Annual Italian Wine & Opera Tasting Event

Friday, October 24, 6-8 pm

The O.G. Coffee & Wine Bar, Chanhassen

Enrico Serafino Grifo del Quartaro Gavi De Gavi, 2023
“Straw-yellow with typical greenish hues. It offers wide, delightful, wildflower, almonds aromas. Notes of white and yellow fruits such as apple, pear, white plum and gooseberry. Fresh, dry, intense, harmonic and pleasantly fruity, smooth with a good body on the palate. Well-balance acidity and pleasantly long-lasting aftertaste.” Winemaker Notes

Professional Ratings
James Suckling, 91 pts
This has chopped apples and pears on the nose, with some wet stone and white flower undertones. Medium-bodied, pristine and clear cut, with plenty of flavor and freshness.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 pts
Fresh and clean, this Gavi evokes the essence of stone and salt rock. Vibrant notes of Key lime, tart kiwi and delicate jasmine unfold on the palate, creating a pretty and mouthwatering experience, leaving a lasting impression of purity and elegance.

Andrea Felici Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore, 2023
100% Verdicchio. The fruit is from 10 hectares of various vineyards on the Felici farm, from 10- to 40-year-old vines. A classic and elegant Italian white wine. Made from the Verdicchio grape, grown in the hills of Castelli di Jesi in the Marche region, it boasts a pale straw yellow color with greenish reflections. On the nose, it offers delicate and complex aromas, combining notes of flowers, citrus, and almonds. Its balanced and harmonious taste is characterized by a good acidity, a savory minerality, and a long and persistent finish.

Vietti Perbacco Langhe Nebbiolo, 2022
The Perbacco is made from parcels in Bricco Boschis, Liste, Brunella, Crocetta, Pernanno, Fossati, Ravera in Novello and Scarrone. The first part of the ageing is done in barriques for 10 months (only some cru vineyards) and then in Slovenian oak casks for other 16 months. The wine is very much a baby Barolo. Made from Nebbiolo grapes only from Barolo designated vineyards and vinified and aged to be more approachable in its youth, this is an affordable Barolo style wine. Offers up generous fruit along with menthol, spices and hard candy, showing notable intensity while retaining an essentially mid-weight style. Round, suave tannins add to the long and refined finish.

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, 2019
Professional Ratings
James Suckling, 95 pts
Pretty pure fruit to this with black cherry, black berry and light chocolate aromas. The palate is full and focused with very polished tannins and a long, long finish. Best after 2027.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 pts
The Caparzo 2019 Brunello di Montalcino offers lively aromas of cherry cola, forest berry and dried cranberry that really pop on the bouquet. The dimension and latitude of the wine is impressive, especially in terms of mouthfeel, and with this bottle you're set for near and medium-term drinking. However, what works best in my opinion is the wine's balanced and much-needed freshness. You get great quality over an ambitious release of 160,000 bottles.
Jeb Dunnuck, 93 pts
While the Caparzo winery is located in Montalcino’s northern stretch, the estate boasts vineyards in five diverse sectors throughout the zone. Long-time oenologist Massimo Bracalente draws on each according to the vintage’s conditions. The 2019 captures its overt fragrant disposition. Fennel, spearmint and anise reverberate on the palate. Plush and soft in texture with an overriding redcurrant flavor. Fine framing tannins synchronize with zesty acidity. Straightforward overall but attractive in its charms, this will be ready upon release.
Wine Spectator, 92 pts
Rich and supple, evoking cherry, blackberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors. The dense, dusty tannins emerge as this builds to the long, lively finish, where a light astringency lingers.

Il Gusto di Amalfi Limoncello LiqueurIl Gusto di Amalfi Limoncello Liqueur
A boutique, small-batch limoncello crafted from organically-grown Sfusato Amalfitano lemons harvested from groves owned and farmed on the hillsides of the Amalfi Coast by Mario Anastasio’s friends and family. The lemons are peeled by hand in small batches to avoid including any of the bitter pith with the zest (such bitterness is a fault of many industrially produced, commercial limoncellos) and macerated in pure grain alcohol in stainless steel vessels. Sweetened with pure sugar. Shake the bottle to mix in the natural lemon oils that rise to the top – no artificial stabilizers, colors, or flavors are added. Drink cold as a digestivo, or combine with good Gin to create an excellent Tom Collins.

