Vin'tij Sandestin Steak and Wine Dinner

Vin'tij Sandestin Steak and Wine Dinner

Visiting The Cove, our Destin (FL) vacation rental, we dined with friends/neighbors Richard and Victoria for dual birthdays at Vin'tij Wine Bar in tony Grand Boulevard in Sandestin. Vin'tij have a carefully curated selection of fine wines available for purchase for take-home, or, for consuming with selections from the menu in the restaurant. 

I wrote about Vin'tij in these earlier blogposts … 

Delightful wine lunch at Vintij Grand Boulevard

Wine tasting at Vin’Tij Grand Boulevard (San)Destin

Vin’Tij SanDestin Food and Wine Dinner

Planning on selecting prime filet beefsteaks for our entree’s, I got there early and spent time reviewing their wines for a dinner accompaniment/pairing. I was seeking a complex red blend, expressive and full flavored, but nicely integrated and polished for pleasurable drinking and pairing with dinner, While they have many producers and labels that we own or know well, I was also ideally seeking a new discovery producer or label. 

Finally, I ended up selecting a label that stepped up and met all the above criteria, and expectations for pairing with dinner, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of both (food and wine).  Richard brought from his home cellar, BYOB a St Julien Bordeaux Blend. Both wines were ideal complements paired with the grilled beefsteaks, ameliorating the enjoyment of both the wines and the food. 

As planned, three of us ordered the grilled filet of beef, each with an individual selection of sides and sauces. 

I ordered my steak prepared ‘Pittsburgh style’, hot pink center with some charring. For sides I selected mashed potatoes and asparagus spears, with lemon caper butter sauce on the side. . 

Richard brought a bottle from his home cellar, a Bordeaux Blend from our favorite appellation, St Julien, another ideal pairing with the dinner. Anticipating, (correctly), that this would be more subdued than the more aggressive Napa Valley label, we opened the Bordeau first and had it decanted. 

Domaine Martin Château Gloria St Julien Bordeaux 2019

The Château Gloria St Julien Bordeaux estate sits on 2-4 rue Marie Amélie, right off the main highway in the village of Beychevelle/St Julien, across the road from the legendary Second Growth Château Ducru Beaucaillou, which is adjacent Château Beychevelle and across the road from Château Branaire Ducru, all properties we visited and toured during our St Julien Bordeaux Experience back in 2019.

Our spectacular week in St Julien included visits to several of our favorite St Julien producers, Second Growths Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou,  Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases,  Gruaud Larose and Léoville-Poyferré, as well as Fourth Growths Château Beychevelle and Château Branaire-Ducru. 

The Domaine Martin estate was established by Henri Martin, who was actually born at nearby Château Gruaud-Larose in 1903 into a family that has been in the wine business for 300 years.

At the end of the 1930s, he made his first acquisition of one hectare of land, the first in a life-long series of vineyard acquisitions from nine classified growths in Saint-Julien and Pauillac. Henri targeted small parcels of exceptional vineyards belonging to estates whose main vineyard holdings were distantly remote thereby making them costly to manage.

Château Gloria was established and developed during the second half of the twentieth century, the name inspired by a neighboring property, The Gloria. By the 1980’s he had collected and assembled 108 acres of vineyards surrounded by plots of famous neighbors with century old historic Grand Crus Classés en 1855.  

The 108 acres of vineyards enjoy the classic St Julien terroir, amongst the best of the appellation. The property is planted with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. With 80-year-old vines and 30-year-old vines, the average age is around 45 years old. 

Over recent years, the property has been upgraded with the latest high tech equipment and a new natural cellar in 2000. The wines are now produced by a team under the direction of Director Jean Triaud, Technical Director Remy Di Constanzio, formerly technical director of Ch. Cos D’Estournel, and Cellar Master Philippe Blanchard. 

While Saint-Julien is the smallest of the major appellations of the Médoc, with 2250 acres of vines, it has the greatest concentration of 1855 classified growths with eleven. 

Château Gloria has become an over-achiever developing wines that provide great QPR (quality price ratios). 

The 2019 release was a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested from September 30th until October 4th, 34% Merlot, harvested from September 23rd until the 25th, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. 

This 2019 release was awarded 96 points by Vinous, 95 by Jane Anson and Jeb Dunnuck,  93-95 by Chris Kissack, 94 by Decanter, James Suckling and Wine Spectator, and 93 by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and the Wine Independent. 

