Monday, May 20, 2013

Arrigoni Private Wine Tasting

Forget April showers, the month was awash with tasting events. I capped off a busy week at the end of the month at a private tasting of wines by the producer Arrigoni. I met the very charming Davide at a Chianti tasting earlier in the week and he followed up with an invite to a private tasting a few days later. In addition to the reds featured at the grand tasting, they showcased some of their whites.  In total I tasted 6 wines but wanted to highlight 4 in particular and examine a pure Vermentino varietal to a blended one, as well as a classic Chianti to a 100% Sangiovese expression.


Colli Di Luni Vermentino DOC "La Cascina Dei Peri"
This Vermentino, blended with 5% Pigato, was a simple but accessible wine. Pear, kiwi and a ripe grapefruit appeared in this crisp white.  I've always felt Vermentino was overshadowed by the Pinot Grigio marketing machine; it is a very good Italian white that deserves more recognition.

Colli Di Luni Vermentino DOC "Vigna Del Prefeto"
This one is 100% Vermentino and one of my favorites from the tasting. The flavor profile was similar to the previous one but it showed a bit more complexity. There was a roundness and depth to it that kept me interested while sipping. The crisp acidity was still present but overall this wine had a few more embellishments than its simplified precursor.


Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
A blend of Sangiovese, Malvasia Nera and Canaiolo (also known as petit verdot), this wine was exemplary of Chianti.  Ripe berries, licorice, earthy, and a little bit green. Fairly high in acid with pronounced, but integrated tannins, this was a very enjoyable red.

Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG "Poggio al Vento"
The final wine in the tasting was 100% Sangiovese. Cranberry, ash and oak were all immediately present, but the oak was not as well integrated as it should be and muscled through the crowd of tasting notes to become the dominant factor. Obviously, this wine was undeniably tannic, which might have held up well with some food but in this context, felt rather unbalanced in the glass.

Arrigoni currently does not have distribution in the U.S. but hopefully will get picked up soon. I'd love to have that Vigna Del Prefeto on the table for an alfresco summer dinner.

Keep tasting, friends...




Sunday, May 12, 2013

An Ode to La Spinetta

One of wine's most important elements is its ability to evoke memories. We tend to gravitate towards particular wines not only for the way they taste but for the way they can transport one to a particular moment. You may remember that beautful bottle that was served on your birthday and now, whenever you see it on a menu, you may smile with recollection.  Or what about that bottle of rose that you drank at dinner on a beach vacation, overlooking the ocean?  I'm sure you are more apt to select that bottle over any other in a wine store.

La Spinetta wines hold that special memory for me.  With that first sip, I'm instantly transported to our first dinner on the patio at La Villa, our hotel in Piedmonte, on what was to become a pinnacle trip in my burgeoning passion for wine.  Sitting amongst the vineyard-covered hills, the setting sun alighting the mountain peaks like small volcanoes, I felt an ease and fluidity in my being I had never experienced before. The marriage of land and wine became a crystalized concept and I knew this was the beginning of a passionate journey.




Now, at a crossroads in my life, La Spinetta brought me back to a place of peace. Recently, Eataly hosted a tasting of four La Spinetta wines, including a first vintage rose. Tasting through these, I was transported to that moment of happiness, felt in its purest form
.


Langhe Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 ($46.80)
This was a gorgeous, old-world style sauv blanc, a must-drink alternative to the popular Italian pinot grigio. A bit pricey, yes, but it oozed character. Green apple, citrus and a brisk minerality announced themselves right away on the nose and palate. The acid, high and bright, was somehow tempered by a softness and roundness that is often found in Sancerre. I adore this wine.

Il Rose di Casanova, 2012 ($14.80)
This was their premier effort at rose and I hope they continue production. This wine came from their Tuscany estate and was 50% Sangiovese/50% Prugnolo Gentile. More Provence in style than the full-bodied deep Rosatos of Italy, this one had fresh-picked wildflowers, light cherry, strawberry fields and an overall brightness. Again, there was a good amount of acid on this fresh vino. Summer, where are you already?

Ca' Di Pian, Barbera, 2009 ($27.80)
Looking back at old posts, I'm shocked I haven't written about this one yet, considering it's offered by the half bottle at many wine bars in the city and I drink it all the time. At any rate, this is what I consider to be a textbook example of a good Barbera. On the nose, black cherry, plum and violets give way to cherry, raspberry and a solid earthiness on the palate. Again, acid is very prominent and some moderate tannins. Classic, classic, classic.

Vigneto Bordini, Barbaresco, 2005 ($53.80)
This was a lighter, refined style of Barbaresco. Violets, cranberry and an almost strawberry note wafted in the glass, layered with tones of chocolate. On the palate, the cranberry was even more noticeable, along with well-structured tannins and acidity. This is a barbaresco that I think could be sipped on by itself, along with being a great food wine.

Dedicated to S.P.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Wine, Mind and Body - Pilates ProWorks!





My amazing and fabulous Pilates studio just featured me on their blog - check it out! 

http://www.pilatesproworks.com/blog/2013/05/shana-s-ppw-ny-pro-member/


Meet Shana!
Shana
She has been a member of PPW since opening month… February 2012, and is always a stand out in classes!  From Barre Pro to Barre-X to Pilates, Shana does it all and we love having her here, so it was only natural that she be our next featured member!

1. The thing I am most proud of since joining PPW is…
My posture!  I am much more aware of my core and how I carry myself in my day-to-day activities.  Slumping now feels unnatural and I find myself sitting up straight all the time.
2. I am currently motivated to sweat to…
“Dancing On My Own” by Robyn.  Also, a couple of the instructors have a remixed version of the Motown song “Heatwave” that makes me shake my booty just a bit more.
3. All of our members inspire us… What/Who inspires you?
I seek out inspiration in unexpected places.  I walk to work every day and try to keep my eyes open to all the people and sights around me.  I love reading design and fashion  blogs because I find a lot of inspiration in visual cues. As I’m at a point in my life where I’m turning a passion into a career, I’m incredibly inspired by young entrepreneurs who accomplish their dreams. I believe fear is the biggest barrier to success and I hugely admire people who can overcome it and get out of their own way in order to achieve their goals.
4. Three things your friends at PPW may not know about you:

1. I have a wine blog, shanaspeakswine.com and recently launched a wine event and consultancy company, Shana Speaks Wine. 
  2. Every year I attempt to learn a new skill or take a continuing ed class: sewing, sketching, writing, burlesque,   guitar – name it and I’ve probably tried it. 
  3. I am much more comfortable in a dress or a skirt than in jeans and actually didn’t own a pair for about 3 years.
5. When I’m not at PPW you can find me…
  1. at a wine bar… natch.
  2. checking out a new restaurant.
  3. at a concert, lecture or play.  There is so much to do in NYC it’s impossible to be bored.
6.  My favorite thing to pair with a glass of wine is a second glass!
Now for some really exciting news… since nothing goes better with amazing food than amazing wine, we are going to capitalize on Shana’s talents & start adding wine pairingsto our Ready for Summer Recipe Series!  Look for the first collaboration later this week.  You will all definitely want to make this one and we can’t wait to see what Shana has for us to sip on with it!  Cheers!
Make sure you check out shanaspeakswine.com & follow Shana on Twitter@ShanaSpeaksWine!


And be sure to keep following them as I will be contributing wine pairings for recipes created by chef (and fellow studio mate) Dean Sheremet.  Find him at http://deansheremet.tumblr.com