(italiatv.it)  Gli USA hanno dato il via libera definitivo alle importazioni di Brunello di Montalcino, dopo le minacce di blocco dell’import in seguito all’inchiesta della procura di Siena su alcune cantine accusate di aver ottenuto il vino da vitigni non conformi alla disciplina di produzione. La notizia arriva il giorno dopo l’incontro a Washington fra il ministro e l’amministratore dell’Agenzia federale Usa per l’alcol e il tabacco, John Manfreda. Gli Stati Uniti sono il mercato in cui finisce un quarto della produzione totale del Brunello, il cui giro d’affari complessivo è stimato in 120 milioni di euro l’anno. Il 18 luglio scorso un’indagine della Guardia di Finanza sotto la direzione della procura di Siena aveva condotto al declassamento a Igt di oltre 1,3 milioni di litri di Brunello di Montalcino. Le indagini, che avevano coinvolto sette cantine, erano iniziate nel settembre 2007 e avevano interessato i più importanti produttori di Brunello di Montalcino Docg e Rosso di Montalcino Doc. Dei 6,7 milioni di litri di Brunello sequestrati, il 20% – oltre 1,3 milioni – è stato declassato a Igt Toscana Rosso. Su un quantitativo di 1,7 milioni di litri di altri vini a denominazione sequestrati (fra cui Rosso di Montalcino Doc, Chianti Classico Docg e Igt Toscana Rosso), oltre il 40% è stato declassato, e 100.000 litri sono stati inviati direttamente alla distillazione. Inoltre erano stati “sequestrati 400 ettari di vigneti sui quali erano coltivati vitigni non riconosciuti dal disciplinare di produzione”. “In estrema sintesi, si può dire che ingenti quantitativi di vino relativo alle annate dal 2003 al 2007 sono stati ‘tagliati o ammorbiditi’ con uve e vini differenti dal sangiovese, unico vitigno ammesso dal disciplinare del Brunello e Rosso di Montalcino”, spiegava una nota delle Fiamme Gialle. Nell’ambito dell’inchiesta sono state denunciate alla procura di Siena 17 persone: otto hanno richiesto il patteggiamento, mentre le altre nove hanno ricevuto l’avviso di conclusione delle indagini per i reati di frode in commercio e falso in atti, in alcuni casi commessi in associazione. Una è stata inoltre denunciata per false informazioni al pm. Soddisfazione per lo slocco in USA è stata espressa dal Presidente del Consorzio Patrizio Cencioni in una nota dal sito ufficiale. (itv-reuters)

Like almost everyone even when I buy a wine I’m pretty careful about what I spend. Not many wines worth spending between 30 and 40 € (50 bucks more less) but surely Cervaro della Sala Antinori is one of those wines that you can spend this amount. This wine is composed for 80% Chardonnay and 20% from Grechetto, a vine native to the Umbria. Shows a beautiful golden color. The nose is an explosion of scents ranging from notes of fresh citrus, vanilla and hazelnut, I think mainly due to the aging in cask, which however is well integrated into the complex olfactory. Has a full flavor and fruity but not cloying like many Chardonnays, well balanced, a great wine.

Do you still think the price is high? trust me it’s worth.

Rate 5/5

See ya

The Wine Insider

(tasting note from 17.9.08)

Chianti Classico, 2003, Marchese Antinori,
Enjoyed this, but very forward oak dominating the fruit. Maybe needs more time to mellow. A big wine – maybe too big for a Chianti. Rioja-like oak. Good with cheese and lasagna. (Think this was on offer from Tesco or Waitrose for £15, had been in the cellar for a while)

Erst jetzt ist mir ein Beitrag bei The Pour von vor zehn Tagen aufgefallen. Die Ergebnisse der Brunello-Untersuchung zum Jahrgang 2003 wurden veröffentlicht. Die Behördne haben Antinori, Argiano, Banfi, Biondi Santi, Casanova di Neri, Col d’Orcia und Frescobaldi geprüft. Nur zwei von ihnen haben sauber gearbeitet: das altehrwürdige Biondi-Santi und das eher robuste Col d’Orcia. Alle anderen haben gepanscht. Gerade die Massen- und Markenproduzenten Antinori, Banfi, Casanova di Neri und Frescobaldi.