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, polished and elegant, savory blackberry and black currant fruits accented by black olive, crushed rocks, tobacco, graphite, earth and hints of soy and cassis ending in a  long and spicy finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/3661571

https://www.domaines-henri-martin.com/en/brand/chateau-gloria/

We then moved to the Napa red blend … 

Torcia Napa Valley Red Blend 2019

This is from the family owned and managed Rutherford Wine Company who produce a broad portfolio of wines that showcases the diversity of California’s premier growing regions. They produce wines sourced from appellations that include Napa Valley, Arroyo Seco, Lodi and the Central Coast, all wines are finished and bottled at the family’s Napa Valley winery, the old Round Hill Winery on south Silverado Trail in Rutherford, Napa Valley, south of Zinfandel Lane, just north of Rt 128. .

The Rutherford Ranch Winery sits on the site of the original Round Hill Winery that was founded in 1978 by Ernie Van Asperen, Virginia Van Asperen and Charlie Abela. When the Van Asperens retired in 2000, Marko and Theo Zaninovich, long-time shareholders with the Van Asperen family, acquired the winery.I recall having Van Asperan and Abela Cabernets back in the 1990’s. 

The estate vineyards were replanted with superior vines and the winery and tasting room were renovated, sitting amidst the estate’s 100-year-old olive grove.

The broad Rutherford Wine Company portfolio consists of brands Rutherford Ranch, Scott Family Estate, Predator, TORCIA, Rhiannon, the original Round Hill, Four Virtues, Silver Buckle and Lander-Jenkins.

Torcia means ‘Torch,’ lighting the pathway of our senses and the search for excellence. This Napa Red Blend is crafted by Rutherford Wine Company, operated across multiple generations by the Zaninovich Family.  

The Torcia brand consists of a single vineyard Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines crafted from six appellations throughout the Napa Valley – Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain, Coombsville, Rutherford and Carneros.

Winemaker’s notes - “This Torcia Red Blend Napa Valley is a bold and expressive red wine from California. It features flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, and a hint of spice, with firm tannins and a long, smooth finish. This red blend pairs well with grilled meats, hearty stews, and aged cheeses. Serve at room temperature to enjoy its rich and complex profile.’

“This red wine has an intense and vibrant purple hue with notes of anise, Luxardo cherries, fresh lavender and other floral notes. Savory flavors mingle with hints of graphite, dried fig and candied plums. Youthful tannins dance on the palate giving lively, electric texture perfect for drinking now or for aging.”

The composition of this blend is 55% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 16% Petite Sirah and some Malbec and Petit Verdot. It was aged in French and American oak.

This release was awarded 96 Points by The Tasting Panel Magazine, 92 Points by Jeb Dunnuck, and 90 Points by Wine and Spirits Magazine.

Bright purple ruby colored, full bodied, firmly structured, full, round, forward, vibrant on the verge of being slightly obtuse, black berry and black cherry fruits with notes of spicy cinnamon, bsking spices, black tea, slate, cedar and hints of cardaman and white pepper with chewy firm tannins on the long bright finish. 

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4346021

https://rutherfordwine.com/torcia/

https://rutherfordranch.com/

https://vintij.com/

SoWal Wine Festival Sandestin

SoWal (South Walton Beaches) Food & Wine Festival - Sandestin (FL)

Once again we attended the SoWal (South Walton Beaches) Food and Wine Festival - a four-day extravaganza with winemakers, distillers, and mixologists alongside culinary bites by South Walton’s best chefs. More than seventy booths/tables poured over six hundred different labels. 

This was the 39th year for the festival, held again at the Grand Boulevard Center in Sandestin. Once again the festival events spanned four evenings/afternoons of wine, craft brews and distilled spirits with accompanying culinary treats.

Of course, in addition to the food and wine tasting tents on the streets and common areas of Grand Boulevard was the grand Charity Auction in the main tent. 

There was also live music by Nashville Singer Songwriters provided by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, featuring Aaron Barker, Bridgette Tatum, Clint Daniels, and Dylan Altman, 

Proceeds from the gala South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival weekend support Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, benefiting children in need in Northwest Florida.

To take it all in, capture all three days of the wine festival, Friday through Sunday via the VIP access ticket that includes Bitters, Brews & Bartenders, VIP Tasting, and both Saturday & Sunday Grand Tastings. This ticket excludes Winemakers & Shakers, which is held Thursday evening at Chan’s Wine World Wine Bar in Destin. 

Our Pour Boys wine group came to town and attended the entire weekend event two years ago, featured in these pages in this blogpost - Pour Boys gather for SoWal Wine Festival.

