Wines of Northern Italy

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is hosting a summer wine education series.  It began June 4th with Northern Italian wines, and Salvatore Galati of Winebow officiated. 

We began with a Zardetto Prosecco DOC, NV from Veneto.  I liked this bubbly made in the Charmat method!  Had flavors of peach and apricot.

Next was a 2009 Tramin Sauvignon Blanc from the Alto Adige region.  I was very disappointed in this wine.  Everything about it was mint.  Mint nose, mint taste.

Millbrook's 2010 Tocai Friulano was the third wine of the evening. This wine fit right in on the theme since Tocai is an italian varietal.  Crisp and aromatic nose of anju pear with spice on the finish. 

We moved onto the three reds of the evening beginning with a 2008 Zenato Valpollicella DOC.  The main grape in this wine is Corvina with some Rondinella.  Fresh cherries and smoke fill the bouquet with a palate of cherries. Contrary to what you think, this was done in steel, no oak.

Wine #5 2007 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre IGT Veronese - Veneto.  This is a red table wine made with 30% of the grapes processed like Amarone, meaning 30% of the Corvina grapes were dried until January then processed and blended with the rest of the wine.  This wine had a musty nose with dried cherries, vanilla and currants.  On the palate it showed berries and anise with a bitter mid plate.  This was a hot wine, meaning high alcohol content.

Wine #6 was a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot - 2008 Maculan Brentino IGT - Veneto.  A nose of baked cherry, prune and oak gives way to a fruit forward palate of dark fruit and plum. 

Dessert - Wine #7 2009 Maculan Dindarello IGT - Veneto.  I really enjoyed this wine made from moscato grapes. It wasn't overly sweet and had a wonderful balance and great mouth feel.  A bouquet of sweet apricot and orange leads into a palate of apricot with a honey finish.

The next wine education at Millbrook is July 16 and the area of study is Burgundy.  My guess is it will be a tasting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  Of course there will be one of each from Millbrook.