Friday, October 23, 2009
Paolo Scavino Estate
The great Paolo Scavino Barolo is a pleasure to collect, taste and treasure...This great estate is ran by two generations of the Scavino family. Enrico Scavino, whom followed in his fathers footsteps producing exceptional, rare and priceless wines. He has achieved great international fame with his skills and remarkable techniques. We are all so lucky and fortunate to taste and collect these structured, aromatic, elegant wines. Enrico Scavino has two daughters Enrica and Elisa Scavino whom manage and care for the Estate.
I had the great honor to meet Enrico Scavino along with his daughter Elisa Scavino at their Estate in Castiglione Falletto in Langhe. I was there with my family touring and tasting all the Great Barolo Producers of Piedmonte. Our first stop was this great Producer of Barolo. Elisa gave us an amazing tour of the Scavino Estate and we ended the tour in the tasting room. We sampled many of the great vintages and Elisa was very kind as to give us salami, cheeses and crostini to sample these amazing wines with. While we tasted we were given a rich education of the family estate, the vineyard and the soil that makes this such a reputable wine of the Barolo region and of the world. Before we left Enrico Scavino was very kind as to come and meet my family, grace us with his wonderful memories and stories of his father and working beside him on the vineyard and making this amazing juice.
Castiglione Falletto is located about 12 kilometers from Alba. There are 16 great vineyards in the municipality, all regulated by the Barolo DOCG zone. This area produces rich, structured, soft, elegant and full bodied wines. Barolo is the most important wine in Italy and praised by the world.
While I was at this great Estate, we tasted many great vintages and was also very fortunate enough to purchase some wine to bring home. Many I have laid down in my cellar to age longer and many I have had and will continue to drink now.
Now we taste; Paolo Scavino ,1999 Bric del Fiasc from Castiglione Falletto, produced since 1978 and has been a famous wine within the Enrico's great portfolio. To the color, rich garnet red with a brown hue; To the nose intense red fruits, huge fruit, tar and violets; To the Palate, raspberries, strawberries, dried currants, dark chocolate, beautifully structured and insanely delicious Barolo. This is The Fiasco Cru, a Barolo to collect, store and lay down for many years...Exceptional
Thank you to the Scavino family for making this such a treasured memory for me and my family.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Love and Napa Grapes!
Celebrating a birthday of a loved one, very close to my heart the other night, I decided to do a simple courses and of course good juice! We started the evening with a celebratory bottle of champagne (Champs); Deutz Brut Classic. This champagne is highly praised in my home and I keep it very well stocked in my cellar. This Champagne is golden honey orange, to the nose Carmel, floral notes and a slight citrus touch, to the taste peaches and apricots, well rounded, complex, perfect amount of acidity, long finish and completely elegant and delicious...By far one of my favorite Champagnes... this was paired with Lox that was finely chopped with garlic, shallots, onions, dill, creme cheese and creme fraiche, spread over small bilini bites. A perfect pairing!
Next was the classic USDA Prime rib eye steaks, twice baked potatoes and a simple butter leaf lettuce salad with avocado, heirloom tomatoes and gorgonzola dolce cheese. A family favorite dish in our home, especially on birthdays and special occasions. Now for the wine, I chose one of my favorite producers in Napa, Robert Biale Vineyard, 2005 Aldo Zinfandel. With vines planted in 1937 which lay in the Oak Knoll District. The color black purple, the nose black berry fruit, plums, cherries and the palate wants to dance, very concentrated, notes of blackberry cobbler with a perfect balance and a 30 second finish. Paired nicely with the rib eyes and aged gorgonzola cheese.
We ended the evening with a 1977 Dow's Vintage Porto. Deep plum color, big on the nose, on the palate full and round, cherries and chocolate, lots of fruit and still very much alive, lovely finish. One of the most amazing ports I have ever had.
After a very long pause, we made ice cream sundaes with 6 different Ben & Jerry's favorites! A perfect end to a lovely evening!
Salute
Next was the classic USDA Prime rib eye steaks, twice baked potatoes and a simple butter leaf lettuce salad with avocado, heirloom tomatoes and gorgonzola dolce cheese. A family favorite dish in our home, especially on birthdays and special occasions. Now for the wine, I chose one of my favorite producers in Napa, Robert Biale Vineyard, 2005 Aldo Zinfandel. With vines planted in 1937 which lay in the Oak Knoll District. The color black purple, the nose black berry fruit, plums, cherries and the palate wants to dance, very concentrated, notes of blackberry cobbler with a perfect balance and a 30 second finish. Paired nicely with the rib eyes and aged gorgonzola cheese.
We ended the evening with a 1977 Dow's Vintage Porto. Deep plum color, big on the nose, on the palate full and round, cherries and chocolate, lots of fruit and still very much alive, lovely finish. One of the most amazing ports I have ever had.
After a very long pause, we made ice cream sundaes with 6 different Ben & Jerry's favorites! A perfect end to a lovely evening!
Salute
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Weingut Brundlmayer
Tonight, salmon steaks with a dill sauce, green bean with finely chopped garlic and ginger and of course a nice bottle of wine. As I look in my cellar I am drawn to a bottle from Austria. This vineyard has received high acclaim from wine enthusiast and now lets give it a try.
