It was a sad Easter this year as many children did not receive their usual Easter baskets. The Easter Bunny was missing this year and the children did not understand what had happened. But I knew, because I ate him the night before.
Rabbit Ravioli! I previously raved about the Rabbit Ravioli I had at Il Capriccio during their Le Piane wine dinner. After the French Rhône wine class, six of us ventured next door to have dinner at Il Capriccio. Everyone else but me had never been here before so it would be a new experience for them. I desperately hoped that they had Rabbit Ravioli on the menu.
But let us begin with the wines. Il Capriccio's wine list runs about 27 pages so it can seem intimidating. But that does not have to be the case. First, the initial six pages or so provide their featured wines and each has a descriptive paragraph so you can get a good idea about the type of wine. Second, the staff, and especially owner Jeannie Rogers, are more than happy to discuss the wine list with you and make suggestions based on your preferences. And they definitely won't try to push the more expensive wines. Jeannie seems to have an almost encyclopedic mind about Italian wines and she is a valuable resource for any diner seeking advice.
We asked Jeannie about a couple wines at the start of the evening and we began our meal with those two wines. And both wines were excellent as well as reasonably priced.
The first was a 2006 Podere Sanguineto Rosso di Montepulciano ($36). This region has an interesting history as it allegedly once was the battleground for some very bloody battles between the Etruscans and the Romans. Because of all the blood from these wars, the area was called "Sanguineto." This wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Mammolo grapes. It was a light red wine with good fruit. It was smooth and very easy drinking, a wine that would appeal to most people. This wine would be fine on its own or with food.
The second was the 2006 Tenuta Terre Nere Etna Rosso ($36). The vineyards for this winery are located on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Thus the soil is mostly volcanic ash with bits of black pumice and lots of volcanic rock. The vineyard is also organic. This wine is made from the Nerello Mascalese grape, one I had not had before. This was an intriguing wine, more powerful than the previous Montepulciano. It had more dark fruit flavors with an earthier taste. Though reminiscent of a rustic Pinot Noir, the wine also possessed its own unique flavor. We all enjoyed it though it definitely is more of a food wine.
During dinner, we also ordered a bottle of 2005 ReDondel Teroldego Rotaliano ($36.00) from Trentino. Teroldego is both the name of the grape as well as the region it comes from. The wine is very dark red, almost inky. It has a potent aroma of black berries and plums. It is a full-bodied wine with a complex melange of flavors, including dark berries and spice. The tannins do not overpower and the finish is very long and satisfying. This reminded me a little of a very good Zinfandel.
But what about the food? We started with a bunch of appetizers. Foie Gras with sweet potato, a Porcini Mushroom Souffle, Tuscan Bean Soup, Braised Short Rib over Goat Cheese Polenta, Salumi with Cheese & Olives. Everything was plentiful and delicious. I had two pieces of silky smooth Foie atop a creamy pile of mashed sweet potato. The Short Rib was also very tasty, with meat that just fell apart it was so tender. And the Polenta was creamy with that distinctive goat cheese taste.
On to the entrees. And YES, they did have Rabbit Ravioli on the menu, in both small and large dishes so you could have it as an appetizer or a meal. I had to have it as my meal. When it arrived, I never expected that they could have improved on it. It had been so delectable before. Yet they surpassed themselves. Besides the plentiful ravioli, there were pieces of tender rabbit atop the ravioli too! I even convinced two others in the group to order it as well and both loved it too. Simply a phenomenal dish.
Others at our table ordered the Steak, Lobster Risotto and Vegetarian Lasagna. All of the dishes were plentiful and quite good. There was very little left on our plates when we were done. And everyone had only complimentary things to say about their food. Not a single complaint.
Though we still had enough room to try some desserts. I had the Apple, Pear, and Pecan Crostata with Vanilla Ice Cream. The pastry shell was warm, flaky and fresh and contained plenty of fruit and nuts. And you could differentiate between the flavors of the apple and pear pieces. It was like an excellent pie ala mode. The Chocolate Budino was a big hit, a moist chocolaty cake with a very intriguing caramel ice cream. The Zabaglione and Berries was another big hit as was the Lemon Mousse.
With our dessetrts, we had a bottle of 2007 La Caliera Moscato d'Asti. This is a crisp wine, a bit fizzy and with a touch of sweetness. It is not cloying in the least and has a fragrant nose of lush fruit. It is quite delicious and was an excellent pairing with dessert.
Service was excellent. The servers were very unobtrusive, appearing only when needed and they were never pushy or trying to rush you. They were courteous and helpful. There were no mistakes with our orders. This is exactly the quality of service you want at these type of restaurants.
Everyone in my group was extremely pleased with the evening. And I am sure they will be returning to Il Capriccio. I certainly know that I will. Il Capriccio remains a very consistent, high-quality restaurant.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query il Capriccio. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query il Capriccio. Sort by date Show all posts
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Il Capriccio
About a week ago, I made dinner reservations for Il Capriccio in Waltham. It has long been been praised in the media and by devoted foodies. But, I have recently read a few negative reviews on some of the local foodie boards. They felt the food was too expensive, portions too small and the food just ordinary. For me though, I had positive expectations.
Jeannie Rogers, one of the restaurant's co-owners, also operates Adonna Imports, a wine importing company. They import primarily Italian wines, usually from small producers. I first tried some of the wines in their portfolio at the Grapevine Travelers wine store. I very much enjoyed the wines, including a Dolcetto and Barbera. They were different than other Italian wines I have had. I later found more of their wines at the Wine Shop in Reading and enjoyed them too. And last weekend, I got to try even more of their wines at a tasting at the Grapevine Travelers. I met Eileen there, who also works as a bartender at Il Capriccio.
Based on my experiences with their wine portfolio, I felt that Jeannie Rogers truly had a passion for wine. And if she had such passion, then I felt it would transfer to her restaurant as well. And if so, then the restaurant should be excellent too. So, I went with high expectations.
I used Open Table to make my reservations and noted that it would be my first time dining there, but that I was a fan of the wines of Adonna Imports.
Last night, we got to the restaurant a bit earlier than our 7pm reservation to have a drink at the bar. Their drink menu includes many different items, from sherries to prosecco, and martinis to wine. They do not have a long list of wines by the glass though. There were only about 4 red wines available by the glass, though the two that we had were very good. Their list by the bottle though is quite extensive and concentrates on Italian wines. This has to be one of the best Italian wine lists I have ever seen. It includes many different types of Italian wines that you do not usually see on wine lists. There was a good range of prices, from inexpensive bottles to high end bottles. We ordered a 2001 Pinot Nero (the winery name escapes me) from the Trentino Alto Adige region. This was a superb wine, like a fine Burdgundy but with a spicy edge, from an intriguing region of Italy. As it is like a Pinot Noir, it is a bit lighter and went well with all of our food.
We were seated at 7:15pm. The restaurant was packed and it is more than obvious that this is a very popular restaurant. Though reservations are highly recommended, you might be able to sit and eat in the bar without them. The tables can be a bit close together though there are good acoustics and it does not seem like a noisy place.
The menu is small but has a very diverse selection, which apparently changes monthly. Whatever your preferences, you should be able to find something you like. There are dishes with chicken, pork, fish, steak, pasta and more. It is also not your typical Italian menu. You will not find spaghetti and meatballs, or even chicken parm. It is more creative and you might find difficulty choosing from several dishes that appeal to you. So many of the dishes sound quite appetizing.
Prior to our appetizers arriving, we were served bread with oil. There were two kinds of bread, one a softer bread and the other more crusty. They were both fresh and it was a nice start to the meal.
We began with a salad and an appetizer special. My wife had the beet salad with Capri goat cheese and balsamic. She enjoyed this very much and we both found the goat cheese to be very creamy. I had the special, foie gras with crushed white peach and Moscato d'Asti. This was a superb dish! The foie gras was like butter in my mouth and the peach went quite well with it. I received two pieces of foie gras and there was plenty of peach sauce. Highly recommended!
Off the Primi menu, we next ordered a small order of the Pappardelle with Braised Vermont Rabbit. The Primi are all pasta dishes and can be ordered in small or large sizes, dependent if you want them as an appetizer or entree. I was very torn about this section as a couple of the other Primi, such as the Fettucine with Duck and the Lobster and Pancetta Risotto sounded so good too. The Pappardelle was exquisite. There were good-sized pieces of duck in this dish, and not just thin threads of meat. The dish had some small pieces of carrot and possibly celery too. The pasta was cooked just right. This dish was quite delicious and and there was plenty of food.
Then, compliments of the Chef, we were given an order of Mussels. These are steamed P.E.I Mussels with white wine, garlic and pear tomatoes. There were a lot of mussels in the dish and they were very tender. In fact, they were some of the best mussels I have ever had.
For our entrees, my wife had the Sauteed Port Tenderloin, Spiced Cabbage, Sweet Potato Lasagna, Tomato and Sambuca. She received two good-sized tenderloins and they were certainly very tender and flavorful. The sweet potato lasagna was very intriguing, and extremely delicious. It was essentially mashed sweet potato between layers of cheese. I could have eaten a large portion of that. My entree was the Organic Chicken Schnitzel, Fried Egg, Lemon and Sage with Herbed Spaetzle. This was a large chicken breast, with only a token bone at one end, with a nicely spiced breading. The chicken was moist and flavorful. The egg was cooked so that the yolk was still gooey, which I like. The spaetzle were very tasty as well.
After all of that food, we still had a bit of room to split dessert, an orange and cardamon creme brulee with chocolate sorbetto. The creme brulee was very good and the sorbetto was excellent, a nice creamy chocolate.
Service was excellent. Our waiter was helpful with being obtrusive. We did not feel rushed and we never had to hunt for him. He was there when needed.
I should also note that throughout the meal, we saw the co-owner Jeannie Rogers working in the restaurant, whether helping with wine or setting up a table. On a holiday weekend, she was at her restaurant and not away on vacation. That surely indicates a true dedication and passion.
Prices for appetizers range $7-14, small Primi from $13-20, large Primi from $21-30, Secondi from $25-33. I think these prices are quite reasonable for the amount and quality of food you receive. This is a higher end restaurant but you definitely get what you pay for. You won't go home hungry and you will definitely enjoy the creative dishes.
Overall, I highly recommend Il Capriccio. The food is phenomenal, the wine list is superb and service is excellent. The food is reasonably priced for what you receive, the portions are good and the dishes are quite creative and exciting. Kudos to co-owner Jeannie Rogers whose passion for wine extends to her restaurant as well. Kudos also to Chef Rich Barron who has put together an excellent menu and some great food. I will definitely return there and encourage others to do the same.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
Jeannie Rogers, one of the restaurant's co-owners, also operates Adonna Imports, a wine importing company. They import primarily Italian wines, usually from small producers. I first tried some of the wines in their portfolio at the Grapevine Travelers wine store. I very much enjoyed the wines, including a Dolcetto and Barbera. They were different than other Italian wines I have had. I later found more of their wines at the Wine Shop in Reading and enjoyed them too. And last weekend, I got to try even more of their wines at a tasting at the Grapevine Travelers. I met Eileen there, who also works as a bartender at Il Capriccio.