Zum Hintergrund: Brunello und auch Rosso di Montalcino dürfen ausschließlich aus Sangovese bestehen. Alle anderen Sorten sind verboten. Gerade moderner Weine (Stichwort Massenmarkt) erfordern einen weicheren Geschmack, deswegen wird gerne mit Merlot gestreckt. Dafür gäbe es zwar eine DOC, Sant’Antimo, aber die lässt sich natürlich nicht so geldbringend vermarkten wie Brunello. Der Jahrgang 2003 hat nun ein Stigma, 2004 hingegen ist großartig und gerade auf dem Markt.

This past Wednesday, my wife and I teamed up with Chris and Kristina Caruso of Vine Times Chicago for a BYOB evening at Caro Mio Italian Restaurant in Lincoln Square.  We found ample inexpensive meter parking just across the street, and walked into a quaint and cozy little dining room.  We were then given water, which is served in pint glasses (great for holding alot of water), a carafe of water for the table, and menus.  Stemware was then presented, and it was time to open the wines!

For our Italian dinner, we both brought Super Tuscans from the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany.  Super Tuscans are great wines made in Tuscany which rebel against Italian wine classification laws.  Wines from this region are traditionally made from Sangiovese, along with a blend of other local grapes (mostly white wine grapes).  They have a history dating back about 40 years, when the head of the Antinori family created one of the first.  Piero Antinori wanted to add Bordeaux varietals to the mix, enhancing the body, texture, flavor, and aromatics to Italy’s #1 varietal.  His creation, and my wine choice for the evening, was Tignanello.  I brought the 2001 vintage (retails around $85), a blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc.  I love this wine, as it has a great soil and barnyard aroma, mixed with ripe dark cherry, worn leather, and oak on the palate.  There was also small hints of tobacco and chocolate, which proved the complexity of the wine.  The tannins were supple and smooth, making it great with any food, especially Italian.

Chris brought 1997 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve (retails around $70), made from single vineyard, 100% Sangiovese.  It has been produced since 1981 by the Manetti family.  This wine is weighty and big, with larger tannins, dark cherry and plum aroma and flavor, along with some cedar and rich earth.  It is a perfect partner for meat dishes and heavy sauces.

As far as the food is concerned, the menu has tons of options: fresh salads and soups, homemade pastas, veal, chicken, beef, and fish.  We went with a couple of fresh mozzarella dishes to start, one with green beans, and the other a classic caprese.  The mozzarella seemed local, as it was harder textured than the imported soft, rich version.  The green beans were large and delicious, especially when topped with the balsalmic vinegar.  The tomatoes were thick, but a touch less than ripe.  Both a good choice to accompany the bright acidity of the wines.

For dinner, everyone chose homemade pasta (most dishes priced around $20), which is hard to resist when offered.  I went with rigatoni bolognese topped with chicken parmesan- an odd combination, but great for meat lovers.  The dish was large enough to easily feed two, and needless to say, I had leftovers.  All of the pasta was cooked al dente, and tasted fresh, with unbelievable doughy, chewy flavor.  The bolognese sauce had a tomato tang accompanying the soft, salty ground meat.  All of this combined with tender chicken and melted mozzarella was outrageous!  My wife chose the porcini ravioli with chicken, which was an earthy, creamy blend of four monster ravioli and chicken breast topped with a creamy porcini sauce, which could double as a tasty soup.  I know the Caruso’s loved their food as well, because we found ourselves doing more chewing, and less talking!

We left no room for dessert, but I will be back to try the tiramisu and more fresh pasta.  I highly recommend this spot, and hope you enjoy the food and BYOB experience as much as us.  Feel free to comment about your experience!

Nel bicchiere appare di un rosso accesso con sfumature color mattone

Al naso le note classiche del Sangiovese, ciliegia, pepe, erbe e cuoio con sentori anche di vaniglia.

In bocca risulta possente ma sfodera una grande morbidezza supportata da una trama tannica di gran statura, i tannini risultano ben distribuiti, e l’acidità appare equivalente alla componente alcolica.

