Meeting 424 - -"Wines from N. Italy and Slovenia"
Friday 24th May 2019 Neville Hall, Waltham St Lawrence
In May we welcomed a regular visitor, Simon Taylor from Stone, Vine & Sun.
Simon's theme was Northern Italy and Slovenia and the wines he was presenting covered a more than 300-mile band running
from Piedmont in the West to the Vipava Valley in Slovenia in the East. Simon provided a host of interesting information,
although for obvious reasons he concentrated on the less well known regions and wines of Slovenia .
The two whites from that country were a Sauvignonasse, formerly known as Tocai Friulano, from the Zanut estate in Gorika Brda,
and a very appealing blend of (predominantly) Malvazija (50%), Rebula (Italian Ribolla Gialla) and Zelen,
made by Pasji Rep in the Vipava Valley; lightly oaked and with six days skin contact, this was described by
Simon as a "semi-orange wine".
On the Italian side of the equation, the highlights were an excellent
Soave Classico (100% Garganega) from Corte Mainenti and two high scoring reds, a Valpolicella Ripasso from
Begali and a Barolo from Boasso in the Serralunga d'Alba district.
The two red wines achieved an average score of 8.5,
just ahead of a Slovenian Pinot Noir from Pasji Rep, which scored 8 and was a classic European rather than New Zealand style,
if with more body than many Burgundian Pinot Noirs.
Mark had prepared a few antipasti to accompany the wines,
and for the meal he cooked a venison and mushroom ragł with polenta, followed by a classic Italian tiramisł.
(Ian Roe)
| Aperitif: Drusian (Italy), Rose Mari. Spumante Rosato. Extra Dry NV. (12%) | 13.50 | 7 |
| The Whites
(1) Michele Taliano (Italy, Serni, Arneis. 2017 (13.5%) |
11.16 | 6+ |
| (2) Corte Mainemi (Italy),Tovo al Pigno. Soave Classico. 2017 (12.5%) | 11.81 | 7+ |
| (3) Zanut (Slovenia), Goriska Brda 2016 (13.5) | 16.44 | 7+ |
| (4) Pasji Rep (Slovenia), Jebatscin. Vipavska Dolina 2016 (13%) | 16.58 | 7 |
| The Reds
(5) Michele Taliano (Italy), Ciabot,Dolcetto d'Alba. 2017 (1.5%) |
10.94 | 6+ |
| (6) Pasji Rep (Slovenia), Pinot Noir Vipavska Dolina 2016 (14%) | 18.33 | 8 |
| (7) Begali (Italy), La Cengia, Valpolicello Rpiasso 2016 (14%) | 13+ | 8+ |
| (8) Boasso (Itally) Barolo Serralunga d'Alba 2012 (14%) | 26+ | 8+ |
| The supper wine : Michele Talianop (Italy), A Bon Renre. Barbera d'Alba 2017(13%) | 11.33 |
** Price to Members