Based on my experiences with their wine portfolio, I felt that Jeannie Rogers truly had a passion for wine. And if she had such passion, then I felt it would transfer to her restaurant as well. And if so, then the restaurant should be excellent too. So, I went with high expectations.
I used Open Table to make my reservations and noted that it would be my first time dining there, but that I was a fan of the wines of Adonna Imports.
Last night, we got to the restaurant a bit earlier than our 7pm reservation to have a drink at the bar. Their drink menu includes many different items, from sherries to prosecco, and martinis to wine. They do not have a long list of wines by the glass though. There were only about 4 red wines available by the glass, though the two that we had were very good. Their list by the bottle though is quite extensive and concentrates on Italian wines. This has to be one of the best Italian wine lists I have ever seen. It includes many different types of Italian wines that you do not usually see on wine lists. There was a good range of prices, from inexpensive bottles to high end bottles. We ordered a 2001 Pinot Nero (the winery name escapes me) from the Trentino Alto Adige region. This was a superb wine, like a fine Burdgundy but with a spicy edge, from an intriguing region of Italy. As it is like a Pinot Noir, it is a bit lighter and went well with all of our food.
We were seated at 7:15pm. The restaurant was packed and it is more than obvious that this is a very popular restaurant. Though reservations are highly recommended, you might be able to sit and eat in the bar without them. The tables can be a bit close together though there are good acoustics and it does not seem like a noisy place.
The menu is small but has a very diverse selection, which apparently changes monthly. Whatever your preferences, you should be able to find something you like. There are dishes with chicken, pork, fish, steak, pasta and more. It is also not your typical Italian menu. You will not find spaghetti and meatballs, or even chicken parm. It is more creative and you might find difficulty choosing from several dishes that appeal to you. So many of the dishes sound quite appetizing.
Prior to our appetizers arriving, we were served bread with oil. There were two kinds of bread, one a softer bread and the other more crusty. They were both fresh and it was a nice start to the meal.
We began with a salad and an appetizer special. My wife had the beet salad with Capri goat cheese and balsamic. She enjoyed this very much and we both found the goat cheese to be very creamy. I had the special, foie gras with crushed white peach and Moscato d'Asti. This was a superb dish! The foie gras was like butter in my mouth and the peach went quite well with it. I received two pieces of foie gras and there was plenty of peach sauce. Highly recommended!
Off the Primi menu, we next ordered a small order of the Pappardelle with Braised Vermont Rabbit. The Primi are all pasta dishes and can be ordered in small or large sizes, dependent if you want them as an appetizer or entree. I was very torn about this section as a couple of the other Primi, such as the Fettucine with Duck and the Lobster and Pancetta Risotto sounded so good too. The Pappardelle was exquisite. There were good-sized pieces of duck in this dish, and not just thin threads of meat. The dish had some small pieces of carrot and possibly celery too. The pasta was cooked just right. This dish was quite delicious and and there was plenty of food.
Then, compliments of the Chef, we were given an order of Mussels. These are steamed P.E.I Mussels with white wine, garlic and pear tomatoes. There were a lot of mussels in the dish and they were very tender. In fact, they were some of the best mussels I have ever had.
For our entrees, my wife had the Sauteed Port Tenderloin, Spiced Cabbage, Sweet Potato Lasagna, Tomato and Sambuca. She received two good-sized tenderloins and they were certainly very tender and flavorful. The sweet potato lasagna was very intriguing, and extremely delicious. It was essentially mashed sweet potato between layers of cheese. I could have eaten a large portion of that. My entree was the Organic Chicken Schnitzel, Fried Egg, Lemon and Sage with Herbed Spaetzle. This was a large chicken breast, with only a token bone at one end, with a nicely spiced breading. The chicken was moist and flavorful. The egg was cooked so that the yolk was still gooey, which I like. The spaetzle were very tasty as well.
After all of that food, we still had a bit of room to split dessert, an orange and cardamon creme brulee with chocolate sorbetto. The creme brulee was very good and the sorbetto was excellent, a nice creamy chocolate.
Service was excellent. Our waiter was helpful with being obtrusive. We did not feel rushed and we never had to hunt for him. He was there when needed.
I should also note that throughout the meal, we saw the co-owner Jeannie Rogers working in the restaurant, whether helping with wine or setting up a table. On a holiday weekend, she was at her restaurant and not away on vacation. That surely indicates a true dedication and passion.
Prices for appetizers range $7-14, small Primi from $13-20, large Primi from $21-30, Secondi from $25-33. I think these prices are quite reasonable for the amount and quality of food you receive. This is a higher end restaurant but you definitely get what you pay for. You won't go home hungry and you will definitely enjoy the creative dishes.
Overall, I highly recommend Il Capriccio. The food is phenomenal, the wine list is superb and service is excellent. The food is reasonably priced for what you receive, the portions are good and the dishes are quite creative and exciting. Kudos to co-owner Jeannie Rogers whose passion for wine extends to her restaurant as well. Kudos also to Chef Rich Barron who has put together an excellent menu and some great food. I will definitely return there and encourage others to do the same.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Il Capriccio Wine Dinner: Cascina Roera Winery--Jan.19
Il Capriccio is one of my favorite Italian restaurants and they have a killer wine list, including many less common and unusual Italian wines. They have exceptional food and have hosted some delicious wine dinners in the past. You now have another opportunity to check them out.
On Monday January 19, they will host a special wine dinner with Claudio Rosso and Piero Nebiolo of the Cascina Roera winery in Costigliole d'Asti, Italy. (Yes, those are their real names!) Seating starts at 6pm and continues throughout the evening.
Piero and Claudio will be there to talk about their wines and the Piemonte region. The winery has only been around since 2002 yet has already garnered an excellent reputation. The vineyards are managed organically, they have some old vines, and the philosophy in the cellar is to start with superior grapes and interfere as little as possible. This is the first time that Piero and Claudio have been to the Boston area.
The Menu includes:
--Pork Loin with Tuna Sauce paired with 2006 Barbera d'Asti
--Lasagnetta Di Verdure paired with 2004 Barbera d'Asti Superiore "San Martino"
--Squab Breast with Porcini Sformato paired with 2004 Barbera d'Asti Superiore "Cardin"
--Red Wine Poached Pear (They are still deciding on a pairing though might go to Tuscany and enjoy the Massa Vecchia Aleatico)
The dinner costs $55.00 per person, which includes tax and tip. Call for reservations.
I also want to note that Il Capriccio is holding their Secret Hidden Finds from the Cellar on Monday thru Thursday evenings starting at 5 P.M. For $12.00 a glass, you get to try some very special wines. They only have a couple of bottles of each wine each day so make sure to get their early. You might get to try wines like a Roberto Voerzio Barolo, Casse Basse Brunello or Quintarelli Amarone. Why not stop by their bar, have a few appetizers and drink some great wine?
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
On Monday January 19, they will host a special wine dinner with Claudio Rosso and Piero Nebiolo of the Cascina Roera winery in Costigliole d'Asti, Italy. (Yes, those are their real names!) Seating starts at 6pm and continues throughout the evening.
Piero and Claudio will be there to talk about their wines and the Piemonte region. The winery has only been around since 2002 yet has already garnered an excellent reputation. The vineyards are managed organically, they have some old vines, and the philosophy in the cellar is to start with superior grapes and interfere as little as possible. This is the first time that Piero and Claudio have been to the Boston area.
The Menu includes:
--Pork Loin with Tuna Sauce paired with 2006 Barbera d'Asti
--Lasagnetta Di Verdure paired with 2004 Barbera d'Asti Superiore "San Martino"
--Squab Breast with Porcini Sformato paired with 2004 Barbera d'Asti Superiore "Cardin"
--Red Wine Poached Pear (They are still deciding on a pairing though might go to Tuscany and enjoy the Massa Vecchia Aleatico)
The dinner costs $55.00 per person, which includes tax and tip. Call for reservations.
I also want to note that Il Capriccio is holding their Secret Hidden Finds from the Cellar on Monday thru Thursday evenings starting at 5 P.M. For $12.00 a glass, you get to try some very special wines. They only have a couple of bottles of each wine each day so make sure to get their early. You might get to try wines like a Roberto Voerzio Barolo, Casse Basse Brunello or Quintarelli Amarone. Why not stop by their bar, have a few appetizers and drink some great wine?
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Le Piane Wine Dinner (or More Rabbit Ravioli Please!)
I am going to be savoring Rabbit Ravioli in my mind for weeks to come.
Last Friday evening, I had an excellent experience tasting the wines of Le Piane and meeting the wine maker, the very personable Christoph Künzli. I was thus excited to attend a wine dinner last evening, showcasing his wines, at Il Capriccio in Waltham. I have been to Il Capriccio before and knew that the food would likely be very good. Plus, I was intrigued to see how the Le Piane wines would pair with food. My hopes were high that the wines would excel even more paired with food.
Our first course of the evening was a Beef Carpaccio painted with Pear William and Gorgonzola and paired with the 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina. This consisted of a large, very thin piece of tender beef with several chunks of Gorgonzola cheese and in a light Pear William sauce, a type of pear liquer. The slight sweetness of the pear offered a good constrast to the sharpness of the Gorgonzola. A fine dish which paired well with the easy drinking Maggiorina. The food seemed to make the Maggiorina even smoother, emphasizing its fruity taste.
We then moved on to the Baccala Mantecato with Moscato d'Asti paired with the 2000 Le Piane Boca. This dish consisted of a small ball of a whipped salt cod concoction, almost like a salt cod mashed potato, atop a thin cracker or piece of bread with a sweet and creamy Moscato sauce. This was quite delicious, the saltiness of the cod balanced by the slight sweet flavor of the sauce. This would make a great side dish. The 2000 Boca, one of my favorites from the prior tasting, was an interesting pairing. Though a red wine, it actually paired quite well with the salt cod. And it is probably because the 2000 Boca is a more delicate, subtle wine. It would be overpowered by stronger foods so it does require pairing with a more subtle dish. The silky smooth wine certainly impressed me again and I am glad I bought some of this wine at the tasting.
The next course was Snails with Peas and Leeks paired with the 2003 Le Piane. This dish had several meaty snails, peas, leeks and some bits of bread in an intriguing, almost nutty sauce. A more rustic dish to fit the more rustic 2003 Le Piane. I had not tasted this wine before, only its 2004 vintage. This was actually less tannic than the 2004, and was made with more Croatina. And with the food, the wine was even smoother and more enjoyable. The dark fruits rose to the surface and the earthiness only complemented the food. I very much liked this wine.
While we were dining on this course, Christoph stopped by our table to chat. He had been making the rounds, talking to the various tables about his wines. Once again, he was very personable and passionate. He had even read my review of the Friday night Le Piane tasting and felt that my tasting notes well described the wines.
