Nella Kitchen & Bar, Los Olivos, CA
Tasted Thursday, January 12, 2023 by JonnyG with 235 views
Thanks to the generosity of a good friend, we were treated to a full horizontal of the 2015 Produttori Riservas, along with a number of wonderful bonus bottles and some superb, truffle-focused cuisine.
Served alongside an extraordinary ahi tuna tartare topped with creme fraiche, chives and delectable Osetra caviar.
Beautifully paired with a squash and swiss cheese fondue featuring hazelnuts and black truffle.
A counterintuitive but successful pairing: seared Hokkaido scallops, Colfiorito lentils from Umbria, carrots and more black truffle.
White truffle risotto (drops the mike).
Accompanied by pan seared foie gras with chantarelle and leek sauce and even more black truffle.
Paired with roasted elk tenderloin, spinach, potatoes and (you guessed it) black truffle.
Served with a bonus dish of local venison tenderloin (and no more black truffle).
I drew a few conclusions from this highly enjoyable and educational tasting. Unsurprisingly, there are no substitutes for ample aeration (we fell short on this count) and thoughtful food pairings (here, we excelled). I found the 2015 bottlings to be tremendous overall, with little to no signs of the vintage's heat. Lastly, I am a humbled novice in terms of trying to understand the varied terroir comprising these crus, and look forward to learning more, including via delicious trial and error tastings going forward.
2010 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons 88 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
AG warned that this wine had best be enjoyed young, and based on this bottle his advice is spot-on, as the mousse was virtually non-existent. The slightly sherried nose was a disappointment, though there was good fruit and acid, allowing the wine to be a decent accompaniment to our starter.
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