Alder at Vinography tastes the Tre Bicchieri, so you don't have to! :(

After a short hiatus the free tasting at Alessi will be starting up again in March - below are the dates released so far (March and April 1 - hope that one is for real):

ENOTECA ALESSI

Last week was the Chianti Classico Collection at the Stazione Leopolda here in Florence. This is a Chianti lovers dream tasting event, with hundreds of wineries presenting their new wines, many of them with barrel samples or wine that was just recently bottled. I spent a lot of time with Franceso Gioffreda from Casa al Vento whose "Aria" won a Top 100 Wine award this year, and right next to him was my friend Fabrizio Benedetti from Casa Emma, makers of one of my favorite Chiantis (the wineries are presented in alphabetical order).

I am not a professional sommelier and honestly can't taste many more than a dozen wines before losing my palate a bit - but this article (in several parts and with some video) from Intravino sums up many of the wines - I don't agree with all their scoring - but what is amazing was something that a friend mentioned: there really is no bad wine at an event like this. The overall quality of the region couldn't be higher - and it is really coming down to your personal preference when choosing a wine with the Black Rooster on the neck. Personally, my palate has been gravitating for some time to simpler wines, the Classicos over the Riservas, wines that respect their localities and microclimates, and that are not over aged or over oaked. I will try to talk about a couple of specific wines this week in following posts. Salut!

This event is billed as trade only, but if you are resourceful you should be able to get in :) (I am not telling you my techniques, sorry!)

The Black Rooster Reigns at the "Leopolda" in the 2009 Chianti Classico Collection.

On February 17 and 18 the Stazione Leopolda in Florence hosts the customary Chianti Classico event for the wine press and trade.

148 producers presenting 358 different Chianti Classico labels and 70 barrel samples on hand for tasting, from previews of the 2008 to the Riserva 2006, for an event that offers an all-around look at the famous Tuscan DOCG.

Looking forward to seeing all of our favorites producers and people there, and to hopefully find some new ones too.

We are big fans of this Carmignano producer and I am pleasantly surprised to see this wine on the Wine Library website. Very attractive price also, on sale for $24.95 a bottle.

2005 Ambra Elzana Carmignano Riserva 750ML

More about Fattoria Ambra here. Carmignano is a historical wine area and Cabernet has been planted here (along with Sangiovese of course and other varietals) for centuries.

From the newly discovered and excellent "Montalcino Report":

The Italian edition of Benvenuto Brunello will be held in Montalcino at the Fortress February 19, 20, 21, and 22.

I am thinking I might make it to this event.

They have to have more of these things around here...

Vi aspettiamo sabato 19 dicembre dalle 19.00 alle 23.00 alla Città del gusto di Roma e domenica 20 dicembre alla Città del gusto di Napoli dalle 20.00 alle 24.00 per una grande degustazione delle migliori bollicine italiane secondo la nostra guida Bollicine d'Italia giunta alla 17°edizione.

Ottime bollicine si producono ormai in ogni regione d'Italia, dalle vallate alpine della Valle d'Aosta alle pendici dell'Etna e alla Gallura, un'incredibile varietà di colori, con i mille vitigni della tradizione, autoctoni, e con i classici vitigni internazionali.

Prezzo del biglietto: 18 euro.

Per gli Abbonati Speciali al Gambero Rosso 15 euro e anche per i soci AIS, Fisar, Onav e Slow Food: 15 euro, ma questi ultimi potranno acquistare solo presso la Città del gusto esibendo le loro tessere.

Per acquistare il tuo BIGLIETTO ORA CLICCA SU:

DEGUSTAZIONE ROMA

DEGUSTAZIONE NAPOLI

Until I can offer wine here that I have sourced myself, I thought it would be interesting to see what was available from the various affiliate programs I belong too. Here is a Chianti Classico I can heartily recommend, the Castellare Chianti Classico 2006.
I was down there a couple of weeks ago to buy some of this, and the 2006 is all gone (as is the 2007 - I ended up with 6 bottles of the 2008). To get this wine now in the U.S., at this price ($21.99) is quite a deal. That is just a couple of dollars more than what you can get it for here in Italy.

Here is a datasheet (PDF) for this wine from the producer, but I think it is woefully out of date. This is exactly the kind of wine I am hoping to present myself eventually, outside of the size of the production (that being said, this is a fine, handcrafted wine from a very reputable producer in an esteemed region - but they are just too big and established for us to ever hope to work with directly).

I have had this vintage however and highly recommend it - I don't have tasting notes but what is on the wine.com site is pretty accurate - it was a pleasant surprise to find this wine there.

Sorry this is a little late, we attended the Christmas Gala at St. James church last night and I didn't get to post everything I wanted to in time.

First, there is this, which is happening today and tomorrow in Buonconvento (thanks to Anna Lisa at Fattoria Resta for passing it along):

Il Museo della Mezzadria Senese di Buonconvento vi invita Sabato 12
Dicembre 2009, a partecipare all'iniziativa "Vino ad arte" - Conversare
intorno alle opere, nel museo, con il calice in mano. La manifestazione
è promossa da Regione Toscana, Slow food, Arsia e Fondazione Sistema
Toscana.

www.vignaiolievignerons.it
L'ingresso è libero e l'incontro avrà luogo dalle ore 18.30 alle ore
19.30 presso il Museo della Mezzadria Senese.

Vi aspettiamo numerosi.

Museo della Mezzadria Senese
Piazzale Garibaldi 10
53022 Buonconvento (Si)
Tel. 0577-809075
Cel.334-6694871
www.museomezzadria.it

And also today in Florence there is a free tasting at Enoteca Alessi (they have started to do these on Saturdays instead of the usual Thursdays):

And from Gambero Rosso, some things further afield (Rome and Naples):

In occasione dell'uscita di Berebene Low Cost 2010, la guida dedicata ai vini che non superano gli 8 euro di costo sullo scaffale, Gambero Rosso organizza due grandi degustazioni a Roma e Napoli per permettere al grande pubblico di scoprire quanto sia facile poter bere bene a prezzi convenienti.

Due grandi appuntamenti da non perdere per poter assaggiare centinaia di etichette e scegliere il vino giusto da portare in tavola ogni giorno.

 Roma
 sabato 12 dicembre ore 16.30-20.30
 Città del gusto
 via E. Fermi, 161 (zona Marconi)
 Prezzo del biglietto 18 euro - Abbonati Speciali 15 euro

Per acquistare on-line clicca QUI

Napoli
 domenica 13 dicembre ore 20.00-24.00
 Città del gusto - Terrazza del Vino Wine Bar
 via Coroglio, 104/57 (zona Bagnoli)
 Prezzo del biglietto 18 euro - Abbonati Speciali 15 euro

Per acquistare on-line clicca QUI

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