I learned some more about Christoph and his wines. Prior to opening Le Piane, he had been involved in wine making for about thirty years all over Italy. He checked out many different regions of Italy and found a few that appealed to him. But the Boca region truly called to him. Plus, Boca was only a short trip from his home in Switzerland.
There are now other small producers in the Boca region, though none as large as Le Piane. And currently, Le Piane is the only producer that exports from the Boca region. Many of the producers have banded together to help each other, to learn from one another. The Le Piane wines are mostly organic, as much as Christoph can do. His primary goal is not to expand the vineyards but to work on enhancing the quality of his wines. He is certainly already doing an excellent job with the wines and I suspect his wines will only grow in popularity.
Then arrived the Rabbit Ravioli paired with the 2004 Le Piane. WOW! These ravioli were exceptional. Three, hand-made raviolis stuffed with rabbit meat in a light tomato sauce and sprinkled with grated cheese. Perfectly spiced and just a splendid taste. I could have eaten an entire bowl of these and been very happy. And the 2004 Le Piane was a fine companion, a bit more tannic than the 2003 but not overly so and easily tamed by the rabbit. This was easily my favorite course of the night.
Our main course was Braised Duck with Little Onions and Porcini paired with both the 2001 Boca and the 2003 Boca. I received three good-sized pieces of duck, the the onions, mushrooms and a few fresh veggies including yellow cauliflower and carrot. The duck was quite tender, easily sliding off the bone. It was not fatty at all, with plenty of delectable meat. It had a bit of a savory brown gravy that accented the duck. Another excellent dish. In the prior tasting, I preferred the 2003 to the 2001, and this time I felt the same way. The 2001 still had a bit of tarteness to it, though the food helped to mute much of it. But, the 2003 stood out, with more accented berry flavors and a bit more tannins that went well with the braised duck. I appreciated the 2001 more with food, but the 2003 also became even better.
Finally, dessert was Zabaglione and Berries paired with a 2007 La Caliera Moscato d'Asti. I received a bowl of fresh berries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and more. All covered by a little Zabaglione cream that added a touch of sweetness to the berries. I devoured my dessert as well as the wine. The La Caliera is not from Le Piane but was added as Le Piane does not make a dessert wine. The La Caliera was crisp, a bit fizzy and a touch sweet. It was not cloying in the least. It had a fragrant nose of lush fruit and was quite delicious. A very refreshing choice.
So, the meal finally ended and I was more than sated. The food was excellent and the wines were a treasure. I found the wines to be even better with food. Though I certainly enjoyed the wines alone at the tasting, they all seemed to be enhanced in some way by being paired with food. That should make you think about tasting wines in general, how we don't always see a wine's full potential unless it is in the propert context, such as paired with food.
Great thanks to Christoph for his fine wines and to Jeannie Rogers and the staff of Il Capriccio for another fine dinner.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
Last Friday evening, I had an excellent experience tasting the wines of Le Piane and meeting the wine maker, the very personable Christoph Künzli. I was thus excited to attend a wine dinner last evening, showcasing his wines, at Il Capriccio in Waltham. I have been to Il Capriccio before and knew that the food would likely be very good. Plus, I was intrigued to see how the Le Piane wines would pair with food. My hopes were high that the wines would excel even more paired with food.
Our first course of the evening was a Beef Carpaccio painted with Pear William and Gorgonzola and paired with the 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina. This consisted of a large, very thin piece of tender beef with several chunks of Gorgonzola cheese and in a light Pear William sauce, a type of pear liquer. The slight sweetness of the pear offered a good constrast to the sharpness of the Gorgonzola. A fine dish which paired well with the easy drinking Maggiorina. The food seemed to make the Maggiorina even smoother, emphasizing its fruity taste.
We then moved on to the Baccala Mantecato with Moscato d'Asti paired with the 2000 Le Piane Boca. This dish consisted of a small ball of a whipped salt cod concoction, almost like a salt cod mashed potato, atop a thin cracker or piece of bread with a sweet and creamy Moscato sauce. This was quite delicious, the saltiness of the cod balanced by the slight sweet flavor of the sauce. This would make a great side dish. The 2000 Boca, one of my favorites from the prior tasting, was an interesting pairing. Though a red wine, it actually paired quite well with the salt cod. And it is probably because the 2000 Boca is a more delicate, subtle wine. It would be overpowered by stronger foods so it does require pairing with a more subtle dish. The silky smooth wine certainly impressed me again and I am glad I bought some of this wine at the tasting.
The next course was Snails with Peas and Leeks paired with the 2003 Le Piane. This dish had several meaty snails, peas, leeks and some bits of bread in an intriguing, almost nutty sauce. A more rustic dish to fit the more rustic 2003 Le Piane. I had not tasted this wine before, only its 2004 vintage. This was actually less tannic than the 2004, and was made with more Croatina. And with the food, the wine was even smoother and more enjoyable. The dark fruits rose to the surface and the earthiness only complemented the food. I very much liked this wine.
While we were dining on this course, Christoph stopped by our table to chat. He had been making the rounds, talking to the various tables about his wines. Once again, he was very personable and passionate. He had even read my review of the Friday night Le Piane tasting and felt that my tasting notes well described the wines.
I learned some more about Christoph and his wines. Prior to opening Le Piane, he had been involved in wine making for about thirty years all over Italy. He checked out many different regions of Italy and found a few that appealed to him. But the Boca region truly called to him. Plus, Boca was only a short trip from his home in Switzerland.
There are now other small producers in the Boca region, though none as large as Le Piane. And currently, Le Piane is the only producer that exports from the Boca region. Many of the producers have banded together to help each other, to learn from one another. The Le Piane wines are mostly organic, as much as Christoph can do. His primary goal is not to expand the vineyards but to work on enhancing the quality of his wines. He is certainly already doing an excellent job with the wines and I suspect his wines will only grow in popularity.
Then arrived the Rabbit Ravioli paired with the 2004 Le Piane. WOW! These ravioli were exceptional. Three, hand-made raviolis stuffed with rabbit meat in a light tomato sauce and sprinkled with grated cheese. Perfectly spiced and just a splendid taste. I could have eaten an entire bowl of these and been very happy. And the 2004 Le Piane was a fine companion, a bit more tannic than the 2003 but not overly so and easily tamed by the rabbit. This was easily my favorite course of the night.
Our main course was Braised Duck with Little Onions and Porcini paired with both the 2001 Boca and the 2003 Boca. I received three good-sized pieces of duck, the the onions, mushrooms and a few fresh veggies including yellow cauliflower and carrot. The duck was quite tender, easily sliding off the bone. It was not fatty at all, with plenty of delectable meat. It had a bit of a savory brown gravy that accented the duck. Another excellent dish. In the prior tasting, I preferred the 2003 to the 2001, and this time I felt the same way. The 2001 still had a bit of tarteness to it, though the food helped to mute much of it. But, the 2003 stood out, with more accented berry flavors and a bit more tannins that went well with the braised duck. I appreciated the 2001 more with food, but the 2003 also became even better.
Finally, dessert was Zabaglione and Berries paired with a 2007 La Caliera Moscato d'Asti. I received a bowl of fresh berries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and more. All covered by a little Zabaglione cream that added a touch of sweetness to the berries. I devoured my dessert as well as the wine. The La Caliera is not from Le Piane but was added as Le Piane does not make a dessert wine. The La Caliera was crisp, a bit fizzy and a touch sweet. It was not cloying in the least. It had a fragrant nose of lush fruit and was quite delicious. A very refreshing choice.
So, the meal finally ended and I was more than sated. The food was excellent and the wines were a treasure. I found the wines to be even better with food. Though I certainly enjoyed the wines alone at the tasting, they all seemed to be enhanced in some way by being paired with food. That should make you think about tasting wines in general, how we don't always see a wine's full potential unless it is in the propert context, such as paired with food.
Great thanks to Christoph for his fine wines and to Jeannie Rogers and the staff of Il Capriccio for another fine dinner.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Le Piane Wine Dinners: Feb 28 & March 3--Updates
As previously mentioned, Adonna Imports has arranged for Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont, to host two upcoming wine dinners. I now have the menus for these events.
The first wine dinner will be held on Thursday, February 28th at 6:30pm at The Blue Room. This will consist of 4 Courses paired with 4 wines, plus a Prosecco reception.
First course: Family style antipasti of salt cod, salumi, anchovy stuffed olives, fig jam, wood- roasted vegetables etc. that will be paired with the 2004 La Maggiorina.
Second course: Rabbit ravioli with chestnuts, sage, brown butter and balsamic paired with the 2004 Colline Novaresi.
Third course: Roasted Vermont whole lamb, rosemary and mustard rubbed with farro, and tuscan kale paired with the 2000 & 2003 Bocas.
Fourth course: Selection of soft and hard cheeses with fruits, nuts, jams and marmalades with Iggy's cranberry-pecan loaf where you will finish up the remaining Bocas.
Cost is $75 (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations or make them online.
The Blue Room
One Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-494-9034
The second wine dinner will be held on Monday, March 3 at 6:00pm at Il Capriccio. They will have a five course meal paired with 5 wines.
First course: Baccala Mantecato with Moscato d'Asti paired with the 2004 La Maggiorina.
Second course: Beef Carpaccio painted with Pear William and Gorgonzola paired with the 2003 Colline Novaresi.
Third course: Snails with peas and leeks paired with the 2004 Colline Novaresi.
Fourth course: Rabbit ravioli paired with the 2000 Boca.
Fifth course: Braised duck with little onions and porcini paired with the 2001 & 2003 Bocas.
Sixth course: Zabaglione and fruit paired with a 2007 Caliera Moscato d'Asti.
It will cost $95 per person (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
I will be attending the dinner at Il Capriccio and the menu certainly appeals to me. I will definitely report back with a review of the dinner. Maybe I will also see you there.
The first wine dinner will be held on Thursday, February 28th at 6:30pm at The Blue Room. This will consist of 4 Courses paired with 4 wines, plus a Prosecco reception.
First course: Family style antipasti of salt cod, salumi, anchovy stuffed olives, fig jam, wood- roasted vegetables etc. that will be paired with the 2004 La Maggiorina.
Second course: Rabbit ravioli with chestnuts, sage, brown butter and balsamic paired with the 2004 Colline Novaresi.
Third course: Roasted Vermont whole lamb, rosemary and mustard rubbed with farro, and tuscan kale paired with the 2000 & 2003 Bocas.
Fourth course: Selection of soft and hard cheeses with fruits, nuts, jams and marmalades with Iggy's cranberry-pecan loaf where you will finish up the remaining Bocas.
Cost is $75 (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations or make them online.
The Blue Room
One Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-494-9034
The second wine dinner will be held on Monday, March 3 at 6:00pm at Il Capriccio. They will have a five course meal paired with 5 wines.
First course: Baccala Mantecato with Moscato d'Asti paired with the 2004 La Maggiorina.
Second course: Beef Carpaccio painted with Pear William and Gorgonzola paired with the 2003 Colline Novaresi.
Third course: Snails with peas and leeks paired with the 2004 Colline Novaresi.
