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Italian Wine Masters – Tasting Notes from Victor Rallo, Jr.

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:22:56 +0000

The Waiting Game: Age Worthy Brunello di Montalcino., Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano – New York City, February 9, 2011 with Kevin Zraly

A Brief Introduction by Bobby Rallo

My brother, Victor, decided that we should head to New York City for a prestigious wine tasting of Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Brunello di Montalcino hosted by the author and creator of Windows on the World Wine Course, Kevin Zraly. But first, we had to make the commute to NY with our pal, Anthony Cammaratta, and a large eggplant parmigiano for his staff at Salvatore Ferragamo. It was an interesting commute, to say the least! Cars, planes, trains, busses and stairs, we managed to get to our destination…with large eggplant parmigiano in tow.

After a light breakfast and coffee, we arrived at the Hilton for a very elegant wine tasting. (Although, if I may add, the staff at Basil’s knows how to pour and serve wine better)! The wine flights selected by Zraly from a blind tasting he did in Italy were his 12 favorites and were as follows (top 9): Vic and Bobby’s Ranking

4 things you can taste: sweet, sour, bitter, salt. No salt in wine,what’s left: sour, bitter and sweet.
10,000 known smells, 200 smells in wine. The nose is a very important part of wine tasting.

La Madonnia. Chianto Classico DOCG 2007 Riserva $20 rated #3
90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot and Colorino
Exceptional vintage fresh cherry, clear, excellent color, tannins and a very dry to the finish, very acidic. Sometimes the first wine you taste especially Sangiovese is very acidic should taste with food. First wine tasted light to medium body

Fontodi, Chianti Classico DOCG 2007 Riserva “Vigna del Sorbo $60 rated #2
100% Sangiovese Greater extraction then first wine
Nose was pretty, fresh cherry and black fruit. Dry on the finish with balanced acidity and fruit. You feel the tannins you cannot taste tannins. Medium to full bodied.

Castello di Ama, Chianti Classico DOCG 2007 Retail $45 rated #1
80% Sangiovese 20% Malvasia Nero, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Nero
Mushrooms, musky nose, dry and full bodied. Cherries, color slightly unfiltered, powerful, fruit, balanced acidity and tannins. Blackberries in the finish on the back of the tongue. Probably the best Chianti of the three for aging.

Salchero Vino Nobile di Montepulcino 2007 $35. 50,000 bottles100% Sangiovese
Exceptional year. Light to medium body. Black pepper and spice on the palate less tannic and acidic then Chianti. Tannins dried out my mouth. Cherries very tannic, great age ability.
Riserva In Italy the age is guaranteed by the DOCG. California and France Riserva has no aging rules.

La Baccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2007 $27 190,000 Rated #2
90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot
Exceptional year. Alcohol in the nose, elegance in fruit. Ample tannins that blocked out fruit in the wine. Tight fisted, not ready to drink. Very good age ability

Poliziano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2007 $31 180,000 bottles Rated #1
80% Sangiovese, 20% Colorino, Canaiolo, Merlot
Exceptional year, great maturity in the nose nice toasty smell. Deep dark and extracted full of fruit. Leather, great balance and an explosion of fruit. Long tannins at the end in the back of the palate.

Pinino, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 $60 41,000 bottles Rated #2
Lightest color, fresh cherry and great fruit and oak. Medium acidity and oak tannins. Buttery and refreshingly elegant.

Castelgiocondo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 $65 230,000 bottles Rated #3
Fennel notes in the nose bright and vibrant color. Very round with nice fruit, higher tannic acid and oak tannins. This wine needs more time in the bottle. Remember good Brunello’s can age for 20-30 years.

Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 $62 22,500 bottles Rated #1 Best of current vintages
Deepest in color and complexity, Musty leather nose with nice balance of fruit. Very deep extraction with up front fruit, total balance of fruit, acid and tannins. Best wine tasted. Extremely long Finish bottles Andrea Cotonesi is a friend and I believe him to be one of the best up and coming winemakers in Montalcino.

