Northern Italy: Piedmont & Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
I am a bit behind as I am returning from a quick trip to Las Vegas. We celebrated Lorraine Dailey's
90th birthday. Amazing time with family.
Dianne and Jan have taken charge of the menu, thank goodness.
2015 Albino Rocca Docetto D'Alba DOC 13.5% abv $14.99
Grape: Dolcetto (earlier ripening than Nebbiolo and Barbera. Deep purple color with medium to high tannins and medium acidity. Aromas of black plums and dark cherries and dried herbs.
black skinned varietal responsible for many interesting and intensely flavored wines. Despite their name translating as 'little sweet one' in Italian, the wines produced from this varietal are almost always dry, and benefit from the strong tannins held in the dense skins of the fruit. Although this characteristic normally results in a full bodied wine, Dolcetto grapes generally are responsible for producing quite light wines as a result of their low acidity, yet are packed full of interesting flavors such as liquorice and prunes, black cherries and almonds which are a delight to the palate and make them a great match for strongly flavored and spicy foods.
Dianne and Jan have taken charge of the menu, thank goodness.
- Roasted pork Florentine style with fennel and rosemary: Dianne
- Risotto with asparagus and white truffle oil: Dianne
- Antipasto salad: Jan
- Cheese and olives: Beth
The wines:
Dennis Kohl helped me pick our 12 Italian wines on one of his last days at Trigs. I wish I would have recorded his descriptions as we made the selections. I so miss him.
2014 Scarbolo Pinot Grigio 12.5% abv $16.99
Grape: Pinot Grigio
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giula
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Clear, pale, white lemon in color.
Nose: clean, medium(-) intensity Aromas of green apple, lemon and biscuit.
Palate: off dry, medium(+) acidity, medium alcohol and body, medium(-) flavor intensity and finish. The flavor is tart like lime and a bit of nectarine, some bitter vegetal notes bread and dried apple. Jan found honey and Dianne green pepper.
Assessment of Quality (balance, intensity, length and complexity); good quality
Level of readiness to drink. drink now
More Information
From the “Le Fredis,” “Codis”, and “Mattia” vineyards
VINIFICATION
Soft pressing of whole clusters immediately after harvesting. The juice is cooled and decants naturally, eliminating particles resulting from vinification. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature.AGING Aged on the noble lees in stainless steel for 6 months with frequent batonnages.TASTING NOTES. The color is an intense golden yellow. The aromas are that of golden delicious apples and honey, with an elegant mineral undertone that harmonizes with its generous structure and balance. A perfect wine to serve as an aperitif or to pair with soups, raw seafood appetizers, poultry and fish dishes. Serve at 54 - 58°F.
Medium to high bodied white wine. Clear yellow yellow in colour, on the nose, aromas of apple and honey with notes of floral. Light tannins. High in acidity. Green and flinty white wine in style. On the palate, touch of lemon and lime, smooth, structured. It has light finish.
Region: Piedmont.
Grape: Dolcetto (earlier ripening than Nebbiolo and Barbera. Deep purple color with medium to high tannins and medium acidity. Aromas of black plums and dark cherries and dried herbs.
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance: clear deep purple color
Nose: clean with medium(+) intensity. The aromas are blossom, red cherry, vanilla, caramel and leather
Palate: medium-dry, medium acidity, medium(-) tannin, medium alcohol, body, flavor intensity and finish. Flavors of black cherry, chocolate nutmeg and earth. Dianne found charred wood and smoke.
Assessment of Quality (balance, intensity, length and complexity). Good
Level of readiness to drink: Drink now
More Information
Production area Barbaresco. 38 year old vines. Limestone and clay soil. Aged in stainless steel tanks for 6 months. Production, 10,000 bottles.
Docetto is planted on less desirable vineyard sites and produces fruit forward great value wines that are meant to be consumed within 1 - 2 years of bottling
Winemakers notes: A deep purple red colour with purple reflections with a delicate and intense foral nose. Dry and full bodied, with juicy cherries, red liquorice, earthy undertones and soft nuance, shows a characteristically pleasant bitter note.
Varietal: Dolcetto
Wineries in Italy and many other countries in the world have longed admired the Dolcetto grape, a
2014 Michele Chiarlo Barbera D' Asti Le Orme DOCG 13.5% abv $14.99
Region: Piedmont.
Grape: Barbera. A late ripening grape with medium to deep color, low to medium tannin and high acidity, displaying aromas of red cherries and plums and sometimes black pepper
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance: clear, deep ruby color.
Nose: clean with medium intensity. Aromas of black cherry, prune and licorice. Cinnamon, prune and leather.
Palate: medium dry, medium(-) acidity and tannin. Medium alcohol, body, flavor, and finish. Flavors of black cherry, leather and prune.
Assessment of Quality (balance, intensity, length and complexity). Good
Level of readiness to drink: Now
More Information
Michele Chiarlo sources grapes from strictly selected Barbera vineyards with excellent exposure to produce a superb, balanced wine. The choice vineyards are in the southern area of Asti province, especially the hills around Nizza Monferrato. Temperature controlled maceration and fermentation on the skins yields the dark, rich color that is typical of great Barberas. The wine is aged in large French oak casks before release.
TASTING NOTE
Medium bodied and robust with rich, ripe fruit on the nose and an elegant palate.
FOOD PAIRING
Pairs well with chicken, mushrooms, pork and grilled or roasted red meats.
Winemaker Notes
There is a hint of oxidation coming through but it does not detract from the incense and leather spices, the elegant cherry and vanilla flavours underneath.
Drinking Window 2017 - 2020
Read more at http://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/italy/piedmont/michele-chiarlo-barbera-d-asti-le-orme-16-mesi-2014-11669#TiorGHjQbSYCAjoR.99
Read more at http://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/italy/piedmont/michele-chiarlo-barbera-d-asti-le-orme-16-mesi-2014-11669#TiorGHjQbSYCAjoR.99
2012 Villadoria Bricco Magno Lange Nebbiolo DOC 13.5% abv $16.99
Region: Piedmont.
Grape: Nebbiolo. A black grape with high levels of acidity and tannin but very little color. The grapes ripen slowly at high altitudes developing perfumes aromas of sour cherries, herbs and sometimes dried flowers
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance: clear. deep garnet color.
Nose: clean nose and medium(+) intensity. Aromas of black cherry licorice, butterscotch, jaminess and leather.
Palate: dry, medium(+) acidity, high tannin, medium alcohol, medium(+) body, flavor intensity and finish. Flavors of prune chocolate and earth.
Assessment of Quality (balance, intensity, length and complexity)
Level of readiness to drink
More Information
The Langhe (Italian pronunciation: [ˈlaŋɡe]; Langa is from old dialect Mons Langa et Bassa Langa) is a hilly area to the south and east of the river Tanaro in the province of Cuneo in Piedmont, northern Italy. It is famous for its wines, cheeses, and truffles—particularly the white truffles of Alba.
Vinification: The hand-harvested grapes are destemmed and soft crushed. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Maceration lasts about 20 days.
Aging: The hand-harvested grapes are destemmed and soft crushed. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Maceration lasts approximately 20 days. After malolactic fermentation in 2013 the wine was aged for one year in small barrels, one year in different size big casks (88hL and 64hL), then in stainless steel vats until the bottling.
Wine Notes: Ruby red with garnet hints. Violets, rose, vanilla and cocoa scents on the nose. Warm, robust, velvety, soft and persistent on the palate with a harmonious, enveloping finish. Ageing gives it a marked boisé note.
Recommended Food: Charcuterie and ripe cheese, pasta and sausage, mushroom risotto
Serving temperature: 18-20°C. We recommend uncorking the bottle an hour before serving.
Aging: The hand-harvested grapes are destemmed and soft crushed. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Maceration lasts approximately 20 days. After malolactic fermentation in 2013 the wine was aged for one year in small barrels, one year in different size big casks (88hL and 64hL), then in stainless steel vats until the bottling.
Wine Notes: Ruby red with garnet hints. Violets, rose, vanilla and cocoa scents on the nose. Warm, robust, velvety, soft and persistent on the palate with a harmonious, enveloping finish. Ageing gives it a marked boisé note.
Recommended Food: Charcuterie and ripe cheese, pasta and sausage, mushroom risotto
Serving temperature: 18-20°C. We recommend uncorking the bottle an hour before serving.
Dusty light ruby color. Bright, fruity, exotic elegant earthy aromas of wild raspberry, preserved plum, fine vintage library book, and backed cherry cobbler with an puckering, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, complex, long dried pomegranate, mocha-strawberry truffle, red licorice, and candied bacon finish with chewy, well-integrated tannins and light oak. Elegant, complex and layered with beautiful cherry, plum and raspberry flavors for enjoying now, but with a rich layer of chocolate, coffee, bacon and chewy tannins that will continue to unfold for several more years.
Comments
Post a Comment