Banfi Fontana Candida Frascati `10 $13 Live Blog whites and rose #WBC12

@BanfiBanter  Hello Banfi Fontana Candida, you have something new for us.  Restyling an ancient wine , Banfi brings Frascati back to the people.  Artichokes.  Have it with artichokes.

Poggio Trevvalle Santippe, IGT `09 $12.99 ***

Poggio Trevvalle Santippe made a liar out of me.  I used to say that I don't like Sangiovese but I really liked this Tuscan 100% Sangiovese. It it light, easy to drink and fruit forward (rich strawberry) with a subtle earthy finish and very light tannins.  The joke is on me though... it is 14.5% ETOH.  It goes down waaaaayyyy too easy.  This is a wine that I need to watch myself with, it is beguiling and wonderful but could lead to a regrettable morning after.

Made by two Italian brothers at their vineyard Poggio Trevvalle in Maremma, Tuscany, between the towns of Grosseto and Campagnatico, this wine shows their commitment to the area "terroir".  It s a delicious, straightforward juicy wine that could easily be our house wine for Spring 2012. (JPH ran out to buy three more bottles after we polished off the first one with the dinner pictured above)

We paired it with chicken cutlets filled with buffalo mozzarella and parsley, wrapped in prosciutto,; eggplant cubes sauteed in olive oil with a hint of garlic and pasta with a simple red sauce. It was a delicious meal.

This wine can even make you smarter. (if you are lucky enough to have a brilliant Ph.D at the table)  After she had a sip and liked it, S. looked at the bottle and exclaimed "This is named after Socrates's wife!".  Well, that is fascinating (after all, I have always been quite fond of Socrates - as a child, my pet white goat after him)  History was not overly kind to his wife though.  For the original Xanthippe "strong willed" is one of the kinder sentiments that have survived the ages.  Shakespeare mentions her in the Taming of the Shrew which is what has really put her reputation to the test over the centuries. Jet Wine Bar wrote a great review of this wine that touches on a lot of history. I'll let you click over there to read more if you want to.


As for me, as soon as I hit "publish", I'm going to take the glass of Santippe here on my right and go take a walk in S's garden on this beautiful sunny Spring day. I think that Socrates and the brothers Umberto e Bernardo Valle won't have a problem with that!

Mionetto Sergio Rosé Prosecco NV *** $19.99 (gift)

This was one of my gifts from the Easter Bunny!  Little did EB know what happy feelings I have for Mionetto.  Their il prosecco was the last wine that I drank before I got "the call" for my kidney transplant! (That fantastic meal is a very happy memory)

I'll set the scene:  After a very long day at work, I arrived to find the dog guarding an empty house.  JPH had done the dinner shopping and sent me the menu along with a pairing.  I was confused, all of the ingredients were right there, but I searched the wine rack and the fridge high and low and could not find his suggested Vernaccia di San Gimignano to go with Chicken fricassee with rosemary, garlic and lemon, Asparagus with homemade mayonnaise and Cacio e Pepe (JPH is desperate to recreate a dish he tasted at a villa outside of Naples a couple of years ago).

It was opportunity knocking!  I had put the rosé in the fridge over the weekend, and I needed something elegant and bubbly to lift my mood after a long day of bureaucracy.  I grabbed Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking, poured a glass of well chilled Sergio Rosé and with the dog patiently waiting at my feet for any scraps that may fall her way, I started cooking dinner.

This really is a good all around Italian Prosecco Rosé.  It's a bright, bubbly and refreshing blend of 70% Raboso and 30% Lagrein grapes with a hint of raspberry dryness that is not sweet.  And, at 11% ETOH there was no risk of me getting "experimental" with my dinner prep. (ahh, the things I have done under the influence of Australian Shiraz must never be published while I am alive...)

As I sipped and cooked dinner, S. and JPH came home bearing a box a Macaroons for dessert and revealed the secret hiding place of the Vernaccia. (there were two bottles in the beer drawer)  JPH stepped in and made the Cacio e Pepe and we all sat down to a really nice dinner.

Mionetto is well known for producing good, inexpensive bubbly that really adds a highlight to any day or meal. $19.99 is a high retail price.  It can be found for $12.99 and for that price it is a "MUST BUY" - really, why not make Tuesday night a special occasion?

And just so you know, the wine was great as a stand alone sipping wine,
really good with dinner and with the Macaroons???  PERFECT!