In abbinamento con il sigaro risulta abbastanza piacevole anche se l’astringenza dei due prodotti si fa sempre più prominente nell’avanzare della degustazione, difficilissimo da sposare con la parte finale di un sigaro perché la bocca risulterebbe troppo allappata e ci renderebbe difficile il prosieguo. Dati anche i 14,5 di gradazione alcolica è sicuramente una degustazione da fumatori esperti

Bien podría decirse que esta semana ha sido un largo episodio de “Cositas y cosotas”. Mucho folloncito y follonazo en la cultureta del vino…

Está el asunto de Anthony Dias Blue y su diatriba antiblogueril. Ahora Dr. Vino ha tomado cartas en el asunto con una entrega de su blog que revela muchísimo sobre el tipo de “crítico” y “periodista” que es el Sr. Dias Blue. Quien habló de “infomerciales” (o, como se dice en inglés de la versión impresa de ese tipo de publicidad, advertorials) andaba muy cerca de la realidad. Sin embargo, el individuo osa hablar de “ética periodística.” Es que hay que leer cada cosa…

En particular me ha resultado interesante un comentario extraido por Dr. Vino a Dias Blue, en el que este último habla de muchos blogueros como individuos “en pijama” derramando ponzoña, etc. Era lo que faltaba ya. Que se metan con el atuendo de uno. No que me vaya a mí bloguear en pijama. O usar pijama, punto. Como predicador de un extraño concepto de moral, la única prenda apropiada para bloguear acaban siendo los calzonci—er, perdón, se me va la onda. Me puse a buscar un video del “Pijama blanco” de Javier Krahe para ofrecerlo en dedicatoria, pero no aparece ni por los centros espiritistas.

Pero a otras cosas. Hoy no les diré nada sobre el “Caso Sierra Carche”. Aunque quizás sí. Leo esta mañana en VinoWire que, tras ya unos cuantos meses de acusaciones,  investigaciones y revelaciones  en torno al escándalo Brunellopoli, el Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino al fin se manifiesta en un par de cartas enviadas a sus miembros. Según VinoWIre, Patrizio Cencioni, presidente del Consorzio,  “exhortó a los miembros a proyectar ‘un mensaje positivo’ a la luz de los descubrimientos de la Tesorería Italiana (más detalles sobre estas revelaciones de fraude aquí; se investigó a siete bodegas toscanas de mucho renombre bajo sospecha de adulterar sus brunellos con variedades de uva no permitidas. Entre los investigados estaban Antinori, Argiano, Casanova di Neri, Banfi y Marchesi di Frescobaldi. Exoneradas tras la investigación fueron Biondi Santi y Col d’Orcia) y anunció que la firma de auditoría Valore Italia ha sido contratada para certificar la calidad de los miembros de la asociación en el futuro.”

Vamos, como los óscares, con firma de auditores la cosa… Al Sr. Presidente del ilustre Consorzio quisiera yo dedicarle un videito:

¡A que silbaron un poquito! Al mal tiempo y la mala conducta, pues, buena cara y pensamiento positivo… ¡Esa es nuestra cultureta!

En otras noticias de empresas que buscan cepillar un poquito su imagen, cuenta Decanter.com que Starbuck’s comenzará a vender vino y cerveza en tres de sus tiendas de Seattle, que serán reconceptualizadas “en el estilo del coffeehouse tradicional”.

Esperemos que el vino sea un poquito mejor que los últimos diez “cafés” que habré tenido que zumbarme de Starbuck’s por pura necesidad de cafeina.

También de Decanter.com, que Kraken va a sacar un libro de 30 kilos dedicado a “los 100 mejores vinos del mundo”. Copias del mamotreto en cuestión se venderá a un precio apropiadísimo para la actual situación económica mundial:  US$1,000,000.

“Cada comprador del libro recibirá estuches de seis botellas de cada uno de los vinos reseñados, así como invitaciones a visitar algunas de las bodegas…. Se producirán solamente cien copias del libro, de las cuales 25 han sido pre-ordenadas”, dice el artículo de Decanter.com.

