As you might have guessed I'm just a bit excited, not only to be tasting some very expensive wines, but also some Northern Italian wines for the first time. This is a new wine event to me, although actually it is the third edition of an event hosted by 'Vinoteca al Chianti' a small enoteca in Galluzo to the south of Florence with a lot of wines to showcase...
They've hired out the very impressive 14th century cloisters of the Basilica in Impruneta, which make for a splendid setting.
There are also some French champagnes which we enjoy alongside some Italian Spumantes, which are actually quite good! Nothing like the sweet Asti Spumante I remember from my England days... no these are dry and complex, in fact not that different from the French champagnes here... My favourite, a 59 euro Spumante from Franciacorte is a 1996 'Anna Maria Clemente from Ca' del Bosco. I also taste a red spumante from the Veneto region of Italy! Very unusual, although I'm not too sure... it's a 1997 recioto della valpolicella from villa rinaldi and costs 87 euro 50 a bottle!
The largest section is obviously dedicated to red wine and the idea generally is to sart from the north of italy and work your way south. The most expensive wine here is a 252 euro Barbera d'Alba 'Pozzo Annunziata' 1999 from Roberto Voerzio, very concentrated, juicy, still young, tight tannins.
Two of my favourite Barolos are from Elio Altare, Paolo Scavino and Tuscany is obviously well represented with some nice Brunellos and a couple of my favourite Super Tuscan's are Castello di Terricciola's 87 euro 'Lupiccaia' and Valgiano's 70 euro sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot blend.
We finish with some dessert wines, including a 50 euro passito di Pantelleria , 'Martigiana' from Salvatore Murano with the most incredible nose!
Afterwards we take a walk around the market outside in the town, go and relax on our rug and then make our way home...
