Food, Wine, Culture TV - Episode 8: Two easy seafood dishes and Italian White Wines

Food, Wine, Culture TV- The Real Episode 8: Today we’re making fried calamari and lobster which I pair with a couple white wines from Soave (Veneto, Italy) that I tasted in Episode 7 (here). Join me for a 12 minute journey into some great seafood and good wines!

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Food, Wine, Culture TV - Episode 7: Blind Prosciutto Tasting and Italian White Wines

No news show this week! It was lost in the taping some how…so here’s an early Episode 7!  (main page image: wikipedia.com wiki commons)

Episode 7: In what Michael refers to as episode 8, is really episode 7 (an episode was lost to the MiniDV Tape Gods!). Today we’re blind tasting three prosciuttos, and then tasting three Italian white wines. Join Michael to find out your best value Prosciutto and what wines to pair with it! Tune in to the next episode when we bring the wines back and pair it with two perfect seafood dishes!

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First-time visitors guide to Montalcino

This past November Kim and I spent nine days dining and wine tasting in one of the most highly acclaimed wine regions in the world. On our trip to Montalcino, we abandoned the guide books that helped us in Florence, Siena and Bologna and decided that we would just find places that looked good and take our chances. The result was quite surprising: two of the more highly recommended establishments were let downs while many of the smaller, lesser known restaurants gave us great food, outstanding service and overall incredible dining experiences. This short guide will hopefully give you an idea on where to eat, drink and stay if you don’t have time to try every place out for yourself. For those of you who aren’t traveling to this beautiful hilltop town, you’re missing out on some of the best food and wine the world has to offer.

Related links:

• Alone in Montalcino
• Banfi’s Empire
• What is Brunello?

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Tasting Report: Good Values From Sicily- The Wines of Sicilian Producer Tasca d’ Almerita

Sicily is well known for its sweet Marsala wines, which make up a majority of the wine produced in the DOC wine region. But in recent years, there has been a surge towards producing quality red and white table wines as the global demand for quality wines increases. Read more

Brief News: Monday July 7, 2008: Greg’s Pig Roast with TJ’s beer, Brunello allowed into the US, Baltimore events!

Our resident beer guy roasts a pig and makes Thomas Jefferson’s beer: This past Friday, July 4th, Greg B spent half of his day cleaning, dressing, salting, garlicking and roasting a pig. His “Jefferson Beer”, having spent months in the making, was ready for consumption and was a great pairing with the salty pork. What Greg didn’t mention in his great recap is that he and I tried roasted pig brain for the first time. Lucky for us, there were over 200 bottles of his various homemade beers on hand to wash it down! Don’t foget to keep an eye on “Greg’s Corner” to follow his journey through beer and wine making, whole-animal roasting, and internet blogging!

Brunello gets it’s groove back: After months of controversy surrounding Brunello di Montalcino (more here), Decanter.com reports that Italian Authorites have “guaranteed” that all Brunello being exported to the US meets the standards set by Italian wine law and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG regulations. Though 2002/03 weren’t good vintages in Montalcino, this is good news for Brunello lovers as it’s nearing time for the highly praised 2004’s to go on pre-sale!

Things of note in Baltimore this week (find out more on Localwineevents.com):

Jul 07, 2008 (Mon) - Jul 10, 2008 (Thu)Aperitivo Hour and $10 Pasta at Sotto Sopra

Jul 07, 2008 (Mon)Monday Nights 1/2 off bottled wines at Sotto Sorpa Restaurant

Jul 07, 2008 (Mon)Monday is Neighborhood Night at AIDA Bistro: All Pastas Specially Priced

Jul 08, 2008 (Tue)Dinner with Daniela - 4 Course Italian Home Cooked Dinner

Jul 13, 2008 (Sunday): Baltimore Chefs and Wine Experience: A must if you are available on Sunday!

Friday Wine Roundup: Best QPR (Quality to Price) Wines This Week- June 20, 2008

QPR is a measure of a wines Quality to Price Ratio. QPR is used to determine whether or not a wine is worth its price. Each Friday I put up a list of wines that I have recently tasted, that I feel offer great “bang for their buck.” With gas at $4.00 a gallon or more, it’s good to know that you can continue to enjoy great wines even when the budget tightens up. The wines listed here are wines that I feel offer you, the consumer, a great wine that is both well priced, and succeeds at providing a great wine experience. I try to introduce new grape varieties or wine regions to keep things interesting and recommend keeping an eye out for these good QPR’s next time you’re out wine shopping. Most, if not all are available throughout Baltimore. Read more