En alguna parte hay un bosque llorando.

Ya saben. El que se lo compre, que lo preste, ¿eh?

Fuera del tema del vino, me he topado por casualidad con que Prince a levantado las restricciones a sus videos en YouTube, por lo que ahora podemos ver unos cuantos sin aquellos necios letreros o supresiones del sonido. Este clip, de allá por principios o mediados de los noventa, se lo regalo a cierto buen amigo, muy purista en cuanto a los Stones se refiere…

Bueno, y antes de que se me olvide: A principios de semana llegó a mi atención que Diccionario del Vino ha abierto ya la votación para su Premio Diccionario del Vino al Mejor Blog del Vino del Año 2009 y este blog aparece entre los candidatos. Les juro que yo no lo inscribí, o sea que a alguien por ahí le debo estar participando. Tankiu. Aparte de enterarme sobre la existencia de unos cuantos blogs de vino que desconocía completamente, engancha la onda de ver como uno va subiendo y bajando en el listado según le votan o no.

Dense ustedes la vuelta y, si lo merezco, échenle un voto a La otra botella y a todos los demás blogs amigos que forman parte de la lista de candidatos (pueden votar pro cinco blogs cada día, con puntuaciones del 1 al 10). A ver como quedamos al final…

Y ahora sí, para terminar-terminar: El otro día, en la fructífera sesión de sugerencias y reclamaciones que tuvimos aquí, alguien me pidió que iniciara una sección periódica de carácter más técnico/educativo. Me complace informar que estoy trabajando—en conjunción con un florido y cortés elenco de entendidísimos ponentes invitados—en una primera clase sobre el envejecimiento del vino. No sé si se vea mal, pero no es sobre esa clase que les daré un adelanto, sino sobre la segunda. En mi caótico esquema de las cosas, ésta tratará sobre vinos naturales. A manera de anticipo, les brindo un maravilloso ensayo publicado esta semana por mi querido Joe Dressner en su genial blog Captain Tumorman. Es uno de esos momentos en que el entendimiento llega como emoción.

The server that hosts VinoWire is having problems today and so I’m unable to post there but I will do a detailed post asap.

Today’s Florence edition of the Italian national daily La Repubblica reports the names of the seven wineries investigated in the Brunello inquiry, dubbed by Italian authorities, “Operazione Mixed Wine” or “Operation Mixed Wine.” The five that were found by the Italian Treasury Department to have bottled wine “not in conformity with appellation regulations” are: Antinori, Argiano, Banfi, Casanova di Neri, and Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi. According to the article, Biondi Santi and Col d’Orcia were also investigated by were cleared by investigators of any wrongdoing.

Il Bruciato is an italian expression for “the burned one”, which probably refers to its outstanding aromas of toasted oak barrel. A powerful blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah by famous Italian winery Antinori. This Bolgheri DOC wine brings a tremendous nose with barnyard, almost poopy character, dark red fruit in compote, dancing over a framework of old furniture notes. The medium-plus body reveals high acidity which is balanced by an impressive array of flavors in which black berry predominates. The tannins are a bit rough but they don’t negate the overall satisfaction this broth can deliver. The finish is long, with tones of dark berries and a brushstroke of vegetal. Il Bruciato is one of those wines not to be missed.

Product: Il Bruciato

Variety: Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah

Vintage: 2006

Winery: Antinory

Origin: Bolgheri, Italy

Alcohol: 14.0%

Price: 34.99 (Everything Wine)

Aggiornamento settimanale delle nostre offerte di vendita vino on-line.

Si ricorda che è possibile cumulare fino a sei bottiglie per pacco che verrà spedito per Pacco Celere 3 o Pacco Celere 1 Plus.
Modalità di pagamento: Paypal, Postepay e Bonifico Bancario.

Si ricevono richieste per vini speciali: in questo caso si presenterà la nostra migliore offerta.

Buoni Eno-Acquisti!

