WTN: Burgundy 1st and a Soave Classico

The evening started with the leftovers from a Cremant de Bourgogne from Simonnet-Fevbre, a most serviceable wine, made even better by the close-out price of $12.99, served with smoked salmon. Then the aperitif wine, the '10 Inama Vin Soave, Soave Classico($10). IMO it pays to stay with the Classico sub-appellation. My wife prepared a fabulous meal from a cookbook that I gave her for Christmas ("Cooking of Southwest France" by Paula Woolfert), she chose the "Chicken, Potato, and Artichoke Cake, not really a cake, but a casserole that almost looks like a cake, and it was exceptional. Paired with a Machard de Gramont '05 Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru, "Aux Guettes". With a 2 hour decant the wine is reaching maturity. Very nice with the meal and very nice afterwards with dark chocolate. Just what you would expect from a premier cru, brooding dark fruit, clean acidity, nice long finish. Would buy again, but I think we are into the current vintage (2007). About $35 and worth it. Looks like the new cookbook will hold some promise.

Think I would enjoy the cooking book Richard, will check in with Amazon.

Edit...it is in the local library system!

[Jenise]

Richard, thanks for the note. As soon as I read "Inama" I got on the phone. The Classico is indeed a good wine (though typically around $14 in my market) but have you tried any of their upper tier soaves? We had the 'Vigneto du Lot' at restaurant Lecosho in Seattle last week, and boy did we love that. Found it exceptional enough that, reminded by you how impressed we all were, I just ordered a case. Love the sound of the Paula Wolfert recipe: could I talk you into posting it on FLDG? Sounds like a dinner I'd kill for.

Btw, another Soave mention: we found a $7 Brignolino, or a name very close to that, at Trader Joe's earlier this week and it was pretty credible, especially for the price. In fact, it was better the second day than the first, and a perfect match for an avocado and orange salad with shallot dressing. Not only did the sweet citrus not offend the wine, it actually was the prime component in the match. I'll never want any other wine but Soave with that salad again.

The Soave got my attention too but seems only available in Calgary. One store downtown has a very good selection of Soave but I suspect a couple might have seen some oak. Yikes!