This year’s event seemed to have fewer wine producers as a percentage of booths of wines, beers and distilled spirits, as we focused on the wines served by producers, winemakers, distributors or retail representatives. Perhaps it’s because we missed the VIP tasting on the Friday night. 

There was also a tent featuring food specialities, paired with the featured wines… 

This year there was a special focus on wineries from Oregon’s Willamette Valley Wineries Association with a dedicated tent of a dozen producers pouring over sixty wines.

Being primarily Bordeaux varietal enthusiasts, we found several favorite producers and select labels, although they were a small fraction of the overall event participants. 

Some of the highlights of the producers met and their wines tasted .. and my WOTN (Wine of the Night) candidates … 

Fisher Vineyards featured a vintage selection of their Sonoma County Fisher Coach Insignia Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, a label we know well and hold in our cellar going back more than two decades. This is the label that pays homage to the family legacy of the Fisher Coach manufacturing company that was a major supplier to General Motors automobiles. 

 

Titus Vineyards poured Titus Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 was served by the producer winemaker Eric Titus. I always appreciate the effort expanded by these folks given the vast number of events per year and the demands on their time running the business, and producing the product over and above marketing and evangelism. 

 

Often, producer’s will pour special offerings typically only available through them directly, at the winery, or through their on-line club offerings. Here is a selection from Whitehall Lane, Napa Valley, and one such label which we acquired to compare with a couple of their exclusive labels that we discovered and acquired at the winery during a visit - Whitehall Lane Cellars Winery Visit and Tasting. It was fun meeting Ashley Lehr of Whitehall Lane Vineyards, St Helena, who is based in Naples and serves a common acquaintance Wine Director friend down there. 

Two labels we missed, perhaps because they weren’t showcased to the general audience, but would’ve been key selections had we known, from producers and labels we know well,  were discovered in the retail pavilion after the event -  

Caymus Special Select from Napa Valley and Tignanello, the original super Tuscan, from two legendary producers - both labels that we hold, but have not tasted from the most recent 2023 vintage being featured.  Perhaps these were served during the VIP tasting which we missed.  

A surprise producer and label represented, due to the rare appearance of Rhône valley selections was from a favorite producer, whose labels we hold several vintages dating back several decades - Chateau Beaurenard of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This was served by distributor Wilson Daniels. 

This prompted us to serve a rare vintage selection of their flagship label, from our son’s birth year vintage, at a family dinner, the following weekend back at home.

Chateau Boisrenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1990 

The selections featured large global/national brands, as well as smaller boutique individual and family producers. 

One of our favorite labels that we hold in our cellar dating back two decades, the legendary …

Domaine Serene pouring their flagship Willamette Valley Evenstad Reserve 2023. 

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and lost in all the producers and the vast number of labels being poured, in many case five or six by a single producer, so its important to focus, and be selective in what you’re tasting. It’s more than anyone can really take in in one day, lest succumb to ‘pallete fatigue’. To do it justice requires two or three days, and preparation and planning, if you’re so inclined. 

And of course the complimentary food specialties … 

Great fun for any enthusiast … or casual fan …. for an afternoon, or a weekend! 

SoWal Festival Guide …

@unwindwine 

@SoWalWINE 

@TitusVyds 

@SereneWine 

@ChansWineWorld 

@caymuscab 

@Whitehalllane

Delightful wine lunch at Vintij Grand Boulevard

Visiting The Cove, our Destin, FL vacation rental home, we had a delightful wine lunch at Vintij Wine Bar at Grand Boulevard shopping center in Sandestin, one of favorite outings we try to take in every trip. 

We had a delightful lunch sitting outside on the patio at Vin’tij Wine Bar in the tony Grand Boulevard shopping center, where you can purchase a bottle and enjoy with small bites, lunch or dinner. 

I wrote about Vin’tij and their extensive wine shop selection in this blogpost last autumn - Wine tasting at Vin’Tij Grand Boulevard (San)Destin.

Before lunch we had the delicious Bread Basket with olive oil, Roasted Garlic, Marinated Olives, Roasted Red Peppers, Fresh Basil and Parmesan Cheese.

For lunch, Linda order the Seared Ahi Tuna with marinated cucumber Marinated Cucumber Salad, Sriracha Kewpie Mayonnaise, Chili Oil & Ponzu.

I order the Mango Ginger Salmon with stir fried vegetable cous-cous. It was delicious, as good as any salmon entree I’ve ever encountered. 

