One of the highlights of the day had to be the Allegrini banquet in the evening. After visiting the high vineyards in the shadow of the Dolomites... woah, that sounded too arty and wine writer like.... err... Ok, I'll start again.After visiting the La Poja, La Grola and Palazzo della Torre vineyards, were invited to the Allegrini banquet at Villa Giona for what was the most informal meal of the entire week! In spectacular surroundings, the evening was pretty much a huge buffet barbecue with various country's sales teams in attendence. With a couple of bottles of La Poja on each table, barbecued ribs, sausages and liver, the British contingent (with a couple of Johnny Foreigners) were dining in the English Room of this 16th century home, an ornately decorated room with paintings on the wall. It was a lovely fun evening, almost like a family barbecue with a couple of hundred family members!
At Vinitaly earlier in the day, we had the chance to try Allegrini's wines. Simply put, they are universally great. Our guide through the wines was Marilisa, a thoroughly charming lady and the daughter of Giovanni Allegrini.
2007 Allegrini Valpolicella
Fun, a nice fresh wine with good fruit. Raspberries and thyme. Soft, gentle and fun. Good balance. 8/10
2005 Allegrini La Grola
Dark, chunky, vanilla pod and a little cherry menthol. Palate is dark, tannins grip and quite spicy, but is very drinkable. Very good. 8/10
2005 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre
Good, dried fruit with a lot of sweet fruit, nice richness and dark berries, chocolate and liquorice. Good. 8.5/10
2004 Allegrini Villa Giona
Very rich, eucalyptus, raisins and mint. Nice chunky, elegant fruit with a soft, velvety texture. 9/10
2004 Allegrini La Poja
Gentle, balanced nose, a good dark fruit, liquorice and dark bitter chocolate. Tobacco comes on with sour cherry. Wow. 9/10
2004 Allegrini Amarone
I wish that this cost less, just so I can buy lots of it. Perfumy, with cherries and a nice bitter pepper and herb aroma. A good dried fruit componant. A bit of booze, and a bit of tannin. Good dark fruit and a rich, sweet tobacco finish. Gorgeous. 9/10
2004 Giovanni Allegrini Recioto
Wow! So good on the nose. Warm, stewed blueberries and cinnamon. Soft fruit pie, minty and toffee on the palate. Stunning. 10/10
I've long been a fan of the Amarone, with the 2001 being a particular, but the 2004 vintage looks to be one for the long haul. The Recioto is decedent, and, from the picturesque La Poja vineyard, the wine that shares it's name is glorious. From the Valpolicella right up to the Regioto, these wines are stunning.
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