1. NUTELLA 5 KG CREMA CIOCCOLATO IDEALE FESTA FINE SCUOLA
   Nutella è il nome commerciale di una crema a base di oli vegetali, zucchero, nocciole e cacao, ideata nel 1964 dall’industria dolciaria italiana Ferrero, sulla base di una precedente crema denominata Pasta Gianduja e poi SuperCrema. Il nome Nutella deriva dalla congiunzione di nut, che significa “nocciola” in inglese, e il suffisso ella per ottenere un nome orecchiabile.
2. SANGIOVESE TOSCANA TOP ROSSO MONTALCINO PRUGNOLO 3 BT
   SANGIOVESE TOSCANA: quando si chiama “Brunello” o “Prugnolo”… 3 Bottiglie 0,750 lt
   – 1 BT ROSSO MONTALCINO DOC 2005 COL D’ORCIA – SIENA
   – 1 BT ROSSO MONTALCINO DOC 2006 TENUTE SILVIO NARDI – SIENA
   - 1  BT VINO NOBILE MONTEPULCIANO DOCG 2004 LA BRACCESCA – SIENA
3. PROSECCO MILLESIMATO + GRAPPA + LIBRO Idea Regalo
   - “il PROSECCO di CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE” MORGANTI EDITORI – 2006 – GIAMPIERO RORATO
   -”COL VETORAZ” MILLESIMATO Vino Spumante Dry
   -LA GRAPPA DI PROSECCO – CANEVEL SPUMANTI
4. VINO ROSSO BIOLOGICO REFOSCO 2005 BARQE 1bt 1,5lt 12,5%
   REFOSCO dal PEDUNCOLO ROSSO RISERVA 2005 12,5%
   DOC Lison Pramaggiore VENEZIA – VINO BIOLOGICO AUTOCTONO VENEZIA – 1 bottiglia 1,500 lt, sigillo ceralacca, astucciato (cartone)
5. CHARDONNAY VENEZIA LISON PRAMAGGIORE 1+1+1 BT IGT e DOC
   CHARDONNAY: OFFERTA SPECIALE AREA LISON PRAMAGGIORE VENEZIA ORIENTALE
   - 1 BT HORA SEXTA “MOSOLE” IGT BIANCO DEL VENETO 2005 – VENEZIA
   - 1 BT STAJNBECH BIANCO 2007 “BORGO STAJNBECH” DOC LISON PRAMAGGIORE – VENEZIA
   - 1 BT AMICITIA 2006 “LE CARLINE“  IGT VENETO ORIENTALE – VENEZIA
6. ATEO 2004 DOC S.ANTIMO ROSSO TOSCANA C.PICCOLOMINI 2 BT
   Ateo 2004 di Ciacci Piccolomini D’aragona, Doc Sant’antimo Rosso. Prodotto ed imbottigliato a Montalcino – Siena. Nel 1989 tra due annate eccellenti, nasce l’ATEO come rifiuto dogmatico a produrre Brunello in un’annata non ottimale e in concomitanza con la prima vendemmia dai vigneti con uve di Cabernet Sauvignon e Merlot.
7. CERVARO DELLA SALA 2006 by ANTINORI 2 bottiglie
   Cervaro della Sala, di Castello della Sala, Gruppo Antinori. Uvaggio: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Grechetto. Fermentazione alcolica in barriques nuove da 225 l. di rovere francese (Alliers & Tronçais). Rimane sulle proprie fecce in barriques per circa 6 mesi, durante i quali completa la fermentazione malolattica.

Even today, Marchesi Antinori continues to produce sparkling wines of the highest quality, selecting the best Chardonnay and Pinot grapes, from the zones of the Oltrepò Pavese and Trentino, respectively. These grapes result in the …[More..]


Michelle Wine Estates is also the exclusive importer of Antinori wines in the United States. Millissime PR

Introductions over, it was time to get cracking as I spent a couple of weeks in the historic medieval town of Siena learning Italian at the Scuola de Leonardo da Vinci. I could not have picked a more charming town in the heart of beautiful Tuscany or “Land of the Etruscans.” The atmosphere is enchanting with its majestic Gothic architecture and narrow cobbled streets lined with ancient brick and stone towers surrounded by rustic medieval walls. Indeed, the homey accommodations where I stayed provided views of sprawling vistas with brick and stone houses set against Tuscan rolling hills.