Principe Corsini Fattoria Le Corti Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva Don Tommaso 1999 (1.5 liter) $150 1,200 bottles Best Chianti
Smoky oak (oxidation) in a good way round and elegant with tons of fruit and still very acidic and with pronounced oak tannins. Ready to drink, excellent wine and drinks perfectly today!!!

Dei Vino Nobile di Montpulciano DOCG 1999 Riserva $145
Subtle leather, more cherry fruit, autumn leaves, tar like, an aged wine with tons of fruit, and tons of tannins still very young for its age. Great elegance.
Col D’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1991 $200 Best of the Tasting
The oldest wine tasted today, to me this is exactly how Brunello should age! Mushrooms in the nose, color is still excellent. Ready to drink, tannins and acidity in balance with fruit. Ready today or age with grace for 10 more years. Absolutely delicious.

Wine Society Exclusive List

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:38:21 +0000

Everyday, Wine Society Members can purchase these wines for half off the prices shown below.

Wine Society Exclusive List

Everyday, Wine Society Members can purchase these wines for half off the prices shown below.

Vini Rossi

Grimaldi Dolcetto di Diano D’Alba 2007 (Piemonte)
100% dolcetto
$33

Colli di Serrapetrona Vernaccia Nera 2007 (Marche)
100% vernaccia nera
$34

Dimajo Norante Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Molise)
100% cabernet sauvignon
$38

Campo Al Mare Bolgheri 2006 (Toscana)
60% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc
$65

Colle dei Venti Barolo 2004 (Piemonte)
100% nebbiolo
$70

Cavalier Bartolomeo Salonotto Altinasso Barolo 2005
100% nebbiolo
$70

Mauro Molino Barolo 2006 (Piemonte)
100% nebbiolo
$80

Vini Bianchi

Falesco Est! Est! Est! DOC 2008 (Lazio)
60% trebbiano, 30% malavasia, 10% roscetto
$30

Inama Soave Classico Vin Soave 2008 (Veneto)
100% garganega
$32

Wine Society Exclusive List

Everyday, Wine Society Members can purchase these wines for half off the prices shown below.

Vini Bianchi

Pieropan Soave 2008 (Veneto)
85% garganega 15% trebbiano di soave
$33

Principessa Gavia Gavi 2008 (Piemonte)
100% cortese
$35

Re Manfredi Bianco 2008 (Basilicata)
70% muller thurgau, 30% traminer
$36

Nozzole Le Bruniche Chardonnay 2009 (Toscana)
100% chardonnay
$38

Terlan “Classico” Bianco 2009 (Trentino)
60% pinot bianco, 30% chardonnay, 10% sauvignon blanc
$38

Donnafugata Anthilia Bianco 2008 (Sicilia)
50% ansonica, 50% catarratto
$39

Bertani Due Uve 2008 (Veneto)
50% pinot grigio, 50% sauvingon blanc
$45

Vini Dolce

Maculan Dindarello 2006 (Veneto) 375ml
100% moscato fior d’arancio
$26

Principe Pallavicini Stillato 2006 (Lazio) 500mL bottle
100% malvasia
$28

Planeta Moscato di Note 2006 (Sicilia)
100% moscato
$40

Ornella Molon Bianco di Ornella 2004 (Veneto)
50% sauvignon blanc, 50% verduzzo
$50

Travel: Oddero Winery

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:45:00 +0000

Travel: Victor Visits Feudo Maccari

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:14:28 +0000

Victor journeys to the town of Noto near the southern coast of Sicily to visit the vineyards and winery of Feudo Maccari. He finds lots of nero d’avola, expansive fields, and the heat of southern Sicily that translates well into the grapes.

A Special Tasting at Tenuta San Guido

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:07:22 +0000

Victor Rallo recently had the rare pleasure of tasting Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto with the wine makers in Italy. But this wasn’t just a tasting, it was a tasting to decide which wine would be used in the 2008 vintage of Guidalberto! Watch the video as Victor recaps and reflects on this unique experience.

