Enzo Mecella, Rosso Piceno

[Innkeeper]

1997 Enzo Mecella, Rosso Piceno (DOC), "Colle Malvano", $8.99 (Wine Expo). This $9 bomb in a bottle from Roberto is not to be missed. Rosso Piceno is a blend of sangiovese and montepulciano from the Marches in East-Central Italy This one may have been a prototype for modern California Cabernet. The grapes are picked with very high brix, and made into a big, jammy wine that may or may not have a future down the road. But, right now it is terrific and cost $9, $190 NOT!

On the nose you get a sense of an upscale butcher shop, raisiny fruit upfront, earthiness on the palate that you could grow peas in, with smooth, smooth tannin in plentitude. A lingering finish makes you forget this is $9 juice.

Matched it with mesquite grilled Hamburgers alla Orson Welles and garlic bread. Have proffered this recipe before, but can't find it anymore. It originally comes from a circa 1972 cookbook by a fellow named Charles Virion, who on the way up was personal chef to Welles for whom he created it. So, for you's on the Left Coast:

HAMBURGERS ALLA ORSON WELLES:

1 lb Lean ground beef
1/4 lb Finely ground ham
1 Small onion minced
2 1/2 tbl Butter
1 Egg
3/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/8 tsp Ground thyme

Nuke onion in butter. Add to meat with everything else. Form into four patties. Refrigerate for at least an hour, preferably overnight. Smoke-grill over high heat/coals for fifteen minutes, turning once.