Tonight’s dinner was Rustichella di Abruzzi (I sincerely hope they survived the earthquake) porcini fettucine topped with a rich porcini-truffle-parmigiano (the title allowance is way too short) cream sauce. Wine was a 1997 Ridge Sangiovese (83% Sangiovese - 17% Merlot; a serious ‘Super Tuscan’ - style wine) - fill was above the shoulder by just under an inch; the cork was just stained at the bottom end; color on pouring was a clear, bright garnet with a medium orange edge, deepening slightly with time to a darker garnet with a narrow orange edge; earthy nose and flavors of cherries, olives, and soil; light mid-palate of earthy fruit; and a medium long earthy fruit finish. The basic earthiness of the wine was good with the earthy, rich pasta and sauce.
Then for dessert we had a 2006 Virtuoso Late Harvest Malbec from Susana Balbo in Mendoza, sharing a 71% dark chocolate bar from TJ’s as well as our last Flannery chocolates (51%, goes with Syrah).