Argiano Non Confunditur `08 $17.99 ***

This Argiano Super Tuscan was a JPH find.  The translation of the Latin name Non Confunditur is "don't get confused".  Well, this blend is IGT, meaning that with this wine, Argiano intentionally broke with tradition and got experimental: high quality blending of French and Italian varietals.

All marketing and intentional confusion aside, it is a rich, smooth, fruity, light tannin blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah.  Which makes it a good Tuscan red for people who aren't fond of Sangiovese. (Look at me, I am raising my hand here - I'll say it, Sangiovese is not one of my favorite varietals) At 14% ETOH, it is a wine with some power.  The full flavor of the wine made it a memorable sipping wine, but where it really stood out for me was with dinner.

We paired it with Venison & Mushroom Pie from the National Trust's Good Old Fashoned Pie and Stew Cookbook and a side of fresh green beans and rolls from Leonetti's Pastry Shop. It was a simple, hearty meal paired with this not so simple Tuscan blended wine.  S. and JPH really liked it (I think that this was the fourth bottle purchased).

Argiano is a producer of some amazing Grand Reserves of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. I've stumbled across them in some of the better cellar tastings that I have been to over the years. They are a quality, big name in Italian wines.  It is great to see classic production side by side with innovative blends like the Non Confunditure.  This is an Estate that is well grounded in history but is also forward thinking.  Well done.

It was a long, uneventful winter, and now that it is officially Spring I want to share pictures of S.'s garden. Soon enough, we'll be sitting on the patio sipping wine and enjoying the view that she & JPH tirelessly work to create:

Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY

Slowly, I am eating my way through the CIA.  In February, I had lunch at St. Andrew's Cafe.  This time, lunch was at Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici.  It was late March, and I was pleased to see that they had a three-course price-fixed lunch for only $23.95, plus tax and service. (Since I had budgeted $75.00 for the meal, I was trying to figure out how I could eat two lunches at that price! - Neither my stomach nor my bathroom scale would take that, so I would just have to make up the balance in wine....)

 It was a beautiful early Spring day and the first day of rotation for the student crew at the restaurant  New and exciting for all of us, here is how it went:

A cute, fresh faced waiter would be my co-conspirator for the meal. (we bonded pretty quickly, and as soon as he brought my gnocchi, I wanted to adopt him!) He brought me a fresh bread basket and pointed out the olive oil (we were at the Colavita Center after all...)

The taste sensations started with an amuse bouche (sorry, I can't remember the Italian word - antipasto just does not suffice) of a delicious riff on arancini.  It was filled with beetroot.  It was like an awesome fried, cheesy, beet popper and I loved it.

I always have a lot of fun when I read the CIA wine lists.  It is satisfying/validating (to say the least) that they list some of our house favorites.  I passed on my Falanghina, our Rosa Regale, JPH's Vernaccia di San Gimignano (why have I not reviewed this wine???) and a few more from the list.

Michele Chiarlo DOCG Gavi ` 10  $7.50 from Piemonte was my crisp white wine to start.  It was a smooth wine with a hint of grapefruit, and it went really well with the Onion Tart with balsamic drizzled arugula & tomatoes.  mmm, Piemonte. It was filling, and I had set myself up for a nap inducing meal.  (which would be rough, because I had a vineyard visit next... it is a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!)

Let's move on to the Gorgonzola gnocchi with walnuts.  Now, hands down the best gnocchi I have ever had was at a little hole in the wall Italian restaurant in Paris. This I will rate as second best. Rich & creamy and it paired oh so well with my Rosé from the Veneto: DOC Bardolino Chiaretto, Cavalchina `09 $6.50 (55% Corvina, 35% Rondinella, 10% Molinara) a slightly dry, wine that was the perfect foil for the creamy gnocchi with a slight finish of Gorgonzola ripeness.  The Rose was fragrant, but savory, not fruity at all.  I loved it.

This was a prix-fixe meal, and I was going to squeeze all three courses in, so I lingered, checked out the pass into the kitchen, watched the servers be instructed by their Professor/maître d',  the other diners that were filling the restaurant -  I caught snippets of conversations - there were alumni showing their school off to their dining companions and then, my buddy/waiter mused about what their first day of service was like, and then he brought me the dessert menu.