Fourth course: Rabbit ravioli paired with the 2000 Boca.
Fifth course: Braised duck with little onions and porcini paired with the 2001 & 2003 Bocas.
Sixth course: Zabaglione and fruit paired with a 2007 Caliera Moscato d'Asti.
It will cost $95 per person (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
I will be attending the dinner at Il Capriccio and the menu certainly appeals to me. I will definitely report back with a review of the dinner. Maybe I will also see you there.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Cascina Roera Wine Tastings
Claudio Rosso and Piero Nebiolo of the Cascina Roera winery in Costigliole d'Asti, Italy will be in the Boston area later this month and you have a few different opportunities to meet them and taste their wines.
First, I previously told you about the special Wine Dinner on January 19 at the Il Capriccio restaurant in Waltham.
Second, you can also attend a Wine Tasting on January 20, from 7pm-8:30pm, at Gordon's Fine Wine & Liquors. You can check out their "flagship" Barberas including: Cardin Barbera d'Asti Superiore, Cardin Riserva Barbera d'Asti Superiore, La Roera Barbera d'Asti, and San Martino Barbera d'Asti Superiore. Jeannie Rogers, owner of Adonna Imports and co-owner of Il Capriccio, will be bringing some wonderful antipasti items to accompany these Piemontese wines. There is a $20 cost for this event.
Third, you can attend a Wine Tasting on January 21, from 6pm-8pm, at Salem Wine Imports. Organically farmed Barbera from two distinct vineyards, San Martino and Cardin plus an IGT Rosso will be available for your sampling pleasure. This event is free. I will likely be at this event so maybe I wil see you there.
First, I previously told you about the special Wine Dinner on January 19 at the Il Capriccio restaurant in Waltham.
Second, you can also attend a Wine Tasting on January 20, from 7pm-8:30pm, at Gordon's Fine Wine & Liquors. You can check out their "flagship" Barberas including: Cardin Barbera d'Asti Superiore, Cardin Riserva Barbera d'Asti Superiore, La Roera Barbera d'Asti, and San Martino Barbera d'Asti Superiore. Jeannie Rogers, owner of Adonna Imports and co-owner of Il Capriccio, will be bringing some wonderful antipasti items to accompany these Piemontese wines. There is a $20 cost for this event.
Third, you can attend a Wine Tasting on January 21, from 6pm-8pm, at Salem Wine Imports. Organically farmed Barbera from two distinct vineyards, San Martino and Cardin plus an IGT Rosso will be available for your sampling pleasure. This event is free. I will likely be at this event so maybe I wil see you there.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Stoneham Sun: Il Capriccio
My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the September 26 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it may also touch on a few other food and wine topics. The new column will be published tomorrow and is now available online.
The new column is a restaurant review of Il Capriccio in Waltham, a creative Italian restaurant. This is definitely a place for excellent food and well worth a visit.
You should also know that Jeannie Rogers, one of the restaurant's co-owners, also operates Adonna Imports, a wine importer/distributor company. Their portfolio contains primarily Italian wines, usually from small producers. Their wines are available in a number of local wine stores, including Grapevine Travelers, Wine Shop in Reading, OurGlass Wine Co. and Gordon's Fine Wine.
I have tried a number of their wines and many of them were excellent values. You can find my reviews of some of their wines on my blog. Their wines are worth seeking out.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Next week, my column will be more Wine Store recommendations.
Dine with passion!
The new column is a restaurant review of Il Capriccio in Waltham, a creative Italian restaurant. This is definitely a place for excellent food and well worth a visit.
You should also know that Jeannie Rogers, one of the restaurant's co-owners, also operates Adonna Imports, a wine importer/distributor company. Their portfolio contains primarily Italian wines, usually from small producers. Their wines are available in a number of local wine stores, including Grapevine Travelers, Wine Shop in Reading, OurGlass Wine Co. and Gordon's Fine Wine.
I have tried a number of their wines and many of them were excellent values. You can find my reviews of some of their wines on my blog. Their wines are worth seeking out.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Next week, my column will be more Wine Store recommendations.
Dine with passion!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Le Piane Wine Dinners: Feb 28 & March 3
Adonna Imports has arranged for Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont, to host two upcoming wine dinners. I recently tasted his 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina and was impressed. It was an excellent value wine so I definitely would like to taste his higher end wines.
The first wine dinner will be held on Thursday, February 28th at 6:30pm at The Blue Room. They will highlight 4 of his award winning wines including the Boca 2000 and Boca 2003, 2004 Le Piane Colline Novaresi and the 2004 Le Piane Maggiorina. There will be 4 Courses paired with their 4 wines and it will cost $75 per person (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations or make them online.
The Blue Room
One Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-494-9034
The second wine dinner will be held on Monday, March 3 at 6:00pm at Il Capriccio. They will have a five course meal paired with 5 of his award winning wines including the Boca 2000, Boca 2001, Boca 2003, 2004 Le Piane Colline Novaresi and the 2004 Le Piane Maggiorina. It will cost $95 per person (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
The first wine dinner will be held on Thursday, February 28th at 6:30pm at The Blue Room. They will highlight 4 of his award winning wines including the Boca 2000 and Boca 2003, 2004 Le Piane Colline Novaresi and the 2004 Le Piane Maggiorina. There will be 4 Courses paired with their 4 wines and it will cost $75 per person (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations or make them online.
The Blue Room
One Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-494-9034
The second wine dinner will be held on Monday, March 3 at 6:00pm at Il Capriccio. They will have a five course meal paired with 5 of his award winning wines including the Boca 2000, Boca 2001, Boca 2003, 2004 Le Piane Colline Novaresi and the 2004 Le Piane Maggiorina. It will cost $95 per person (not including tax and tip). Call for reservations.
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wine Book Club: Vino Italiano
The first edition of Wine Book Club launches today!
Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club to give wine bloggers reason to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the wine books they have read. For our first review, we read Vino Italiano! by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. This book was chosen by David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. Reviews will be posted today on numerous wine blogs as well as Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari and Facebook.
Vino Italiano is a large and comprehensive reference book about Italian wines. At over 500 pages, I am sure that some had difficulty finishing it before today's deadline. Being the voracious reader that I am, I did finish the entire book. Overall, I was very pleased with what I read, though I have a couple reservations about it.
The book is broken down into three main sections. The First section, The Basics, begins with a short history of Italian wine making. It then goes on to explain Italian wine laws as well as how to read an Italian wine label. There is also a map and chart describing the principal grapes of Italy. Finally, there is a brief explanation of why an Italian wine costs more outside of the country.
The Second section, The Regions, is the vastly largest section of the book. It is broken down into chapters on nineteen geographical regions. For each region, there is a basic description of the area, both geographic and cultural. Then there is a description of their different wines, red, white, sparkling and sweet. Next, there is a selection of "fast facts" on the region as well as food and wine pairing suggestions. Finally, a representative recipe is provided.
The Third section, The Data, is a series of Appendices including a glossary of Italian wine terminology, descriptions of Italian grapes, DOC and DOCG zones, wine producers and more.
The book is easy to understand and there are some numerous, interesting anecdotes spread throughout the book. But, it still feels more like a textbook with all of the detailed information it provides. And I don't really think I could retain a fraction of the voluminous information in a single reading. This is a book that works best as a reference tool, something to turn to when you want to know more about a certain Italian wine region, varietal or producer. You probably won't find a more comprehensive reference work on Italian wines.
There is a small issue as well that some of the items in the book may be slightly outdated as it only covers up to 2004. Some of the wines mentioned in the book may not be available now, and some newer producers may not be mentioned in the book. For most of the other general information on Italian wines provided in the book, there should not be a problem. This book would make a great accompaniement to a yearly Italian wine guide.
I have long been a fan of Italian wines and have found some true gems through Adonna Imports, which imports numerous Italian wines from small producers. I will be attending an Italian wine tasting this Friday which has been set up by Adonna Imports at Salem Wine Imports. Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont, will be there to showcase his wines. Christoph's vineyard is located in the Novara region of Piedmont in the Boca DOC. Christoph Künzli will also be present at two upcoming wine dinners. They will held on February 28th at The Blue Room in Cambridge and March 3rd at Il Capriccio in Waltham. I will be attending the dinner at Il Capriccio.
A couple weeks ago, I tasted his 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina ($12.99), from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC from Boca. The wine is made from three unusual Italian grapes and one common one, including Croatina, Vepsolina, Uva Rara and Nebbiolo. Vino Italiano helped to provide some more information about those grapes as well as the DOC. I really knew little about either so Vino Italiano helped educate me on those matters.
I loved the lush berry flavors of the wine as it just burst with bright fruit. There was some acidity and it did pucker my mouth a little bit. It would be a great food wine, from pizza to veal parmigiana. And at the price, it is an excellent value for an everyday wine. Now I look forward to trying more Le Piane wines.
I will also return to Vino Italiano to read more about the Piedmont section in preparation for meeting Christoph. Maybe I can then devise some interesting questions for him at the upcoming tasting or wine dinner. I am sure I will return time and time again to Vino Italiano when I find a new Italian wine.
Now I look forward to reading the next book for Wine Book Club!
Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club to give wine bloggers reason to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the wine books they have read. For our first review, we read Vino Italiano! by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. This book was chosen by David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. Reviews will be posted today on numerous wine blogs as well as Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari and Facebook.
Vino Italiano is a large and comprehensive reference book about Italian wines. At over 500 pages, I am sure that some had difficulty finishing it before today's deadline. Being the voracious reader that I am, I did finish the entire book. Overall, I was very pleased with what I read, though I have a couple reservations about it.
The book is broken down into three main sections. The First section, The Basics, begins with a short history of Italian wine making. It then goes on to explain Italian wine laws as well as how to read an Italian wine label. There is also a map and chart describing the principal grapes of Italy. Finally, there is a brief explanation of why an Italian wine costs more outside of the country.
The Second section, The Regions, is the vastly largest section of the book. It is broken down into chapters on nineteen geographical regions. For each region, there is a basic description of the area, both geographic and cultural. Then there is a description of their different wines, red, white, sparkling and sweet. Next, there is a selection of "fast facts" on the region as well as food and wine pairing suggestions. Finally, a representative recipe is provided.
The Third section, The Data, is a series of Appendices including a glossary of Italian wine terminology, descriptions of Italian grapes, DOC and DOCG zones, wine producers and more.
The book is easy to understand and there are some numerous, interesting anecdotes spread throughout the book. But, it still feels more like a textbook with all of the detailed information it provides. And I don't really think I could retain a fraction of the voluminous information in a single reading. This is a book that works best as a reference tool, something to turn to when you want to know more about a certain Italian wine region, varietal or producer. You probably won't find a more comprehensive reference work on Italian wines.
There is a small issue as well that some of the items in the book may be slightly outdated as it only covers up to 2004. Some of the wines mentioned in the book may not be available now, and some newer producers may not be mentioned in the book. For most of the other general information on Italian wines provided in the book, there should not be a problem. This book would make a great accompaniement to a yearly Italian wine guide.