20 Great Value Wines: How to drink good wine when gas is $5.00 a gallon or more

The current economy has most of us cutting back on non-essentials, driving less, and trying to find ways to save a few bucks. Below is a list of wines that you can afford by cutting back on two gallons of gas or less (most are under $10!). For specific recommendations on wines, wine regions, wine pairings, or anything related to value wines, leave a comment. Have a favorite wine under $10 that I missed? Let us know about it! (Image: WINE AND MONEY© Kvkirillov | Dreamstime.com)

Here are my top picks for value wines, producers, and wine regions. Keep in mind that an 85 is a “Very Good” wine and shouldn’t be overlooked. Too often reviewers and magazines want you to think that only 90 point wines are worth drinking…this isn’t the case and can become quite expensive! An 85 point wine is a wine that I consider to be very good, and would buy again.

Keep an eye out for my report next week on the best wineries and wine regions when it comes to quality and value!

Twenty Great Value Wines: (Click here to download this as a shopping list in PDF Form)

Sparkling

N.V. Riondo Prosecco Veneto IGT -$12 (Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT): Sealed with a traditional cork requiring a cork-screw. A little sweet, hint of yeast, a little fruity, not a lot of fizz but quite refreshing. Overall good appertif, nice flavors. My rating: 87 pts, GV (Good Value)

N.V. Roederer Estate Brut -$21 (USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley): This is the most expensive wine I put on the list, with all the others being $12 or less. But for the price, you get good value here. Apples and citrus on the palate, a very crisp wine with subtle nuttiness and caramel. Nice finish- a great bottle of a special dinner on a budget. My rating: 89 pts, GV Read more

TN: 2001 Il Paradiso di Frassina Brunello di Montalcino

2001 Il Paradiso di Frassina Brunello di Montalcino:  Purchased at vineyard. Decanted 30 minutes, drank over 2 hours. Another very enjoyable bottle of this ‘01 Brunello. Loads of dark fruit, elegant tannins, great spice and earth notes with a complex finish. My Rating: 92 pts

More on the Brunello saga…

For the past two months some producers of Brunello di Montalcino, one of the premier wines in the world, have been investigated for blending their Brunello (100% Sangiovese-based wines) with Cabernet and Merlot. Amidst these allegations, the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has stepped in to ensure that the wines that reach our dinner tables are the real thing. Decanter Magazine is reporting that imports of Brunello into the United States may be delayed beginning June 9, 2008.

From Decanter: “Francesco Marone Cinzano, president of the trade body, the Brunello Consorzio, said… ‘Starting on 9 June, the US will block all Brunello imports unless the wine is accompanied by laboratory analysis proving that the wine is pure Sangiovese.”

I understand regulations on producers to ensure that Brunello is in fact 100% Sangiovese, but is this level of control necessary? Is it really feasible to ask this of all 200 or so producers that export wines to the US? What do you think: has it gone too far, or is this an important step in preserving the tradition and integrity of one of the worlds most amazing wines?

Image: Taken in Montalcino of an Enoteca on one of the main roads into town.

Wines for Spring Part II: A Shopping List - 20 wines to kick off any springtime BBQ!

Part II of my Spring Wine Guide (Read Part I here): The chill of winter is ready to be packed away with your snow pants and wool sweaters in exchange for bathing suits and tank tops. If you’re like me, this time of year you’ll also transition from drinking big red wines every night to more Champagne, crisp whites, and Rose. Sure you’ll still have a big Cabernet or Barolo with a nice dinner indoors, but on a warm spring or summer night its best to kick things off with one (or two, or three!) bottles of a light, slightly chilled wine.

Here are my recommended wines for this Spring organized by Country and Price, with truncated tasting notes (Pink text = Rose wine, Green text = white or sparkling wine, Red text = red wine):

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Hegemony in Montalcino? A visit to Castello Banfi.

The car ride from the city circle in Montalcino to Castello Banfi estate is a breathtaking 15 minute drive on windy, narrow roads with post-card worthy views in every direction. Resting on the edges of the Montalcino DOCG, Castello Banfi has built a small wine and olive empire that spans some 7000 acres (1/3 vine, 1/3 grove, 1/3 forest). By comparison, the average Montalcino vineyard has roughly 25 acres. This American-owned estate is currently one of the most famous producers in Tuscany with tens of thousands of cases of each wine produced, much of it being shipped to the US.

From the time you turn onto the estates private roads, you realize that this isn’t just another Montalcino vineyard. Driving in the countryside of other parts of this wine region, we see signs claiming different patches of grape vines. Usually, in a minute or two in the car you pass by different sign after different sign, building appreciation for the small vineyard area and productions. Best said by a winemaker we spoke with, “This is what Montalcino is supposed to be about.”
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Expanding Your Palate: Five varietals you may not be drinking and the Huskies want to know “WHY?”