We discussed my options at length.  After all, he was already a better trained chef than I will ever be, and then we decided on the Tirami Su Classico  - after all, how could I NOT try this classic dessert at America's premier culinary school's Italian Restaurant?  And, since the meal was so inexpensive, how could I have dessert without Caffé Italiano (Coffee, Brandy, and Brown Sugar, topped with Fresh Whipped Cream) $8.00 to finish the meal?

The truth is, I couldn't finish the coffee.  But it was delicious, and the Tirami Su, well, if I could have licked the plate without having the bartender, waitstaff and other diners stare at me, I would have.  So I simply said "addio" to my lovely waiter, wished him well in school, then took a long walk around campus taking pictures of the beautiful Spring afternoon.  Maybe I took a little nap in the car, and then promptly got lost finding my way to my next stop, Mill Brook Vineyard and Winery.  It is always an extremely well fed adventure when I go to visit the CIA.

Slideshow:

Purato Nero d'Avola IGT `10 $14.99 **

I'll admit to being sarcastic when it comes to the "Green" movement. I spent my childhood lugging wood for the wood-stove and looking at my mother's home canned green beans every time I took the stairs to the cellar freezer to get the home grown & butchered pork - you can't get much greener or "locavore" than growing up in an economically challenged farming community.  But now, 30 years later, I live on the "Gold Coast" in Gatsby World.  When I look at the $14.99 price tag on a $9.99 bottle of wine, I just have to laugh to myself - you've come a long way baby. (maybe it is time to go back)

JPH didn't buy this wine because it says:  The label is made from 100% recycled paper, uses 100% vegetable ink to print and uses 100% recycled cardboard for shipping and an 85% recycled glass bottle. (Thank Goodness!) He bought it because he & S. like Nero d'Avola, and the overpriced wine shop proprietor recommended it. All ranting aside about being "Green", this is an ok wine. 100% Nero d'Avola, 13.5% ETOH.

I was remind to never judge a wine on the first pour from the bottle.  I was greedy and wanted instant gratification, so I unscrewed the top, poured a glass and took a swig.  shudder.  You can't swig wine!  I should know that!  I set my glass aside and went back to the mise en place for dinner (or gossiping about how bad my day at work was... I can't remember) JPH was smart and pointed me to a nice sherry as an apéritif.

Half an hour later, the pasta sauce was bubbling, the filet was in the oven and I was ready to really try the Purato Nero d'Avola.  It is young, bright and pretty good.  It has a very aggressive fruit (tart blackberry)forward, and a spicy (almost peppery) middle, with a balanced finish.  It really is easy to drink with a meal, but I don't really like it as a stand alone sipping wine.

Purato seems to be a fairly new venture from the Sicilian producer Feudo di Santa Tresa.  There is nothing about this wine on their website, but it is clearly labelled as theirs. Made with Organic Grapes, and called "Eco Friendly" it is what it is: Ok wine with an interesting marketing twist.

Menu:
Tenderloin
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
Tagliatelle with Mushroom Cream Sauce

La Mozza Morellino di Scansano I Perazzi DOCG `09 *** $19.99

This is a great Tuscan blend wine with an all American foodie pedigree. I was biased.  JPH bought it at our local "Luxury Priced" Wine Shop, and the proprietor told him that it was a "great value" at $19.99. Well, since I have a history with said wine shop, I know that "great value" means that JPH paid an extra $5.00 for the proprieter/sommeliere service - he does know his wine, and we do pay a markup for it.  The value ended up in the flavor and drinkablilty - not the mark up.

This wine is the brainchild of Lydia and Joe Bastianich and Mari Batali. Icons in the American/Italian foodie world.  And well...Mario knows his wine. (I feel like I should link to a famous Mario Batali Drinking Story, So I will)

On first sip, S. said "This is good wine".  I smiled and followed suit.  It is a really good, light red table wine that went perfectly with out Roast Chicken and Pasta with cherry tomatoes, scallions and chili peppers from Marcella Cucina.

An eclectic blend of 85% Sangiovese , 5% Syrah, 5% Alicante, 2% Colorino, 3% Ciliegiolo this is a really versatile wine.  Fresh juicy fruit forward (cherry), the finish is mellow (a hint of smoke to add depth), and it is so easy to just have another glass.  At 13% ETOH it is gentle for the week night.  We finished the bottle before dessert. (I was a bit sad that my glass was really empty)

From Maremma, southwest Tuscany comes La Mozza Winery.  They produce just two wines (so far), and it is a rather large production (10,000 cases of the I Perazzi) - but the flavor remains artisanal, like it is Old World hand crafted; that is special and really shows the talent of the winemakers Gabriele Gadenz and Maurizio Castelli.  This really is a perfect wine for the American market.  Not too overpowering, yet exotic enough to be very interesting.  Normally I am not a fan of Sangiovese, but this blend brings out all of the good in the varietal.


