An Afternoon with Italy’s Wonders!!!

A while Back I had the pleasure of the attending Viva el Vino, www.vivavinola.com a tasting event held at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. The food and setting were perfect; just to be surrounded by so many wines from all over Italy was a phenomenon. A few regions present were: Campania, Friuli, Marche, Piedmont, Puglia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria and beautiful Veneto. It was a great atmosphere for a wine lover. Many wines at this tasting stood out for me, but I wanted to showcase a few in particular to share in this blog.

Walking to each table and checking out the amazing selection of wines picked specially for this event, I found myself drawn to Fattoria Viticcio. Viticcio Chianti Classico ’07 was the hit. The wine gives hints of cherry, and berry characteristics. The acidity of the wine is well-balanced, and followed by a long finish. A full-bodied wine to have with pork or meat. The Viticcio ’07 comes with a price of only $16.99 – it’s definitely worth trying.

Next stop was Masi Agricola. After tasting through, the wine I liked the most was Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera ’06. The nose was full of flowers, spice, blueberry, and cherry. Medium-full bodied with smoke and soft fruit, this wine is juicy and round and follow by a good long lasting finish. This wine can be drunk now or be held for another 5 years, but I wouldn’t wait too much longer beyond that especially if you’re pairing it with lamb, beef, and pork.

To conclude I had two Super Tuscan wines (I always say leave the big boys at the end.) Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno ’07 is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot. Aromas of flowers mingle with blueberry and cherry. this wine is a full bodied with refined tannins, and coffee on the back palate. Even though this wine should be tucked away in a cellar for a few years, its characteristics are starting to show already. The last bottle I tasted had to be the Antinori Tignanello ’07. What a wine! It blew my companion and me away. The Sangiovese sure shows in the body, so ripe, with a great acidity and structure, but the nose belongs to the Cabernet Sauvignon. With 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon & 5% Cabernet Franc, the nose jumps right out of the glass with aromas of berry, spice & tobacco. What a great wine to keep in your cellar for a decade…then drink! It has serious aging potential.

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions feel free to come by the store or email me daniel@whwc.com