Cotarella Strikes Again

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Wine of the Week

{ Thanks to Rebecca Murphy of the Dallas Morning News }

Di Majo Norante, Terre degli Osci IGT, Sangiovese 2004 ”This may be the perfect pizza wine. Made of 100 percent sangiovese grapes, it comes from a family-owned winery in the Italian region of Molise that specializes in organically grown grapes . It was made to show off the jaunty, mouthwatering floral and cherry-berry flavors, balanced with crisp acidity perfect with a sausage-and-mushroom pie. " - Rebecca Murphy- Dallas Morning News

Di Majo Norante Web Site

Demystifying Valpolicella

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{ Thanks to Rebecca Murphy of the Dallas Morning News }

Demystifying valpolicella wines - Taste the difference time in oak makes
Dallas Morning News ~Wednesday, April 26, 2006
By REBECCA MURPHY / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Count on Italy for unusual wines from grapes you never heard of. For example: Valpolicella, a light, red wine from the Veneto region, is made from corvina, rondinella and molinara. Other versions of valpolicella – a dry full-bodied red called amarone, and a sweet full-bodied red called recioto della valpolicella – are made from the same varieties, but the grapes are dried for a few months to concentrate their flavors before fermentation.

Winemakers in the Veneto region have developed an unusual process for adding body and complexity to light red wine: They referment it with the sediment, skins and seeds of their more powerful and expensive amarone or recioto wines. This process is called ripasso, literally, repassed. The refermentation adds alcohol, smooths tannins and reduces acidity.
The following two wines are both from the Classico region, (traditional and considered better), and are made from similar grape blends.
The Classico 2004 has never seen wood. It was fermented in stainless steel and aged for six months in stainless steel, then bottled.
The Valpolicella Ripasso 2002 was fermented in stainless steel in October, followed by a second fermentation in March on the sweet lees of recioto. It was then aged 18 months in a combination of 70 percent Slavonian oak casks and 30 percent small oak barrels. This additional aging is required for a valpolicella to be called Superiore.

Le Salette, Valpolicella Classico 2004
Sniff: Notice the bright fruit aromas of red cherries, cranberry and orange peel, untouched by oak. The color of the wine is light ruby.
Sip: Red cherries and cranberry flavors in the mouth are light and lean.
Savor: Tannins are light, and crisp acidity is perceptible, giving the wine a lingering finish in the mouth.
Serve: The fresh fruit flavors, light body and crisp acidity make this a good wine with tuna or pasta with a tomato-based sauce.

Le Salette, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Ripasso I Progni 2002
Sniff: The aromas are of dried fruits, such as raisins and dried cranberries, and the color of the wine is a darker, denser ruby.
Sip: Dark cherry flavors are complex with a smooth, round feel in the mouth.
Savor: Layers of flavors are well integrated with solid tannins. The acidity of the wine seems less apparent because of the denser fruit. Yet the finish is long and lingering.
Serve: Pair the dried fruit flavors and fuller bodied wine with roast pork.
The lessons
•The winemaker used stainless steel and minimal aging to preserve bright fruit in the 2004 Valpolicella.
•The technique of ripasso along with time in oak and more time make valpolicella ripasso a denser, more complex and full-flavored wine.
•You may find that you prefer one style over the other. Knowing how they are made can help you find wines made in a similar fashion.

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Le Salette Winery Web Site

Jammin'

Taking a little time off to jam with my family....

Italy - Verona,Veneto & Friuli - Wine & Food Trails

Italy Wine & Food Trails - click on link for Webshot Photos

France - Bordeaux & Paris - Wine & Food Trails

France Wine & Food Trails - click on link for Webshot Photos

St. Emilion & Pomerol

Stéphane Derenoncourt

François Thienpont

Medoc

Red,Red Wine....

About 150 wines today....all Red all 2005 Bordeaux

Bordeaux - Day 1

Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou - St Julien
The beginning of a week of tasting the 2005 Bordeaux - Monday , April 3, we stopp first at this famous chateau. Filled with art and wine.. and a famous living space for the proprietor.

April in Paris and Bordeaux

Weekend layover in Paris --- Afternoon in the rain and a stop to Denise Acabo's
Etoile D' Or -- a chocolate lovers stop near Moulin Rouge.

Pictured: Proprietress Denise Acabo helping Dallas' John Rector pick gifts for his lovely wife and boys.

Short time , but time to go to Guy Savoy's Atelier Maitre Albert, a wonderful spot ..

click on the photo of the Atelier above to go to the website.

The "Rotisserie"








Sunday April 2 Bordeaux -
Denis Dubourdieu -- A star in Bordeaux. link to Dubourdieu's web site by clicking on his picture A White wine maker par excellance.. and reds following..family estates include Chateau Doisy Daene, Clos Floridene, Chateau Reynon and Chateau Cantegril..

his notes on the 2005 Bordeaux harvest can
be accesssed at this site(click on the graphic)