Tag Archives: Italy

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2006 Girabaldi Barbaresco

An enjoyable bottle of robust red comes to us here from the Girabaldi vineyards in Italy. With great promise this cherry-red beverage tumbled from the bottle into my Cabernet Sauvignon glass, a massive glass vessel that allows a generous pour and all the subtleties of the wine to come forth to the nose. I’m not sure why this 2006 was being unveiled at the time of purchase but I am grateful for the opportunity to give it a go.

The 2006 Giribaldi accompanied filet mignon, queen-size and grilled to a well-seasoned outcome in the day’s waning light. This Barbaresco complemented too a blue cheese salad with an experienced mix of dressing and crumble, plus sides of garlic-slathered mushrooms and a few miniature potato crowns–just because. Comprising Nebbiolo grapes, this Giribaldi offering brought out the flavors of the meat and was a great focal point in a delicious meal.

And just in case the above doesn’t fill in all the blanks for you, let me add that Wine Spectator remarks, “Attractive cherry, plus, and tobacco aromas get support from dense tannins in this pretty well-tone red, which still needs time for the tannins to finish.”

Perhaps the above is the reason the 2006 has been on hold until recently. We have a few more of these on hand and will look forward to sharing with guests in the coming weeks. You might want to put your hands on a few too if the above strikes a chord for you as it does us.

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2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella

Several years ago–perhaps even a decade–I had occasion to join colleagues and clients at a high-end working dinner in Manhattan (or Boston?) in discussion of potential collaboration.  No longer can I remember on what fare we dined, or how I enjoyed the meal, but I can remember with stark clarity the two wines that we enjoyed.  One was Bogle, and the first time I’d been exposed to that winemaker, and the featured twin was an Amarone–also a first for me.  The Amarone was remarkable and a grape that I set out to find nearly a month ago, off and on, with no tangible outcome.

2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella, DOCG, Veneto, Italy.

2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella, DOCG, Veneto, Italy.

Wine stores here in town didn’t seem to carry Amarone, and it hadn’t appeared on any of the online sites we frequent.  And then, unexpectedly, we stumbled across this intensely flavored red at a high-end grocery store in the city and absolutely snapped it up–unsure of what to expect in the 2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella.  It was first sampled together with home made sliders that were so large they strained toward “burger” classification in their size and substance. Topped with crispy dill pickles and just the right amount of mustard, the sliders were a perfect way to kick off a Memorial Day of grilled treats and a perfect companion for the Amarone.

It was sweet, it was deep, it was ridiculously purple, and its berry scent swelled from the glass to greet your nose.  The 2010 vintage from Corte Majoli had a long finish and immediately made me wish we had additional bottles to savor.  As I now research, Amarone della Valpolicella is made from dried grapes in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy and is one of the region’s most recognized and prestigious reds. It results from the efforts of Veneto winemakers who sought out ways “to increase the body, complexity, and alcohol content of their wines” by concentrating the natural sugars and aromatics in Valpolicella wines.

These grapes are picked in whole bunches and kept in drying rooms (via the “appassimento” process) for 3 to 12 weeks until they are gently pressed and the “must” is fermented to dry. Their high sugar content translates to a stronger wine (15% to 16% alcohol) after fermentation, one that is barrel-aged for a minimum of two years prior to commercial release.

Our 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella from Tezza Corte Majoli was remarkable upon its debut and again the following evening when we polished it off with grilled steaks, blue cheese salads (yes a staple on our table), and some miscellaneous crispy crowns, onion rings, and the like. As I contemplate good vino options for an upcoming weekend with friends at a lake getaway, the 2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella makes a compelling case for inclusion.  The only tragedy one encounters with this rich red is when it’s gone.

 

Note: Special acknowledgment to Wine Searcher for assistance on the profile and process associated with the amarone style.

 

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2011 Stemmari Cabernet Sauvignon, Feudo Arancio

No photo of our meal this time, friends, but hopefully still an informative synopsis of the 2011 Stemmari Cabernet Sauvignon from the good folks at Feudo Arancio.  Is this our first Cabernet Sauvignon from Italy? That’s a distinct possibility and, if the Stemmari is any indication, a trip we’ll look forward to repeating.

Two different meals we ultimately enjoyed with the graces of the 2011 Stemmari–1) tender, spice-seasoned pork chops that retained all their innate juices thanks to our Char-Broil grill, and 2) a small feast of tacos, a deft mixture of crisp vegetables and spicy fillings, each possessing similar characteristics that rolled together with the Italian Cab and made for nodding heads in our home.

This is how the winemaker outlined goals for the 2011 Stemmari: “Intense and aromatic wine with violet red color and characteristic hints of cranberry that are accompanied by spicy oak notes. Ideal with grilled red meats, game, charcuterie, and aged cheeses.”

We obviously prioritized the grilled meat aspect of this recommendation, and to good effect.  Even after repeated recorking and revisiting over subsequent evenings, the wine held its own. It was never too sharp, too tart, or too tannin-laden to savor. To the contrary, it was one of those bottles that you tip and look into, questioning your eyes, even after the last drop is drained into your glass. It leaves you wanting more. This delicious red was recommended to us by the staff of a fun wine store that we sought out based on a review from a Charlotte native–and one we’re excited to revisit soon.

