The Maestri Vignaoili, or “Master Winemakers,” is a group of wine making families in Italy who have joined together based on their shared outlooks on wine production, each showcasing the distinct flavors and styles from their respective regions. All the member wineries are independent and family owned and operated, and focuses on producing small batches of high quality wines made in traditional styles.
Meeting with this group of fine winemakers in Chicago and tasting through the wines was an quite an experience. The room was a little cold, given that the tasting was during the polar vortex, but it was still an amazing opportunity to taste some great wines. Marco Sebellico, who facilitated the seminar, was late in typical European fashion, which made the day even more interesting. He was charismatic, funny, and made attendees believe that winemaking really could come from the soul.
A great show, all in all. Here are the wines that we tasted:
Dal Din Spumanti Veneto
Valdobbiadene Extra Dry Vidoro Crisp and clean, with fruit forwardness, melon skin, with a quick fading finish
Valdobbiadene Extra Dry Floral and dry, super crisp, 100% prosecco
Massimo Pastura – Cascina La Ghersa Piedmont
Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Timian 2009 Pale gold color, with some rim variation, full and rich complexity, good acid, a little lacking in fruit, but good aging potential
Barbera d’Asti Sup. Vignassa 2010 Dark ruby color, with very little rim variation, smoked meat, minerality and great acid, and some clay soil which gives it a beautiful nose
Bario Stroppiana Piedmont
Barolo Gabutti Bussia 2010 Young vineyard, color of rust, amazing acid and minerality, round tannins, with spice and berry
Barolo San Giacomo 2010 52 year-old vines, full tannins and minerality, perfect for long term aging, the finish is bone dry, finish lasts forever
Rubinelli Vajol Veneto
Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. 2009 Blue rim variation, dried fruit, dirt, soil, and clay, but surprisingly juice
Valpolicella Cl. 2012 Perfect color of dark purple, bright and fresh acid, with soft baked fruit
Fattoria di Rodano Tuscany
Chianti Cl. Ris. 2007
Chianti Cl. 2008
Terralsole Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Ris. 2007 Milk chocolate, with creamy tannins, berry forward, full and bright, with dark fruit on the pallet
Brunello di Montalcino 2008 Meant to age, very bright, full tannins, forest floor on the nose
Guado al Melo Tuscany
Toscana Rosso Jassarte 2006 Soft and dried fruit, very nice
Guado al Melo Bianco 2011 Wow! Beautiful bright fruit, green apple, made in the old world style
Trappolini Lazio
Lazio Rosso Paterno 2010 Ruby color, perfect fruit balance, raspberry, and excellently structured tannins
Lazio Grechetto 2012 Soft, pale straw color, citrus notes, clean and crisp
Conti Malacari Marche
Conero Ris. Grigiano 2008 Funky socks, augusta, lush berry, this is an awesome monte pulciano
Rosso Conero Villa Malacari 2009 Good tannins, with a fruity structure
Cantine del Notaio Basilicata
Aglianico del Vulture La Firma 2010 This wine is closed down. Very little fruit, but some floral and spice notes
Basilicata Rosso L’Atto 2012 Wheat, cherry, raspberry, milk chocolate, very jammy
Ferreri & Bianco Sicily
Sicilia Nero d’Avola 2012 Roasted game, gamey, smoky, not very giving on the fruit
Sicilia Catarratto Brasi 2011 Some white floral notes, lemon peel, crisp and almost clear
Check them out below and be on the lookout for their handcrafted wines…
http://maestrivignaioli.com/