Let me guess the last 5 wines you drank (in no order): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah. If you’re like most people, you tend to stick with these Big Five varietals that are abundant in almost every wine market. These wines are generally what people order at restaurants, bring to wine dinners and share with friends. Perhaps many of you are thinking “he’s way off…” since you’re last five wines were Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Nebiolo, Grenache, Riesling? But again, these are abundant and although great wines, you’ve had them time and time again.

So, how many of you have heard of or tried the following: Albariño, Verdicchio, Charbono, Gamay, Touriga Franca? I’m willing to bet most of you haven’t had (or perhaps even heard) of these varietals. Well it’s time to expand your palates everyone!

Step out of the box for a few minutes while I introduce to you 5 wine grape varietals you aren’t currently drinking. I offer a few suggestions of wines that I feel exemplify each varietal and encourage you to get out there and try these (and other new wines!). Read more

Two Flavors of Sangiovese di Montalcino: Rosso and Brunello

The small Tuscan DOCG around the city of Montalcino has been the center of attention lately following allegations that winemakers were using non-Brunello grapes in the production of the famed Brunello di Montalcino. The Brunello grape is really just a clone of Sangiovese that was first planted by the Biondi Santi family in the late 19th centruy. Up until the 1940’s many producers in and around Montalcino did not pursue the grape. It wasn’t until 1945 when Brunello really began to gain attention and saw widespread plantings. Today Brunello makes up one of the most prized wines in Tuscany and one of the premier wines of Italy. When well made, Brunello has fine tannins, wonderful fruit character and elegance. When combined with the tradition and romance of the history of Brunello, make this wine one of the most sought after in the world.

Today there are strict rules regulation the production of Brunello di Montalcino. These include:

• use of only the Brunello grape
• normale bottling: released 50 months after harvest after at least 2 years aged in oak and 4 months in bottle
• riserva: released 62 months after harvest after at least 2 years aged in oak and 4 months in bottle

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Wednesday Wine Rant - 03/26/08 - Brunello, Brunello - say it ain’t so.

I LOVE BRUNELLO. You all are aware that Brunello di Montalcino is one of my favorite wines. The “Brunello” grape is a specific clone of the Sangiovese grape that is unique to the area surrounding Montalcino (Tuscany), having first been planted in the 1800’s by the Biondi Santi family. Today, Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy’s most prized wines made by over 200 producers, all who have to stick to the basic formula:

• 100% Brunello clone of Sangiovese
• Normale Bottling: released 50 months after harvest (minimum 2 years aged in wood, 4 in bottle)
• Riserva bottling: released 62 months after harvest (minimum 2 years aged in wood, 4 in bottle)

The result of this process is a beautiful developed wine with concentrated, ripe fruits when young and delicate tannins with age. (Image taken this past November of downtown Montalcino, from the fortress!).

No one likes a cheat. It seems like some Montalcino vinters aren’t playing by the rules. Wine Spectator’s James Suckling blogged on the topic last week, mentioning the allegations that some winemakers are adding other grapes to their Brunello blend to make it more fashionable for todays wine consumer. He noted that this was merely allegations and no formal accusations were made towards any one vineyard.

Well today, our friends at Vinowire.com have reported that they have direct confirmation from the president of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, Stefano Campatelli, stating that the allegations are in fact under investigation and it appears there is some truth to them. I have contacted the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino for further comment and will update you when I hear anything.

From Vinowire: “Stefano Campatelli, who has confirmed that “irregularities” have been found in wines labeled as Brunello produced by at least twenty producers in Montalcino. According to outside sources who have requested anonymity because they were not permitted to speak publicly about the investigation, that number could be as high as 80 or 90.”

Please, say it ain’t so…

For more on the topic, check out the story on Vinowire.com. I’m almost afraid to follow this story to find out which of my beloved Brunello producers are guilty of this terrible crime. More reading and initial report here: Vino al vino

Wine Club March ‘08 Meetup: The Recap!

