June 25, 2006: I put The Kiminator on a plane to San Diego this morning; she’s out there for an eight-day working vacation, so Stripey, Little Gray and this taster are doing our best Macaulay Culkin here in Day-twah. While I’d always prefer to be WITH my better half rather than apart from her, in situations like these, one has to look for compensating factors, like playing Miles and Trane LOUD and smoking Cohibas in the house without hearing about it. And, while I’m so happy that my better half has this wonderful opportunity to spend time with our friends out left, I do miss her already, so it seemed only right that I assuage the emptiness with some good wine. No samples for this taster this week, unless they’re some serious stuff. No egregious pinot grigio, no slovenly sauvignon blanc, and certainly no fat ass low acid California chardonnay. I actually thought about getting started with some good German Riesling, but changed my mind because I needed something more appropriate to pair with a decent Chicken and Italian Sausage Penne alla Arabiatta. The following little number seemed to do the trick.
1999 Gaja Langhe Sitorey, $54, 14% alc.: Dark garnet in color, fading to pink at the rim, with some noticeable barnyard on the nose that blows off with some time in the glass, revealing earthy black currant, dried sour cherries and root beer/cola, all shaded with some subtle mahogany. These follow through and expand on the palate, and while there’re still tannins to resolve here, this is more than just approachable, it’s quite enjoyable. There’s an elegant character to the wine, with excellent acidity and very good length on the finish, and it opens nicely over the four hours that I sipped on it. There may be better Barberas out there, but if I’ve ever tasted one, I can’t remember it.
Imported by Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL
Reporting from Day-twah,
Homie Alones