Gorgo Custoza “San Michelin”, 2024
San Michelin is the prestige wine of the Gorgo winery, made from grapes from the 40-year-old vineyard ‘San Michelin’. The nose is characterized by intense, ripe fruit aromas, including ripe citrus fruits, grapefruit and pear. On the palate, the wine offers a round and soft attack, supported by elegant acidity that gives the wine freshness. The mid-palate is richer and full, with a long, harmonious finish.
Giovanni Almondo Roero Arneis “Vigne Sparse”, 2024
Almondo’s estate Arneis comes from three different vineyards, hence the name ‘Vigne Sparse,’ or ‘scattered vineyards.’ These vineyards include both sandy soil and clay. The Vigne Sparse is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. This wine is dry, bright, distinctive, very mineral, very focussed, and absolutely mouthwatering. The wine is pale straw in color with a faint hint of green and shows aromas and flavors of apricot, herbs, wet stones, and citrus rind.

Grifalco Aglianico del Vulture Gricos, 2020
Delightful Organic, volcanic Aglianico. This combines a beguiling mixture of grill char, deep blackberry, sage, some light spice, orange peel, and violets. The palate has a present and silky smooth mouthfeel with a flavor set of ample sweet fruits balanced by violets and some grapefruit and orange.

Professional Reviews:
Wine Spectator, 90 pts
Firm and fresh, this tightly meshed red leads with enticing cedar and graphite notes on the nose, slowly revealing flavors of raspberry paste, loose tea leaves, singed orange peel and iron as this expands on the silky palate. Mouthwatering finish.

Vinous, 91 pts
The 2020 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Gricos lifts from the glass with a pretty bouquet that mixes dusty rose with crushed blackberries and a spritz of blood orange. It’s silky and soothing upon the palate, with mineral-tinged black fruits and inner violet florals that form toward the close. This finishes with a crunch tannic grip, as residual acids maintain a marvelous fresh character.

Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 2022
In the glass, the Montepulciano D'Abruzzo offers a dense ruby red color. In the glass, the aromas of plum, currant, sour cherry and blueberry are complemented by cinnamon and cloves. On the palate, it’s wonderfully aromatic, fruity and balanced. Multi-faceted, fleshy, creamy and dense on the palate. The finish is also accompanied by mineral facets of the soils dominated by clay and limestone.

Piero Mancini Cannonau di Sardegna, 2023
100% Cannonau (Grenache) from the island of Sardegna. Amber-red ruby color with purple highlights. Pleasant, intense aromas of undergrowth and ripe fruit. Dry, savory, full-bodied, elegant flavor with an almond aftertaste. The finish veers toward balsamic and spicy notes derived from the six-month aging in oak barrels.

Alois Lageder Vigneti delle Dolomiti Misto Mare Bianco, 2024
A wine like an ecosystem: “Misto Mare” is no ordinary white wine, but a polyphonic poem of nature from Alois Lageder. The blend combines grapes from over 14 white and red grape varieties from organically or biodynamically cultivated vineyards that are still in the process of converting to organic certification. Straw yellow in the glass with silvery reflections. The nose opens cool, herbal and salty, followed by a round dance of citrus zest, ripe pear, white flowers, a hint of ginger, some stone fruit and a hint of yeast. Balanced and multi-layered on the palate, with fresh acidity, a light tannic grip, subtle spice and an animating flow. The finish is juicy and mineral.

Marchesi Frescobaldi Castello di Pomino Bianco, 2024
The Tenuta di Pomino estate dates back to the 1500s, and is located in Tuscany, a region renowned for its excellence in Italian wines. Produced from Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay grapes, this unmistakable straw yellow wine is clear and brilliant, with subtle greenish highlights. The nose is captivating with citrus notes of citron and lemon, frangipani flowers and jasmine, and fruity notes of apricot and quince. The palate is stunning and smooth, releasing aromas of tropical fruit. The attack is savory with an aftertaste reminiscent of ripe raspberry, and the finish is lingering.

Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico, 2021
Winemaker Notes
The 2021 Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico is a splendid limpid shade of ruby red. On the nose it begins with fruity notes of berries and other red fruits such as cherries and plums. The floral aspects are very evident and as always dominated by strong hints of violet and wild rose. This gives way to the spicy aroma of Perano Chianti Classico with cloves and cardamom, and ends on afresh, balsamic note. On the palate it is mineral and rightly tannic, with a silky tannic texture, while the final taste is fresh and mineral. It has a beautiful olfactory taste response and along, intense aromatic persistence.