This past weekend the F&WB Wine Club met up for an Easter-eve wine tasting. We had a good turnout this month with 13 attendees including 5 (two of which I am pictured with below near our bar) new people who haven’t been to any previous tastings. There were more than 10 cheeses, multiple salmon-based finger foods, grilled chicken and a bunch of other treats on hand. The theme was to bring a bottle of wine under $20 that was something you have had before and enjoyed. The hope was to find a handful of great value wines that would be outstanding for every-day consumption. About half of the wines fell into this category while the other half were randomly picked. The wines were all brown bagged and tasted blind and rated. We voted on our favorites at the end of the night before removing the bags. Below is a list of the wines on hand in descending order of how they were rated (I present the sparkling wines first which were tasted non-blind). The unanimous winner was the 2006 Fat Catz Cat Amongst Pigeons Syrah/Cabernet blend which I scored blind 91 pts and is an outstanding value.
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Recipe and Tasting Notes: Grilled Lamb Ribs and a 1995 Brunello di Montalcino

Some Thursday night meals are just better than others. This one was, well, better than most. As you may know, twice a year I buy a whole lamb from our vet who owns a farm (we buy a cow, as well!) and takes outstanding care of her livestock. It’s quite nice to know you’re buying meat from animals that were well taken care of, especially with all of the problems with abuse in the large slaughterhouses. The result of this great care is beautiful cuts of meat that are filled with flavor!

For tonight’s dinner I came up with a rub using some ingredients we had around the kitchen and used it to make grilled lamb ribs. I really enjoy cooking when we haven’t gone shopping in a while; it’s a fun challenge and I usually come up with combinations I haven’t tried before. The result this time was a rib of lamb, rubbed with a dry rub of sage/garlic/thyme/capers (and more) and grilled to juicy perfection!

Here are the tasting notes on the wine (from my favorite wine region in the world, Montalcino) which I acquired recently from a collector with a cellar deep in Italian greats. Overall, the wine was very good- making me miss Montalcino even more!
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Tasting Notes: 3 wines from Tuscan producer Il Borro

2006 Il Borro “Lamelle” - $N/A:
Composition: Chardonnay
Tasting notes: Pale yellow color with aroma’s of wet stone, apple, and an interesting sweaty t-shirt component. On the palate flavors of pear and a touch of honey, with mineral notes combined with a medium body and nice acidity on finish. A lot of nice individual components that never really come together completely. My rating: 87 pts, No value rating - price not available.
Side notes: Overall a nice Chardonnay. Not overly complex but had good weight and a nice touch of acidity that went well with Lobster Tempura. Not sure the domestic pricing on this one, but if it’s under $20 it will be a decent buy.

2005 Il Borro “Pian di Nova” - $20:
Composition: 75% Syrah, 25% Sangiovese - 12 months Allier oak barriques - malo-lactic fermentation. 6 months bottle age. 13.5% Alcohol.
Tasting notes: Deep ruby color. Blackberry, red bell pepper, spicy V-8, dark and dark raspberry on the nose. Lot’s of spice up front, creamy texture, black fruits, and vanilla flavors with medium tannins. Nice hints of red pepper and fruit on the finish. My rating: 89 pts, GV
Side notes: Wine Spectator gave this wine a measly 83 pts, but I found it to be quite good. It’s a different style of wine - if you like spicy red pepper and vegetable notes, this one’s for you. Would be great with a Cajun spiced strip steak.

2004 Il Borro “Polissena” -27$:
Composition: 100% Sangiovese - 12 months Allier oak barriques - malo-lactic fermentation. 6 months bottle age. 13.0% Alcohol.
Tasting notes: Aroma’s of minerals, earth, some heat, nutmeg, cinnamon, red fruits, plum. Light body with good fruits near mid-palate that fall off near the finish. My rating: 87 pts, OKV
Side notes: A decent wine - lighter in style than the Pian di Nova and a little less interesting. There is a nice earth and wood component to it, but the flavors fall off for a bit close to the finish and for almost $30, this one is a pass for me.

WBW #42 - Italian Wine in Just Seven Words

This months Wine Blogging Wednesday theme was “Italian Wines in Just Seven Words” and is hosted by Spittoon (they spit so we can swallow!). This creative theme asks us wine bloggers to choose an Italian wine and sum it up in seven words. Although it sounds easy, for a bunch of people who love wine and really love writing (often so much that we just go on and on and on…) this task was a good challenge. I found it particularly challenging due to my love of Italian wine. Eventually I chose a wine and threw out some words that I feel best represent my experience. Be sure to check out Spittoon in the next few days to read a recap of what everyone tasted!

The wine I chose is the 2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano. This Chianti Riserva consists of the following grape varietals: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, Merlot and costs around $18 USD.  I gave the wine a very respectable 89 pts.

2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano:

“Closed for business - opens in three hours.”

You can see my full tasting note here. 

TN: 2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano

2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano: 2/12/2008 (tasted for Wine Blogging Wednesday: Popped and poured. The wine has an ink-deep purple color. The nose was completely closed during the first hour…initial flavors were some sour cherry, a lot of wet forest, not much fruit showing on the palate.

