Enzo at Herstmonceux
Tasting at Herstmonceux Castle
Hurray, this month’s Decanter magazine has it’s first Barbaresco panel tasting since 1999(?!) and the quote “I think Burgundy lovers should look at young Nebbiolo; the wines have a similar quality to them” caught my eye having just spent a few days in the UK. Good advice but don’t expect to find them in the supermarkets or simple off-licences. A lot are not available in the UK and a quick tour of the local Tescos, Sainsburys, M&S and Waitrose yielded pitifully few albeit from decent, but high volume producers. Last week’s dinner/tasting at Herstmonceux Castle with Piemonte-wines.com will help as their pricing is very competitive and they have a special section of their website devoted to it.
Decanter April
Almost 50 people got the opportunity to taste a couple of dozen of my neighbours’ offerings, and it will hopefully broaden their drinking tastes and like me allow Nebbiolo to change their lives. What I have since found extraordinary is that as I collect feedback almost every wine was someone’s favourite. Dinner was within a ravioli of what I get at home and the Brasato cooked in Enzo Rapalino’s (La Ganghija) Langhe Nebbiolo was as good as I’ve eaten. Not to mention the Torte di Nocciole made by Vince the Head Chef without having tasted it; a perfect match for La Ganghija Mellis 2007 a Moscato Passito named after Enzo’s wife
“the background to each wine provided by Enzo just added to the experience; it was clear to see the delight that he takes in making his wine and his manner of presentation gave the evening a familial rather than formal edge”“we were very taken with both Sciorio wines – the Barbera D’Asti (Beneficio)and Monferrato Rosso (Furmjia)““On the whites my favourites were firstly Dante Rivetti’s Arneis, closely followed by the Cascina Saria Arneis”“some stood out for us – both wines from Cascina Saria, the Bricco Stepone Barbera d’Alba from Franco Rocca, Stroppiana’s Barolo “Bussia”,“Dante Rivetti’s Barbaresco “Bricco Micca”, the Dolcetto 2010 from La Ganghija, and the Langhe Favorita from Rapalino Fratelli, and of those, the Barbera “San Lorenzo” 2009 from Cascina Saria and the Barolo “Bussia”2010 from Stroppiana were a real delight.”“Enzo’s (“La Ganghija”) wines were the tops”“Alberto Voerzio’s Barolo was incredible”“I really liked Rapalino’s Lavagna Dolcetto; a serious wine”” Fontanabianca Langhe Arneis – lovely! light & fresh, tongue tingling””“Manera Langhe Favorita 2010 – Excellent! soft & fruity, lots of body”If you weren’t there here is the Piemonte-wines.com price-list that includes duty, tax and delivery in the UK