Although it cost JPH $19.99 (it was worth the $$) It can be found between $13.00 and $15.00. I liked it a lot, and I am glad that our food icons have put their money and vision into a winery that lives up to their culinary reputations.

Tiburzi Montefalco Colle Scancellato `09 IGT $10.99 ****

There is fresh new take on Italian red table wine and this Tiburzi Montefalco Colle Scancellato is it.

Umbria, the heart of Italy, at a vineyard owned by Gustavo Tiburizi, this wine was made by Tiziano Vistall. It is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 20% Ciliegiolo.  Really the heart of Umbira, both of these varietals are bright, fruit forward and where the Sangiovese give a deep dark fruit taste, the Ciliegiolo brightens the wine and gives it life.  Some acid, very little tannin, 14% ETOH.


We've had this a few times now, first in the picture above with a leek and ham pie JPH recreated a delicacy that he had at the George & Falcon gastropub in Warnford Hampshire, UK in  September. It was perfect with the saltiness of the ham and the richness of the creamed leeks in the pie.  The fruit elevated the meal. S. and I agreed, this may be a new "house" wine for us.

Then the next day with lunch, we had it with BLTs on fresh baked bread.  Then, we brought a bottle to K's for a Sunday dinner of grilled NY strip steak and creamy potatoes.  It was excellent with the steak.  One guest (who knows his wine) was adamant that it was very similar to Chateau Simard Saint-Emilion - a Bordeaux Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend. That comparison just spoke volumes to me.  Here we had a lovely Italian table wine that was being compared to a classic French blend.  Sangiovese is no longer the wine of the worker.  It is being elevated by vineyards like Mr. Tiburizi's and winemakers like Tiziano Vistall.  In a blind taste test, I don't think that I would have pegged it as Italian. I think that we are looking at a new world of wine, where stereotypes are being thrown out of the window and are being replaced by wines that simply taste good.  (just wait 'til I review that Nebbiolo from Virginia!)


JPH is busy looking for a case of this wine- he already bought out Greenvale Grape's supply.

Cantina del Taburno Falanghina `09 DOC $14.00 ****

Unique, interesting, delicious.  Long finish.  Fruity, yet dry.  Crisp, with the ghost of effervescence that tingles the sides of my tongue.  I'm loving it.

This was my second venture into the world of Falanghina, and so far both have been great wines.

JPH bought this Cantina del Taburno Falanghina at Greenvale Grapes to go along with a sword fish/bluefish riff on a classic zuppe de pesce Marcella Hazan recipe that he cooked for dinner (I made the saffron rice). It was great in the dish and in our glasses.

As we talked about the wine and compared tasting notes, S. reminisced about Naples, I got hung up on Vesuvius, and JPH pondered Benevento.  For one meal, via the sense of taste, we were transported to Southern Italy - even though we were in suburban NY on a cold, wet Fall evening.

For over 15 years a little white dog was there,
watching dinner being cooked, hoping for leftovers.

Nell was a companion, a critic, a calamity and
a reluctant comedienne. 
Countless times after a few glasses of wine,

we would "talk" for her in funny voices.
When we gave her voice, she sounded goofy but loving.
When she protectively barked in her own voice,
she could be intimidating (many a FedEx Man kept clear).
Nell sacrificed a few wine bottles
when digging under the wine rack to get at the cat's food.
(No chardonnay would go unbroken
in the pursuit of Queenie's Fancy Feast )
She haunts this blog as a recurring character in so many posts.
We miss you little white dog. 
R.I.P

 

Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG NV $19.99 (Not TJ's) ****

A Birthday Dinner in three bottles:  #3  Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG

I have written about the Banfi Dynasty before - It really is the "House that Riuniti Built" But they offer so much more.  On the top of that scale is this light, sparkling delicious sweet strawberry nuanced wine.  JPH chose it as the pairing for dessert:  Vanilla and Lemon Panna Cotta.  S. & JPH first had Rosa Regale at a tasting dinner at the Banfi Estate in Old Brookville, not far from their house.  I liked it from the first sip, and after devouring a couple of splits over the summer, we had this bottle waiting in the beer drawer for a special occasion.

