Sometimes wine drinkers experience a partially filled bottle of wine after opening it. On occasions we have had an opened bottle of wine sitting on our kitchen counter for over a week. More often white than red, since many of the unused red wines end up in our wine vinegar crock. Although this is unusual, it does happen. What if we could pour the unused wine into a container and have it last for a week?

We received a Savino Enthusiast wine carafe from Savino to try (retail $29.95). We generally drink more red wine than white wine; I decided to try a white wine to see what the wine would be like over a week. The week extended an extra day so our results are for eight days. The Savino website suggests that a wine will stay fresh for up to a week. We pushed that timeframe a bit. 

For a white wine we chose a 2017 Palffy Juhfark that we brought back from a trip to Hungary. This white grape is indigenous to Hungary and is a Vitis vinifera grape. On the first day of tasting the wine, we noted that it had a light yellow color with a straw hue. This color did not change over the eight days the wine was in the Savino. The aroma on the first day was floral and fruity. The taste was reminiscent of daisies, citrus, yellow stone fruit and a hint of pear. The mouthfeel was silky and the wine had a medium body. The finish was crisp. The wine had a long aftertaste.

Three days later, we tasted the wine again with most of the same results. The color and aroma were the same as the first day and we felt the taste was very fresh with daisies, citrus, yellow stone fruit and a hint of pear. In addition to the crisp finish, we noticed a bit of mineral on the finish. The wine had an extremely long aftertaste.

Eight days later we finished the wine. There were more changes in the wine by the eighth day, but the wine was still enjoyable. The color was the same as it was on the first day. We did notice a slight lessening of the aroma. On the taste, pear was more dominant and the citrus and yellow stone fruit were in the background. The taste was still smooth and the wine still retained its medium body. The fruit forward finish was a little diminished but still there. The wine continued to have a long aftertaste.

Savino Enthusiast wine carafe lived up to our expectations. If you are looking for an unusual gift, perhaps for Mother’s Day, consider a Savino carafe. The company has two carafes. The Savino Enthusiast is made of plastic while the Savino Connoisseur is made of glass and retails for $49.95. How does this carafe work?

There are three parts to the carafe. The body holds a 750 ml bottle of wine. Over the wine you place a float. Since the float literally floats on the wine’s surface, as the volume of the wine in the carafe lessens, the float goes down. There is also a lid to the carafe that you insert and slightly turn. The system helps keep oxygen away from the wine’s surface. Although the carafe and parts are dishwasher safe, it was easy to clean by hand. To serve the wine, remove the lid and just pour the wine. The float does not impede the wine below it as it turns direction to allow the wine to flow. 

This is a nice carafe to keep on the counter or in the refrigerator. It works well in keeping a white wine fresh. We will have to try a rosé and a red wine.

Cheers,
Terry

Four generations of the Einaudi family have crafted wines. I had an opportunity to taste three Barolos from their portfolio at the Barolo, Brunello, Barbaresco tasting in Washington DC last month. The tasting was organized by Empson USA. Poderi Luigi Einaudi was established by Luigi Einaudi in 1897 in the Dogliani in the province of Cuneo. Luigi originally sold the grapes until 1915 when he had the cellars built and began to make and sell wine. Luigi Einaudi served as President of the Italian Republic from 1948 – 1955.

Today the estate is under direction of Luigi’s great grandson Matteo Sardagna Einaudi. The winery has 63 hectares (156 acres) of grapevines planted that totals 358 acres in several areas. 

Wines

The 2016 Barolo “Cannubi” DOCG was made with Nebbiolo grapes from the Cannubi Cru. The vineyard soil is composed of gray white marne of Sant’Agata which consists of 55% clay, 30% sand and 15% limestone. The fermentation and maceration time took a bit over three weeks. The wine was then racked to large barrels where it aged for thirty months. Afterwards the wine continued to age in bottles. This Barolo had a translucent garnet color. Cherries and flowers were noted on the aroma. The taste offered cherries, violets and some baking spices. The wine had a silky mouthfeel and was full bodied with bold tannins. Fruit and spices were on the finish.