I have long been a fan of Italian wines and have found some true gems through Adonna Imports, which imports numerous Italian wines from small producers. I will be attending an Italian wine tasting this Friday which has been set up by Adonna Imports at Salem Wine Imports. Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont, will be there to showcase his wines. Christoph's vineyard is located in the Novara region of Piedmont in the Boca DOC. Christoph Künzli will also be present at two upcoming wine dinners. They will held on February 28th at The Blue Room in Cambridge and March 3rd at Il Capriccio in Waltham. I will be attending the dinner at Il Capriccio.
A couple weeks ago, I tasted his 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina ($12.99), from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC from Boca. The wine is made from three unusual Italian grapes and one common one, including Croatina, Vepsolina, Uva Rara and Nebbiolo. Vino Italiano helped to provide some more information about those grapes as well as the DOC. I really knew little about either so Vino Italiano helped educate me on those matters.
I loved the lush berry flavors of the wine as it just burst with bright fruit. There was some acidity and it did pucker my mouth a little bit. It would be a great food wine, from pizza to veal parmigiana. And at the price, it is an excellent value for an everyday wine. Now I look forward to trying more Le Piane wines.
I will also return to Vino Italiano to read more about the Piedmont section in preparation for meeting Christoph. Maybe I can then devise some interesting questions for him at the upcoming tasting or wine dinner. I am sure I will return time and time again to Vino Italiano when I find a new Italian wine.
Now I look forward to reading the next book for Wine Book Club!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Le Piane Tasting: An Excellent Evening
A wine maker who significantly contributed to the resurrection of a dying wine region. That is certainly a compelling story and I was pleased to get to meet that vintner, talk with him a bit and taste his wines.
Last evening, Eileen Wright of Adonna Imports arranged for Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont to have a tasting at Salem Wine Imports. I attended the tasting, bringing some members of the North Shore Winers, and also met there two other local wine bloggers, Taster A and Taster B from Smells Like Grape.
A brief aside: As I am also celebrating the contributions of women to the wine industry this month, I wanted to specifically honor Adonna Imports, run by Jeannie Rogers (of Il Capriccio fame) and Eileen Wright. Adonna Imports is becoming an important wine importer, specializing in more boutique Italian wineries. I have tasted many wines from their portfolio and are usually impressed with what I taste. Their wines are becoming more common in a number of local wine shops. If you check a wine label, and see the name Adonna Imports, you are almost guaranteed of finding a quality wine you will enjoy.
Back to the tasting....
Christoph Künzli, who is Swiss, first became aware of the Boca DOC wine region around 1988. At this time, he also learned of one of the last local growers in that region, Antonio Cerri. Boca is a small village in the Lower Alps of northern Piemonte. It is the most eastern wine region in the Piemonte, situated between Valle Sesia and the lake of Orta. Until the end of the 19th century, their wines were considered excellent. Yet interest in the area began to wane, and the vineyards were eventually sold or neglected.
When Christoph arrived in Boca, there were only about 20 acres of vineyards left. Christoph and vinologist Alexander Trolf saw much potential in Boca, having tasted some incredible wines made by Antonio Cerri. Cerri's vineyard, Campo delle Piane, was situated above the village and had since been surrounded by a forest. Cerri produced about 2500 liters of wine every year, until 1991. The site was planted with Spanna, the local name for Nebbiolo, aged up to 100 years.
Cerri decided to retire and offered to sell his vineyard to Christoph and Alexander. Thus, they founded the Le Piane winery in 1998. They planted new vines, adding some new Nebbiolo clones. Their efforts helped to resurrect this dying wine region though sadly, Alexander would not live to see their dream come true. He died in a tragic road accident though his memory lives on in the vineyard "Meridiana" which he replanted.
Now, Le Piane has about 15 acres of vineyard, about ten times what Cerri's vineyard had been. The entire area of Boca now has about 50 acres of vineyards as other growers have followed suit and chose to help in the resurrection of Boca.
The soil in Boca is of porphyry (of volcanic origin), crumbled on its surface to fine gravel. This soil is unique in Italy and it resembles the famous sites of Cote Rotie. The moderate climate of the Lower Alps characterized by high autumnal temperatures, together with intensive sunshine due to southern exposures, offers the best conditions for a perfect maturity of the grapes. The embedded vineyards between the surrounding hills are protected against cold alpine winds. The grapes of Boca generally include Nebbiolo with some Vespolina and Bonarda.
Christoph also makes some wines from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC, which is in the Novara province near Boca. Their grapes generally include Nebbiolo, Vespolina, Bonarda as well as Croatina.
The first wine of the tasting was the 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina ($13.99) from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC. This wine is made from three unusual Italian grapes and one common one, including Croatina, Vespolina, Uva Rara and Nebbiolo. It has an alcohol content of 12% and is made solely in staineless steel. It sees no oak at all. I loved the lush berry flavors of this wine. There was some acidity and mineral notes. It is an easy drinking wine with plenty of flavor. At this price, it is an excellent value for an everyday wine. It should please everyone. Only about 700 cases were made of this wine.
The next wine was the 2004 Le Piane ($39.95), also from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC. This wine is primarily Croatina with a bit of Nebbiolo ancd Vespolina to help tame the tannins. Croatina, which is not found in the Boca DOC, can be rustic, harsh and tannic. So, other grapes are often blended in to smooth out those characteristics. The Croatina used in Le Piane is from a 100 year old vineyard. Le Piane ages in small barrels of French oak, new and used, for about eighteen to twenty-four months. Afterwards, it is then blended with Nebbiolo in a large barrel. This vintage is viewed as having made "the prototype of a perfect Le Piane wine."
This wine had a nose of cherry notes with a tinge of earthiness. It was a full-bodied wine and on the palate there are flavors of black cherry, plum and some mineral notes. The tannins are restrained and there is a mild earthiness to its taste. It is a smooth wine with a lingering finish. It is also well balanced with some interesting complexity. A wine I definitely enjoyed and would recommend. Only about 700 cases were made of this wine.
We then moved on to the Boca wines, of three different vintages. This was a good opportunity to examine how vintage does matter, how the same wine can really differ year to year. And each three of these Boca wines were definitely different. The Boca wines are primarily Nebbiolo, the famed grape of Barolo and Barbaresco. Yet the Boca wines are different, especially as the soil differs. The Boca wines are intended to reflect the terroir of the region, and thus show their uniqueness. About 15% of Vespolina is added to the Boca wines, generally to help tame the tannins. Traditional methods are also used to create the Boca, such as pressing the skins by hand during fermentation.
The 2000 Boca ($59.95) was produced in a very good year due to a hot summer and few rains. It spent about four years in French oak and was bottled in 2004. The wine is considered to still be young and has much aging potential. I found this to be a superb wine, very Old World in style. The nose was a bit restrained with some subdued berry notes. On the palate, the flavors were subdued as well. This was a silky smooth wine, like liquid velvet. You needed to pay attention to its complex flavors, to realize the various fruit notes as well as a bit of licorice. The finish was very long and satisfying. The tannins were very smooth, almost ethereal. This is a wine of finesse not power. Only 200 cases of this wine were produced.
The 2001 Boca ($49.95) came from a perfect year, not too hot but with very slight rain fall along with a perfect autumn. It might also have been the first year that the difficult Vespolina grapes grew successfully. It too saw about four years in French oak and was bottled in 2005. It too is still very young. The vintner feels this is "one of the best Boca wines produced." I enjoyed this wine but not as much as the 2000, though I know there were others who preferred the 2001. I did not feel this Boca was as smooth as the 2000 and I detected a bit more tartness in the 2001. It presented more vibrant fruit and a bit more tannins. There was more power in this wine than the 2000 Boca. Yet that is all a matter of preference. This is a very good wine and only 200 cases of this wine were produced.
The 2003 Boca ($59.95) came from a year with an incredibly hot summer without any rain until mid-October. But a very early harvest gave absolutely perfect grapes with very high sugar content. The Boca wine was drinkable immediately due to its low malo-acidity. This wine made it onto the Gambero Rosso list of Tre Bicchieri recipients for 2008. This was the boldest of the three Boca wines, with more prominent tannins and berry and plum flavors. Yet it was well balanced and had plenty of complexity on the palate, as well as a nice, long finish. I did not find the tartness of the 2001. I enjoyed this wine very much and liked it almost as much as the 2000, though they are very different in style. Only 500 cases of this wine were produced.
Interestingly enough, while speaking with Eileen Wright, we discussed how these tastings could sometimes be deceptive, that a wine can taste very different when accompanied by food. This is also something Natalie MacLean mentioned in her book Red, White and Drunk All Over and which I recently discussed. It is often true, wines can taste very different when paired with food.
In that regard, I will have the opportunity on Monday night to taste all of the Le Piane wines with dinner. Il Capriccio in Waltham is holding a special, six-course wine dinner Monday night, which you probably can still make reservations. So I look forward to seeing how the wines fare with food and will definitely report back my thoughts.
Salem Wine Imports
32 Church Street
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463
Last evening, Eileen Wright of Adonna Imports arranged for Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont to have a tasting at Salem Wine Imports. I attended the tasting, bringing some members of the North Shore Winers, and also met there two other local wine bloggers, Taster A and Taster B from Smells Like Grape.
A brief aside: As I am also celebrating the contributions of women to the wine industry this month, I wanted to specifically honor Adonna Imports, run by Jeannie Rogers (of Il Capriccio fame) and Eileen Wright. Adonna Imports is becoming an important wine importer, specializing in more boutique Italian wineries. I have tasted many wines from their portfolio and are usually impressed with what I taste. Their wines are becoming more common in a number of local wine shops. If you check a wine label, and see the name Adonna Imports, you are almost guaranteed of finding a quality wine you will enjoy.
Back to the tasting....
Christoph Künzli, who is Swiss, first became aware of the Boca DOC wine region around 1988. At this time, he also learned of one of the last local growers in that region, Antonio Cerri. Boca is a small village in the Lower Alps of northern Piemonte. It is the most eastern wine region in the Piemonte, situated between Valle Sesia and the lake of Orta. Until the end of the 19th century, their wines were considered excellent. Yet interest in the area began to wane, and the vineyards were eventually sold or neglected.
When Christoph arrived in Boca, there were only about 20 acres of vineyards left. Christoph and vinologist Alexander Trolf saw much potential in Boca, having tasted some incredible wines made by Antonio Cerri. Cerri's vineyard, Campo delle Piane, was situated above the village and had since been surrounded by a forest. Cerri produced about 2500 liters of wine every year, until 1991. The site was planted with Spanna, the local name for Nebbiolo, aged up to 100 years.
Cerri decided to retire and offered to sell his vineyard to Christoph and Alexander. Thus, they founded the Le Piane winery in 1998. They planted new vines, adding some new Nebbiolo clones. Their efforts helped to resurrect this dying wine region though sadly, Alexander would not live to see their dream come true. He died in a tragic road accident though his memory lives on in the vineyard "Meridiana" which he replanted.
