Finishing HRH's anniversary week in (mostly Italian) style

We started the evening with a cocktail of sparkling Aglianico with orange bitters

3 July 2015

Primo Quattro
(4 main food groups)
Pinzimonio, Salumi, Formaggi, Bubbles
1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires

Bruschetta, Beans and Belly
grilled sourdough/ butter beans/ fennel-scented crispy pork belly
basil sprouts/ sundried tomato olive oil paste
1999 Sesti (Castello di Argiano) Brunello di Montalcino

The Fungus Among-us
mixed mushroom farro risotto
black currant/ white truffle/ Parmigiano Reggiano
1999 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d’Alba

Buffa(?) in Three Acts
bison ribeye/ Bufala Negra sauce
buffalo mozzarella raviolo with broccoli rabe
melted bone marrow
1999 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT
2009 Vigneti del Vulture Aglianico del Vulture Piano del Cerro Riserva

Who Let Kandinsky Plate the Olive Oil Cake?
microwave cake/ lemon Zabaglione/ blueberry spheres
blackberry-Amaro glaze/ raspberry/ Mascarpone
Limoncello Spritzers

• 1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires

  France, Champagne

  The extended aging on the lees gives this wine tremendous backbone with dark, yeasty aromas mingled with lemon, apple and an almost Chablis-like minerality on the nose. We enjoyed two bottles with very little bottle variation. This is always a brilliant wine and these two were consistent with previous experience.

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• 1999 Sesti (Castello di Argiano) Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  No signs of fading on this particular bottle but I do not foresee improvement. Bright, ripe cherries, indicative of the vintage, with a little bit of leather and soft, integrated acidity. With air it showed a great whiff of fresh green herbs dominated by nice rosemary.

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• 1999 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Too young but still delicious. Wild strawberry, licorice, wet earth, dark medicinal cherry. There are tannins which still need to resolve but a treat nonetheless.

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• 1999 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Dark dried cherry, dusty tannin, very little acidity. The fruit has dried out on this one; I suspect it would have been better several years ago. It still delivers with a lean grilled steak.

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• 2009 Vigneti del Vulture Aglianico del Vulture Piano del Cerro

  Italy, Basilicata, Aglianico del Vulture

  Hot, alcoholic nose and palate. Unbalanced with insufficient tannin and acidity to balance the jammy dark fruit.

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• 2004 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese

  Germany, Rheinhessen

  Ripe apricot, a little candied citrus peel with fig, spiced apple and brilliant, balanced acidity. This was a marvelous treat

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