Basil T’s Seasonal Selections Wine List

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:09:32 +0000

Wine Society Exclusive List – Updated for August 2010

Everyday, Wine Society Members can purchase these wines for half off the prices shown below.

Wine Society Exclusive List

Everyday, Wine Society Members can purchase these wines for half off the prices shown below.

Vini Rossi

Villa Rocca Pinot Nero 2008 (Veneto)
100% pinot nero
30

Grimaldi Dolcetto di Diano D’Alba 2007 (Piemonte)
100% dolcetto
33

Sottimano Mate 2007 (Piemonte)
100% brachetto
34

Odoardi Savuto 2004 (Calabria)
45% gaglioppo, 15% greco nero, 15% nerello cappuccio, 15% magliocco canino, 10% sangiovese
36

Dimajo Norante Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Molise)
100% cabernet sauvignon
38

Cusumano Benuara 2006 (Sicilia)
70% nero d’avola, 30% syrah
38

Statti Gaglioppo 2006 (Calabria)
100% gaglioppo
38

Terre Borboniche Ciro Rosso 2004 (Calabria)
100% gaglioppo
38

Castello Di Luzzano Carlino 2006 (Lombardia)
100% croatina
39

Smeriglio “Baracchi” Merlot 2006 (Toscana)
100% merlot
40

Meso Buio 2005 (Sardegna)
100% carignano
41

Oddero Barbera D’Alba 2006 (Piemonte)
100% barbera
42

Mazzei Bronzone Morellino di Scansano 2004 (Toscana)
100% sangiovese
44

Mascarello Dolcetto D’Alba 2005 (Piemonte)
100% dolcetto
48

Principe Pallavicini Amarasco 2005 (Lazio)
100% cesanese
48

Cantine Ciolli “Cirsium” Cesanese 2003 (Lazio)
100% cesanese
60

Colle dei Venti Barbaresco 2006 (Piemonte)
100% nebbiolo
60

Tolaini Valdisanti Toscana IGT 2006 (Toscana)
75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% sangiovese, 5% cabernet franc
80

Garda Classico Rosso 2004 (Lombardia)
85% groppello, 10% sangiovese, 5% barbera e marzemino
80

Lungarotti San Giorgio 2000 (Umbria)
50% cabernet sauvignon, 40% sangiovese, 10% canniolo
90

Avignonesi Desiderio Merlot 2005 (Toscana)
100% merlot
90

Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino 2004
100% sangiovese
100

Domus Vitaes Brunello di Montalcino 2004 (Toscana)
100% sangiovese
100

Vini Bianchi

Mandarossa Fiano 2008 (Sicilia)
100% fiano
29

Cataldo Sauvignon 2009 (Sicilia)
100% sauvignon blanc
29

La Rocca Pinot Grigio 2009 (Veneto)
100% pinot grigio
30

Allegrini Corta Giara Chardonnay 2008 (Veneto)
100% chardonnay
30

Alios Lageder Pinot Grigio 2007 (Alto Adige)
100% pinot grigio (Oak Aged)
32

Re Manfredi Bianco 2008 (Basilicata)
70% muller thurgau, 30% traminer
36

Attems Pinot Grigio 2008 (Friuli)
100% pinot grigio
40

Edi Kerber Colliio Bianco 2008 (Alto Adige)
70% friulano, 15% malavasia istriana, 15% ribolla gialla
60

Basil T’s Wine Society Membership

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:37:29 +0000

Come to Red Bank Italian restaurant, Basil T’s, for our wonderful Wine Society — “an exclusive in-house club for all diners with a passion for wine and elegant Italian cuisine”. Membership is $25 and includes numerous perks, such as:

•    A subscription to the Wine Society Newsletter, keeping members updated with information, reviews, and exclusive pricing on featured wines of the month
•   Invitations to wine tasting and Wine Society events
•   Weekly wine dinner specials, including half priced bottles of any wine every Tuesday
•   Continued access and updates to the Basil T’s wine list, which received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 3 consecutive years
•   Free, limited-edition Wine Society wine key corkscrew

The wine society was created for both novices and wine connoisseurs alike. In an attempt to create a larger pool of wine aficionados, the wine society will provide a space where wine lovers and experts can come together to learn about the origins of wine and expand their knowledge, in order to gain a fuller appreciation for Italian wine.