From Piemonte, (just like the origins of Panna Cotta) this wine was a hit.  It is sweet (everyone should approve), fresh strawberries with a hint of rose and bubbly with a dark pink/red color that just makes me think of Valentine's Day (which is a stretch, because normally, I think of Valentine's Day and want to eat a Lemon Meringue Pie all by myself, watch George Clooney in anything and then go to sleep, wishing that the day would be over... but I digress...)

Made from 100% Brachetto grapes, it is simply a great sweet/sparkling wine that you can drink to brighten up any occasion.

After we finished dessert, we went back to the terrace and enjoyed the fire pit in full blaze.  We roasted some garlic grown in a family garden and simply relaxed and enjoyed the evening.  Cognac may have been opened and enjoyed by the fireside, but what happens on the terrace, stays on the terrace.  I am done blogging for this evening.

Cheers!

Banfi Centene `08 #wbc11 live blog reds

I'm gonna cheat and link to my review, then I am just going to sip my glass and listen to Dino. We have had many, many bottles of Centene.


I am recusing myself because well, I LOVE BANFI (they are practically neighbors).  I told Dino to say hi to Neil!

Tabbarini Montefalco Sagrantino `04 $55.00 #wbc11 live blog reds

Umbria!  Giampaolo Tabarrini!!!  This wine is a mouthful, and Giampaolo is amazing.  It is a style of wine that is elegant and true to the top of the hill in Umbira!!  Wild Boar!!!  100% Sagrantino

If you can't afford a visit to Umbria, just buy some of this wine, some wild boar or another powerful meat, and you will be able to pretend that you are in Umbria. Here is the Tabarrini website in English

I have another bottle of this, 16%ETOH wine, and we just happen to have a Wild Boar Roast in the Freezer.  I will do a full review of this wine in the Fall, when it is more seasonal for this intense, tannic, mouthful of flavor.

THANK YOU Giampaolo,  and to Tony who poured for us!!

Note:  I have to say that of all the people that I met at this conference, Giampaolo was the most passionate, articulate and effusive person that I met.  His family runs this vineyard, and he has taken on the red tape of American import and trade laws on both the state and federal level, yet remains undaunted.  As a producer/small exporter, he is determined to bring his wine to the United States and has studied a lot of  law along the way. Bravo Giampaolo!

Vigneto di Gino Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi `09 DOC (not TJ's) **** $13.99

Summer is here and we were hankering for fried clams.  Since there are no clam shacks anywhere near us, we consulted Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking and came up with White Clam Sauce to satisfy our craving for bivalves.  As I was shopping for ingredients, JPH chilled this Verdicchio for both cooking and drinking.

Named for grandfather Gino, this classic white wine (DOC Marche  Dei Castelli Di Jesi ) is a really good, complex white that went perfectly with our clam pasta and cucumber salad with lemon and mint.  It was a refreshing meal on a humid summer evening.

Castelli Di Jesi is in Italy's Marche, the province of Ancona on the top eastern calf of the boot.  Castelli Di Jesi is one of the oldest DOC Marche regions (the castle is still there) and this bottle is a fine example of their indigenous 100% Verdicchio varietal, history and quality DOC standards.  Grandfather Gino should be proud to have this wine named after him.

First pour: It has a fruity scent that almost promises sweetness, but when I drank it, there was a minerality that tingled. There was discussion at the table as to what exactly the overwhelming flavor was, and S. hit the nail on the head "Crisp Plum".  I could easily imagine biting into a crisp, fresh plum, and the taste of the wine sudden;y made perfect sense.  There is a little bit of citrus to it as well, and it has a faint sweetness, and a faint bitter finish/aftertaste that adds depth and highlights the upfront fruitiness. A big mouthful of fruit and a slow lingering finish makes it a great food wine, knitting together all of the flavors.  All in all, it is a great summer wine that paired really well with dinner. We'll have this again.

Primaterra Chardonnay Delle Venezie `07 IGT (Not TJ's) $8.33***

First, we really, really liked it.  Crisp, refreshing, a mouthful of green apples.  It was simply delightful to drink.  I commented that I loved Italian Chardonnay because it tastes like Pinot Grigio, no oak, fruity and fresh.  We all agreed that it had a perfect hint of acid and a nice finish.  A very easy to drink white wine, and at $8.33 a bottle (3 for $25) S. suggested that we go buy some more for the Summer.

