some of old Nebbiolo and others of Marsala. Most producers let Ruchè season in casks for awhile, even though it has a full aroma and flavor when bottled young. With age its basic ruby red color takes on hints of orange, as the bouquet, which reminds one of violets, roses, apricots, raspberry and hazelnuts, evolves in subtle ways. It is an excellent wine to serve with typical autumn-winter dishes, or with well-seasoned cheeses. The dominant and long lasting features in the life of this wine are the endearing sensation of a long lasting taste, the aromatic nuance comprising of a velvety ripe apricot, a slightly withered rose and an apple reserved in syrup and honey.
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