Educational luncheon with Banfi wines

[wondersofwine]

My final event of the 2003 Triangle Wine Experience (didn't attend the auction this year) was a luncheon at Claudio's Restaurant in Raleigh. Sharon McCarthy, a Banfi representative talked about Italian wine nomenclature and regulations and the wines we were tasting--three whites and six reds. The educational part was followed with a lunch of Caesar salad, penne and lasagne pasta dishes, baked chicken pieces, and cheesecake. The wines that stood out for me (all reds) were the 1999 Chianti Classico Riserva, DOGC, Banfi; the 1998 Tavernelle Cabernet Sauvignon Sant' Antimo, DOC, Castello Banfi (single vineyard); the 1998 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, DOC, Sartori; and the Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Acqui, DOCG, Banfi (a red sparkling wine). We also had a red blend, the 1999 Cum Laude which received 91 points in The Wine News. I liked it okay until I tried the Amarone but it seemed too rough in comparison once I tried the Amarone. Cherries were still distinct in the Amarone and it had a little of a ruby port quality to it.
I liked the Chianti best with the pasta dishes. Amarone is usually a hit with me and I liked the offering from Sartori but have had other Amarones I like better. The Tavernelle was nice--but again I have had better cabernets. It was interesting that it seemed to leave a slight foam on the glass and was a very dark color. The red sparkler, Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Acqui from La Rosa Vineyard, was a hit with the women. One man at my table likened it to cherry cola but I found it much more enjoyable than that. It had some raspberry/strawberry going on there and at only 7.5% alcohol and a cost of about $22 a bottle, might be a good date wine or surprise for the wife if presented at dessert time. It is also suggested by Banfi as an accompaniment to chocolate (I would suggest chocolate covered raspberries or strawberries).
A good educational session on Italian nomenclature. grape/region/grape and region, etc. I.G.T., DOC, DOCG plus vocabulary words that mean sweet (Dolcetto), bitter (amaro) meaning of Valpolicella (valley of many wine cellars) etc.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 02-24-2003).]