Posting here as a catchall for my visit to DC area

[wondersofwine]

Thanks, WW, but the honor was mine. From humble beginnings you fashioned a successful life in both wealth and relationships.

At Cinghiale I had an appetizer special--cured Tasmanian seatrout (similar but lighter than smoked salmon) with greens, shaved fennel, orange zest, a bite of grapefruit, blood orange (in the sauce?) and capers. For my main course I had spit-roasted lamb with a couple bites of Yukon potatoes. I don't recall if the green vegetable was green beans or asparagus and a red wine jus. I tried Tallegio cheese as my dessert course after hearing Rachel Ray says it was her husband's favorite. It is a semi-soft cheese. Okay but I like other cheese more. I went with 3-oz. pours to have a variety of wines. With the seatrout salad I had 2008 VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO, BUCCI, LE MARCHE, ITALY. (It's an all-Italian wine list.) $7.00 for a 3-oz. pour and $14.00 for a 6-0z. glass at the restaurant. Pale, crisp, medium-bodied with a long finish. Steely backbone. I liked this and think Verdicchio is one I will look for on my trip to Italy late summer.

With the lamb entree I had a 3-oz. pour of 2007 AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE, BISCEGLIA "TERREA DI VULCANO" BASILICATA, ITALY. I didn't like this as well as the Aglianico I had at the restaurant last year--it may be a new producer for their wine list. $5.50 for 3-oz. pour or $11 for 6-oz. glass. Opaque purple with crimson rim. Lifted nose, almost a blueberry fragrance and I'm not fond of blueberry in wine. Yup--the blueberry carried over to the palate flavors.

My other 3-oz. red wine pour was the 2008 TOSCANA ROSSO TENUTA DELL'ORNELLAIA "LE VOLTE" blending Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot at $9.50 for 3 oz. or $19 for 6 oz. I liked this better. Nearly smooth and approachable now though I don't think it will fade quickly. Some cassis and possibly dark berries or dark plumskin. Slightly clearer and darker in appearance than the Aglianico.