A Small Taste of Heaven

If forced to pick my desert island grape there would have to be some very serious consideration given to Nebbiolo.  It took two days and two good meals to drink the latest bottle, a 2004 Gianfranco Alessandria Langhe Nebbiolo from the 2004 vintage.

The first evening it was reticent and closed, only opening up after about thirty minutes.  Pale red in the glass this definitely was cherries and flowers and earth in the nose.  The taste was that unique aspect that a good Nebbiolo has, cherries that are both sweet and sour at the same time.   Coupled with its sharp acid and its penetrating tannin it cleared away a bite of rib steak and refreshed the mouth.  After two glasses we vacuumed the bottle and saved it for another day.

'Another' day turned out to be today.  There was a double thick Kurobuta rib chop marinated in garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, rosemary and sage and then seared on the hot side of the grill and allowed to finish on the cooler side.  There was also gnocchi in a sage sauce.

The vacuum came out of the bottle and the room seemed filled with flowers.  This wine just smelled terrific and it would have been enough to just sit and sniff it all evening.  It lost nothing in the taste department, but the tannin had receded just a bit.  I last had this wine two years ago and loved it then.  The two additional years in the cellar made a noticeable difference.  This wine was definitely together.  I still love this wine.   14% alcohol and $18 three years ago.