Views of Siena from the Terzi di Siena and of Florence from the beautiful In Piazza della Signoria were an ideal treat for the eyes while I gorged on Tuscan breakfasts. Each morning was filled with intensive language classes taught entirely in Italian with the emphasis on the spoken word, followed by an hour or two of homework to fully reap the benefits. “Ripetere, ripetere” (“repeat, repeat”) was the mantra of our teacher, Julia, and I discovered that I learned Italian much faster than expected when discouraged to speak in English.

When learning a foreign language, it is advisable to immerse yourself in the entire culture of that region as I experienced through the culinary and wine tutorials as well as the historic tours delivered in Italian. Culinary Highlights “Inpastare a lungo,” exclaimed Chef Roberto at our culinary class in instructing us to beat out our handmade pasta. I learned to make lemon and zucchini tagliatelle, cheese tart on cheese fondue, and panna cotta dessert at his quaint, family-run osteria, Sottolefonti. Tiera di Siena’s culinary claim to fame resides in its preservation of Etruscan culinary heritage from ancient times.

Indeed, it has been claimed that Tuscan cuisine originated in the province of Siena. Needless to say, I sampled a whole array of tasty local dishes in the plethora of restaurants and traditional trattoria in Siena. This included typical Sienese dishes like Crostini di Siena, which is toasted bread spread with chicken liver, olives, and truffles; Pici al Cinghale, a special pasta unique to Siena in wild boar sauce; and la Bistecca Fiorentina, which is grilled Chianina beef savored in the charming, rustic setting of La Finestra restaurant. I also sampled fine Mediterranean seafood like Scorfano (tomato scorpion swordfish pasta) and Milanzana alla Parmaiggiana di Mare (eggplant in parmesan with cuttlefish) paired with Italian white wines as part of the Il Menu di Pesce or the menu for wild fish tasting in the elegant ambience of the Tre Christi restaurant.

Video:

Respected author link: click here

Uber palates will still chase the Super Tuscan Tignanello to add sparkle to their cellars and meals, but after tonight many more of us will think of daughters and farmers when we hear the Antinori name.

Morley Safer sat at the dinner table of the currently reigning  Antinori family and aired a 60 Minutes segment during prime time tonight, revealing a $200m business that has remarkably remained a family wine and farming operation since at least 1385. Over the years, various Antinoris and their wines have been recognized by popes, the Wine Spectator’s top 10 list, and Italian wine lovers and critics around the world. The Antinori universe is now complete with private jets, stables,  and vineyards and villas inside Italy and around the world.  Luxuries fit for royalty…and the Antinoris are indeed royal with a current day marchese and a princess to boot.

Buying back a recently sold stake from Whitbread, the operations are fully in the hands of family once again, this time under the supervision of Piero Antinori’s three daughters who have an appreciation for the land and sense of place that defines the fruit they love to farm.  While their pricey Tignanello has helped the Antinoris with modern day notoriety in top wine circles, it is their Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva that resonates with me as a $20ish value that rewards often and remains available on so many lists and retail shelves.   It’s a wonderful wine that is produced in large quantities and widely distributed.  There certainly are better and harder to find Chianti and sangiovese in the market, but a wine this consistently good from a large program like the Antinori’s is my kind of “go to” wine.

As Allegra Antinori told Morley Safer…. forget all the words and descriptions, a wine must be elegant.  And like an elegant woman, she says, you know it when you see it.  For me, Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva can look just like that.

Tonight on 60 Minutes there was an interesting story about the Antinori family of Italy… if you didn’t see it, be sure to take a look here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/10/60minutes/main4514254.shtml

And make sure you watch some of the accompanying videos as well… wine related stories.

Have a great week!

Ron

The original Super-Tuscan, Tignanello is produced exclusively from the Tignanello vineyard, a 47 hectares (116 acres) southwest-facing, calcareous rocky-marl and limestone soil plot, planted between 1,150 and 1,312 feet above sea level at Antinori’s Santa Cristina Estate. It was the first Sangiovese to be aged in small oak barrels, the first red wine in modern times to use a non-traditional grape variety, Cabernet, in the blend, and among the first red wines made in Chianti with no white grapes.

Tignanello, originally a Chianti Classico Riserva labeled Vigneto Tignanello, was first vinified as a single vineyard wine in the 1970 vintage, when it contained 20% Canaiolo and 5% Trebbiano and Malvasia, and was aged in small oak cooperage. With the 1971 vintage the wine became a Vino da Tavola della Toscana and was named Tignanello after the vineyard from which it originates. Beginning with this vintage, Tignanello stopped adhering to the rules laid down by Chianti Classico Disciplinare, and with the 1975 vintage, white grapes were totally eliminated. Since the 1982 vintage, the blend has been 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

I had been sitting on this waiting for a special occasion. Fortunately, a nice dinner with friends from California provided more than such an occasion. Open and decanted the wine for 3 hours. Deep garnet color. Aromatics of cherry, tobacco, cedar and floral notes. Cherry, strawberry, spice, leather and forest floor on the palate. Full bodied, but more elegant than a heavyweight –structured, fairly complex with good acidity and focus. This was the second favorite wine of the week, after the Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore 1999. 13.5% alcohol. Imported by Remy Amerique.

For those of you able to travel to Treviso in Veneto, Wine Pleasures will be hosting an Italian tasting, food matching & workshop from 18 to 20 May 2009. Here are the details -

18 May 18.00 to 20.00

Themed tasting of wines (conventional, organic & biodynamic) produced by small boutique wineries from Abruzzo, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Piemonte, Sicilia, Toscana, Umbria, Veneto. Followed by a wine matching dinner of both traditional and fusion Italian cuisine.

19 & 20 May 10.00 to 17.00

Private meetings & tastings with small boutique wineries. Italian wine & food matching lunches & dinners in the Hotel.

This event will be held in the lovely Venetian Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese of the late 1800’s located along the Terraglio, the ancient Napoleonic road that links Treviso, a wonderful medieval city surrounded by walls of the 1500’s, to Venice with its suggestive attractions.

Among the wineries will be – Antinori, Gigi Rosso, Ronoc di Prepotto, Donnadicoppe, Trerè, Perletti, Martinez, Cenatiempo Vini d’Ischia, Sfriso Pier, Provenza, Vicentini, Poggio al Santino, San Giovanni, Bennati, Tenuta Grimani, Ferliga, Giol, Loacker, Luna del Rospo, Terre di Ger, Selvanova, Castellari Bergaglio, Punset, Fasoli Gino, Antica Entoria & Tenutarocca.

The enrolment fee is €65. If you are a member of Bravo Italy Gourmet you will receive a discount of €10 (contact them for the promotional code). Payment is required in advance by credit card or bank transfer.

We have kept the registration fee as low as possible and, frankly, it is a bargain when considering what it includes:

•Workshop participation including seminar, themed wine tasting and networking opportunities.
•2 nights accommodation in the Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese with breakfast
•Full course wine matching lunches and dinners in the hotel
•Transfers to and from Treviso airport on day 1 and day 3 of the event
•A permanent wine tasting area for the duration of the workshop
•Wine Pleasures wine tasting kit – free to take home.

To enrol please complete the Registration Form or call Wine Pleasures (+34 93 897 70 48) to book your place. Alternatively, you can email us – info@winepleasures.com

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

If you are already enrolled or in the process of enrolling please feel free to pass the news of this exceptional event on to someone who you feel might wish to participate.

With very best wishes,

Wine Pleasuresn Team
T. +34 93 897 70 48
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Roma, 10 marzo – Vini di alta qualità a bordo dei Frecciarossa. Fino al 13 marzo, a bordo di alcuni AV sulla Roma-Milano sarà possibile degustare una selezione di pregiati vini Antinori, provenienti da Umbria e Toscana.
Una piccola sorpresa – sottolineano le FS in una nota – completamente gratuita, riservata a chi sceglie il treno per spostarsi, in sole 3 ore e mezza, tra il Colosseo e il Duomo. Il tutto avrà luogo tra i tavoli della carrozza ristorante, dove esperti sommelier della AIS mostreranno ai passeggeri più curiosi i segreti per assaporare al meglio i piaceri del “nettare degli dei”.
Ancora una volta – conclude la nota – il Frecciarossa viene scelto da aziende italiane come location ideale per presentare i propri prodotti, confermandosi quindi come simbolo di assoluta qualità. (Italpress)

On the 8th of March 21 years ago, I entered an Italian language class and sat next to a blonde girl from Australia. In the morning of the same day, my boss, Luciano Montesi, had send me out to buy flowers for all the women working in our service. This is how I learned about world women’s day.

