A stop at a Milwaukee account, lentil soup and wonderful wines
It is another busy day in December and I stop at a good account with a couple of wines to taste. As I fight the wind and snow, I enter the store and there is this incredible smell and the sound of laughter in the back room. The people in the back look up and say “T-bone!!” and invite me to join in the festivities.
NV H. Billiot Fils Brut Reserve
As I take off my layers of coats, gloves and scarves I am handed a glass of Champagne. EXCELLENT! This store specializes in small grower Champagnes and this is a glass of NV H. Billiot Fils Brut reserve. On the nose it was baked apple pie and brioche, perfect for this day and the holidays. On the palate it had fresh pear, apple cider, a touch of citrus and a very lively spritz. And this comes from all Grand Cru Vineyards in Champagne. WOW!
Pieropan “La Rocca” Soave Classico 2001 Veneto Italy
From their website. - This vineyard takes its name from the adjacent Medieval castle and fortress, (“la Rocca”) dominating the little town of Soave, just east of Verona. The soil is “eocenica” in origin, with abundant microelements, calcareous/clayey in structure. The resultant wine is from 100% Garganega grapes, late-harvested so as to ensure maximum extract and aged in oak barrels for one year.
I think Pieropan is by far the best producer of Soave, a DOc that has been raked over the coals because of all the insipid, light weight and feeble Soave’s out there. And that is the perception of Soave unfortunately. I hope I am wrong. Now this was a 2001 and Soave is usually meant to be consumed in it’s prime. On tne nose there was butterscotch and apple cider. On the palate, well, it was tired I thought but a fellow taster said…”It’s coming back!!!!” Still cidery and lemon pith.
Oak Lane Chenin (Steen) Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch South Africa 2008
MMmmm. Smelles just like chenin! Yea! it is so common in South African wines to get that South African flavor and this has none of it, maybe a touch on the back palate. On the nose it is slatey with apricot and lime. On the palate it is crisp with lime and lemon zest, apricot and chalk. A touch bitter at the end but in a pleasant way. oak Lane is the second bottling of Beau Joubert whose American financial partners are here in Wisconsin. Green Bay and Racine have lots of shareholders. Interesting!
Abbazia di Novacella Valle Isarco Kerner 2007 Alto Adige Italy
This winery was founded as an Abby (Abbazia) in 1142 by an order of Agustinian Monk. As a Working order the developed the vineyards and made wine along with other monkly duties. today it houses a college of eonology and is still an active Abbazia of that order of Monks. This wine was so pretty. On the nose it had an Alcasian waxy, orange thing but was unique. The orange was more of an orange oil. On the palate it had great acidity, green apple and peach / apricot. It was very crisp and lively, now I know why Ristorante loves it so much!
Tags: apricot, Champagne, Milwaukee wine, Milwaukee wine events, peach, soave, South africa, steen, Toni johnson, vineyards, waxy, wine