We purchased in the wineshop this Napa Valley Chardonnay from a favored producer we know well. 

Pride Mountain Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023 

Pride Mountain Vineyards sits high atop Spring Mountain, above St Helena at 2,100 feet, at the mountain summit above the town of St Helena in the Mayacamas Range that forms the western wall of Napa Valley. 

Pride is one of two Napa/Sonoma Valley producers whose vineyards span the summit which is the border between Napa and Sonoma Valleys. 

While this wine is sourced from Napa Valley and therefore labeled as such, some Pride labels are designated Napa/Sonoma Valley. The other producer is Constant Vineyards, high atop Diamond Mountain, at the north end of the Mayacamas range.

We own several vintages of Pride Napa Valley wines, mostly reds, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

We visited the Pride Mountain Vineyards high atop Spring Mountain back in 1999 and 2000 when we tasted and acquired a case of their wines.

The vineyards and wine production date back to 1869 according to archived records. The original structure was destroyed by fire after Prohibition. Pride Mountain Vineyards built the current building as part of a complete renovation of their estate in 1997.

Due to the property's unique location at the summit, atop the mountain straddling Napa Valley to the east, and Sonoma Valley to the west, the winery is required to maintain two separate facilities, one in Napa and the other in Sonoma. The property line is divided down the center of the crush pad.

As mentioned above, Pride Mountain Vineyards labels may be designated Napa Valley, Sonoma County or both, depending on the source of the blend. Pride Mountain Vineyards brands their estate, "One Ranch, Two Counties."

Pride Mountain Vineyards consists of three vineyards totaling 235 acres on Spring Mountain in the Mayacamas mountain range that separates the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Their distinctive terroir with their high elevation includes soil of volcanic rocks, gravel loam and stones along with some clay. There they grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Petit Sirah, Chardonnay and Viognier in 40 different blocks produced in fifty lots of wines that varies from vintage to vintage.

This wine is 100% Chardonnay, sourced from multiple vineyard sites, produced mainly from purchased fruit, primarily from Carneros, 30% of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation. It was aged in 90% Neutral Oak and 10% New French Oak. Production of this release was 2617 cases.

James Suckling on JamesSuckling.com rating this release 95 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it 92 points, Antonio Galloni of Vinous rated it 91, and Jeb Dunnuck gave it 90 points. 

Winemaker notes - “The 2023 Pride Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay is a beautiful, generous expression of Napa Valley fruit at its freshest and finest. The 2023 growing season was long and even, which layered in profound complexity to this wine. Overflowing with aromas of juicy pear and nectarines, the first sip is dominated by mouthwatering minerality, balanced by a delightful salinity, and accented by an intriguing touch of lime zest. While this wine is perfect for pairing with Thanksgiving dinner or fresh Dungeness crab, it will equally captivate you when enjoying a glass or two on its own.”

Pale golden straw colored, medium-bodied, nice ‘balance between power and finesse’, bright, ‘focused and quite steely’, notes of citrus fruits with hints of pear and orange blossom, white flowers and bit of cinnamon with bright acidity on the lingering finish. 

RM 91 points 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/5146159

https://www.pridewines.com/wine/our-wines/pride-chardonnay/2023-chardonnay/

https://www.pridewines.com/

Vin’Tij SanDestin Food and Wine Dinner

Vin’Tij SanDestin Food and Wine Dinner 

After a fun-filled afternoon of wine paired with foods at Vin’Tij Food & Wine, we booked a table for a follow-on Saturday night dinner. I wrote about that wine tasting in this blogpost - Wine tasting at Vin’Tij Grand Boulevard (San)Destin.

The plan was to drink BYOB one of the ultra-premium bottles we purchased in the Vin’Tij Wine Boutique for the occasion.

I write often in these pages about the price charged by restaurants for their wines, often expressed as a function of the retail price of the wine. It is customary that a restaurant charges 2 times the retail price of a wine. Often the restaurant price is 2.5 times or more. 

Establishments that combine a restaurant with a wine retailer provide the best and most economical scenario for the consumer whereby the restaurant price equals near the retail price - a 1:1 ratio. In this scenario, the restaurant is relying solely on the gross margin uplift between the wholesale price paid and the retail price charged the diner. 

Two such establishments exist in Destin, Vin’Tij and also Chan’s Wine World that is connected to and associated with the adjoining Wine Bar restaurants. Diners seeking a food and wine experience can leverage these policies for great value dining. And, they can take the opportunity to upgrade their wine choices with higher premium or ultra-premium wines they otherwise not be able to afford or justify for wine experimentation or appreciation!   

