Truffle Dinner at the Papies

An annual tradition that follows our annual trip to Piemonte.

Truffle Salami, Black truffle burrata & pane carasau

• 2004 Ca' del Bosco Franciacorta Cuvée Annamaria Clementi 93 Points

  Italy, Lombardia, Franciacorta DOCG

  A year since we had this last ( Papies 93) and remains an amazing wine full of elegance and as we say this is the best champagne made outside champagne and will give a top level champagne a run for its money.
  Ripe and rich, good yeasty profile. well round and with a smooth feel. Citrus, honey notes quite mineral and continues its path to beautiful drinking. We wish we had more a solid 93-94

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• 2000 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Once again a great performance from this wine which has been at peak drinking for the last few years and does not seem to be letting go. Quite rich, honey notes, yeasty . Still quite bright but shows signs that it is time to be drinking these. No immediate rush but why postpone it, just great now. 93-94

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The Egg: Quail egg of polenta disc, black truffle shave & Truffle Caviar
The Truffle burger: Truffle & parmesan cream sandwiched in blinis topped with truffle caviar and served with girolle mushrooms
The meat: Flash fried onglet, served in thin strips rolled atop a fresh porcini mushroom slice and with black truffle

• 2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Opened and left to rest for an hour or so. Wine felt open and did not need decanting and we feared doing so my risk oxidation.
  Well round, nice cherry feel, well round and silky. Definitely benefited from the 2004 vintage and has a juicy, supple feel but in no way overripe. Very very good and feels at peak now. 92

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• 1999 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  The wine needs decanting and an hour or so definitely helped.
  Well evolved but still full of bright cherry notes, light earthy and with a soft, silky feel on the palate. Very classic barolo, not heavy or rich but with an elegant feel. Very classy. 93 once again

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Plin from Alba served in porcini mushroom & butter sauce. Shaved black truffle

• 1997 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Needs decanting and a good 2 hours here helped the wine.
  We were expected a very ripe, dark and dense beast of a wine. This however was quite the opposite and was very elegant, silky and although full of depth it is light on its feet and delivers a very classy performance. Especially so as we had this vs the 1999 Giacosa Faletto (Papies 93) with its ever classic style showed to modernist bashers like us that modernity when done to this level can really add another dimension. Dark cherry, light earthy, light tar notes and just so good. 94-95

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• 2004 Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Decanted for a good two hours. Much needed.
  At the beginning of its drinking cycle and really having tried this a few times ( Papies 92-93) we should have waited longer but given the 2004 vintage richness and quality we gave this another try one year since last. Definitely has evolved and not as strong as last year albeit here the decanting really helped. Dark fruited, lots of density here , round but firm tannin. Quite juicy wine and full of depth. Needs time and we will not drink our last bottle for a good 3-5 years. 92 now

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The Cheeses: Pecorino with black truffle, Truffle brie, truffle honey
Canelle from Bordeaux, Olivogello Ice cream, Chocolates

• 2006 Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  The cellar defender of our dinner and thus came at the end of a long line up and hence palate fatigue played a role when this was served. A very solid wine albeit not to the level of the wines we had before. Good rich fruit, evolving rather well, light smoky at times. A very solid 90

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• 1971 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

  Quite an interesting and special sweet/dessert wine albeit not for all tastes. Like we said before a sweet wine for people who don't really want a sweet wine. On this occasion the wine was light oxidative, light sherry notes, nutty and caramel. Very much alive ad bright and going strong. 90-92

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