Amarone: A Pillar of Italian Wine

Last year my son and daughter-in-law presented me with a bottle of Amarone 2005 Cantina di Negrar for my birthday.  I decided last Sunday to open it up and give it a shot.  Amarone can age for many years so I thought there was a good chance it would be ready in 2011.  I decanted it for a few hours before dinner to give it time to settle down and balance out.  Before I let you know how things went a few words about Amarone are in order.

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, or as it is commonly known as, Amarone, is one of the four pillars of Italian wine; the others being Brunello, Barolo and Barbaresco.  It comes from the hills north of the city of Veneto in the Valpolicella wine region.  Amarone is made from the partially dried grapes of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara.  The grapes are place in a well-ventilated room for three to four months where the flavors become very concentrated.  It was awarded DOC status in 1990 and DOCG in 2009 (that's a good thing).

Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico DOC Cantina di Negrar 2005 was a pleasure to drink.  This was the first Amarone we have imbibed.  The bouquet was strong and consistent with a fruitiness and hints of cherries, chocolate and prunes.  The flavor was full-bodied and rich, well structured and exquisitely balanced, smooth and opulent. The tannins were soft with a gentle and enjoyable finish. After Mary, Angela and I took our first sips, we knew we were in the presence of a very, very fine wine.  Amarone goes beyond drinking a good wine.  Amarone gives true pleasure and is a delight.

 You can serve Amarone after decanting for two hours.  Serve it below room temperature because of the high  alcohol content.  Cost wise, Amarone can be rather steep.  Expect to spend over $30.00 easily.  However, I  believe it's worth the cost just to experience a fabulous wine.

Tuscan Wine Tasting

I had the pleasure of working with Bill Tramontano on the 14th annual Brooklyn College Wine Tasting this past April. Bill, the provost at the college, is a fabulously knowledgeable wine enthusiast and oenophile.  He provided a very enjoyable and edifying time for all of us. Phil Gallagher, a professor at the college, worked with me to make sure the wine tasting was all that it could be. I've reprinted here the article I wrote in the Faculty Circle Newsletter describing the event.

A Taste of Tuscany: 14th Annual Brooklyn College Wine Tasting

Over 24 ebullient Faculty Circle members and guests were treated to a superb Tuscan wine tasting hosted by our own provost Bill Tramontano on Thursday, April 29th.  Bill, a life long wine enthusiast and oenophile brought the enraptured crowd through a guided tour of the Tuscan wine country through a sampling of some of its outstanding wines.  Aided by a map of Tuscany, we were whisked away to the magical land of the Tuscan sun.  At Bill's request the wine was complemented with a superb Pecorino Tuscano Stagionato as well as a exciting Tuscan chestnut honey.  The tradition is to serve wine with honey drizzled over the cheese.

The tasting consisted of one white and six reds.  Reds heavily predominate in the Tuscan region.  I've included my personal tasting notes. The seven fights were, in order of tasting: 

Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimingnano 2008 - This Vernaccia is a dry, crisp, lively white that I found refreshing and pleasing to the palate.  This is a perfect wine to drink on a long, hot summer's day; which I did when in Italy two years ago.

Le Fonti Chianti Classicao 2007 - Chianti is made from the Sangiovese grape, which is the main grape of central Italy.  This Chianti seemed a tad rough and unbalanced at first but later softened and pleasant.  It has a medium color, a short nose and an adequate finish.

Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006 - The Vino Nobile had some real depth and complexity, and paired well with the Precorino. I picked up cherry and perhaps even blueberry notes with a nice finish.  It was not as big as I thought it would be but had good structure and sufficient body.

Mocali Rosso di Montalcino 2008 - A baby Brunello, as it is sometimes called, possessed a fine minerality, a softness and balance that was very enjoyable.  I picked up modest cherry notes and smooth tannins.  This is a delicious Sangiovese wine.

San Filippo Brunello 2004 - I very much enjoyed this wine. It is softly elegant, well stgructured with a long luscious finish.  I picked up deep berry flavors and even some hint of citrus; stupendous with the Tuscano Stagionato and chestnut honey.

Soffocone di Vincigliata Toscann IGT ("Super Tuscan")_ 2007 - A ruby red color, cherries and  spices, mid to full-bodied, nice acidity, fine tannins. Super Tuscans are wines that do not follow the traditional blending laws of the region and can be blends of other grapes, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.  I found this wine to be very enjoyable and perhaps the least "Italian."

Travignoli Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina Riserva 1999 - Very appealing, relaxed yet with lively sweetness. The iconic Tuscan dessert wine.

We are looking forward to Bill's next wine tasting which may take us to the northeastern area of Friuli, the home of many outstanding Italian wines.  In contrast to Tuscany, Friuli is known for its outstanding whites.

Many thanks to Bill for his excellent and exciting presentations of some of Tuscany's finest wines.