Allegrini Family Wines

     Thursday February 20, 2020

Reservations Closed
Course Pairing / Description Wine
Hors D’oeuvres Mature Cheese Skewer Pesto Asparagus in Puff Pastry
Bolgheri, the world-class wine region on the beautiful Tuscan Coast, is the birthplace of the internationally-revered reds known as Super Tuscans. Marilisa Allegrini, owner of the Allegrini estate, the Veneto’s most acclaimed winery, fell for this breathtaking land and saw in it the opportunity for an exciting new project. That was the birth of Poggio al Tesoro - a special place to mix Allegrini’s grand Italian roots with Marilisa’s innovation, imagination and passion to explore international grape varieties. Poggio al Tesoro wines epitomize the visionary winemaking of the Super Tuscans, made with Allegrini flair. The Allegrini Family has won critical praise and international awards since the founding of Poggio al Tesoro in 2002. The Poggio al Tesoro estate covers 173 acres of vines across four vineyards in Bolgheri, one of Italy’s most internationally prestigious wine regions. It’s in the upper part of Tuscany’s Maremma, south of Pisa and just two miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea, which provides cooling breezes and mild climate. The hills of Castagneto Carducci bordering the region on the east and south offer more protection from adverse weather. The estate’s first plantings were in 2003 and varieties and rootstocks were chosen to match the soils and mesoclimates of each site. The 2017 season presented some challenges and some rewards. Winter was dry and colder than usual, which helped combat insect infestation. A warm spring encouraged an early bud break but that was followed by a spring frost that caused some difficulties. Fortunately, the influences from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea mitigated the impact in Bolgheri. Italy experienced a summer heat wave, but again, breezes from the sea cooled the region. The prolonged dry spell required careful irrigation and water management, but the result was fruit with full, intense aromas and flavors, complex structure and balanced acidity. Grapes were hand-harvested then the whole grapes were soft-pressed prior to fermentation. The fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at 60-61 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 20 days. There was no malolactic fermentation and the wine was aged in stainless steel on fine lees, then for one month in the bottle. The 2017 Vermentino reflects the radiance of both the quintessential Italian grape and the ideal seaside appellation of Bolgheri. The grapes were grown in the Le Sondraie Vineyard and, true to its name (it means “only sunshine” in Italian), only sun is allowed to influence the grapes and wine, which gets no wood aging or blending. The result is an exuberant Tuscan white filled with aromas of white flowers and notes of apricots and peaches. This medium-bodied wine is both succulent and sleek with deft touches of minerality and acidity. It’s beautifully balanced now and will continue to evolve for a few years. 		Poggio al Tesoro Vermintino Solosole Toscana IGT 2017
Salad Course Winter Salad with Toasted Nuts and Cheese Crisp, with Red Wine Vinaigrette
With more than six generations of winegrowing tradition, Allegrini is the most-awarded winery in the Veneto and the benchmark for Amarone. The Allegrini family’s innovations in appassimento winemaking have made the estate’s classic Amarone and Valpolicella wines exemplars of excellence, while their emphasis on single vineyard expressions of local grape varieties has drawn renewed interest in the Veneto. With 247 acres of vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico, the Allegrinis craft a collection of wines that speak of the remarkable sites where they’re grown - vineyards whose unique microclimates, soils and aspects contribute distinctive personality to the wines. The climate in the Valpolicella region’s Fumane has ideal temperatures and near-constant ventilating winds from Mount Pastello in the north. Nearby Lake Garda offers warmer, mitigating air currents and contributes to desirable grape ripening temperatures. Southeastern exposure and hillside vineyard locations at elevations of 590 - 919 feet allow for optimal sunshine. The Allegrinis’ mixture of older vines and more recent plantings find their home in extremely varied soils of predominantly clay and chalk. Vine density is approximately 1,100 vines/acre for older sections, and 2,000 vines/acre for newer vines, with the older sections using a Pergola Trentina trellis and newer sections, Guyot. Allegrini Valpolicella has the classic bright red color and approachable, soft cherry notes of Corvina, the historic grape variety of the appellation. A blend of 70% Corvina and 30% Rondinella, another traditional native grape of the region. Vintage 2017 features a fragrant, perfumed nose with prominent aromas of red fruit, wild aromatic herbs and fresh-cracked pepper. Smooth and well-rounded, the buoyant palate has notes of cherry, crushed raspberry and blackberry before hints of spice. This wine will express greater delicacy and finesse as it ages. 		Allegrini Valpolicella DOC 2017
