Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri Tasting 2022 NYC
Gambero Rosso’s guide, “Vini d’Italia,” is issued every year in the autumn. More than 20,000 wines from all the regions of Italy are tasted every year by a competent jury and only the very best, about 400 are selected with the distinction of being awarded “Tre Bicchieri” the highest honor bestowed by Gambero Rosso.
The event was very well attended by producers from Italy, wine writers, importers, retailers and restaurateurs. It felt like a coming out party for Italian wine after two years of Covid. Wines from 104 producers were featured.
Some of the wines I tasted:
Ilaria Pettito with the DonnaChiara Greco di Tufo made from 100% Greco di Tufo (Campania) The wine has hints of citrus fruit, pear, apricot and pineapple. I have known Ilaria for some time and have visited the winery. I always enjoy her wines and I am a very big fan of the white wines of Campania.
Elise Rialland Forgione With “Anthem” Bianco Lazio IGT made from 100% Bellone Casale del Giglio (Lazio). The wine has hints of tropical fruit, like mango and papaya, a touch of flowers and a note of spice. Because of the good acidity this is a wine that will age. I visited the winery and enjoyed a traditional Roman meal matched perfectly with the wines.
Federico Lombardo di Monte Lato with the Etna DOC Bianco “Cavanera” made from Carricante and Catarratto, Firriato (Sicily). The wine has hints of apples and peaches with a touch herbs and a note of seaweed. I visited the winery a number of years ago. More recently, I hosted a lunch and tasting for the press at Norma restaurant in NYC.
Giulia Cecchi with the Maremma Toscana “Aurelio” Family Cecchi (Tuscany) made from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. This is a full bodied balanced wine with hints of ripe red fruit, black pepper, spice and chocolate. I have been enjoying Cecchi wines for many years.
Fabrizio Santarelli with the Lazio Bianco “Donna Adriana” made from 80% Viognier, 20% Malvasia del Lazio Castel De Paolis (Lazio). The wine has hints of exotic fruit, apricot and peach with a mineral finish. I visited the winery and it is so close to Rome that you can see the dome of Saint Peter’s from the terrace.
Tony Di Dio(Tony di Dio Selections) with the wines of Cusumano “Alta Mora” Etna Bianco DOC (Sicily) made from 100% Carricante. The wine has hints of lemongrass, melon, and pear with undertones of citrus fruit, a touch of herbs and mineral notes. Cusumano Tenuta Ficuzza Terre Siciliano IGT “Salealto” (Sicily) made from Inzolia, Grillo and Zibibbo. The wine has notes of Mediterranean herbs, dried fruit, apricots and a whiff of the sea.
Also with Tony Di Dio, Peter Zemmer Pinot Grigio Riserva “Giatl”(Veneto) made from 100% Pinot Grigio. This is a white wine that will age. It has more depth than most Pinot Grigios, with ripe fresh fruit, a touch of pear, a hint of spice, good mineral character and fresh acidity.
L’ Albereta Riserva Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2018 Il Colombaio di Santachiara 2018 made from 100% Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The wine has hints of ripe yellow stone fruit, apricot, citrus, white flowers, toasted almond and a note of vanilla. This is a white wine that will age.
Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2017 made from 100% Nebbiolo. The wine has hints of assorted berries, plum, blackberry, black cherry, rose petal, a note of tobacco and a touch of leather. I first visited the Vietti winery in 1982 and have been enjoying their wine ever since.
Livio Felluga Terre Alte 2018 (Friuli Venezia Giulia) made from Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon Blanc. The wine has a touch of sage, hints of pear, apricot, peach and almonds. This is the Gambero Rosso’s White Wine of the year.
Elvio Cogno Barolo DOCG Ravera “Bricco Pernice” (Piedmont) made from 100% Lampia, a sub-variety of Nebbiolo. This is a complex wine with notes of violets, ripe red fruit, a hint of damp soil and subtle spiciness. I have visited the winery on a number of occasions.
Michele Chiarlo (Piedmont) Nizza Cipressi 2019 made from 100% Barbera The wine has hints of red fruit mature cherries, raspberries and a note of sweet tobacco.
There was also a very interesting and informative seminar, “Italy In A Nutshell,” which I attended. With 16 wines from Prosecco to Amarone, the two speakers took us on a tour from the North to the South of Italy.