We started with a tasting at Susan’s Fine Wines where we had: a 2007 Mezza Corona Pinot Grigio - minerality, fruit and crisp acidity, one of the better PGs I’ve had recently; next was an 2006 Argiolas ‘Costamolina’ Vermentino from Sardinia, interestingly higher acidity and less ripeness and complexity than the Tuscan version we had last week. The last white was a Zenato Lugana Trebbiano from the Lake Garda region - more stuffing than most trebbianos I’ve had. Tonight the best white was the rich Pinot Grigio.
The first red was a 2007 George DuBoeuf Cru Morgon - still young, with good strawberry/cherry fruit and potential. Then the wine of the tasting a 2005 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico -good spicy cherry fruit, good balanced acidity, and a nice fruity finish. To finish we has a 2005 Bogle Phantom, a blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Mourvedre, that was more fruity and less tannic than any young Petite Sirah-based wine I’ve had.
Then we headed for home, after picking up a bottle of Badia e Coltibuono Grappa di Sangiovese (wood-aged). On arriving at home, I put together a rich New England-style clam chowder on a windy, overcast, and cool evening with occasional sprinkles; which we enjoyed with a 1999 1er Cru Gagnard-Delagrange Chassagne-Montrachet ‘La Boudriotte’ - dark yellow-gold in color; oaky, spicy fruit in nose and flavors; rich oaky, fruity middle, with low acidity; and a medium long oak, spice, and fruit finish. The richness of the fruit help overcome the deficient acidity.
To finish we had some of the new bottle of Badia e Coltibuono Grappa with a lovely crisp Pink Lady apple, very nice in our den watching TiVo’d programs.