Old Favorites and Time to Reflect

Nov 07

Old Favorites and Time to Reflect

As we returned home from our trip to California wine country, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a place like the Willamette Valley and even though it was fun to see some old friends, and find some new favorites, it was great to get back home.

After being on the road for a while, it was relaxing to get into the kitchen. One of the things that make this area so fabulous is the availability of ingredients to make practically anything. I was thinking something Italian and had a dish in mind. So I pulled out and old favorite of mine, the Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rufina 2005. I had not tasted this wine in a while and sort of swore off Sangiovese for a few months. It’s really a wonderful thing when you stay away from a particular varietal for a while and when you do try one, you find a fabulous wine that hits all the notes and impresses beyond your expectations. I got a little spoiled with a Sangiovese last year that I can no longer get so rather than be

disappointed, I’ve just not bought any for a while now and that included Chianti’s, not even an old favorite like Selvapiana.

I have tasted this wine before and I’ve always been more than satisfied. I can’t say past vintages have impressed me as much as this one has - this one really blew me away. The wine is a Leonardo Locassio selection and his reputation for bringing great Italian wines to the USA is equal to Kermit Lynch’s ability to find great French wines. The blend is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo and the aromas started with bright cranberry, cherry notes a hint of 5-spice powder and earthiness like you smell right before it rains. The medium-body stretches to almost full-bodied while the strength of the balance in its flavor brings home the bacon making this Chianti an excellent wine for almost anytime.

The texture in the mouth is dense and concentrated. The flavor profile of Italian cherry, leather, cedar and caramel apple dances on the tongue and the walls of your mouth as this wine fills your sensory receptors with delight. The finish is just long enough to let the wine cleanse your palate and get you ready for your next bite so you can repeat the process. I served this with a dish that I recreated after a wonderful meal I had last week down in Healdsburg at Bistro Ralph (Great job Mr. Tingle). The dish was a duck confit raviolo served with white wine butter sauce with fresh oregano and a hint of citrus. It paired beautifully. You will be hard pressed to find a Chianti that will compete with this one.

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6 Responses to “Old Favorites and Time to Reflect”

dhonig Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Great review. It is a real tragedy that so many people’s first, and last, experience with chianti involves straw baskets and bottles made more for candles than wine.

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Randy Caparoso Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Absolutely delicious (ravioli *and* Chianti) report, Pamela! Yesterday I enjoyed an ‘05 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva, and thought that was the best one (luscious, concentrated, finely textured) I’ve had in years from that estate. So little time, so many wonderful wines and foods!
Mitch Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Great review. I love Chianti wines and that ravioli sounds awesome!
enobytes Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Sounds like a wonderful wine Randy, I don’t think I’ve had that one. You know, I’m really looking forward to the ‘07 Chianti’s coming out – they should be pretty good!

~Pamela
enobytes Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Dhonig, thanks for the comments. Funny you should mention straw basket Chianti for it has a special place for me in my wine education. While I was working for the Robilio family in Memphis back in the day (’70s) I had the pleasure of tasting many straw basket chiantis. I never thought much of the wine and wondered why so many people put such emphasis on red wine. Then I tasted a 1954 Pio Cesare Barolo, which was an eye opening experience and a landmark wine. I was only privy to this wine because another restaurateur had come to visit. As I tasted the prolific wine, I asked for a refill and was rebuffed as the restaurateur bellowed out, “Hey the kid likes the good stuff, give him some more!”.

~Marc
Keith Says:
November 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I forgot all about straw basket Chianti! I think I’ll buy one for ‘ol times sake. I can already hear Barbara Streisand singing “Memories” in the background.