 

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The Ones That Got Away

We enjoyed a number of fine adult beverages through the 2013 holidays and into March of 2014.  In light of an aggressive travel schedule, however, I’ve neglected to review several great reds and whites that graced our table in this time frame.  Tasting notes will have to wait another sampling but thought you’d enjoy a quick depiction of our “travels” through wine country domestically and abroad.

2011 Casillero del Diablo Red Blend, Chile.
2007 Bagrationi Champagne, France.
2011 Buena Vista Natalia’s Selection Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California, USA.
2011 Bogle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.
2012 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Italy.
2011 Clos du Bois, Pinot Grigio, California, USA.
2011 Tiamo Chianti, Italy.
2011 Cairanne La Cigalette, Cote due Rhone Villages, France.
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2011 Dogajolo Toscano, Carpineto

Time for celebrations tonight and marking the way is the 2011 Dogajolo Toscano Indicazione Geografica Tipica–a dry red table wine from Tuscany.  After weeks of American and French wines, we’ve hit Italians twice now in January.  This one was part of birthday celebrations and thus has extra special regards from us.

2011 Dogajolo Toscano, Carpineto, Tuscany, Italy.

2011 Dogajolo Toscano, Carpineto, Tuscany, Italy.

Truth be told, I had a first glass last evening (with pan-seared steaks and blue cheese salad) but tasting tonight–while we watched great YouTube video of the Kennedy Center honors for Led Zeppelin and then Paul McCartney–the Dogajolo showed its range.  My wife had selected the Dogajolo based on recognizing its label from some occasion years ago, and I see why this one stuck deep in the subconscious of her mind.  In part, its label reminds me of one of her favorite Christmas wrapping papers.  From the taste perspective, it’s deep red and fruity, it packs in some zest, and it’s real easy to drink.

A quick label recap: “The Dogajolo is made from 80% Sangiovese grapes blended with a dash of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in dry farmed, hillside vineyards in central Tuscany.  Fruity and intense flavors, with hints of berries, coffee, vanilla, and spice, are matched with a supple tannin structure and a long finish.  This young ‘Super Tuscan’ wine shows at its best with full-flavored dishes such as roasts, grilled meats, cold cuts, and tomato-based Italian specialties such as pizza and pasta.”

All those would be great and lord knows we tried several already…and are looking forward to others.  Suffice it to say, the Dogajolo acquitted itself well.

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Podere Paganico Brunello di Montalcino 2005

I always say the best wine is consumed with friends, and that’s part what made this bottle so special–that plus the killer coffee-braised short ribs with ancho chile (thanks Jackie)!  This intense Italian red was a gift from friends and accompanied a great Saturday night meal and even better conversation.  We uncorked with hors d’oeuvres that included several types of hummus (one great option grown in nearly Asheville, NC), vegetable munchies, pretzel chips, and green olives stuffed with jalapeno–one of our favorites.  Kids and adults made quick work of all this fun…

Podere Paganico Brunello di Montalcino 2005, Tuscany, Italy.

Podere Paganico Brunello di Montalcino 2005, Tuscany, Italy.

…and then we were on to the main event.  The ribs were fantastic and we’ll all remember the funny story about what it took to get the right cut from the local butcher.  Sounds like a less frequent request that I bet the butcher told his family that night too.  All the extra care came through in the killer meal, though.   The Podere Paganico Brunello di Montalcino, a Sangiovese from Tuscany, was packed full of flavors both dominant and subtle.  Its plummy fruits combined effectively with the savory short ribs (which practically slid off the bone), and there was some spice at work here too.  A little longer on the finish than other recent reds we’ve sampled in recent weeks…fruity but not too berryish, if that makes sense?

In addition to the ribs and red, we also had heavenly mashed potatoes, so rich and creamy that they piled high–albeit briefly–on our plates alongside fresh green beans.  All this goodness ultimately gave way to another Pinot Noir (a delicious This is E11even from the Santa Maria Valley that is pictured herein but will have to wait another sampling for a write-up of its own) and chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream.  Wish this was our “typical” Saturday night for so many reasons, but perhaps its rarity made it all the more enjoyable.  Certainly one for the memories–just like the vino.

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Barbaresco Produttori 2007

Our tastes often run to the domestic and French in this house, but every so often have a fun detour to other fine regions of the world–like Italy in this instance.  Dining in Buffalo this evening with clients, I had the occasion to drink this full-bodied red for the first time.  The Barbaresco Produttori ‘07, I had to look up thereafter, comes from the Piedmont region in northwestern Italy.  It’s made from the Nebbiolo grape and fermented first in stainless steel and then aged in oak prior to bottling.

Barbaresco Produttori 2007, Piedmont, Italy.

Barbaresco Produttori 2007, Piedmont, Italy.

The Barbaresco accompanied a delicious spread.  Ignoring the fresh bread and olive oil, I sampled a selection of olives and then had a finely chopped Caesar salad (lemon and anchovy dressing!) for my Insalata.  I was still sipping the Barbaresco with my Seconi as well, a pair of grilled lamb chops that were panko crusted and drizzled with some dark, rich (too rich?) sauce.  The lamb was one of the Siena specials for the night, and the wine worked effectively with the smoky taste of the meat.  Green beans were a welcome side vegetable too.

And the wine itself?  Very fruity and floral-smelling, and I would have loved to enjoy more than just a glass.  As the driver, though, I was forced to savor just one…easy yet smoky on the tongue.  Sometimes a business dinner gets you outside of the norm, and I’ve now got the Barbaresco Produttori 2007 on my “try again” list for this reason.