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- wondersofwine - 10-04-2010
I had fun at Elliott's on Linden, Pinehurst Friday evening at their twice-a-month wine tasting ($20). Chatted with two couples who had moved to North Carolina from Midland, TX and two other couples (from Indiana originally and a wife from New Jersey and Florida and husband from Dobson, NC near Mount Airy, the Mayberry model in the Andy Griffith show.) One of the men who moved from Texas was born in Tours, France and lived in France until he was 15. He said he was French, American and Texan and I said that Texas trumps them all. We talked about skiing and he asked where in Europe I had skied. I mentioned places in Germany, Switzerland and Austria but said that my favorite was Saalbach and Hinterglemm, Austria where I went for a week in January several years in a row while living in Germany. He was amazed because one of his friends has an apartment on top of a mountain in Saalbach and he has skied there with his son.
The little bites we had with the wines were 1)tuna sashimi 2) a medium-sized mushroom with stem 3) a house-made ravioli, and 4)a gently-spiced bite of bison. I didn't think the sashimi went very well with the red Italian wine but all the bites were very tasty.
All the wines were from Tuscany.
2009 Rodano I.G.T. (Merlot grape grown in the Chianti region.)
Mild, plummy, smooth-drinking. This was the favorite of one of the ladies and I liked this and the second wine best and bought a bottle of each. It also had a very attractive color and was good QPR. 13% alcohol.
2007 Poggio Alle Sughere, Morellino di Scansano. Morellino is a Sangiovese clone. Scansano is the town. 14% alcohol. Tasted a little less bright and fruity than the first wine but was a favorite at my table. Seemed to have a bit more depth.
2005 Agostino Petri Chianti Classico Reserva.
Smelled just a little barnyardy--not too much. Slightly spicy. 14% alcohol
Antinori II Bruciato (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Syrah blend). I didn't get the vintage on this one. The 2006 was 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Syrah. It was okay but I have had other Antinori wines (more expensive) that I liked better. I think this was on sale for $32 or $34.
Elliott's on Linden is having a bring your own wine dinner again Oct. 11 and I will probably attend but that is also the night of an important homeowners' association meeting for my condo complex.
[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 10-04-2010).]