2009 Castello di Bolgheri Superiore

2009 Castello di Bolgheri Super Tuscan. Blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc & Merlot. The estate borders Sassicaia. As good but more budget friendly around $60 retail. Dark cherry and black currants waft from the glass while anise, cedar and mineral notes bring up the rear. Fleshy and firm. Stunning. #wine #tuscany #bolgheri #italy #sommelier #somm #sassicaia #delectable

Dog Day Wines of Summer

Yesterday, I discussed "Dog Day Wines of Summer" on XM Radio's Broadminded with Jill Zimorski of Cafe Atlantico & Mini Bar. The perfect wines on a hot summer day exude crisp and refreshing acidity and don't tire the palate. Look for high acid wines from grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Albariño, Pinot Gris/Grigio or blends from Spain's Basque Region. Stay away from oaky Chardonnay as the weight of the wine can tire out the palate, not to mention high alcohol wines can come across "hot".

Here is a recap of wines discussed on yesterday's program. Click the link below to hear the audio clip from the show.

XM RADIO DOG DAY WINES OF SUMMER

Xarmant Txakolina, Basque Region, Spain--fresh white blend from Spain's Basque Region from indigenous grapes. Lemon-limon and citrus notes, mineral, slight bit of spritz. Mouthwatering finish. Great with sushi/seafood.

Morgadio Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain--aromatic with notes of banana, melon, apricot, spring flowers. Little more weighty than the Xarmant but crisp acidity and refreshing finish. Great with seafood.

Ca' Bona Pinot Grigio Rosé, Lombardy, Italy--the coolest Pinot Grigio I have ever seen. As Pinot Grigio grape skins have a slight pinky color, its possible to make a Rosé from macerating the grape skins with the grape juice to extract color. Fresh and light like a white Pinot Grigio with a slight watermelon and strawberry flavor.

Cederberg Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, South Africa--over the top aromatics. Loads of white grapefruit, lemon-lime zest and a touch of peach. Zesty finish.

Lynfred Seyval Blanc, Illinois--Perfect for those looking for a sweeter wine yet is refreshing. Smells similar to Sauvignon Blanc with ripe grapefruit, lychee/floral notes, apricot with just a little sweetness. Refreshing finish.

For those of you who just don't do white, try high acid reds like Beaujolais, Pinot Noirs (from Oregon or Europe) or even the Italian favs Dolcetto or Barbera. Chill the reds for approximately 15 minutes in the fridge for a more refreshing experience.

In An Italian State of Mind

Lately, I've been on the Italian bandwagon--tasting through oodles of Italian and Italian-inspired wines for a spot in Arlington, Virginia. Italy has over 800 different grape varietals--enough to make your head spin. Only 350 of those varietals are "authorized" by the Italian government to be used in fine wine production. Wine from Italy goes far beyond everyday Chiantis and Pinot Grigios with interesting wines like Nero d'Avola, Refosco, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, and Vermentino. Below is a laundry list of interesting gems worth seeking out that were tasted during my foray into the world of Vino Italiano.

NV Bellenda di Valmonte 'Col di Luna' Sparkling Rosé, Veneto, Italy--blend of Raboso and Pinot Noir, fresh and juicy, notes of raspberry, strawberry, slight bit of residual sugar, refreshing.

2006 Bigi Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone, Umbria, Italy--blend of Procanico, Malvasia Bianca, and Rosciola, fresh and crisp, green apple and citrus fruit notes, touch of lemon, great for a hot summer day.

2005 Caldora Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy--made from the Trebbiano grape with floral and honey notes, ripe tropical fruit (mango, peach, passion fruit), rich and luscious.

2006 Alois Lagader Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige, Italy--herbal and citrus notes, clean, crisp, refreshing, good alternative to Pinot Grigio.

2005 Elena Walch Sauvignon Blanc, Alto Adige, Italy--mineral and herbal notes, almost chalky, hint of cat pee and citrus flavors, crisp with lingering finish.

2006 La Cappuccina Soave, Veneto, Italy--made from the Garganega grape, bright and crisp, lemon/lime flavors with a touch of ruby red grapefruit, crisp and mouthwatering finish.

2005 Talia Bianco, Sicily, Italy--blend of native Sicilian grapes (Catarratto and Grecanico), notes of honey and almond, ripe peach and mongo fruit, luscious and rich, good alternative to Chardonnay.

2006 Uvaggio Vermentino, Lodi, California--a real find--over the top herbal aromas, stonefruit, melon and kiwi flavors, a whiff of spearmint, crisp and refreshing. You will BEG for another glass.

2006 Cantina Nalles Gewurztraminer, Alto Adige, Italy--the grape of German and Alsatian fame finds itself at home in Nothern Italy, perfumed aromas of rose petal and lychee, touch of peach fruit and spice, medium to full bodied.