2003 Weingut Brundlmayer, St. Laurent, Ried Ladner. St. Laurent is a traditional Austrian grape, very much like Pinot Noir. St. Laurent grows on a rocky soil "Ried Ladner" vineyard. This area is located in Austria, Langenlois some 70km north west of Vienna. Exceptional producer, beautiful area....Now lets talk about the juice; medium ruby red in color; nose is fruity, dark cherries and plums with a touch of earth; palate is light, earthy, mineral finish and a very long finish, austere with a touch of red cherries, had a slight bitter taste which I loved, perfectly balanced and very lovely. Paired perfectly with our salmon, another perfect evening.
2003 Weingut Brundlmayer, St. Laurent, Ried Ladner. St. Laurent is a traditional Austrian grape, very much like Pinot Noir. St. Laurent grows on a rocky soil "Ried Ladner" vineyard. This area is located in Austria, Langenlois some 70km north west of Vienna. Exceptional producer, beautiful area....Now lets talk about the juice; medium ruby red in color; nose is fruity, dark cherries and plums with a touch of earth; palate is light, earthy, mineral finish and a very long finish, austere with a touch of red cherries, had a slight bitter taste which I loved, perfectly balanced and very lovely. Paired perfectly with our salmon, another perfect evening.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Morlet Family Vineyards
I had the most incredible white wine with friends the other night. We all decided to go out to dinner and instead of ordering wine of the menu, we thought it would be fun to bring in a special wine from our cellars. A very good friend, whom also has the great love of finding interesting wines, learning about them and trying new blends, was in Napa tasting and found this unique white wine!
La Proportion Doree from Sonoma County. This wine is perfectly proportioned of 65% Semillon, 33% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle, a blend of three classic white Bordeaux varietals. The grapes are 50 to over 100 year old vines. Once opened and poured into my glass you could not help notice the beautiful color of soft yellow apricots. The nose was incredible; figs, straw, a variety of melons, oranges and floral notes. I held the perfumes of this wine under my nose with my eyes closed for at least 60seconds, mesmerized by this beautiful bouquet. Once on the palate, honeydew, citrus, perfectly balanced, complex and very elegant. This was a very delicious wine, the varietal of grapes and the integrated beauty made this wine a must buy for my cellar!! Seek this wine out and try it, I could not get enough!
La Proportion Doree from Sonoma County. This wine is perfectly proportioned of 65% Semillon, 33% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle, a blend of three classic white Bordeaux varietals. The grapes are 50 to over 100 year old vines. Once opened and poured into my glass you could not help notice the beautiful color of soft yellow apricots. The nose was incredible; figs, straw, a variety of melons, oranges and floral notes. I held the perfumes of this wine under my nose with my eyes closed for at least 60seconds, mesmerized by this beautiful bouquet. Once on the palate, honeydew, citrus, perfectly balanced, complex and very elegant. This was a very delicious wine, the varietal of grapes and the integrated beauty made this wine a must buy for my cellar!! Seek this wine out and try it, I could not get enough!
1970 Chateau Grand Corbin
As I spent 5 hours braising my lamb shanks, per Daniel Boulud style. I went in my cellar to determine which wine would taste delicious paired with this rich dish...The outcome, a lovely Bordeaux; 1970 Chateau Grand Corbin Grand Cru Classe. Located in the northern part of the Saint-Emilion commune close to Pomerol. This wine has been produced since the 19Th century.
As I poured this Bordeaux into our glass I could not help notice the color of dark cherries still vibrant after all these years. Perfumes of dark plums, ripe fruit a and a touch of "terroir". Exceptional on the palate, long finish, beautifully balanced Bordeaux. Evolved over the course of the night and kept getting better and better!! Perfect pairing, enjoyed this wine immensely. Glad I have 6 more to lay down and open thru out the years.
As I poured this Bordeaux into our glass I could not help notice the color of dark cherries still vibrant after all these years. Perfumes of dark plums, ripe fruit a and a touch of "terroir". Exceptional on the palate, long finish, beautifully balanced Bordeaux. Evolved over the course of the night and kept getting better and better!! Perfect pairing, enjoyed this wine immensely. Glad I have 6 more to lay down and open thru out the years.
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About Me
- The Purple Palate
- Orange County, CA, United States
- I grew up with my Father, who had a great love and passion for wine and food. In the early 70's he collected many of the Grand Cru and wines that we now seek for collecting at a very high price. To my Father and a small group of friends, these wines were not marketed and highly worshiped as they are today, they merely collected them at a small price and educated themselves on each unique bottle. With this passion came a movement that started the wine shock in the early 70's and has continued until today. These same friends are very influential in the wine world today, wine editors, wine shop owners and highly praised collectors that keep us all on a watch for the next great wine of the year. Learning and tasting the great wines of the world at such an early age, forged a great love for admiring and collecting the grape. With this passion I bring to you along with my tasting notes, education and travels to find the grapes that make us all want to collect and experience a new bottle of wine, that dazzles our palate and makes us smile with each sip. I hope to share my love and experiences with you, Cheers!