Now, Le Piane has about 15 acres of vineyard, about ten times what Cerri's vineyard had been. The entire area of Boca now has about 50 acres of vineyards as other growers have followed suit and chose to help in the resurrection of Boca.
The soil in Boca is of porphyry (of volcanic origin), crumbled on its surface to fine gravel. This soil is unique in Italy and it resembles the famous sites of Cote Rotie. The moderate climate of the Lower Alps characterized by high autumnal temperatures, together with intensive sunshine due to southern exposures, offers the best conditions for a perfect maturity of the grapes. The embedded vineyards between the surrounding hills are protected against cold alpine winds. The grapes of Boca generally include Nebbiolo with some Vespolina and Bonarda.
Christoph also makes some wines from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC, which is in the Novara province near Boca. Their grapes generally include Nebbiolo, Vespolina, Bonarda as well as Croatina.
The first wine of the tasting was the 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina ($13.99) from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC. This wine is made from three unusual Italian grapes and one common one, including Croatina, Vespolina, Uva Rara and Nebbiolo. It has an alcohol content of 12% and is made solely in staineless steel. It sees no oak at all. I loved the lush berry flavors of this wine. There was some acidity and mineral notes. It is an easy drinking wine with plenty of flavor. At this price, it is an excellent value for an everyday wine. It should please everyone. Only about 700 cases were made of this wine.
The next wine was the 2004 Le Piane ($39.95), also from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC. This wine is primarily Croatina with a bit of Nebbiolo ancd Vespolina to help tame the tannins. Croatina, which is not found in the Boca DOC, can be rustic, harsh and tannic. So, other grapes are often blended in to smooth out those characteristics. The Croatina used in Le Piane is from a 100 year old vineyard. Le Piane ages in small barrels of French oak, new and used, for about eighteen to twenty-four months. Afterwards, it is then blended with Nebbiolo in a large barrel. This vintage is viewed as having made "the prototype of a perfect Le Piane wine."
This wine had a nose of cherry notes with a tinge of earthiness. It was a full-bodied wine and on the palate there are flavors of black cherry, plum and some mineral notes. The tannins are restrained and there is a mild earthiness to its taste. It is a smooth wine with a lingering finish. It is also well balanced with some interesting complexity. A wine I definitely enjoyed and would recommend. Only about 700 cases were made of this wine.
We then moved on to the Boca wines, of three different vintages. This was a good opportunity to examine how vintage does matter, how the same wine can really differ year to year. And each three of these Boca wines were definitely different. The Boca wines are primarily Nebbiolo, the famed grape of Barolo and Barbaresco. Yet the Boca wines are different, especially as the soil differs. The Boca wines are intended to reflect the terroir of the region, and thus show their uniqueness. About 15% of Vespolina is added to the Boca wines, generally to help tame the tannins. Traditional methods are also used to create the Boca, such as pressing the skins by hand during fermentation.
The 2000 Boca ($59.95) was produced in a very good year due to a hot summer and few rains. It spent about four years in French oak and was bottled in 2004. The wine is considered to still be young and has much aging potential. I found this to be a superb wine, very Old World in style. The nose was a bit restrained with some subdued berry notes. On the palate, the flavors were subdued as well. This was a silky smooth wine, like liquid velvet. You needed to pay attention to its complex flavors, to realize the various fruit notes as well as a bit of licorice. The finish was very long and satisfying. The tannins were very smooth, almost ethereal. This is a wine of finesse not power. Only 200 cases of this wine were produced.
The 2001 Boca ($49.95) came from a perfect year, not too hot but with very slight rain fall along with a perfect autumn. It might also have been the first year that the difficult Vespolina grapes grew successfully. It too saw about four years in French oak and was bottled in 2005. It too is still very young. The vintner feels this is "one of the best Boca wines produced." I enjoyed this wine but not as much as the 2000, though I know there were others who preferred the 2001. I did not feel this Boca was as smooth as the 2000 and I detected a bit more tartness in the 2001. It presented more vibrant fruit and a bit more tannins. There was more power in this wine than the 2000 Boca. Yet that is all a matter of preference. This is a very good wine and only 200 cases of this wine were produced.
The 2003 Boca ($59.95) came from a year with an incredibly hot summer without any rain until mid-October. But a very early harvest gave absolutely perfect grapes with very high sugar content. The Boca wine was drinkable immediately due to its low malo-acidity. This wine made it onto the Gambero Rosso list of Tre Bicchieri recipients for 2008. This was the boldest of the three Boca wines, with more prominent tannins and berry and plum flavors. Yet it was well balanced and had plenty of complexity on the palate, as well as a nice, long finish. I did not find the tartness of the 2001. I enjoyed this wine very much and liked it almost as much as the 2000, though they are very different in style. Only 500 cases of this wine were produced.
Interestingly enough, while speaking with Eileen Wright, we discussed how these tastings could sometimes be deceptive, that a wine can taste very different when accompanied by food. This is also something Natalie MacLean mentioned in her book Red, White and Drunk All Over and which I recently discussed. It is often true, wines can taste very different when paired with food.
In that regard, I will have the opportunity on Monday night to taste all of the Le Piane wines with dinner. Il Capriccio in Waltham is holding a special, six-course wine dinner Monday night, which you probably can still make reservations. So I look forward to seeing how the wines fare with food and will definitely report back my thoughts.
Salem Wine Imports
32 Church Street
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
City/Town Recommendations #14
This is my fourteenth post of a planned series noting my personal recommendations for food/wine places in various towns and cities. This time I am touching on a few different cities and towns, including Somerville, Waltham, and Wellesley. This list might be expanded and/or revised in the future but I will note when it changes. Be sure to check my extended reviews of many of these places elsewhere on my website.
Somerville
Restaurants:
Dali
415 Washington St.
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 661-3254
(Excellent Spanish Tapas and Sangria. Great ambiance and very romantic spot)
Gargoyles on the Square
219 Elm Street
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 776-5300
(Excellent American cuisine with Asian influences. Very good brunch.)
When Pigs Fly
378b Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 776-0021
(Very good bread bakery with lots of diverse choices)
Taza Chocolate
561 Windsor Street
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 623-0804
(Excellent artisan chocolate maker)
Waltham
Restaurants:
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
(Excellent Italian cuisine with a killer wine list)
Wine Stores:
Gordon's Fine Wines and Liquors
894 Main Street
Waltham, MA
Phone: 781-893-1900
(Very good wine store with frequent tasting events)
Wellesley
Bakery:
Quebrada Baking Co.
272 Washington St.
Wellesley, MA
Phone: (781) 237-2111
(Very good bakery with exceptional Snickerdoodles)
Somerville
Restaurants:
Dali
415 Washington St.
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 661-3254
(Excellent Spanish Tapas and Sangria. Great ambiance and very romantic spot)
Gargoyles on the Square
219 Elm Street
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 776-5300
(Excellent American cuisine with Asian influences. Very good brunch.)
When Pigs Fly
378b Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 776-0021
(Very good bread bakery with lots of diverse choices)
Taza Chocolate
561 Windsor Street
Somerville, MA
Phone: (617) 623-0804
(Excellent artisan chocolate maker)
Waltham
Restaurants:
Il Capriccio
888 Main St.
Waltham, MA
Phone: (781) 894-2234
(Excellent Italian cuisine with a killer wine list)
Wine Stores:
Gordon's Fine Wines and Liquors
894 Main Street
Waltham, MA
Phone: 781-893-1900
(Very good wine store with frequent tasting events)
Wellesley
Bakery:
Quebrada Baking Co.
272 Washington St.
Wellesley, MA
Phone: (781) 237-2111
(Very good bakery with exceptional Snickerdoodles)
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Wine Tasting of Uncommon Varietals & Unusual Blends
Next Saturday, on September 15, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, there will be a special and free wine tasting at Gordons Fine Wine and Culinary Center in Waltham. The wines will all have uncommon varietals or unusual blends.
"Have you ever wondered what a Zweigelt is like? or a Lagrein? Have you even heard of these grapes? Or how about this for a blend: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau, Semillon, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, and Chardonnay? We will have a few less uncommon wines - Carmenere, Malbec, Valpolicella Ripassa, to name a few - but you won't find Cabernet Sauvignon unless it happens to be blended with Syrah, Charbono, and Zinfandel. So come and delight your palates with the unexpected and your wallets with a one day 20% discount on all 50 of the wines we are pouring."
I will be leading a group of the North Shore Winers to this event. We should have 20+ members there. So come on down and join us there. This should be an interesting event, to taste wines that you probably have never tasted before and might not buy on a lark.
Gordon's has their own parking lot. They are also located close to many different restaurants in Waltham. They are located next to the excellent, high-end Italian restaurant, Il Capriccio. So make it day.
Gordons Fine Wine and Culinary Center
894 Main Street
Waltham, MA
Phone: 781-893-1900
"Have you ever wondered what a Zweigelt is like? or a Lagrein? Have you even heard of these grapes? Or how about this for a blend: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau, Semillon, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, and Chardonnay? We will have a few less uncommon wines - Carmenere, Malbec, Valpolicella Ripassa, to name a few - but you won't find Cabernet Sauvignon unless it happens to be blended with Syrah, Charbono, and Zinfandel. So come and delight your palates with the unexpected and your wallets with a one day 20% discount on all 50 of the wines we are pouring."
I will be leading a group of the North Shore Winers to this event. We should have 20+ members there. So come on down and join us there. This should be an interesting event, to taste wines that you probably have never tasted before and might not buy on a lark.
Gordon's has their own parking lot. They are also located close to many different restaurants in Waltham. They are located next to the excellent, high-end Italian restaurant, Il Capriccio. So make it day.
Gordons Fine Wine and Culinary Center
894 Main Street
Waltham, MA
Phone: 781-893-1900
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Case Corini Wines
This evening I went to a special wine tasting at the Lower Falls Wine Co.. Eileen Wright, of Il Capriccio and Adonna Imports, was there presenting wines from an all-organic winery, Case Corini. As I have mentioned before, I am a big fan of Adonna Imports. They sell mainly Italian wines, and they are usually very good. They concentrate on small Italian producers and find many excellent producers.
Case Corini is owned by Lorenzo Corino who make organically farmed Barbera d'Asti in the town of Costigliole in Italy's Piedmont region. He is the fifth generation that has lived amongst the vineyards. Lorenzo is a soil scientist and is concerned about the health of the ecosystem in his vineyards. He believes that much of the wine is made in the vineyard so he does not subject his wines to lots of technical manipulation.
The wines at the tasting included:
2001 Monferrato Rosso "Achille" ($65)
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($75)
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco" ($65)
2001 Barbera d'Asti "La Villa" ($75)
They also provided some good cheese and bread with the wines. Overall, these were excellent wines. They were Old World style, well balanced and had lengthy finishes. They would be fine on their own, or paired with food. They probably could be paired with many different foods as well, from Italian food to game like duck or even venison. Though I could also just sit and drink these wines on their own, savoring their flavors.