2005 Villa Arianna Frascati Superiore, Lazio, Italy--one of the better Frascatis I've found--too many are uninteresting and acidic, mango, guava and pear notes, medium acidity, smooth and voluptuous, medium bodied.

2006 Terrazzo 'Esino Bianco', Marches, Italy--blend of Verdicchio and Trebbiano, bright and crisp, pear, mango and peach notes, crisp and refreshing, lingering finish, light/medium bodied.

2006 Tenuta Maggiore 'Sentito' Cortese, Lombardy, Italy--85% Cortese and 15% Riesling, fresh with aromas of mango, apricot and honeysuckle, slight almond notes, medium bodied.

2005 Poggiobello Tocai Friulano, Friuli, Italy--very floral with melon and kiwi fruit, slight zing on the finish, medium bodied.

2005 Lupi Vermentino, Riviera di Ponente, Liguria, Italy--intense petrol aromas, citrus fruit and mineral notes, clean finish, medium bodied.

2004 Anime Refosco, Friuli, Italy--made from the refosco grape, bright and juicy cherry and plum notes, kinda grapey, light and easy drinking, would be tasty slightly chilled.

2004 Avignonesi Rosso di Toscana, Tuscany, Italy--red blend of Prugnolo Gentile, Cab Sauv and Merlot, aromas of plum, black currant and spice, undertones of wet earth, smooth and velvety tannins, medium bodied.

2004 Silvio Grasso Barbera d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy--plum and leather notes, with a touch of leather, smooth and velvety tannins, medium bodied.

NV Mondo del Vino 'Tre Uve', Emilia-Romagna, Italy--blend of Sangiovese, Primitivo, Montepulciano, notes of black currant, pencil shavings and cedar, smooth and rich, slight chocolate undertones, medium bodied.

2003 Vecchia Torre Salice Salice Salentino, Puglia, Italy--made from the Negroamaro grape, ripe cherry notes with cedar and chocolate, smooth, fresh finish, medium bodied.

2003 Vincenzo da Filicaja 'Villa da Filicaja' Chianti Superiore, Tuscany, Italy--primarily Sangiovese, big and ripe, with sour cherry, gun powder, slight chocolate notes, smooth and silky tannins, medium bodied.

2002 Luigi Ferrando Carema, Piedmont, Italy--made from the Nebbiolo grape this is a much more approachable style than most Barolo or Barbaresco wines, black cherry, spice and leather notes, smooth and fresh, medium tannins, medium bodied.

2005 Podere Il Caio, Umbria, Italy--blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauv, brooding aromas of spice, cigar box, and leather, plum and blackberry fruit, velvety tannins, medium/full bodied.

2004 Feudi di San Marzano 'Sud' Malvasia Nera, Puglia, Italy--a real showstopper, juicy plum and bluberry notes, understones of leather and earth, rich and robust, silky tannins, medium bodied.

2001 Malgra Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy--blend of Barbera and Cabernet Sauv, bright black cherry and plum fruit, hint of spice, undertones of leather and earth, silky tannins, medium bodied.

2002 Pettrone Sangiovese, Mendocino, California--small production, bright and juicy black cherry, spicy vanilla notes, smooth and silky tannins, medium bodied.

2006 Spiavola Rosso di Sicilia, Sicily, Italy--blend of Nero d'Avola and Cabernet Sauv, ripe plum and blackberry notes, velvety tannins, smooth finish, medium/full bodied.

2006 Sfida Puglia Rosso, Puglia, Italy--blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro, ripe and jammy wild berry notes, touch of spice, silky tannins, medium bodied.

2004 Casata Monfort Pinot Nero, Trentino, Italy--its been hard to find a decent Pinot Noir from Italy, but this one shows well--aromas of dried cherries, sweet tobacco and wet leaf notes, smooth and silky, light/medium bodied.

2000 Fratelli Gozzi 'Rosso Saline', Lombardy, Italy--supple and elegant blend of Cabernet Sauv and Merlot, dried red fruit notes, cedar and cigar box, touch of leather, very complex with silky tannins, medium/full bodied.

2004 Casata Monfort Teroldego Rotaliano, Trentino, Italy--made from the Teroldego grape, foxy and wild with leather and blueberry notes, savory and smooth, medium bodied.


Sipavola image from http://deliciousgrapes.blogspot.com/

Spring is in the Air...

