2005 Officers (till January 2006)

President: Tone Kelly (585) 265-3943

Secretary: Fred & Molly Fant (585) 225-3029

Treasurers: Richard & Pamela Hemmenway

(585) 392-0046

NOV. TASTING NOTES:

Traditional Wines from Tuscany and Umbria

Wines:

E Zardetto- Prosecco Brut NV $10

1. 2002 Falchini- Vernaccia di San Gimignano $14 (White)

2. 2004 Castello Banfi- Pinot Grigio (white) $16

3. 2000 Lungarotti – Rubesco (red) $17

4. 2001 Villa Antinori- Toscana (red) $22

5. 2001 Cecchi- Chianti Classico (red) $11

6. 2001 Villa Cerna- Chianti Classico Reserva (red) $17

7. 2000 Cecchi- Vino Nobilo di Montepulciano (red) $25

8. 2003 Ciacci Piccolomini- Rosso di Montalcino (red) $24

9. 1999 Argiano- Brunelo di Montalcino (red) $45

10. 1997 Castello di Brolio- Vin Santo (dessert) $38/ split

Top Wines of the tasting:

2003 Ciacci Piccolomini-Rosso di Montacino (tie)
2001 Villa Cerna-Chianti Classico Reserva (tie for first)
1999 - Brunelo di Montalcino
2000 Cecchi- Vino Nobilo di Montepulciano

Wine has been made in Italy for over 3000 years, but in the past twenty years efforts had been made to select the finest clones for each variety and to develop the science of wine growing and making. The committee selected wines from around Tuscany, based on a visit by many of the committee to the Tuscan wineries last summer.

Notes:

The entry wine was a dry, clean sparkling wine made in Tuscany.

The first flight featured two white “dinner wines” –Vernacci di San Gimignano and a Pinot Grigio produced from Banfi. Both wines had good acid, citrus and tropical fruit notes and were a good match to the meats that accompanied them.

The second flight showed the first pairing of reds, a Rubesco from Lungarotti and the only “super Tuscan” in the tasting- the Tuscana from Villa Antinori. The Rubesco was fruity, dry and had an incredibly long finish. The nose on the Tuscana showed the cabernet sauvignon in the blend, and the cocoa on the finish was a very nice feature.

The next flight compared two Chianti entries, but these are not your father’s chianti- no straw baskets here! Today’s Chianti Classico is required to be at least 12% alc, and have 12-18 months in oak barrels. It has a fruit nose, nicely balanced tannins and a medium finish. The Chianti Classico Reserva must be at leastr 12.5% alcohol and at least two years in oak, usually in small barriques for a portion of its aging time. This Reserva had raisins, earth and a big mouth feel.

The fourth flight was a solo wine – Vino Nobilo di Muntepulciano. This delightful hill town produces very elegant wines with a growing reputation. The 2000 Cecchi has chocolate, tobacco, wood at the start and moves to chocolate and cherry on the very long finish.

Our fifth flight compared the Rossa di Montalcino and the Brunello di Montalcino. Brunello is what Sangiovese is called in this portion of Tuscany. The Rossa ( or red) has a fruity beginning, well balanced mid palate and a long finish. The Brunello (required to have 2 years aging in cask and 2 years in bottles before release) was complex, with wood, tannins, acid flavors and a notable woody aroma.

The committee than finished the evening’s tasting with the classic Tuscan dessert wine- Vin Santo. This Vin Santo was a 1997 Castello di Brolio offering with classic aged characteristics that paired very well with the handmade biscotti.

Thanks to the committee for a delightful visit to Tuscany and the “other” wines of this wonderful wine district!

Committee:

Committee - Hank & Cindy Jankowski, John & Mimi Bacilek, Gerhard & Charlotte Klose,
Rock & Mary Rochford, Brian Thomas, Joe & Angle Nardone

CHAPTER BUSINESS

The following slate of officers was elected for the 2006/ 2007 term:

Pres: Molly and Fred Fant

Secretary: Mimi and John Bacilek

Treasurer: Pam and Rich Hemmenway

There were 17 topics proposed as tasting themes for the next year and the following were selected (a schedule will be proposed after discussions with chairs and when wines will be available). The name in parenthesis is the chair or co-chair. If you are interested in working on a committee, please contact the respective chair. Thanks/

1. A Night of Lafite and Mouton Rothschild (Tone Kelly)

2. FOOD & WINE - A night in Northern Italy- Piedmont/Venice (Brian Spindler)

3. German Wines (Brian Thomas)

4. Boutique Zinfandel or Boutique Syrah (Mike Budinski)

5. Wines of Patagonia (Jean Philip Chaintreuil)

6. Value Reds (Jan Klapetzky)

7. 2005 Finger Lakes Whites (Michael Warren Thomas)

8. Wines of the Sierra Foothills (Jan Klapetzky/ Rae Burchfiel)

9. Judge the Judges (blind tastings to see how our chapter rates wines already rated by wine experts) (Chair TBD)

UPCOMING TASTING:

January 21: Wines of New Zealand:

Committee: Brian Thomas, Rich & Pam Hemmenway, Alice Neff, Joe Moore, Tom & Linda Hickey, Trish & Morris Owen