2001 Monferrato Rosso "Achille": This wine was a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. A very smooth and easy drinking wine. Lots of nice fruit flavors.
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla": My favorite of the four wines. This is 100% Barbera from old vines. Great structure, complex and just a silky pleasure. Nice concentration and a very lengthy finish.
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco": This is 100% Barbera, with a mix of old and young vines. This was a fruitier wine that felt a bit less complex but still was an excellent tasting wine.
2001 Barbera d'Asti "La Villa": This is also 100% Barbera, with a mix of old and young vines. This wine seemed to be somewhere in the middle between the La Barla and the Bricco. It certainly shows how the same varietal can create several different style wines.
Adonna Imports certainly found another top notch group of wines! They are not every day wines, but they certainly would impress. For a special occasion, you won't go wrong with any of these wines.
Case Corini is owned by Lorenzo Corino who make organically farmed Barbera d'Asti in the town of Costigliole in Italy's Piedmont region. He is the fifth generation that has lived amongst the vineyards. Lorenzo is a soil scientist and is concerned about the health of the ecosystem in his vineyards. He believes that much of the wine is made in the vineyard so he does not subject his wines to lots of technical manipulation.
The wines at the tasting included:
2001 Monferrato Rosso "Achille" ($65)
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($75)
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco" ($65)
2001 Barbera d'Asti "La Villa" ($75)
They also provided some good cheese and bread with the wines. Overall, these were excellent wines. They were Old World style, well balanced and had lengthy finishes. They would be fine on their own, or paired with food. They probably could be paired with many different foods as well, from Italian food to game like duck or even venison. Though I could also just sit and drink these wines on their own, savoring their flavors.
2001 Monferrato Rosso "Achille": This wine was a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. A very smooth and easy drinking wine. Lots of nice fruit flavors.
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla": My favorite of the four wines. This is 100% Barbera from old vines. Great structure, complex and just a silky pleasure. Nice concentration and a very lengthy finish.
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco": This is 100% Barbera, with a mix of old and young vines. This was a fruitier wine that felt a bit less complex but still was an excellent tasting wine.
2001 Barbera d'Asti "La Villa": This is also 100% Barbera, with a mix of old and young vines. This wine seemed to be somewhere in the middle between the La Barla and the Bricco. It certainly shows how the same varietal can create several different style wines.
Adonna Imports certainly found another top notch group of wines! They are not every day wines, but they certainly would impress. For a special occasion, you won't go wrong with any of these wines.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Christoph Kunzli, Wine Maker of Le Piane: Salem
As previously mentioned, Adonna Imports has arranged for Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont, to host two upcoming wine dinners. They will be on February 28th at The Blue Room and March 3rd at Il Capriccio. If you cannot attend either of these two dinners, you now have another chance to meet Christoph Künzli.
Mr. Künzli will also be making an appeareance at Salem Wine Imports on February 29 at 6:30pm. Eric of Salem Wine Imports states: "In the early 90's Christoph bought a very small vineyard in the Novara region of NE Piedmont in Boca. Realizing the great possibilities for winemaking in this historic area he has cleared and planted land until he had enough to commercially bottle his distinct style. We are the beneficiaries of his vision and skill. Mostly Nebbiolo with Vespolino and the native Bonarda added for complexity, they are big wines with a silky elegance. Not to be missed."
I recently tasted the 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina and was impressed. It was an excellent value wine so I definitely would like to meet the wine maker and taste his higher end wines. I will likely be attending this event so maybe I will see you there. It should be a good time.
Salem Wine Imports
32 Church Street
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463
Mr. Künzli will also be making an appeareance at Salem Wine Imports on February 29 at 6:30pm. Eric of Salem Wine Imports states: "In the early 90's Christoph bought a very small vineyard in the Novara region of NE Piedmont in Boca. Realizing the great possibilities for winemaking in this historic area he has cleared and planted land until he had enough to commercially bottle his distinct style. We are the beneficiaries of his vision and skill. Mostly Nebbiolo with Vespolino and the native Bonarda added for complexity, they are big wines with a silky elegance. Not to be missed."
I recently tasted the 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina and was impressed. It was an excellent value wine so I definitely would like to meet the wine maker and taste his higher end wines. I will likely be attending this event so maybe I will see you there. It should be a good time.
Salem Wine Imports
32 Church Street
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2008 In Review: Part 3
It is now time for the final post of my review of 2008. Part 3 concentrate on my wine and alcohol favorites of the past year. This is certainly not a complete list. It is more a sampling of memorable matters I have experienced and posted about over the past year.
Favorite Store for Saké: Only open for a year, Sakaya in New York City is an exceptional store that sells almost only Saké, as well as some Shochu and Plum Wine. The owners, Rick and Hiroko, are both personable and very knowledgeable about Saké. They have a great selection of Saké and I have not been disappointed anything I have bought there yet.
Favorite Italian Wine Store: Also in New York City, Italian Wine Merchants is the place for excellent and hard to find Italian wines. It is a beautiful store where proper wine storage is a cornerstone of their service. They have many interesting classes and their newsletter are very informative.
Favorite New Local Wine Store: Bin Ends, a discount wine store in Braintree, is a must visit for any wine lover. With some of the best wine prices around, their diverse selection and knowledgeable staff, make this a worthwhile trip. They also created Twitter Taste Live, which I previously mentioned as one of the significant wine events of the past year. In these rough economic times, this is the type of store that you should patronize.
Runner Up for Favorite New Local Wine Store: Salem Wine Imports, a boutique wine store in Salem, deserves recognition. It has an excellent selection of wine and Eric, the owner, knows plenty about wine and is personable and friendly.
Favorite Existing Local Wine Store That Is New To Me: Though it has been around for two years, I first visited Wine Sense, a boutique wine store in Andover, this past summer. With a vibrant and passionate owner, Samanta, this store is small but has an intriguing selection of wines. If you want to try wines that are less common, but excellent, then stop by this place.
Favorite Wine Dinner: The Rabbit Ravioli was one of the highlights of the special wine maker dinner at Il Capriccio in Waltham. Christoph Künzli, the wine maker of Le Piane, was present and helped explain the wines that paired with each delicious course. It was an amazing dinner with several amazing wines.
Favorite Wine Maker Tasting: Abe Schoener, wine maker at the Scholium Project, was a fascinating person with some diverse and intriguing wines. He is the Socrates of wine making, on an eternal mission to question the established traditions of wine making. I look forward to his new projects, to taste the next phase of his wines
Favorite Winery I Visited: While touring Long Island, I visited Paumanok Vineyards and it thoroughly impressed me. I tasted numerous delicious wines, including my favorites, their 2007 Paumanok Chenin Blanc and 2005 Petit Verdot Apollo Drive Vineyard Limited Edition. These wines were as good as any wine made elsewhere in the U.S., and definitely show the potential of Long Island wines.
Favorite Wine Magazine: WineS Magazine, first published in October 2007, concentrates on education about wine rather than wine reviews. For those new to wine, or anyone seeking to learn more about wine, this magazine would be extremely beneficial. It is easy to read and understand, and contains many of interesting articles and features. It fulfills a niche that no other wine magazine really addresses.
Runner Up for Favorite Wine Magazine: Decanter, a British wine magazine, has impressed me lately due to its extensive coverage of many less common wine regions, often ignored or marginalized in other wine publications. Plus it has an excellent wine cartoon in every issue.
Favorite Wine Fact: One of my favorite grapes is Pinotage and I finally learned the correct way to pronounce it. I had been pronouncing it incorrectly for years so it was fascinating to learn my error. And it is an error committed by many others too.
Favorite Wine Biography: The Widow Clicquot was a compelling biography and history book about woman who left an indelible stamp on the history of champagne. It is easy to read and you will speed through each chapter, savoring the anecdotes and facts about an impressive woman.
Favorite Alcohol Book: If you want a fascinating and comprehensive look at the history of wine, beer and spirits, then you must read Drink, A Cultural History of Alcohol. This thick book covers alcohol from all over the world, from ancient times to modern. I learned so much from this book, as would any reader. I highly recommend this book.
Favorite Tequila, High-End: For Tequila costing over $100, the Don Julio 1942 Tequila was superb! Super smooth, lots of interesting flavor, and in a cool looking, agave-shaped bottle. I enjoy this tequila better than some others tequilas that cost even more.
Favorite Tequila, Regular: For regular Tequila, including Blancos to Anejos, my favorite new brand is Partida Tequila. Smooth, flavorful and complex, these tequilas are as good, if not better, than the other popular labels out there, such as Patron. They can be found in Massachusetts now so check them out.
Favorite Rum/Cachaca: This was an easy choice. Beija, a Brazilian cachaca or "virgin cane rum," was developed by two Boston entrepreneurs and they created an amazing spirit. With a very distinctive herbal taste, Beija is also very flexible and can be used as a base for a wide variety of cocktails. I even enjoy drinking this straight, on the rocks.
Favorite Liquer: Also with an intriguing herbal taste, St. Germain is versatile liquer that is very sweet on its own but mixes well with other items. The St. Germain Cocktail makes a great summer punch and is very popular with many people I know.
Favorite Vodka: A premium vodka made from rice? Yes, Kissui Vodka is a Japanese vodka made from rice and it is excellent, very smooth and clean. I can easily drink this just on the rocks. It would be a shame to hide this vodka behind any mixer. It is somethin to savor on its own, and is comparable to any other premium vodka on the market.
Favorite Store for Saké: Only open for a year, Sakaya in New York City is an exceptional store that sells almost only Saké, as well as some Shochu and Plum Wine. The owners, Rick and Hiroko, are both personable and very knowledgeable about Saké. They have a great selection of Saké and I have not been disappointed anything I have bought there yet.
Favorite Italian Wine Store: Also in New York City, Italian Wine Merchants is the place for excellent and hard to find Italian wines. It is a beautiful store where proper wine storage is a cornerstone of their service. They have many interesting classes and their newsletter are very informative.
Favorite New Local Wine Store: Bin Ends, a discount wine store in Braintree, is a must visit for any wine lover. With some of the best wine prices around, their diverse selection and knowledgeable staff, make this a worthwhile trip. They also created Twitter Taste Live, which I previously mentioned as one of the significant wine events of the past year. In these rough economic times, this is the type of store that you should patronize.
Runner Up for Favorite New Local Wine Store: Salem Wine Imports, a boutique wine store in Salem, deserves recognition. It has an excellent selection of wine and Eric, the owner, knows plenty about wine and is personable and friendly.
Favorite Existing Local Wine Store That Is New To Me: Though it has been around for two years, I first visited Wine Sense, a boutique wine store in Andover, this past summer. With a vibrant and passionate owner, Samanta, this store is small but has an intriguing selection of wines. If you want to try wines that are less common, but excellent, then stop by this place.
Favorite Wine Dinner: The Rabbit Ravioli was one of the highlights of the special wine maker dinner at Il Capriccio in Waltham. Christoph Künzli, the wine maker of Le Piane, was present and helped explain the wines that paired with each delicious course. It was an amazing dinner with several amazing wines.