It was a glorious day in Rome and I was glad that my friend Jim had taken me to his language class. What I did not know at the time was that I would marry that blonde Australian two years later.

Today, we felt like celebrating this first encounter and decided to go out for lunch. We called the Patara Restaurant which is only one Soi away from us in Thonglor, Bangkok, and they sent their tuck-tuck to pick us up at 13:20 h. All four of us like Thai food, so the choice of Patara came very natural.

Patara is located in Thonglor, Soi 19. The building used to be a private residence in a single house with a large garden, I guess. Inside you’ll find an elegant Thai restaurant, just the right place for such a celebration as ours was.

The interior of Patara

The decoration is very tasteful

We ordered two starter platters, a selection of various small Thai dishes and the three dumpling assortment. Don’t get fooled by the colours. The dumplings are most delicious.

This was the first starter platter

Three kinds of Thai dumplings

Then we ordered the main dishes, among them a tofu in red curry, a green chicken curry, an oxtail red curry, some green vegetables and some rice (which came in four colours, unfortunately my photo of the rice was blurred). All of us like spicy food, therefore we just followed our instincts when ordering.

The main dishes

Green chicken curry

The ossobucco-type dish

Green veggies

The food was so wonderful, so perfect, so delicious; our taste buds went from one sensation to the next. This is Thai food at its best, wow. I could not believe it. Margit and the kids had visited Patara earlier but for me it was the maiden visit. This was the best Thai food in ages.

What about the wine? Food and wine pairings in Asia are at times a challenge. Patara has a well assorted wine list. Since the first encounter had taken place in Italy, I choose an Italian wine. The ‘2005 Campogrande Orvieto DOC Classico Superiore’ by Antinori seemd to be just the right choice.

First, many times we had stopped in Orvieto when returning to Rome from Umbria so that a lot of happy memories are tied up with Orvieto Classico wines. Second, just a day earlier we had this wonderful ‘2005 Antinori Tignanello’, so I thought why not stay with the same producer.

Wine is expensive in Thailand. The bottle was under 2000 Bath, not bad for a restaurant offer. I know that this wine retails for about US$ 10-12 in other parts of the world. The wine has a pale straw colour. It is elegant and fresh. The wine has a good structure and a very pleasant palate of tropical fruit.

As typical for Orvieto Classico, the wine is a Trebbiano blend. Varieties include Procanico, Grechetto, Verdelho, Drupeggio, Malvasia and – surprise surprise – Chardonnay (15 %!). Antinori went up to the maximum allowed as regards Grechetto (27%). With the exception of Verdelho and Chardonnay, I have never tasted any of the individual varieties included in this blend as single wines.

Cheers

Happy children

After lunch the children entertained themselves in the garden.

These are the ingredients for Irish coffee. It’s worth to order it. It’s freshly made at the table, a spectacular show, truly amazing.

The finished product: Irish coffee

Before we got on the tuck-tuck again, we were served refreshing towels. What a wonderful celebration this family meal was, a delight for the palate, a pleasure for the eyes. The staff at Patara is incredibly professional, very friendly and extremely helpful.

Happy diners

If you want to experience something special and you have the chance to drop in a Patara Restaurant, please do so. I highly recommend it. And if you are in Bangkok, the choice is clear: visit Patara, its’ worth it.

Address:
Patara Fine Thai Cuisine
375 Soi Thonglor 19 Sukhumvit 55, Klongtonnua Vadhana,
Bangkok 10110.
Tel. 0-2185 2960-1 Fax. 0-2185 2962

PS: Patara restaurants can also be found in Singapore, Taipei, London and Geneva.