Pork Course Bruschetta Duo, Capicola, Prosciutto and Pecorino and Asiago over San Marzano Tomatoes
Founded in 2002, the Poggio al Tesoro estate in Bolgheri offered Marilisa Allegrini and her family a promising new domain where they could continue their exploration of what’s possible in world-class Italian winemaking. With a Super Tuscan focus, the Poggio al Tesoro estate spans four distinctive vineyards and is located on the celebrated Via Bolgherese. From the earliest releases, the wines earned acclaim as one of Bolgheri’s finest producers. The Poggio al Tesoro estate covers 173 acres of vines across four vineyards in Bolgheri, one of Italy’s most internationally prestigious wine regions. It’s in the upper part of Tuscany’s Maremma, south of Pisa and just two miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea, which provides cooling breezes and mild climate. The hills of Castagneto Carducci bordering the region on the east and south offer more protection from adverse weather. The estate’s first plantings were in 2003 were chosen to match the soils and mesoclimates of each site. Fruit for Mediterra was grown in Le Sondraie Vineyard, a west-southwest-facing site known for its mix of clay and well drained sandy silt soils, with high concentrations of magnesium and iron. Bolgheri’s 2016 vintage was a memorable one, starting as one of the earliest on record. A warm, mild winter with good rainfall led to bud break in early March. Spring remained mild and much of summer was dry and hot although with no excessive heat spikes. Refreshing rain in early September cooled temperatures and enabled the grapes to ripen in perfect health. Ideal day-to-night temperature shifts in September encouraged the development of full aromas and flavors while maintaining acidity. Vintage 2016 wines will be known for their great personality, good structure, elegant balance and excellent aging potential. After harvest, grapes were de-stemmed and then soft-pressed to avoid overly rupturing the berries. The fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at 79-82°F for approximately 12 days. Following malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, the wine was aged for 8 months in second-use French oak barriques. A fragrant and intensely fruity red wine (40% Syrah, 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon), blackberry, red plum and black cherry characteristics are interwoven with more incisive pepper and spice notes. Mediterra succeeds in the difficult task of expressing the rich complexity of Bolgheri’s terroir with a warm and approachable style. 		Poggio al Tesoro Mediterra Toscana IGT 2016
Beef Course Braised Short Rib Toscana, over Creamy Mushroom Risotto and Confit Heirloom Tomatoes
This Bolgheri Rosso is blend of international varieties, including 40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Each was carefully harvested and vinified to ensure density and concentration as well as an approachable and refreshing style of wine. Our grapes were de-stemmed and then soft-pressed to partially rupture the berries. The fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at 82-86°F for approximately 12 days. The wine was then aged for 15 months in 30% new French barriques (70% second use). Il Seggio wine was named for the Seggio river, the largest watercourse in the municipality of Castagneto Carducci. It cuts across the entire Bolgheri region, its alluvial debris enriching the characteristic clay soils with large pebbles, ensuring excellent drainage. The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in the deep, sandy and gravelly soils of our Via Bolgherese Vineyard, with the remaining varieties grown in the iron-rich clay-sandy soils of Le Sondraie Vineyard. In the glass, one can immediately grasp the impassioned enthusiasm and attention to the detail that they dedicate to Il Seggio. Intense ruby red in color, the nose offers suggestions of fresh-cut red fruit, which blends with mineral and spicy notes. The silky, elegantly textured palate has characteristics of red berries, blackberry, cassis and baking spice. Very soft tannins envelop the mouth, with a precise, clean finish. 		Poggio al Tesoro Il Seggio Bolgheri Russo DOC 2016
Dessert Course Italian Cheesecake
With a style that balances concentration and complexity with harmony and finesse, this masterfully crafted Bordeaux blend (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc) has quickly become a classic in Bolgheri. Grown in two estate vineyards, the region is known for its terroir-driven wines. Perfectly ripened grapes and painstaking work in the cellar produces a Sondraia with intense ruby red color and an aromatic, perfumed nose. Elegant on the palate, nuances of cherry, plum and blackberry blend with notes of chocolate, anise and spice. Silky-smooth, well-structured and balanced, with fine-grained tannins resulting in a wine of great class. 		Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia Bolgheri DOC Superiore 2014