Professional Ratings
Wine Spectator, 93 pts
Cherry, blackberry and violet aromas and flavors announce this rich, supple and bright red. The underlying structure is firm and well-integrated, lending finesse and focus overall, with fine length.
Vinous, 90 pts
The 2021 Chianti Classico is a rich, boisterous wine. Juicy blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and a kiss of French oak all run through this generous, exuberant red from Perano. This is an especially bold, succulent style with plenty of Gaiole breadth.
Decanter, 90 pts
Purchased by Frescobaldi in 2017, the Perano estate is in the northern sector of Gaiole with vineyards between 400 and 600 metres. With a hefty percentage of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the blend is a bit of a throwback for Chianti Classico. Nevertheless, it's a solid wine. The nose is oak-led with roasted coffee and clove atop cherry and black currants. Tinged with mineral and chocolate, the palate is sophisticated, concentrated and tight, intersected by crisp acidity. It has has firm, tactile tannins and the stuffing for ageing over the next seven to eight years.

Masseria Surani Heracles Primitivo di Manduria, 2020
A deep ruby red in color, it offers fascinating complexity on the nose, from floral scents of violets to rich fruity ones of black and sour cherries and strawberries, along with underlying balsamic notes, licorice and aromatic herbs. On the palate it is broad, full-bodied and fruity, and wins you over with its polished tannins and vibrant finish, sustained by an attractive fresh vein of acidity.

Perla Terra Barolo, 2019
Perla Terra is the result of decades of love for the people, place and wines of Barolo. 100% Nebbiolo from the finest Cru vineyards. Nose of dark red fruit compote, savory herbs, and some minerality. Palate has notes of ripe fruit, violets, black cherries, dark chocolate, leather and earthiness. This is a classic Barolo with rich and layered aromas of red fruits and roses, with balanced tannins and lingering notes of cherries, chocolate and leather.

Contarini Vini e Spumante SRL Prosecco Rosé Extra Dry Millesimato
Blend of Glera and Pinot Noir. Beautiful pale pink, varying in intensity, brilliant with fine and persistent perlage. Fragrant aromas with light fruity and floral notes. On the palate it is elegantly fresh, savory, balanced, subtle, harmonious, and persistent. Excellent as an aperitif, with light appetizers, soups, fish and seafood dishes, vegetables and white meats.

Baracchi Toscana O'Lilla! Bianco, 2024
Blend of Chardonnay and Viognier. Straw yellow in color with greenish highlights. The nose reveals the typical characteristics of the grape varieties, with notes of green apple and citrus, floral hints of acacia, and slightly herbaceous notes. Fresh and smooth, with good persistence and a citrusy, fruity finish.

Tamellini Soave DOC, 2024
This classic styled Soave is produced from hand harvested Garganega grapes from vines planted in 1960 & 1986. Several passes through each vineyard insure that only grapes with optimum ripeness go into the press. The wine has a pale, straw colored hue with a pronounced floral nose with aromatics of stone fruits and citrus. On the palate, it presents a fine, somewhat mineral texture with notes of almonds finishing with bright, crisp acidity. Very fresh and zesty, this is the ultimate versatile white wine to go with all seafood, vegetable and lighter meat dishes.

Daniele Conterno Barbera d’Alba Superiore, 2023
Daniele Conterno, representing the fourth generation of his family’s winemaking legacy in Piedmont’s Langhe region, crafts this Barbera d'Alba Superiore with a deep respect for tradition and a commitment to organic farming. Sourced from vineyards in prestigious communes like Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, and Novello, this wine undergoes specific aging in oak casks to earn its “Superiore” designation.

This 2023 vintage is described as a lush, supple, and fruity wine. On the nose, it offers delightful notes of plums, leafy lightness, and a delicate floral touch. The palate is smooth and full-bodied, balanced by crisp, integrated acidity that leads to a long, beautifully fruity finish. Other vintages often reveal notes of dark cherries, blackberries, and hints of spice like cinnamon or licorice.

Baracchi O'Lillo Toscana IGT, 2024
This is a classic Super Tuscan blend. Consisting of equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Syrah. First, the ruby-core shows depth and elegance. Next, the aromas are led by fleshy red and black fruit, with complex notes of tobacco, cedar, and truffle. While on the palate, a bounty of black cherry and plum is carried on tightly knit tannins. Finally finishing with spice notes lingering into the long finish.

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