Italian wines have always been one of my favourites, specially since the day I tasted my first Chianti. So when the famous Antinori wines were on display at an event at La Piazza, Hyatt Regency Delhi, we headed over pronto to try out some of their prized offering. The family, based in Tuscany has been in the winemaking business for over 6 centuries and 26 generations. With so much of wine history behind them, their wines and the pairings were obviously going to be interesting.
Which of the Antinori wines we tried out?
We started off with fresh Tuna Tartar cooked in a lovely tangy gin and lemon mayonnaise. Accompanying it was Villa Antinori Toscano Bianco 2016 which is a mix of Trebbiano, Malvasia, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Reisling.
Typical of a white from the Old World, it has a minerality on top of the lovely citrus flavours that merge with the tangy mayonnaise and a crisp acidity lends this combination quite a favourable position this summer heat.
The next round is a cold Spring Tomato Gazpacho. Combined with the Chianti Classico 2015, it was a combination I was trying out for the first time. With the rich flavours of red berries along with a hint of spice, it’s the minimal acidity that combines with the medium-bodied tannins with a longish stay on the palate creates a rich variety of flavours. The creaminess from the Tomato and the soup interacted pretty well with the Chianti lending it even more characteristics, especially its tannins.
One of my all-time favourite dishes at La Piazza is the Parmesan Gnocchi cooked in a Porcini broth. The explosion of cheesy flavours against the earthy flavour of the broth set the stage for La Bracessca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2013.
Made up of Prugnolo Gentile and Merlot, the wine starts off with a tinge of sweetness before evolving into both red and black berries. It ends with some spice and medium round bodied tannins. The flavours of the wine stay on for quite a long time giving the cheesy Gnocchi to layer itself with the wines.
For the mains, we chose the Seared Sea Bass with a clear broth and micro greens with a Sun-dried pesto along with the Pian delle Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino from the armoury of Antinori wines.
What impresses me about this wine is not just the red cherries and raspberries but a plethora of earthy flavours that dominates it: leather, minerality and tobacco which sits on the explosive tannins. The subtle light flavours of the Sea Bass is in contrast to the wine and is quite enjoyable despite being an unlikely combination.
For dessert, we had a Riccotta Souffle with an orange ice cream: a perfect way to end the meal. The Antinori wines are some of the best Italian wines that I have tasted and you should definitely try them out. Do let me us know what kind of wines do you like?
