BYOB at Tuscany Italian Bistro Sandestin Miramar Beach
During a week to The Destiny East Cove, our Destin, FL vacation rental, we dined with friends/neighbors Richard and Vickie at their regular go-to dining spot, Tuscany Italian Bistro in the Sandestin. We took BYOB from our home cellar an ultra-premium Tuscan wine for the occasion.
I had the daily special, Osso Bucco with Papardelle pasta which was delicious and an ideal pairing with the big red Tuscan wine.
The other highlights of the evening were the lamb chops and the lasagna.
Vicki had her go-to favorite dish, and Chef/Proprietor Guglielmo's Favorite too! - LAMB ALLA TOSCANA New Zealand lamb chops, rosemary, garlic demi-glace, vegetable of the day …
The LASAGNA AL FORNO is a house specialty - Bolognese, ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese …
I first wine was this classic big red blend I brought BYOB from our home cellar.
Rivetti Pin La Spinetta Castagnole Monferrato 2005
This is the last of a half case I acquired of this label nearly two decades ago. I wrote about this wine at ten years in this blogpost, Rivetti Pin La Spinetta Castagnole Monferrato with Spaghetti, excerpted below, and previously - Rivetti Pin La Spinetta Castagnole Monferrato 2005.
Rivetti Pin La Spinetta Castagnole Monferrato 2005
This is the last of a half case I acquired of this label nearly two decades ago. I wrote about this wine at ten years in this blogpost, Rivetti Pin La Spinetta Castagnole Monferrato with Spaghetti, excerpted below, and previously - Rivetti Pin La Spinetta Castagnole Monferrato 2005.
Tonight, at twenty years this was drinking well, showing no signs whatsoever of diminution from aging. The foil, label, and most importantly, the fill level and cork were still in ideal condition, If I had more, it would continue to age gracefully and drink well for a half decade or more.
This classic Italian red blend is from La Spinetta, who produce a broad portfolio of premium Piedmont and Tuscan wines from traditional varietals in a new world style and flair. This 'Pin' label is named after the nickname of Giuseppe Rivetti, the patriarch of the family and father of the current producer Giorgio, of the estate La Spinetta, which means 'top of the hill', in Castagnole Lanze in the northern Italian region of Tuscany.
The family first purchased 70 hectares of Moscato and Barbera d'Asti vineyards in 1977 and have continued to expand operations through expansion and development since.
Today, Giuseppe's children — Carlo, Bruno, Giorgio and Giovanna have since taken over the family business, with Giorgio leading, assisted by elder sister Giovanna who is in charge of vineyard production.
Rivetti produced their first red Barbera Cà di Pian in 1985. The first release of Pin occurred in 1989, a blend of 50 percent Nebbiolo, 25 percent Barbera and 25 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. which was revolutionary at that time.
In 1985 they produced their first Barbaresco followed by Gallina in 1995 and their first Barolo Campè in 2000. In 2001, La Spinetta acquired 65 additional hectares of vineyards in Tuscany where today they produce three different 100% Sangiovese wines.
Today, Giuseppe's children — Carlo, Bruno, Giorgio and Giovanna have since taken over the family business, with Giorgio leading, assisted by elder sister Giovanna who is in charge of vineyard production.
Rivetti produced their first red Barbera Cà di Pian in 1985. The first release of Pin occurred in 1989, a blend of 50 percent Nebbiolo, 25 percent Barbera and 25 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. which was revolutionary at that time.
In 1985 they produced their first Barbaresco followed by Gallina in 1995 and their first Barolo Campè in 2000. In 2001, La Spinetta acquired 65 additional hectares of vineyards in Tuscany where today they produce three different 100% Sangiovese wines.
The Rivetti brand has grown internationally and today is well known, identified by their distinctive labels featuring a burly rhinoceros, which the Rivetti siblings say signifies quality.
Origins of the unique wildlife logo illustration come from an ancient woodcut by historic German artist, Albrecht Dürer, who prepared his drawings and woodcut from descriptions and sketches of a rhinoceros gifted to the king of Portugal from India. It was the first animal of its kind in Europe.
Origins of the unique wildlife logo illustration come from an ancient woodcut by historic German artist, Albrecht Dürer, who prepared his drawings and woodcut from descriptions and sketches of a rhinoceros gifted to the king of Portugal from India. It was the first animal of its kind in Europe.
The Rivettis lament that they fell in love with this ancient wood cut print and the legend behind it. Giorgio Rivetti expressed his great admiration of the celebrated drawing and woodcut. but has downplayed the connection between this animal and the brand.