Decanted. After 2+ hours of sitting, the wine completely changed. Now on the nose I get cola, cherry, a cedar component and possibly a smoky vanilla component. The palate has opened up quite a bit- still a good mineral/earthiness to the wine, but now the cherry really comes through, as does a hint of raspberry and burnt wood near the finish. The tannins are noticeable, but not too tough, and the finish lasts a while. Good wine overall - good balance. Decant for a long time or sit on this for a few more years. Good value for the price. My rating: 89 pts, GV (good value)

Wine Club Meetup Recap: Italian Wines at Iggies on 01/30/2008

On January 30, 2008 our wine club took over the back half of Iggie’s Pizza in Mt. Vernon to try our luck with Italian wines under $20 paired with the best pizza in Baltimore. Being a “BYOB” establishment, and having outstanding food, Iggie’s was the perfect place for this month’s gathering. A huge thanks to Lisa and Peter, as well as the staff at Iggie’s for everything!

The group of 20 people begin arriving at 7:00 PM and by 7:30 Heather and I had all the wines organized and brown-bagged (Heather (on the right in this image with Mary) did most of the work so I could welcome guests and remain blind to what bottles were under which bag). In total we had 11 wines from all over Italy - a focus in Piemonte and Tuscano as one might expect.

The night began with a small group of us that arrived early tasting a Prosecco by Martini & Rossi. The bottle had a unique closure for a wine - an actual bottle cap, reminiscent of a large glass bottle of soda or some other everyday beverage. The new design hopes to give the Prosecco more of an every-day feel and although I was first put off by it, I found it to be pretty cool and a great way to make drinking a sparkling wine with dinner more informal and fun. The Prosecco itself was a great appertif with a touch of fizz, grapefruit and pear flavors, and some sweet fruits on the finish. It rolls in at $12 and was a fun way to start off the night.

As we took our seats, food was ordered, names were yelled out from behind the kitchen, and soups, salads and pizza began finding their way to their rightful owners. The tasting began. We had two bottles of each wine (except for 3, which we had plenty of to go around) and two tables of people - each table having their own bottle. Everyone had their tasting sheets and pens ready, and when they weren’t enjoying the pizza or taking in sniffs of wine, everyone (except for Erik who is pictured here fighting off Miranda’s attempt to steal his wine!) was scribbling notes and discussing the components of each wine. Two hours after it began, the tasting ended with the group in agreement: a pretty lousy showing of wines (including one selection brought by a very famous food and wine blogger who will remain nameless for reputations sake).

In the end, there were three voted winners, and one, almost unanimous loser (sorry Carlos…maybe most American’s just aren’t ready for Lambrusco, we look happy tasting it in this picture though!). I’ve posted notes on the three wines of the night below, as well as a few that were in the lineup that you’ll definitely want to avoid! (Picture here is of Aubrey and Kim, trying to figure out the funk coming from one of the wines!)

After the tasting a few of us were discussing next months theme - before I give any details, I’m going to suggest two dates: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 or Tuesday, February 26, 2008. Whichever I get more feedback for, will be the date we meet on!

Thanks to everyone who came out, especially the new people! It was really a pleasure meeting you all and I look forward to seeing you all at future events.

Wines of the night by popular vote, as well as my personal tasting notes):

1st place (tie) - Brought by Scott:
Castello Banfi - Rosso di Montalcino (2003) - $25: Wet forest and raspberry nose, dusty, dark fruits, cherry - well structured, big tannins with balance and finesse. Long finish, this is drinking very well right now. My rating: 91 pts, VGV (very good value)

Castello Banfi - Rosso di Montalcino (2004) - $25: Deeper color than the ‘04, smoke, dark fruits on the nose. Sour cherry and spice notes, but lacks balance. Medieet licorice aroma. Medium bodied with ripe fruits and tannins that match the acidity well and carry through a 20 second finish. enjoyable. My rating: 89 pts, GV (Good value)

2nd place - Brought by Ahleah/Mary:
Marenco Piemonte Barbera Pirona - (2005): Deep purple color, cherry, blackberry cedar, sweet licorice, good acidity and medium tannins - 20 second finish. Nice wine for the price. My rating: 87 pts, VGV.

3rd Place: Erik Banti I Pianetti Vino da Tavola (2005) -Brought by Colleen et al.: Deep plum color. Cassi, dark fruits, peppermint, plum and mushroom flavors. Sour cherry on the mid palate with the right amount of tannins and acidity. My rating: 88 pts, GV

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