We had it well chilled with a chicken and artichoke heart fricassee - JPH's riff on the Marcella Cucina recipe Fricasseed Chicken with Garlic, Capers, White Wine, and Jerusalem Artichokes.  Since it was an abnormally cool late spring evening, I jazzed up the mashed potatoes with some black truffles and cream.  This was comfort food for a rainy 60 degree June day, and the wine paired perfectly with the meal.
 
Now for the BUT.  I think that there is something amiss. When I went to the Primaterra website to read their tasting notes, the main marketing listing says that this wine is 100% Pinot Grigio  - could that be a website typo? That is what I said at the table - I didn't think that it tasted at all like a Chardonnay.  But when I went to the PDF of the tasting notes, Primaterra writes100% Chardonnay.  I don't know if we'll ever know what the wine we had for supper really was.  But, what's in a name?  It was a good, crisp white table wine for $8.33; we would have it again.  I'd even suggest that you grab a bottle and let me know what you thought.  Is it a website typo?  Or could it have been a mislabeled lot? I like a little intrigue - especially when it tastes good.

Primaterra Sauvignon Blanc `09 IGT (Not TJ's) $8.33 **

I stopped by a new wine shop.  Stew Leonard's Wines in Carl Place, New York.  This was the first display that hit me:  "All Primaterra wines 3 for $25.00".  I picked out three.  Tonight we had the Sauvignon Blanc from IGT Veneto.

First sip - WOW, grassy.  If you notice that the picture is green, well, I styled it after I tried my first sip. It is clean, crisp and puckering.  JPH said "Primitive". This is a basic, clean, citrusy white wine that when served chilled does the trick.  It is perfectly average, and went well in the sauce for the freshly caught striped bass that we had for dinner.  Because of the freshness (and the pucker) I decided that this was my cooking wine, and we would have a different wine with dinner.  I styled the picture to go with the fixings for the Arroz Verde that I was making from the The Border Cookbook.  I am glad that we have another economical wine purveyor (Stew Leonard's) in the area -  I'm looking forward to more shopping trips to come.

As for the wine, it was all that for $8.33.  A good utilitarian Sauvignon Blanc.  Easy to drink, and great for cooking, but we had a lovely and subtle Château du Rouet "Cuvee Reservée" Côtes de Provence Rosé
with our meal. (review to follow)

Now, for the surprise that I go when I first walked into the wine shop:

I was greeted by Miss Frances, a cow made from corks....

Matane Primitivo Puglia IGT `09 (not TJ's) $12.99 **

I picked this up on a whim at the New Hampshire State Liquor Store.  Come to find out, even though I thought I was saving money at $12.99, it can be found for $9.99.  Nevertheless, it is not a bad wine.

Primitivo is an interesting varietal.  It is regarded as Zinfandel that is grown in Puglia (really, it is just a close cousin). The Puglia IGT is the heel of the boot, so the climate is Mediterranean. It is said that the historic fore-bearers of this Primitevo was a Croation varietal Crljenak Kaštelanski.  Enough of the history lesson, on to the drinking.

This wine is robust, spicy, has a short tannic finish with a bit of an acidic after burn.  Primitivo lives up tp its name, it is rustic.  I can't help but compare it to Tempanillos that I have liked, this wine is rustic and for the first time in my life, I tasted rosemary herbaceousness.  S. noted the vanilla highlight, and we both noted the deep, heavy fruit flavor.

I don't think that I paired it properly.  As it is a Friday night, we had Mr. Gennaro's Pizza.  I wondered aloud if Primitivo was a better Fall wine than a Spring wine, and JPH countered that it would be a good grilling wine.  Then the penny dropped.  If you balanced the tannins with a nice juicy steak, the hint of rosemary would compliment the beef, and the the vanilla highlight would add a sweetness to the char of my imaginary steak, well, I think that would be a better pairing.

After aeration with the Nuance.  S. beat me to it, and I didn't see her reaction, but when I grabbed the bottle to pour a glass, JPH said "Don't pour a full glass".  DO NOT aerate this wine.  It makes it bland and slightly sour.  The best part of it is the roughness that adds depth of character, aeration just ruins that.

Le Rote Vernaccia di San Gimignano `09 DOCG $12.99 (Not TJ's) ****

We've been on a Vernaccia kick. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a varietal (Vernaccia) grown and pressed in a very specific Italian Tuscan hillside town (San Gimignano in Siena).  Ancient by any standards; delicious by our standards.

It was a cold, rainy Saturday.  The kind of day that I simply call "Scottish": cold, raw, overcast and windy - best to be enjoyed from the cozy indoors with a glass of something warming at hand.  Due to the cold, clammy Spring weather, JPH had been thinking about comfort food for dinner.  At lunch, he flashed at me Essentials of Italian Cooking opened to the page: Risotto with Sausage. My response was Pavlovian.  My mouth watered and my head automatically shook "YES".  During lunch, I made my shopping list.  First stop, Coves Discount for some Vernaccia (the recipe calls for dry white wine (why not go Tuscan???)).

Vernaccia di San Gimignano has the honor of being Italy’s first ever DOC wine, in 1993 it was elevated to  DOCG.  This may be my first review of this wine, but this is by no means our first bottle.  JPH is a vernaccia fan, and we've a lot of this enjoyed this wine produced by the Scotti family:  Husband & Wife partners  at Le Rote, a vineyard they inherited in the Tuscan Hills.  They are really producing a GREAT, versatile white wine that is 100% Vernaccia, and so easy to drink and cook with.

My notes are:  Dry with a crisp minerality, but not too acidic.  Refreshing with a hint of tart pear.  And all around crisp white.

Beef Broth after 3 hours simmering

In following the recipe to the extreme, I spent the day making Marcella's Beef Broth  - it was vary simple, and made the house smell amazing.  I may have even had a glass or two of leftover Almez Garnacha while I was cooking... (Hey, it is Saturday!).

Tonight, I cooked and JPH took the pictures. But I'll end this post with a snapshot from my BlackBerry.  What the table looks like after dinner. I am sipping wine, polishing off the leftover asparagus, making notes, reading Patrick Leigh Fermor's A Time of Gifts (the true story of a man who walked through Europe (quaffing some amazing wine along the way) and became a part of history during WWII), and looking things up on my iPad (notably the relationship between the Duchess of Devonshire and Lord Fermor).  Just another Saturday night....

Geografico Vernaccia di San Gimignano IGT `09 $9.99 (Not TJ's) ****

This historic Tuscan Vernaccia is a pale, subtle, crisp drink that perfectly complimented our dinner.  The first pour was delicious and deceptively light.  Not acidic but not sweet either.  It is nuanced when it comes to flavor - which is why it went so well with our subtly flavored food.  Neither overpowered, yet they we complimentary.  This Vernaccia is pretty much a perfect middle of the road, easy to drink, clean white wine with no oak, a hint of citrus (mostly in the scent) and a bottom note of blanched almond.  And, it  was easy on my stomach at 11.5% ETOH.

The more that I am exposed to historic, niche Italian white wines like: Vernaccia & Falanghina, I realize that Chardonnay made me lazy. Finding a good, economic everyday white wine can be difficult (and I will always have to get over the American over-use of oak) BUT tasting these unique, geography specific white wines is simply yummie, and a great reminder to try outside of the box/bottle/endcap at the wine shop.

I finished my first glass while I was cutting  potatoes to braise with artichokes.  I think that Marcella would have preferred that we buy whole artichokes and peel and cut them, but JPH is the best at "hacks" (Techie Translation: a cheat that bypasses any restriction codes) in cooking.  He picked up a can of quartered artichoke hearts - using canned artichoke hearts made her braised potato and artichoke recipe a very easy dish to make on a weekday after work night.  JPH then used some of the Vernaccia while he was coking our main course: Fricasseed Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon from Marcella's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. 


Geografico Vernaccia di San Gimignano IGT `09  was a great find at a great price (Well done JPH on a mad dash through Cove Discount!)  I'm giving them both four stars.
I'll close with a link that I stumbled across as I was researching this post.There is a group of friends who are cooking their way through Marcella's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking over at the blog Pomodori e Vino
I loved flipping through their posts, looking at their pictures and reading Marcella's comments!!!  It was good to see their version of the chicken we had tonight (The picture is a link to their blog):

Planeta La Segreta Bianco Sicily IGT `09 $11.99 (not TJ's) ***

S. chose this wine.  Did I mention that she has good taste? We are just transitioning from a horrible winter to spring, the perennial season of mud. The gardens have been tortured by this past winter's carnage.  As the snow is washed away by rain, we can now see what has survived and what hasn't.  As for us, switching from a steady diet of red wine is a sign that we all have cabin fever.  S. started making noise about white wine a few weeks ago.  It is time to lighten up and start thinking of warmer, sunnier weather.  This Planeta La Segreta Bianco is a great harbinger of summer days and sunshine. (MEH styled and took the picture on the left)

Sicilian IGT. Planeta produces 11 out of the 16 wines that are designated Sicilian IGT. This La Segreta is a blend of 50% Grecanico, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Viognier, 10% Fiano. At 13.5% ETOH, this is a bright, slightly acidic wine that is different than the run of the mill Italian white wine. The Chardonnay gives it a backbone.  It is fermented in steel tanks, so it tastes fresh and crisp.  The flavors of the other three varietals make this wine stand out as a glass of sunshine on a rainy spring day. The Fiano gives it a slight herbal/grassy taste, the Viognier brings in the citrus taste and some of the floral aroma, and the Grecanico (I think) is the slight sweetness - that could also be from the Viognier. It is a good blend, with a good flavor at a great price. It has a slight sour finish, that could be considered a kick of grapefruit tartness at the end.

I have had it twice.  The first time it was with Paella.  Paella (pictured above) is a dish that makes my mouth water every time I type it - and pictures drive me wild.  JPH had all the ingredients waiting for me when I got home from work, along with my favorite wooden spatula.  This wine is bright and citrusy and it cut through the heaviness of the rice; the acid of the wine brought the shrimp and the spiciness of the sausage to a new level.  The Paella was spicy and filling.  The wine was cold, crisp, slightly tart with a hint of sweetness and fantastic.



S. didn't get a chance to taste the bottle that she picked out on the first go round. (what can I say?  I liked it!) While I was shopping this week, I grabbed another bottle to have on hand so that she can try it too. It is an easy open screw top and I opened it for a lunch of arancini (rice balls from Razzano's in Glen Cove), prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. The wine was good with the prosciutto - maybe it has a hint of melon in the flavor profile as well.  It is acidic, so I couldn't see just sipping it, but as a food wine, it had me dreaming of a fresh grilled chicken Caesar Salad and sitting on the patio in the Summer sunshine.

On a rainy Spring day with the snow still melting away,  

Wine like this Sicilian is the promise of sunny days to come.

(photo ripped off from S's Facebook page!)

Banfi Chianti Classico Reserva `07 DOCG $17.99 ***

We've been drinking a lot of Banfi ever since S. & JPH  went to a tasting dinner in January.  I had to try this wine three different times before I figured out what I really like about it. I am not really a fan of Chianti or Sangiovese for that matter, BUT this wine was good and it was great with lunch.  Proper paring can really elevate a meal.

This post is all about the North Shore of Long Island, and the Italians that have made it home for the past century. Razzano's is an Italian Salumaeria is just a mile or so from The Banfi Estate (importers of this Chianti that is made by them in Tuscany). It was fitting that I have a glass of their rustic, full bodied Chianti Classico to accompany the amazing Meatball Parmesan hero that JPH & I split from Razzano's. (I challenge ANYONE to eat a full sized one at one sitting!)

Banfi Chianti Classico Reserva `07 is full of flavor - dried blackberries and a bit of raspberry with an undercurrent of earthiness (translation, there is a slight roughness about it).  What made those flavors perfect was the fact that as I was sipping, I was chewing on an amazing juicy veal/pork/beef meatball, with homemade tomato sauce in a freshly baked roll.  I asked for some additional red pepper which made my mouth tingle and my lips a bit numb.  It was the fruitiness and subtle roughness that just tasted great together.  The fresh bread roll was slightly sweet, crusty and softly saturated with the tomato sauce. The wine was an intense mouthful of flavor that made me realize that the Italians know flavor. It was a delicious Italian/Italian lunch that just proved to me that the right wine with the right food can be make a great meal almost perfect.

As a reminder, everything I write about is paid for - retail.
I am running on and on about Razzano's (NY Times review)
because I am a huge fan.
I am writing a series on Banfi because theirs is an amazing story,
and they are right next door.

If you ever find yourself in Glen Cove NY, give Razzano's a try
you won't be disappointed!

Banfi Tasting second course:  Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio `09 $18.49 (not TJ's) ***
Banfi Tasting third course:  Banfi Centine Rosso `07 $10.89 (not TJ's)
Banfi Tasting fourth course: Banfi BelnerO `05 $35.99 (Not TJ's) ****