Finally. Its been a long winter. Specifically the last month or so. The ice. The sleet. The snow. And the wind. Now that I have shed my wool coat, it seems appropriate to break out the fresh and floral whites. And lately, I've tasted through an overwhelming array of interesting whites to whet the palate:

2005 Xarmant Txakolina, Txakoli de Alava, Spain--not sure if I've ever tasted a better sushi wine to be honest, bright with notes of banana, lemon citrus and a clean, crisp finish. Blend of Hondarribi Zuri, Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, and Petit Courbu from the Basque region of Spain.

2004 Oremus Tokaji Dry Furmint 'Mandolás', Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary--this must be one of the most interesting wines tasted in a long while, aromas of sweet peach and white lilies, with hints of lavender and mango, round on the palate with a clean and floral finish. Reminds me a bit of Viognier, but more concentrated and floral. A must try!

2005 Cascina Bongiovanni Arneis, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy--delicate aromas of banana and mango with minerality and citrus notes, crisp acidity on the finish.

2005 Gabriel Meffre 'Laurus' Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Rhône Valley, France--blend of Roussane and Viognier with aromas of peach, mango and touch of almond on the finish, medium bodied with a rich and silky texture.

2005 Cline Viognier, California--whoa! This smells like a tutti-fruity fruit bomb with loads of tropical fruit aromas and almost sickly-sweet flavors. Why is it that California Viognier always seems to have overpowering fruit flavors plus residual sugar? This isn't supposed to be like White Zinfandel folks! Leave this one at the wine shop. Sad, as I tend to like Cline's wines.

2006 Bidoli Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy--normally I find Pinot Grigios to have a certain sameness, until this one rolled into my mouth--slightly herbaceous a la Sauvignon Blanc with lemon citrus and minerality and a lip-smacking finish. Aged on the lees for a bit of complexity.

2005 Alphonse Mellot 'Les Pénitents' Chardonnay, Vin de Pays des Coteaux Charitois, France--a beautiful chard from grapes grown close to Sancerre, green apple and straw notes with nice minerality, subdued almond notes on the finish, medium bodied.

Pumpkin Pie Anyone?

Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar celebrates fall with a special six-course Pumpkin Tasting Menu with wine pairings. Chef Richard Brandenburg has created a sumptuous menu using pumpkin (which is a fruit by the way) in a number of unexpected ways. Wines have been paired by nationally-renowned wine consultant, Leslie Sbrocco, author of the newly released book, The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide.

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to sample the spectacular menu with Leslie Sbrocco while discussing her new book. Here is a run down of the pairings:

Slivered Scallop Ceviche and Roasted Pumpkin with Arugula and Peppers
Paired with Hoffstater Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, Italy

Wine Notes: aromas of pineapple, honeysuckle, zesty lemon citrus on the palate, crisp finish. Nice acid for pairing with the scallops and acidity of the dish.

Crispy Sardine and Pumpkin Confit with White Balsamic Ginger Sauce
Paired with Michele Chiarlo Cotese de Gavi, Veneto, Italy

Wine Notes: Full and rich with honey and lemon citrus notes. Medium bodied. Not a horrible pairing; however, the wine seemed a bit dry for the sweetness of the pumpkin confit. A riesling or traminer from Alto Adige would have been a better selection.

Bone Marrow Ravioli and Pumpkin Risotto with Basil Pesto
Paired with Antinori Cervaro Della Sala, Umbria, Italy

Wine Notes: Blend of Chardonnay and Grechetto. Powerful and rich, apricot and sherry-like nut aromas, with earthy/mushroomy notes on the palate. Full-bodied. Great pairing with the nutty flavors of the risotto and pumpkin seeds. Also good body match.

Savory Pumpkin Pie and Roast Quail with Wild Mushrooms and Port Sauce
Paired with d'Arenberg 'Ironstone Pressings' Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre, McLaren Vale, Australia

Wine Notes: An amazing wine from the 1999 vintage. Aromas of dried cranberry, mushroom/earth notes, a touch of cedar. Medium-bodied. Matches well with the quail and mushrooms. Pumpkin pie is amazing....very savory as no sugar is added.


Venison Loin with Pumpkin Ice Cream, Morello Cherry Sauce and Chesnut Puree
Paired with Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

Wine Notes: Aromas of dark cherry with a hint of chocolate, smooth on the palate with a big tannin bite. Could have been softened through decanting. Nice match for the meat and also the cherry and nut flavors in the dish.

Pumpkin Spiced Cake and Mascarpone Cream
Paired with Domaine de Durban Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Rhone Valley, France

Wine notes: aromas of spice and apricot followed by a touch of honeysuckle on the palate. Sweet enough to handle the dessert but not overly cloying (too sweet/thick). Nice body match between wine and dessert.

The Pumpkin Tasting Menu is offered through Thanksgiving for $60 plus $20 for the wine flight.

Urbana Restaurant & Wine Bar
2121 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202.956.6650

Photo courtesy of Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar