A Beauty from Piedmont ...

Italian wines are the ones I have the least experience with -- which makes them an exciting frontier for me.  Nebbiolo, in particular, has always been a bit of a mystery.  Often quite tannic when young,  it's best to seek out Nebbiolo-based wines with at least 10 years of age. 

Barolo is considered to be the epitome of Nebbiolo, and last year I had the good fortune to participate in a Barolo tasting that shed some light on what all the fuss is about with these wines.

Just recently, we paired the 2001 A.G.N. Fantino Vigna dei Dardi Riserva with grilled veal chops and it was a revelation.  Gorgeous brick color, nose of faded roses, and tart cherry fruit --- this is a wine that begs for good food with its lovely balance of acidity and fruit.

With Barolo, think Sophia Loren .... sure, she was alluring in "Too Bad She's Bad", but she was stunning a few years later in "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"...

Why St. Emilion Rocks...

St. Emilion is known for being more approachable when young, yet many have outstanding potential for aging.  Case in point is the 1998 La Couspaude... its 70% Merlot + 30% Cab Franc blend provides a solid framework that could keep it going for another 10 years.
Black currant & kirsch with fine tannins, and a very tasty eucalyptus note ... gotta love what the Cab Franc brings to this dance....

An Aptly Named Seductress ....

This is a wine that is indeed hard to stay away from... the 2005 vintage is showing especially well right now and very successfully demonstrates why the Russian River Valley produces some of the best pinot noir in the world. 
Tannins are beautifully integrated with rich cherry fruit, a hint of sweetness balanced with savory forest floor ... all supported by lithe minerality... this wine always disappears quickly from the glass. 
The Lolita Ranch is a consistent favorite of the Martinelli pinot noirs...

The Greatness of Ribera del Duero



... a very rare treat indeed is the Bodegas Emilio Moro Malleolus de Sanchomartin.   A wonderful expression of Tempranillo ... smooth, lush blackberry fruit with very appealing notes of cedar and smoke.

Sourced from an "old-vines" vineyard originally planted in 1944, with limestone and clay soils.
Moro also makes an entry-level Ribera that is worth seeking out.  

Las Flors de La Peira

Languedoc-Roussillon is a source for outstanding new wines.  One of our favorites is Las Flors de La Peira from the Terrasses du Larzac appellation.

Las Flors is best enjoyed after a few years in the bottle.  The 2005, 2006 and 2007 vintages are drinking well, however they are getting harder to find in the market.  The wine is a blend consisting typically of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. 

The 2006 seems to have a bit of an edge over the other vintages. Upon opening, aromas of lavender and sandalwood provide an intoxicating allure. It exhibits a wonderfully balanced palate with an acidity that expresses the influence of limestone marl substrate in the region. The velvet black raspberry fruit has layers of complexity that are continuing to resolve, suggesting that this wine has solid potential for aging for another 10 years or so. 

The 2005 vintage is softer with more lush fruit and a bit less acidity, while the 2007 is made is a more "modern" style (more oak). 

Las Flors de La Peira has everything one could want from a Rhone-style wine.

Happy Halloween!



Halloween!  Fall is in the air ... what better time to enjoy Pinot Noir.

Wonderful treat to compare the 2004 and 2005 Kanzler side by side... inimitable expression of terroir... 2004 was the first vintage produced (note the one-off first vintage label ! , true collector's item).  Lovely earthy fruit with forest floor, even a bit of anise... gotta love what Steve & Lynda Kanzler do with their vineyard ;-D



 

Martinelli pinots are always among my favorites... the 2001 Moonshine Ranch is drinking nicely... very smooth, luscious fruit with signature style ... there's a subtle thread that runs through all the Martinelli pinots ... perhaps Helen Turley's influence...

 

Compare with the gorgeous classicism of Girardin's 1999 Pommard Les Rugiens... I have never met a Pommard that I didn't like.  Fascinating Burgundian complexity that trumps pinots from anywhere else in the world... limestone underpinnings provide refreshing acidity with mushroom earthiness on the front end and finishing with mouth-watering sour cherry fruit ... the 1999 vintage from the Cote de Beaune will be a long-lived one!  Perfect paired with Dijon chicken or a nice Havarti ..

 

 

The outlier for the evening was a 2005 Rioja made in the modern style .. quite quaffable, but a bit too oaked for me...

cheers!

 



Pinot Noir Wine Dinner, 28 July 2012

Great to get everyone together and thank you so much for making this a wonderful dinner! 

Here is an updated list that shows all wines and which was the favorite of each flight. 

We enjoyed wines from France, South Africa, California, Oregon and New Zealand, encompassing four continents in both Northern and Southern hemispheres! 

Interestingly, California wines were the favorites in all three pinot noir flights.  Two were from Sonoma County (Rochioli and Martinelli) and one was from the Santa Barbara area (Paul Lato). 

Wine & Food pairings: 

First Flight paired with sautéed sea scallops
2004 Mt. Eden Estate Chardonnay

2006 Sine Qua Non The Hoodoo Man

2007 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet Champs-Gain (favorite) 

Intermezzo

2009 Southern Right Pinotage 

Second Flight paired with grilled pork tenderloin

2004 Dominique Laurent Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts

2004 Rochioli West Block (favorite)

2008 Felton Road Block 3

Third Flight paired with grilled yellow fin tuna

1996 Domaine des Forges Clos de La Roche

2002 Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard

2005 Martinelli Biondi Home Ranch Water Trough Vineyard (favorite) 

Fourth Flight paired with selection of cheeses

1999 Maison Champy Les Suchots

2005 Shea Wine Cellars Homer

2010 Paul Lato “The Prospect” Sierra Madre Vineyard (favorite)