Castello Banfi tasting and lunch, May 8/13

The Date and Time: Wednesday, May 8,

The Event: A lunch and tasting of Castello Banfi Vintners with Cristina Mariani-May, the co-CEO of the company, and Enrico Viglierchio, winemaker for over 15 years at Banfi.

The Venue: Sotto Sotto, Avenue Road

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue:

The Quote/Background: Enrico, at great length, talked to us about the terroirs of the four single vineyard barrel samples we tried. It was a thorough presentation of soils and elevations.

The Wines:

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2011 Sorrena Single Vineyard, barrel sample

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2011 Podernuova Single Vineyard, barrel sample

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2001

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 1998 Poggio Alle Mura

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2007 Poggio Alle Mura Riserva

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 1995 Poggio All'Oro – my fave

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2011 Poggio d'Orcia Single Vineyard, barrel sample

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2011 Casanova Single Vineyard, barrel sample

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2007, $59.95

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2007 Poggio Alle Mura

-Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2007 Poggio All'Oro

 

The Food: lunch was from the menu. We started with grilled seafood platters with Fontanelle 2011 Chardonnay, 14.5% ABV ($29.95), a charcuterie platter, cured salmon, grilled veggies, and a main. I had a filet mignon. The wines just melded into the food flavours.

The Downside: nothing, really.

The Upside: it was pretty impressive having Brunello tastings almost back-to-back like this.

The Contact Person: pdelpeschio@awsm.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com