Riccardo Gabriele of PR Comunicare il Vino heard I was in Florence and invited me to join him for lunch. We met at the elegant Porta Rossa Restaurant in the hotel of the same name.
When I arrived I could smell the aroma of truffles and then I saw a sign for Savini Tartufi.
Riccardo had a selection of wines that he wanted me to taste, so I let him order my lunch for me.
We started with peaches in truffle oil and olive oil
What followed were 3 courses with truffles. I tasted all the wines with the different dishes.
The Wines
Società Agricola Usiglian del Vescovo is located close to the village of Palaia on the Valdera Hills and near the Tyrrhenian Coast.
Usiglian Del Vescovo Costa Toscana Bianco IGT made from 50% Chardonnay and 50% Viognier. The wine is aged for 4 months in oak barrels and for 4 months in bottle before release. This is an easy drinking wine with hints of citrus fruit, herbs and a touch of grass.
My first course was carne crudo with truffles, hand chopped veal topped with shaved white truffles.
Usiglian Del Vescovo Chianti Superiore DOCG made from 100% Sangiovese and aged for 9 months in oak barrels and 6 months in the bottle. This is a fruity red wine, easy to drink with hints of red fruit, cherry and violets.
Donne Fittipaldi Winery, Bolgheri, Tuscany
There are over 9 hectares of vines on the estate and the winery is run by 5 women, Maria Fittipaldi Menarini and her four daughters.
Donne Fittipaldi Bolgheri Rosso DOC 2016 made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot from Vigna del Bruciato. The training system is cordon spur. Harvest begins in September and goes to the first half of October. Manual harvesting, soft destemming followed by natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts and 15 days maceration on the skins. The wine is aged for 12 months in barriques of 2nd and 3rd passage. This is a fruity wine with hints of cherry and a note of spice.
Second course was fettuccine with shaved white truffles
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Donne Fittipaldi Bolgheri Rosso Superiore DOC 2013 made from 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine is macerated for 20 days of maceration on the skins. The wine is aged in barriques, part new and part second passage. This is a complex wine with hints of red fruit and cherry with notes of spice and vanilla.
For dessert, there was tiramisu with truffles, a combination that I did not think would work but it was wonderful. We had it with the Frizzante Rosato and it was a perfect combination.
Donne Fittipaldi “5” Frizzante Ancestrale Rosato IGT Toscana NV made from 100% Malbec from Vigna del Bruciato. The training system is cordon spur and harvest takes place at the beginning of September. The grapes are picked by hand and immediately pressed. The must is then fermented at a low temperature and bottled with a slight amount of residual sugar necessary for starting the second fermentation in the bottle.
Riccardo said it is the only one of its kind, and the first example from the area of a wine that undergoes a natural second fermentation in the bottle, without being disgorged. This is a fresh and fruity semi sparkling wine with strong hints of red fruit.
Donne Fittipaldi also produces Lady F made from 100% Orpicchio–a very rare Tuscan grape. I did not taste it this time but have in the past and it is such a wonderful white wine that I had to mention it.
Charles Scicolone on Wine 