Scottsdale, AZ
Tasted Thursday, May 17, 2012 - Sunday, May 20, 2012 by joe d with 589 views
My old burg-drinking buddy was in town with his wife for a long weekend and we drank a few good bottles. Everything was served with food in a social setting, so I did not take any formal notes.
Friends arrived around 7:30pm and were pretty tired. Two years away from Phoenix makes people forget what driving around in 100 degree heat does to you. We had some takeout sushi and popped a couple of non-burgs.
We invited a few like-minded wine friends for dinner. The weather was not tooooo hot and we were able to enjoy crostini on the patio before heading inside for grilled Alaskan king salmon over rice with red pepper and corn, sauteed cabbage with feta and walnuts, and endive and avocado salad in a mustard dressing.
Visited the local Italian deli (which happens to double as a wood-fired pizza joint 3 nights a week) for a couple of fantastic pies and his melt-in-your-mouth grilled calamari. Returning home we served a couple of cheeses with another delicious burgundy.
Before the weekend when I suggested an all-Muscadet evening, I was met with a skeptical: "I like muscadet but they're all pretty similar." Au contraire: I present to you Marc Ollivier's Granite de Clisson 2005. Dinner was The Barefoot Contessa's Grilled Tuna Nicoise Platter - a great recipe.
What a fabulous weekend with great friends. There was really not a clunker wine in the bunch and a couple of epiphanies. The 2006 Drouhin Amoureuses was in a wonderful spot. We really miss having them around and sharing great bottles like these with good food and conversation.
Sante everyone!
2010 Venica & Venica Collio Pinot Grigio Jesera 85 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Collio
(5/17/2012)
We have been drinking Venica's Friuliano and Sauvignon Blanc offerings with a lot of pleasure recently and the Pinot Grigio has just hit the shelves. This is a nice PG with bright flavors, good acidity, and fruit and body on the palate to provide a nicely balanced package. My discrete CT scale: 95-extraordinary; 90-very good; 85-good; 80-fair; 75-poor
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2009 Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato 90 Points
Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane
(5/17/2012)
Delicious wine. Sweet black fruits with acidity and some earthiness. Very well balanced and easy to drink with moderate 12.5 ABV. The epitome of a natural wine for me. My discrete CT scale: 95-extraordinary; 90-very good; 85-good; 80-fair; 75-poor
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