'11 Pasqua Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore

[Innkeeper]

2011 Pasqua Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore ($9.99 Trader Joe's; alcohol level: 13.5%). This wine on Wine-Searcher goes as high as $23. At that higher price you can get a better choice of a Ripasso, but at $9.99 it is a terrific buy. It is inky black on the eye, gives you dried fruits like cherry and raspberry on the nose and upfront; with savory notes of tobacco and coffee in the middle with smooth tannin despite it's youth, and a very nice finish.

We matched it with our first cow free lasagna (made with cheeses from buffalo, sheep, and goat), and salad. It went over just fine with our Memorial Day weekend crowd.

[Innkeeper]

Another tonight with Penne in fresh tomato sauce (tomatoes and basil from our garden), sweet Italian sausages, and salad mostly from our garden. Mmmmm good.

[TheEngineer]

I love what you eat!! I have no kitchen still....so jealous!!

[Innkeeper]

Another bottle with another cow free Lasagna! Wonderful!

[Innkeeper]

This is a great QPR. Tonight we had it with pasta in parsley/walnut pesto, and broiled Italian sausages. The side was eggplant salad (2d night better than first). Yun!!![/i]

[winoweenie]

Just granulated Cum Loud from the WW Academy of Fat Fingers. WW

[Innkeeper]

Yet another last night with pasta in basil pesto (from freezer), and not so hot Italian sausages made better by a sprinkling of ground fennel. Yum!

[Innkeeper]

Wonderful wine; tonight with Lamb Shanks and Linguini. Yum!

[Innkeeper]

Another with pasta in tomato sauce and fennel laced Italian sausages.

[Innkeeper]

Ditto, with the lamb shanks.

[Innkeeper]

Love it; with shanks and spaghetti tonight. Yum!

[Innkeeper]

Again tonight with green penne in green pesto made with our own basil; and sweet Italian sausages. Yum!