Talula's Table with Bob Hughes and Rich Trimpi

WINE TALK
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Talula’s Table with a few Berserkers (Bob Hughes and Rich Trimpi)

Talula’s Table, Kennett Square, PA
Tasted Saturday, September 28, 2013 by Outplaying with 16 views (Edit, Publish)


Introduction


We had a nice time meeting up with a few fellow wine berserkers at the chef’s table in the kitchen at Talula’s. While the others knew each other, it was our first time meeting the group. The food and wines were great, though the pairings were pretty difficult. Thanks to Bob H. for putting this together and to the group for their generosity and hospitality.

Unfortunately my notes were very brief.



2012 Château Graville-Lacoste Blanc

France, Bordeaux, Graves

Citrus, lime, lemon zest, softer than I expected with medium acid. Added some richness as it warmed. This was really good and I’m finding I prefer the white bordeaux’s with high levels of semillon.

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2008 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest

France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

Salinity, briney, tart apple and citrus, some earthy, flinty mineral. After warming a little fennel on the nose. Needs a lot more time.

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2005 Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein Uhlen Riesling “L” Laubach

Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Some petrol on the nose but not offensive. Oilier feel and Heavier bodied than the other whites, with riper, more tropical fruit. Pretty good acid balance. Enjoyed this, even with the petrol notes that I generally don’t prefer.

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2011 Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato Sicilia IGT

Italy, Sicily, Sicilia IGT

This was interesting. Sanguine, sweet-tart, ripe red fruits, almost candied, with orange rind acidity, some earthy lava like notes. Despite the ripeness, there is a lot of acidity.

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1998 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d’Alba

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

Rusty, browning color. Tons of sediment. Really nice aged Nebbiolo. Smells wonderful. A little leather, mint. Great acid.

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1998 Mauro Veglio Barolo Arborina

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

My notes were unfortunately pretty brief on this one. I think it got lost between the excellent Giacosa Falletto and the younger more tannic 99 Pira y Figli Cannubi. Slight tobacco, softer, less tannic and more fruity than the Cannubi.

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1999 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Cannubi

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

The cork was soaked completly through to the top and there was some brown funk under the capsule. More tannic, and leaner than the Giacosa Falltto and Veglio Arborina. Red fruits, slight mint, very dry, some orange peel. A little lighter in weight too. I have one left that I will sit on for a few more years.

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2006 Ferrandes Passito di Pantelleria

Italy, Sicily, Passito di Pantelleria

Floral nose with some spice, orange, spearmint, apricot, honeysuckle, bright acidity, dark honey, brown sugar. Very enjoyable and notable for the brightness and acidity. This is not cloying.

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Nice Job Jeff. You’ll get the hang of cellartracker posts with a little practice, not that I have any idea how to do it. Very nice to meet you and your wife.

The starter was a 2004 Corbon BdB Brut “B”, Avize GC Champagne. Expressive fruit with tons of apples and pears. Enjoyable attack. It could use a little more weight and depth. Maybe time will help that.

I typed notes for about 30 minutes and proceeded to lose them by clicking the wrong browser tabs…I’ll comment briefly:

2012 Graves Blanc - Fine value for $15 - $18. Drinking quite well with attractive yellow fruit (not tropical) and not too much grassiness
2008 Dauvissat Forest (whoops, not “Champagne”) Chablis - Great potential, tight and bit of a guilty pleasure killing it off so young. All the parts are there. Needs 5, or better 10 years
2005 Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling - Too much petrol. Nice richness, length and intensity
2011 Occhipinti Frappato - Been a fav for several months (years for the bottling in general). Still is. Baking spiced red fruit. Sleek mid-weight demeanor. Very approachable.
1998 Giacosa Faletto Barolo - Pruney? = No way. Advanced?..well yes but that means it’s in to a peak window. Classy, beautiful wine. Wanted more, after it was long kicked. WOTN.
1998 Mauro Veglio Arborina Barolo = Modern, Brash, Young…not really my style of Barolo, maybe 10 - 15 more years?
1999 Pira & Figli Cannubi Barolo = Modern, Young, Big Fruit and Oaked like mad. Not really my style of wine.
2006 Ferrandes Passito Pantelleria = Fit the bill just right as a “better than Moscatel” substitute. Caramel and subdued muscat fruit. Enough acidity (essential IMHO). Quite nice

Great meal at Talula’s kitchen table. Yet again. Thanks to Bob for pulling it all together.

RT

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Because of the tasting menu format, I think this has become one of my favorite places to dine at in the Delaware Valley. That said, as Jeff already mentioned, while the courses were once again very interesting, for the first time I’d have to say there were several courses that presented difficult wine & food pairings - the smoked kale & chevre soup being the first one that comes to mind.

I’m usually a champagne agnostic, but did enjoy the opening bubbly quite a bit. I also liked that German riesling a lot as well - and my only criticism in that regard was not enough petrol [cheers.gif] .

The Giacosa was much better than a bottle I had tried the previous week - as Rich says, surprisingly accessible (and in that regard, similar to the Bartolo Mascarello and Guiseppe Mascarello Monprivato from the same vintage), although I’m still not convinced that it isn’t also capable of enjoying a lengthy stay on it’s drinking plateau. Have to admit that the apparent bottle variation is a concern, though.

Dauvissat has it all, albeit as Rich pointed out, this is a wine where you need to run the premox risk, because it does need more time.

And this was the first time I’ve ever tried a wine from the island of Pantelleria - or for that matter even knew there was an island of Pantelleria [wow.gif] .

Best thing about dinner, though, was making the face-to-face acquaintance of yet another Berserker (not to mention his much better half)! Hopefully not the last time we “consume” with the local branch of the Vaughn familiy.

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Try as I might, I can’t find this one on WineSearcher. I’m very intrigued with the idea of a Dauvissat-produced Champagne & I want some! champagne.gif

Sounds like a fun night with some really interesting wines. Thanks for posting notes!

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Bet it would be delicious. Whoops.

RT

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Bob, it was a lot of fun meeting some fellow wine geeks from the area. We hope to break bread together again!