Favorite Wine Maker Tasting: Abe Schoener, wine maker at the Scholium Project, was a fascinating person with some diverse and intriguing wines. He is the Socrates of wine making, on an eternal mission to question the established traditions of wine making. I look forward to his new projects, to taste the next phase of his wines
Favorite Winery I Visited: While touring Long Island, I visited Paumanok Vineyards and it thoroughly impressed me. I tasted numerous delicious wines, including my favorites, their 2007 Paumanok Chenin Blanc and 2005 Petit Verdot Apollo Drive Vineyard Limited Edition. These wines were as good as any wine made elsewhere in the U.S., and definitely show the potential of Long Island wines.
Favorite Wine Magazine: WineS Magazine, first published in October 2007, concentrates on education about wine rather than wine reviews. For those new to wine, or anyone seeking to learn more about wine, this magazine would be extremely beneficial. It is easy to read and understand, and contains many of interesting articles and features. It fulfills a niche that no other wine magazine really addresses.
Runner Up for Favorite Wine Magazine: Decanter, a British wine magazine, has impressed me lately due to its extensive coverage of many less common wine regions, often ignored or marginalized in other wine publications. Plus it has an excellent wine cartoon in every issue.
Favorite Wine Fact: One of my favorite grapes is Pinotage and I finally learned the correct way to pronounce it. I had been pronouncing it incorrectly for years so it was fascinating to learn my error. And it is an error committed by many others too.
Favorite Wine Biography: The Widow Clicquot was a compelling biography and history book about woman who left an indelible stamp on the history of champagne. It is easy to read and you will speed through each chapter, savoring the anecdotes and facts about an impressive woman.
Favorite Alcohol Book: If you want a fascinating and comprehensive look at the history of wine, beer and spirits, then you must read Drink, A Cultural History of Alcohol. This thick book covers alcohol from all over the world, from ancient times to modern. I learned so much from this book, as would any reader. I highly recommend this book.
Favorite Tequila, High-End: For Tequila costing over $100, the Don Julio 1942 Tequila was superb! Super smooth, lots of interesting flavor, and in a cool looking, agave-shaped bottle. I enjoy this tequila better than some others tequilas that cost even more.
Favorite Tequila, Regular: For regular Tequila, including Blancos to Anejos, my favorite new brand is Partida Tequila. Smooth, flavorful and complex, these tequilas are as good, if not better, than the other popular labels out there, such as Patron. They can be found in Massachusetts now so check them out.
Favorite Rum/Cachaca: This was an easy choice. Beija, a Brazilian cachaca or "virgin cane rum," was developed by two Boston entrepreneurs and they created an amazing spirit. With a very distinctive herbal taste, Beija is also very flexible and can be used as a base for a wide variety of cocktails. I even enjoy drinking this straight, on the rocks.
Favorite Liquer: Also with an intriguing herbal taste, St. Germain is versatile liquer that is very sweet on its own but mixes well with other items. The St. Germain Cocktail makes a great summer punch and is very popular with many people I know.
Favorite Vodka: A premium vodka made from rice? Yes, Kissui Vodka is a Japanese vodka made from rice and it is excellent, very smooth and clean. I can easily drink this just on the rocks. It would be a shame to hide this vodka behind any mixer. It is somethin to savor on its own, and is comparable to any other premium vodka on the market.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Lower Falls Wine Tasting-Thursday
This Thursday, July 26, from 5-6:30p.m., there will be a free wine tasting at the Lower Falls Wine Co.
They will be tasting new arrivals from the all-organic winery, Case Corini. Eileen Wright, of Il Capriccio and Adonna Imports, will be there to pour a selection of Corini's finest!
The wines to be tasted include:
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla"
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco"
2001 Barbera d'Asti "La Villa"
2001 Monferrato Rosso "Achille"
Wines poured will be available during the event at a special discounted price.
I have not tried these wines before but I have much faith in Adonna Imports. They often find great Italian wines, from small producers. This should be a good event and I may be there.
I should also mention that the Lower Falls Wine Co. has recently updated their website. It is more informative now so check it out.
Lower Falls Wine Co.
2366 Washington Street (Rt. 16)
Newton Lower Falls, MA
Phone: (617) 332-3000
They will be tasting new arrivals from the all-organic winery, Case Corini. Eileen Wright, of Il Capriccio and Adonna Imports, will be there to pour a selection of Corini's finest!
The wines to be tasted include:
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla"
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco"
2001 Barbera d'Asti "La Villa"
2001 Monferrato Rosso "Achille"
Wines poured will be available during the event at a special discounted price.
I have not tried these wines before but I have much faith in Adonna Imports. They often find great Italian wines, from small producers. This should be a good event and I may be there.
I should also mention that the Lower Falls Wine Co. has recently updated their website. It is more informative now so check it out.
Lower Falls Wine Co.
2366 Washington Street (Rt. 16)
Newton Lower Falls, MA
Phone: (617) 332-3000
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Wine Tasting Today!
Just a reminder that today, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, there will be a special, free wine tasting at Gordons Fine Wine and Culinary Center in Waltham. The wines, about 50 of them, will all have uncommon varietals or unusual blends. There will be a 20% discount on all of the wines at the tasting.
I will be leading a group of the North Shore Winers to this event. We should have 20+ members there. So come on down and join us there. This should be an interesting event, to taste wines that you probably have never tasted before and might not buy on a lark.
Gordon's has their own parking lot. They are also located close to many different restaurants in Waltham. They are located next to the excellent, high-end Italian restaurant, Il Capriccio. So make it day.
Gordons Fine Wine and Culinary Center
894 Main Street
Waltham, MA
Phone: 781-893-1900
I will be leading a group of the North Shore Winers to this event. We should have 20+ members there. So come on down and join us there. This should be an interesting event, to taste wines that you probably have never tasted before and might not buy on a lark.
Gordon's has their own parking lot. They are also located close to many different restaurants in Waltham. They are located next to the excellent, high-end Italian restaurant, Il Capriccio. So make it day.
Gordons Fine Wine and Culinary Center
894 Main Street
Waltham, MA
Phone: 781-893-1900
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Case Corino-Organic Barberas
This past Thursday, I went to the Lower Falls Wine Co. to attend another of their special tastings. This time, they had a couple special guests, Lorenzo Corino and his son Guido, there to showcase some of their Case Corini wines, all-organic Italian Barbera wines. These wines are imported by Adonna Imports.
I attended a previous wine tasting at Lower Falls for these Case Corini wines but Lorenzo had not been there. You can check out my prior review. I very much enjoyed their Barberas and wanted to taste some of their other wines. Eileen Wright, of Il Capriccio and Adonna Imports, accompanied Lorenzo and Guido.
Lorenzo Corino makes organic Barbera d'Asti in the town of Costigliole in Italy's Piedmont region. He is the fifth generation that has lived amongst the vineyards. Lorenzo is a soil scientist and is concerned about the health of the ecosystem in his vineyards. He believes that much of the wine is made in the vineyard so he does not subject his wines to lots of technical manipulation.
The wines at the tasting included:
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco" ($55): This is 75% Barbera, with a few other rare, indigenous Italian grapes. This had a fragrant nose and lots of fruit on the palate as well as a bit of a tannic structure. It was an easy-drinking wine, lacking some complexity.
2003 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco" ($55): This vintage was a mild but hot summer. This wine was fruitier and less tannic than the 2001 vintage. It certainly would be very approachable now and would not need any cellaring.
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($85): This was my favorite wine of the previous tasting. It is 100% Barbera from old vines. This time, the wine pleased me as it did before. It had great structure, lots of complexity and was a silky pleasure. Nice concentration and a very lengthy finish.
1999 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($85): I found this vintage to be even smoother and silkier than the 2003. The tannins were very mild and the fruit flavors were subtle and complex. There was a taste of cherries, strawberries and a bit of raspberry. There were hints of spice and a lingering finish that tantalized my senses. An exceptional wine that thoroughly impressed me. And I did have to buy a bottle, despite its price.
1996 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($85): I heard several people at the tasting state that this was their favorite wine of the tasting. Yet it turned me off. It had a very funky nose, a barnyard smell that put me off. The taste contained elements of that funk as well as stewed tomatoes. I just did not like this wine though it certainly was popular with others.
Overall, these were excellent wines. They were Old World style, well balanced and had lengthy finishes. They would be fine on their own, or paired with food. They probably could be paired with many different foods as well, from Italian food to game like duck or even venison. Though I could also just sit and drink these wines on their own, savoring their flavors.
Another great tasting at Lower Falls and another worthy selection from Adonna Imports.
Lower Falls Wine Co.
2366 Washington Street (Rt. 16)
Newton Lower Falls, MA
Phone: (617) 332-3000
I attended a previous wine tasting at Lower Falls for these Case Corini wines but Lorenzo had not been there. You can check out my prior review. I very much enjoyed their Barberas and wanted to taste some of their other wines. Eileen Wright, of Il Capriccio and Adonna Imports, accompanied Lorenzo and Guido.
Lorenzo Corino makes organic Barbera d'Asti in the town of Costigliole in Italy's Piedmont region. He is the fifth generation that has lived amongst the vineyards. Lorenzo is a soil scientist and is concerned about the health of the ecosystem in his vineyards. He believes that much of the wine is made in the vineyard so he does not subject his wines to lots of technical manipulation.
The wines at the tasting included:
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco" ($55): This is 75% Barbera, with a few other rare, indigenous Italian grapes. This had a fragrant nose and lots of fruit on the palate as well as a bit of a tannic structure. It was an easy-drinking wine, lacking some complexity.
2003 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco" ($55): This vintage was a mild but hot summer. This wine was fruitier and less tannic than the 2001 vintage. It certainly would be very approachable now and would not need any cellaring.
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($85): This was my favorite wine of the previous tasting. It is 100% Barbera from old vines. This time, the wine pleased me as it did before. It had great structure, lots of complexity and was a silky pleasure. Nice concentration and a very lengthy finish.
1999 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($85): I found this vintage to be even smoother and silkier than the 2003. The tannins were very mild and the fruit flavors were subtle and complex. There was a taste of cherries, strawberries and a bit of raspberry. There were hints of spice and a lingering finish that tantalized my senses. An exceptional wine that thoroughly impressed me. And I did have to buy a bottle, despite its price.
1996 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla" ($85): I heard several people at the tasting state that this was their favorite wine of the tasting. Yet it turned me off. It had a very funky nose, a barnyard smell that put me off. The taste contained elements of that funk as well as stewed tomatoes. I just did not like this wine though it certainly was popular with others.
Overall, these were excellent wines. They were Old World style, well balanced and had lengthy finishes. They would be fine on their own, or paired with food. They probably could be paired with many different foods as well, from Italian food to game like duck or even venison. Though I could also just sit and drink these wines on their own, savoring their flavors.
Another great tasting at Lower Falls and another worthy selection from Adonna Imports.
Lower Falls Wine Co.
2366 Washington Street (Rt. 16)
Newton Lower Falls, MA
Phone: (617) 332-3000
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