Getting into the rhythm of things...
So after 1 full month - I’m feeling really optimistic from how the tastings have progressed. I would expect some improvement over this time period but I have noticed other net benefits to my focus as I have had to become more organised to ensure I can actually deliver everything on the days I want to realise my content.
I guess the thing that has caught me quite by surprise is the amount of messages I am getting from people who are enjoying them, finding them educational or who are making requests for wines they would like me to try.
All of this is incredibly heart warming and frankly, the best result I could have hoped for, given the circumstances of the world in utter meltdown mode.
I had a very important person (she know's who she is...) watch the video and their feedback was that it didn’t feel like a 12 minute video. It felt like it paced and ran really nicely, so I am really excited for you all to watch it.
THE WINE
'Sassaiolo'
Rosso Picewno DOC
Terre Monte Schiavo
Marche, Italy
2016
Purchased from Eat17 Hammersmith - £10.00
MY NOTES
Colour: Medium Ruby
Nose: Warm spices hit the nose straight away it’s like your nose is being hugged by the aroma of Nutmeg & Clove. Morello Cherry jam, Black Plum and Violet are there and interchange on the nose playfully, with a the final flourish of Wood and Earthy aromas appearing but are not aggressive or overpowering.
Palate: The Ripe Plum notes are the big hitter with little accents of Cherry, the Violet gives way to more Liquorice and Blackberry notes. There is an herbal quality that is closer in Blackberry leaf than hardier herbs. The tannins are malleable and are softer than I thought this wine would present. The acidity was something I was a little concerned by as I thought on it’s own it might not have the “ooomph” to bring it to life but I was wrong. It sits mid-palate and gives you plenty of return. Lots of woody notes at the end, I would hope for a little leather in years to come but that may be wishful thinking.
Verdict: This is not a £10 wine, it’s robust and full of character. One of my great loves in life is trying wines that I have only a passing knowledge of and then being surprised by them, this certainly ticks the box. Was it lighter than most wines recommended for the kind of cuisine we were eating? Yes! But it more than manages the pairing and actually made the meal feel that touch lighter.
PAIRING
Homemade Lasagne with a Classic Mixed Salad and Olive Oil & Lemon Juice Vinaigrette
In the sense of full disclosure, I this squirrelled away from a large cook off I did 4 weeks ago and had it frozen, ready for the day both TBH and I were in a place where cooking a meal felt like too much work and we had a good bottle of red to enjoy!
Lasagne is one of those foods that crosses borders, generations and political view points with ease, I know of no person in this world who does not enjoy this particular comfort food in whichever form it takes. A true classic for the ages!
It has all the hallmarks of a “5 taste / Umami Bomb” – Caramelised and Slow Cooked Beef, Tomatoes in differing forms (Paste & Tinned), a sauce of Milk, Butter, Cream & Cheese, Hard Umami Rich Parmesan Cheese, Hard Herbs and lots of Seasoning...
All thrown into combination with Pasta that can dull a palate with ease if given half a chance you need a wine that is going to offer balance to this meal...
This does just that - the spice handles the white sauce, the acidity cuts through the richness, the tannins handle the beef mince and the fruit / sweeter flavours compliments the tomatoes and their sourness/bittersweet flavours very well...
You can do a lot worse in this time of Covid-19 and Social Distancing than making a Lasagne, buy this wine and settle into a good movie night...
Just recognise the simplicity of things done well, with little pretence; like this wine and a good Lasagne.
(I appreciate the irony that above statement represents as writing about food the way I do, comes with some level of pretentiousness...)
Say Home, Be Safe and Eat & Drink With Love
All the best
Goose