The wine society will also provide members with tips on wine and food pairings, discounts on glasses and bottles (in an attempt to allow drinkers to further explore other tastes), wine guides with tasting tips and information, and access to special pricing on their award-winning wine list — a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient for the past three consecutive years.

Italian wine lovers who are interested in learning more about the Wine Society, can call (732) 842-5990 or stop by Basil T’s Riverside Avenue location in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Links:

http://www.basilt.com

http://www.basilts.net/

http://www.basilts.org/

Victor Rallo Jr. Adds His Own Signature Wine to Basil T’s in Red Bank Award Winning Wine List

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:17:05 +0000

Victor Rallo Jr., owner of Basil T’s Italian restaurant in Red Bank has travelled to Italy to add a hand selected signature wine to his 3 time award winning wine list. Mr. Rallo has chosen one of Italy’s most chic and prized red wines, a Ripasso Valpolicella.

“Rispasso” means “to pass through a second time, to overhaul.” It implies polishing up, perfecting. When applied to Valpolicella wine, Ripasso signifies that the wine has been refermented in contact with Amarone, the region’s most prestigious red.

“I knew what I was looking for in my first Rallo wine: quality, value, a wine to enhance my food, a wine to please my customers,” Rallo said. He went on to add, “I even knew the specific type of wine, but I had to find the right partner in Italy to make it to my specifications.”

“It has the power of Amarone and the grace of Valpolicella,” according to Mr. Rallo. “It is made from Corvina and Rondinella grapes. These are two important varietals, very local, very Italian. My wine is aged for at least 18 months in large oak casks, also very traditionally Italian.”

To find the right supplier, Victor traveled to the Lessini Hills, just east of the Lake Garda near the fabled city of Verona. He interviewed several wineries. When he met Mara Castellani and her father, Sergio, of the Corte Mary Estate in Marano di Valpolicella, Mr. Rallo knew that he had found the right associates.

“This is an exciting wine. It is concentrated, intense, and flavorful. It will age well, but I like it as it is, young and very lively.”

Rallo Valpolicella Classico Superione Ripasso will be available at Basil T’s and Undici Restaurants in September. You can enjoy this full, warm, rich, dry red with roasts, cheeses, or pasta dishes.

Soon to follow will be Victor Rallo, Jr’s dry white wine selection and an ultra premium red. We will keep you posted.

To see the full wine list for Basil T’s, visit http://www.basilt.com/

Contact:
Preston Porter
prestondporter@gmail.com

Basil T’s in Red Bank Pops the Cork on Its New Wine Society

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:57:56 +0000

Basil T’s in Red Bank Pops the Cork on Its New Wine Society

We’re excited to announce our new Wine Club membership, featuring discounts and special events. Basil T’s is a hub for New Jersey wine enthusiasts and has earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 3 consecutive years. Please continue reading for the full news story!

Limited Edition Basil T's Wine Society Wine Bottle Opener

Basil T’s Brewery and Italian Grill in Red Bank is pleased to announce the latest addition to its award-winning wine list: The Wine Society at Basil T’s. Registration for this exclusive, in-house club is now open to all diners with a passion for pairing fine wine with elegant Italian cuisine. Membership privileges include:

Discounts on featured Wines of the Month
Invitations to regular wine tastings and Society events
Monthly lunch and dinner specials
A free, limited-edition Wine Key corkscrew
Continued access to a wine list that’s received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 3 consecutive years.

The inaugural edition of the Wine Society at Basil T’s will run from September 1, 2009, through August 30, 2010. The yearly membership fee is just $25. Diners can join the Society by phone (732- 842-5990), at basilt.com, or by visiting the restaurant at 183 Riverside Avenue in Red Bank.