An Amarone Tasting

WINE TALK
1

My local group did this last fall. It was a terrific tasting, but I just finished posting the photos and notes. These are wonderful wines, especially when paired with the right food.

You can find photos and more detailed notes on my website:

WCC Amarone @ Dorato's Restaurant, 10/7/2010" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


WCC BLIND AMARONE at Dorato’s Resturant, Guilderland, NY (10/7/2010)

My regular Albany group got together to drink Amarone from a wide range of vintages. Wines were bagged and served double blind. That is, we knew they were Amarones, but not which ones (except any that we brought).

The food at Dorato’s was superb. Chef Mike Dorato did a great job with the food, and these rich dishes were among the best matches to the wines that we’ve had in a long time.

FLIGHT 1
With Filet of Beef in an Amarone Reduction Sauce (made with Masi Amarone according to Chef Tom). Tasty and a good match to the wines.

  1. 1977 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - In my top 5. Group #2. (94 pts.)

  2. 1981 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella - My #1 WOTN. Tied for group #7. (96 pts.)

  3. 1980 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano - (91 pts.)

  4. 1983 Bertani Recioto della Valpolicella Amarone Classico Superiore - My #2 WOTN. Tied for group #7. (95 pts.)


    FLIGHT 2
    With Veal Osso Buco with Peppercorn Demiglace in Phyllo Bowl. (My favorite dish, this rich dish was perfect with Amarone.)

  5. 1985 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - 93-95 points. In my top 5. (94 pts.)

  6. 1988 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - 93-95 points. In my top 5. Tied for group #5. (94 pts.)

  7. 1990 Luigi Righetti Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel De’ Roari - Tied for group #5. Go figure! (NR/flawed)


    FLIGHT 3
    With Capanota-stuffed Buffalo Milk Mozzarella and Salad. Not as good of a match, but a refreshing course.

  8. 1996 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - Group #4. (93 pts.)

  9. 1997 Fabiano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - (93 pts.)

  10. 1997 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Serègo Alighieri Vaio Armaron - 91-? Group #1. (91 pts.)


    FLIGHT 4
    With Sweetbreads and Wild Mushrooms in Phyllo Dough with Balsamic Reduction.

  11. 2000 Le Salette Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Pergole Vece - One of my favorites and the group #3. (94 pts.)

  12. 2004 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva - Mildly corked. Judgment reserved. (NR/flawed)

  13. 2006 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera - Badly corked. (NR/flawed)


    SUMMARY

All in all, my excitement for aged Amarone is renewed. The oldest wines showed brilliantly. The younger wines showed great potential. With the delicious, well-matched food, this was one of my favorite tastings in recent memory.

2

This descriptor on the 85 Tommasi took me aback: “Muted nose of black cherry and pussy.”

Hmmm…

FWIW, I have had the 04 Zenato a number of times - one bottle was corked - the rest were “multi buono”.

A great post, Professor. Big vicarious thrills for me. dc.

3

The pics of the Osso Buco are amazing. That’s beautiful.

Great wines, great notes, but I don’t know how I feel about smelling pussy in my wine… Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

4

The Osso Buco tasted as good as it looked. The perfect pairing for Amarone.

5

“Muted nose of black cherry and pussy.”

Does the “pussy” refer to a slightly saline quality? Seriously, I’m quite curious.

Thanks.

6

If you don’t know . . .

Yeah, maybe saline, with some subtle animale and seafood hints. It was more of an impression than a precise description.

Some people just smell good.

7

OMFG! [wow.gif]

Great line up. Looks like it was a great tasting.

8

Awesome, thanks. I’ve actually had “sweaty snatch” in my tasting note of a 1991 Musar; some referred to it as “seabreeze” but it was a bit more stank than that… hence my descriptor. I was just curious if you were going the fishy route or the salty route [cheers.gif]

9

Great wines, great notes, but I don’t know how I feel about smelling pussy in my wine… Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Once you get past the smell you’ve got it licked. [snort.gif]

10

wait…how does this thread only have 9 replies???

internet must be broked.