September 22, 2012 – Marisa Cuomo Tasting, Vintages, Concord, MA
Thank you again to the staff at Vintages for hosting this event. This was a great opportunity to try some recent releases from Marisa Cuomo’s underrated wine from the Amalfi Coast. (If we want to be technical, the full name of the estate is Cantine Gran Furor Divina Costiera di Marisa Cuomo.)
Marisa Cuomo and her husband Andrea Ferraioli are located in the attractive Costa d'Amalfi in Campania, where they focus on making balanced, terroir-driven wines from indigenous grapes: Falanghina, Biancolella, Ripoli, Fenile, and Ginestra for whites; and Aglianico and Piedirosso for the reds and the rosato. Most of their wines bear the name of the communal subzone in the Costa d'Amalfi where the grapes are grown - either Furore or Ravello. The late-harvested dry white "Fior d'Uva" is considered their top wine, and I would say that it is certainly the best Campanian white that I have had. (I've had the 2004 and 2005 vintages in the past as well, and they have both been gorgeous.)
Although I have had several of the Cuomo wines in the past, this was the first time that I have tried their Rosato, which was quite nice.
2010 Costa d’Amalfi DOC Ravello Bianco
60% Falanghina/40% Biancolella. Moderately full-bodied, bone dry, nicely balanced, with good underlying acidity. Mineral, with aromas/flavors of white fruits, citrus fruit, and lime zest. Very good/excellent.
2010 Costa d’Amalfi DOC Furore Bianco
Also 60% Falanghina/40% Biancolella. Moderately full-bodied, bone dry, well balanced, with good acidity; a bit powdery; saline, mineral, with white peach and lemon notes. Very good/excellent.
2010 Costa d’Amalfi DOC Furore Bianco “Fior d’Uva”
40% Ripoli, 30% Fenile, and 30% Ginestra. Floral/mineral nose. Full-bodied, ripe, rounder, yet well balanced, with good acidity; bone dry, with lightly honeyed notes of white fruits, dried apricots, minerals, and salt. Excellent. Will age well.
2011 Costa d’Amalfi DOC Rosato
50% Aglianico/50% Piedirosso. Medium to full-bodied, roundish, with some dusty tannins; tastes of red fruit and minerals, with soft herbal/spicy aromas, especially on the finish. Very good/excellent.
2010 Costa d’Amalfi DOC Furore Rosso
50% Aglianico/50% Piedirosso. Nose of red berries and baking spices. Medium-bodied, elegant, with moderate tannin/good underlying acidity. Tastes of red berries, cherries, poultry spice, and a hint of tobacco. Very good/excellent.