The 2016 Barolo “Ludo” DOCG was a blend of Nebbiolo from three crus: Cannubi, Terlo and Bussia. Fermentation and maceration lasted for 16 days. Half of the wine aged in large oak barrels for 30 months, while the other half aged in barriques for 18 months then racked to large barrels for an additional year. After bottling, the wine aged for 8-9 months before being released. The wine had a translucent garnet color with a perfume and cherry aroma. The taste included violets and cherries along with tobacco and baking spices. The velvety wine was medium/full bodied and had bold tannins. The finish was fruity and spicy.

The 2016 Barolo Terlo “Vigna Costa Grimaldi” DOCG was crafted with Nebbiolo grapes from the Costa Grimaldi vineyard in the Terlo cru. The vineyard was composed of a marly- calcareous soil. The fermentation/maceration lasted for 24 days. Thirty months of aging took place in large oak barrels followed by 8-9 months in bottles. The wine had a translucent garnet color with a sienna hue. Perfume and red berries were on the aroma. The taste included cherries, red raspberries and licorice. The velvety mouthfeel was accompanied by bold tannins on the full bodied wine. The finish had fruit and spice notes.

Poderi Luigi Einaudi offers three different winery tour experiences ranging in times from 90 minutes to 150 minutes. If you enjoy Barolos try one from Poderi Luigi Einaudi.

Cheers,
Terry

In early March Kathy and I attended a tasting in Washington DC by Empson USA. Empson USA is a distributor for their portfolio of Italian wine in the United States. I tasted several Borolos from several producers. My favorite producer was Azienda Agricola Conterno Fantino. This winery was founded in 1982 by Claudio Conterno and Guido Fantino. The two friends are interested in conserving energy at the winery and in creating environmental sustainability. The property has 26 hectares (64 acres) under vine. The winery is located in the Monforte d’Alba area of the province of Cuneo.

Wines

The first wine tasted was the Barbera D’Alba Vignota DOC 2017/2018. The wine was made with 100% Barbera from a limestone and marl vineyard in the village of Monforte d’Alba. The organically grown grapes were hand harvested in early autumn. Fermentation and maceration took place in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in French oak barrels. The wine had a translucent dark ruby color with a red hue. Red fruits were on the aroma and the taste included cherries, black raspberries and leather. The wine was medium bodied and had medium/bold tannins. The finish included fruit and leather.

The next three wines were all examples of Barolos. All were made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. The 2016 Barolo Castelletto “Vigna Pressenda” DOCG was made with grapes growing in a sandy, silty and clay vineyard from the Castelletto Cru in Monforte d’Alba. The grapes were hand harvested in mid-October after careful selection while on the vine. Fermentation and maceration took place in stainless steel, the wine was aged in French oak. The wine was made from organically grown grapes. The wine had a translucent garnet color with a red hue. Perfume and cherries were noted on the aroma as well as the taste. The wine was full bodied with bold tannins. Fruit and leather notes were on the finish.

My “best in show” wine was the 2016 Barolo Mosconi “Vigna Ped” DOCG. The Nebbiolo grapes were hand harvested from the Mosconi Cru in the village Monforte d’Alba. The organically grown grapes were fermented and macerated in stainless steel tanks and then aged in French oak. The wine had a translucent garnet color. Perfume and cherries were on the aroma and taste. The wine was full bodied with kissing tannins ( tannins that cause the mouth to pucker as if you were going to give someone a kiss). The finish was fruity with a delicate oak influence. I enjoy tannins in a wine and for me, the more tannic the better.

The 2016 Barolo Ginestra “Vigna del Gris” DOCG was made with grapes from the del Gris vineyard in the Ginestra Cru of the village Monforte d’Alba. As with the other Borolos tasted, the organically grown grapes were hand harvested and fermented and macerated in stainless steel. The wine was then aged in French oak. The wine had a translucent garnet color. Perfume and cherries were noted on the aroma. Cherries and leather were on the taste. The wine was full bodied and had bold tannins. The finish was fruity with an oak influence.

I was happy to have an introduction to the wines from Azienda Agricola Conterno Fantino and look forward to their availability in Maryland.

Cheers,
Terry