Also depicted on the bottles of La Spinetta’s first Barolo Campè vintage, is a pencil drawing of a lion by Dürer, since Barolo is commonly known as the king of Italian reds. The legend continues. Pin Castagnole, Neive, Barbaresco Monferrato Rosso DOC 2005
This is a blend of 65% Nebbiolo, and 35% Barbera d’Asti Superiore Bionzo. Barbera and Nebbiolo are the two marquee red wine grapes of northwest Italy. They are often blended together in Piedmont to create modern style wines for the international palate.
Nebbiolo, the powerful majestic grape of Barolo and Barbaresco, is blended with Barbera to be more approachable and smoother and balanced, and drinkable at an earlier age. Barbera adds cherry flavors to Nebbiolo’s distinctive strawberry, and the high acidity of both ensure the wine is fresh and rarely flabby.
When we tasted this back in 2016, I wrote, "As good as this was with the pasta and peas with vodka cream sauce, it was even better the following evening with char-grilled Pittsburgh style strip steak, asparagus and baked potato."
When we tasted this back in 2016, I wrote, "As good as this was with the pasta and peas with vodka cream sauce, it was even better the following evening with char-grilled Pittsburgh style strip steak, asparagus and baked potato."
In our previous tasting of this label, at eighteen years, the fill level, label, cork and foil were in ideal condition. At this age, this may be at its peak, the apex of its drinking window, but it certainly has another decade of life yet, but I can't imagine it will improve further from aging.
Fortunately we bought a half dozen bottles when we acquired this back in 2010. That initial review, I rated it much lower and said "Dark purple color - Dense full bodied - ripe black fruits, with a slight edge and layer of cassis and subtle tar with a firm tannin finish. Might soften and settle with time." It certainly did benefit from another six years of aging in the bottle.
Tonight's tasting was totally consistent with that last review in 2016. I'll look forward to trying the last bottle, perhaps five years from now, or beyond. I wish I had more!
This was dark blackish garnet colored, medium to full bodied, and was remarkably smooth, well balanced and polished. Bouquet and flavors are full forward complex black raspberry, black berry fruits punctuated by tones of oak, cedar, hints of earthy cassis and tar turning to silky smooth polished tannins with an elegant persistent finish.
RM 92 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=395355
http://www.la-spinetta.com/
@LaSpinettaItaly
The La Spinetta Library …
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2016/11/rivetti-pin-la-spinetta-castagnole.html
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=395355
For a second wine pairing with dinner, Richard ordered from the wine list this hearty Barolo.
Damilano Lecinguerigne Barolo 2018
Damilano wine company is one of the oldest wineries in Barolo dating back to 1890.
The family business was started by Giuseppe Borgogno who cultivated and produced his own wine from the estate vineyards rising to one of the more prestigious labels in the Langhe area.
Guiseppe Borgogno was the great-grandfather of the current owners. The tradition was kept up by Giacomo Damilano, the founder’s son-in-law, together with his children.
In 1997 Giuseppe passed the winery on to his grandchildren Paolo, Mario and Guido who build on his legacy of their forefathers’ land producing the highest quality Damilano wines.
Driving on the Alba-Barolo county road, towards Alba, the winery is located at about 1.5 km from Barolo about on par with La Morra. The estate underwent a major renovation and is now features contemporary and functional architecture.
The vineyards, partly owned and partly leased, are situated in the most famous crus of the Langa region: Cannubi, Liste, Fossati, and Brunate, which are almost entirely cultivated with Nebbiolo da Barolo, and to a lesser extent, with Dolcetto and Barbera varietals.
The vineyards, partly owned and partly leased, are situated in the most famous crus of the Langa region: Cannubi, Liste, Fossati, and Brunate, which are almost entirely cultivated with Nebbiolo da Barolo, and to a lesser extent, with Dolcetto and Barbera varietals.
Damilano "Lecinquevigne" Barolo 2018
“Lecinquevigne" is a blend of 100% Nebbiolo, sourced from grapes from five premier vineyard sites in the Piedmontese municipalities of Brunate, Liste, Cerequio, Cannubi and Raviole. The south-east exposure facing vineyards represent the most suitable areas for the production of Nebbiolo. Crafting wine sourced from multiple vineyards allows for the incorporation of the terroir’ distinctive qualities of the calcareous-clay soil, climate and exposure to be incorporated into the wine.
Winemaker Notes - Ruby red in color with orange reflections. An intense bouquet, with tertiary notes of rose, leather, tobacco and emerging notes of violet and tar. The palate is ample and embracing, with prevailing impressions of a soft, persistent long finish.
This release was rated 92 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Wine & Spirits and James Suckling, and 91 by Wine Spectator.
This release was rated 92 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Wine & Spirits and James Suckling, and 91 by Wine Spectator.
Bright ruby colored, medium bodied, smooth, approachable dark cherry and black berry fruits with accents of rose, cedar, smoke and spice with tight, fine tannins and a focused finish.
RM 91 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4376521
https://tuscanybistrodestin.com/