For our Saturday Night Vint’Tij dinner, we were joined by Richard and Victoria, friends and neighbors in our Destin residential community. 

Planning to order grilled beefsteaks for our entrees, I took BYOB a Washington State Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend from Force Majeure. 

This is from Force Majeure Vineyards, originally called Grand Reve, founded in Woodinville, near Seattle, in 2004, a collaboration between businessman Paul McBride and vineyard manager Ryan Johnson who spent a decade managing vineyards in Eastern Washington’s prestigious Red Mountain AVA. 

McBride and his wife Susan then changed the winery name to Force Majeure, and hired winemaker Todd Alexander to oversee winemaking. Alexander was previously winemaker at Bryant Family Vineyard in Napa Valley. 

Jeb Dunnick of Wine Advocate has called Force Majeure “One of my favorite estates in Washington…”

We tasted and acquired this wine during our Force Majeure Vineyards Site Visit and Tasting back in 2018 as featured in these pages, and excerpted below.

One of the inspirations for and objectives of that Walla Walla Wine Experience 2018 was to visit Force Majeure vineyards. We first met Force Majeure winemaker Todd Alexander and marketing, distribution and branding exec Carrie Alexander during the Chicago stop of their promotion tour in 2016 when we hosted them at Italian Village in Chicago. Since then we've acquired a respectable collection of Force Majeure wines, hence, they were one of our shortlist priority visits when we planned our Washington State, Columbia Valley wine trip.

Force Majeure Carrie Alexander and Linda

Following our Woodinville (Washington) tasting experience where we tasted several fabulous  Red Mountain AVA wines, we were targeting there for our first Washington State wine appellation visit. Carrie convinced us to visit Walla Walla and we followed her guidance and were amply rewarded as it was a spectacular wine travel experience. Our Walla Walla AVA visit provided the opportunity to visit a vibrant wine region, meet some legendary winemakers on the Washington wine scene, and still experience the best of Red Mountain appellation wines as well!

Force Majeure have vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA where they grow Rhone varietals on the upper slopes and Bordeaux varietals on the lower blocks of the site. According to Carrie, the varietal blocks are based on the selection and matching of the grape varieties to the appropriate soil composition in the eight different soil types on the site.

The Red Mountain site was the very first vineyard on the steep, rocky upper slopes of Red Mountain. Developing the Red Mountain estate vineyards involved carefully matching varietal and clonal selections and vineyard trellising and irrigation to the eight distinct soil types in the vineyard.

The site was formed by the ancient Missoula floods, winds and volcanic activity resulting in many small “micro-blocks,” each uniquely suited to specific grape varietals. The rocky upper-slope with shallow soil is well suited to the cultivation of Rhone varietals such as Syrah and Grenache, while the lower blocks of the vineyard are comprised of deep, well-drained Warden soils, where Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc excel.

This Force Majeure Épinette Right Bank Bordeaux style blend was a perfect complement to our aged prime steak dinner, including my perfectly prepared 'Pittsburgh' style, served with mashed potatoes, haricot verts and mushroom Bordelaise sauce. 

Force Majeure Épinette Columbia Valley Red Mountain Red Blend 2015

Épinette is Force Majeure's Right-bank Bordeaux-inspired blend, and was named after an avenue in Libourne that leads to Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, the home of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Épinette is also the name of a musical instrument akin to a piano, as well as a word for pine tree, which is a fitting nod to the locale's in Washington state.

Épinette is a Bordeaux blend in the 'Right Bank' style meaning it is primarily Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

The blend for this 2014 vintage was 58%  Merlot,  22%  Cabernet Franc 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remaining 5% Petit Verdot.

The Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grown in the lower areas of the Red Mountain vineyard with its  deep, well-drained soils. The wine was aged for approximately 22 months in mostly new French oak.

It was rated 94 points by Jeb Dunnuck, 93-95 points by The Wine Advocate, 92 by Stephen Tanzer and 90 points by Wine Spectator.

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, bright vibrant forward dense black berry, ripe black raspberry and black current fruits with notes of cigar box, earthy leather, anise, graphite and spicy oak and hints of dark mocha chocolate with gripping but approachable silky tannins on the lingering finish. 

RM 94 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4507644

https://forcemajeurevineyards.com/

https://vintij.com/

BYOB at Tuscany Bistro Sandestin Miramar Beach

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.

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. 

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. 

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."

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.

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. 

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.

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