I'd like to switch to Lentini + 2, please. Wife, just coming home from her annual conference, won't make it (babysitter fell through), but I've got another couple very interested.
Re: Wines. You and Sotto Sopra are being very generous with the wines. With regard to the two added people - Would you prefer they declare wines or would you prefer they pay somehow for the restaurant wines instead? To help make your decision easier, I think the declarations would be 1997 Zaccagnini San Clemente Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and either a 1999 Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi Montevergine to provide a counter-point to the old Taurasi or a 1997 Lisini Brunello as counter to the old Lisini.
Excitement abounds.
Posts: 3183 | Location: Alexandria, VA, USA | Registered: Oct 29, 2003
Dinner at Sotto Sopra (405 N. Charles St. Baltimore, 21201) - www.sottosoprainc.com Date: SATURDAY, November 1, 2008 Time: Arrive: 7:00 PM, 1st course: 7:30 PM
Mike + Kim: -NV Botter Prosecco (as we wait for everyone to arrive) -surprise wine #1- Wine for Fois Gras Course -1985 Fattoria di Sant'Angelo (Lisini) Brunello di Montalcino -1996 E. Fuligni (Cottimelli) Brunello di Montalcino -surprise wine #2- Hint: Lentini is going to be very happy -surprise wine #3- 1977.....
Jace + 1: 1997 Rocca Felice Barolo Riserva 1997 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Lentini + 2: 2004 Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi "Tralivio" 2006 Canus Sauvignon Colli Orientali del Friuli 1997 Tenimenti Angelini Val di Suga Vigna Spuntali Brunello di Montalcino
Great night last night. A heaping thanks to Michael for an unbelievable array of wines and a menu to suit it. Specifics and photos to follow when my brain is less scattered.
Posts: 673 | Location: Washington, DC | Registered: Oct 12, 2005
Sarbuze - That was a very good time. Great restaurant (love the decor/atmosphere), great food (cool Chef), great wine (oh boy) and great company - my only regret being I didn't get a chance to chat with everyone.
If you can, please list the names of the surprise wines and bonus wines that were so generously pulled for our records.
Ms. Manley really loved the Spanish/Basque white - I'll leave the pronunciation and spelling to Ms. Klymkev. I can't spell or pronounce its name, but I've had a couple of good ones now... the other being at the Klymkev's house. Having, what, three? whites plus bubbly to start off is something we should do more often.
I thought the pinot nero quite delicious... very different than the other wines, but further illustration that good Italian wines come in many variations.
One of my favorite wine lineups yet. All the Barolo and Brunello selections showed really well. From the 1977 Taurasi through to the 2004 Il Blu (thanks!), I thought the wines across the board were very impressive.
The 1977 Mastroberardino Taurasi Riserva... What can I say? Stunning. The nose is perhaps the best of any wine I've encountered... perhaps (to my aglianico-friendly sensibilities) even topping the awesome '83 and '90 Ch. Margaux aromas that rocked my world. I smelled the empty bottle this morning and it still lingered. Just awesome. Thank you VERY much.
The 1985 Lisini was amazingly youthful. Heck, the 1988 Barbaresco was not tiring at all and kicked butt. It was unreal. God bless mature wines.
Thanks again for organizing a great offline, Sarbuze. Thanks to all for sharing delicious wines.
Posts: 3183 | Location: Alexandria, VA, USA | Registered: Oct 29, 2003
Ugh, you guys are killing me! Regardless, it is still fun to read about the great time. Being a huge sucker for a good nose, I'm pining for a whiff of the 1977 Mastroberardino Taurasi Riserva!
Just for the record the Bulldogs tied 1-1.
Posts: 754 | Location: Baltimore, MD, USA | Registered: May 09, 2003
No notes taken as I was busy enjoying the company and finding more wines to pour That said a few notes!
I loved the 2004 Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi "Tralivio" especially with the prawn.
As Lentini mentioned, the '85 Lisini was SINGING. The other Brunello were drinking very well without exception.
That '77...wow. The nose was to kill for- I'm glad to have been able to open this as I think an aged Taurasi is truly something special!
The Barolo/Barbarescos were all very good and went great with the veal course.
Glad you all enjoyed the food! Come back any time, there are still many wines I want to open with you guys
My surprise wines in order of appearance:
Spanish White: 2006 Xarmant Txokoli Sauternes: 2001 Chateau Sahuc Les Tour Red 1: 1977 Mastroberadino Taurasi Riserva Red 2: 2004 Brancaia Il Blu With dessert: 2004 Librandi "Le Passule"
Only Klymkev was around for (sorry to the others but as the night went on I just kept finding stuff to try ) 2001 Le Macchiole Toscano Rosso 2003 Nicolas Amarone
I think that was all of them...though my memory is fuzzy somewhere leading into the last few wines!
Cheers to a great night and meeting new friends (of Lentini)! See you all soon!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: sarbuze,
Yowza! I think I should have walked up to the bar a couple more times... I think I missed the Clos du Val and the shiraz entirely. Did I try that Belguardo? Hmmm. I remember trying the Molino cabernet and the Le Filigare sangiovese. Either way, I know I didn't go home wanting.
I know where there's more Macchiole at Sotto Sopra... Definitely need to schedule another visit!
Posts: 3183 | Location: Alexandria, VA, USA | Registered: Oct 29, 2003
What a great evening - thank for setting it up, pushing the pours, and introducing us to a nice, new place. Great theme, wines, and company. I wuz blown away by the Taurasi as well, and impressed with our need to repeat the event, say five years from now, for the sake of the Brunellos.
*********************************** What if there were no hypothetical situations? ***********************************
Posts: 239 | Location: Bethesda | Registered: Dec 29, 2006
Holy Cow, BATMAN!!! I really would have enjoyed this one. Please give me more details on the '85 Lisini. I have 2 more in the cellar and was wondering what you think the prime drinking time would be since I think I read it was "youthful"? I have mentioned this before, but the best BdM that I have ever tasted was an '86 Lisini normale that blew me away (as well as Daniel Fulton). I can still remember the nose and the finish.
Posts: 1024 | Location: Virginia | Registered: Aug 22, 2005
Couldn't find my notes, not a suprise I guess after the laundry list of wine we drank, but I had the Lisini as my WOTN, Taurasi a close #2 and the Produttori Barbaresco #3.
Youthful would not be a word I would use to describe the Lisini. I would echo Sarbuze and say that singing would be more appropriate, according to my palate.
Posts: 673 | Location: Washington, DC | Registered: Oct 12, 2005
