The Green Gables Antinori Dinner

Last Friday, February 18, Lynn and I attended a dinner featuring the Tuscan wines of Villa Antinori in Tuscany at the Green Gables Inn on Bonsella Street in Walla Walla. It was a fabulous six course dinner prepared by Mauro Golmarvi, owner of Assaggio in Seattle.  Before dinner, there were pizza appetizers with Prosecco. The pear and fennel salad was accompanied by a crisp, finely fruited Gaudo al Tasso 2020 Bolgheri Vermentino. The next course was an elegant 2017 Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Reserve with ragù on a bed of polenta. The 2019 Il Bruciato Bolgheri red was accompanied by pork and beef medallions. Roasted chicken was served with the 2018 Badia a Passignano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico. The dessert was olive oil cake, an Assaggio specialty. As usual, Chef Mauro outdid himself with the food and Andrea Pucci of Antinori did a great job of talking about the wines. The Green Gables owners, twin sisters Karrie Dutton and Connie Blumenthal, put on an entertaining showing of the Inn's collection of Louis Vuitton luggage and purses. 

The wines have been ordered and will be reviewed in an upcoming issue of this blog. The Green Gables Inn will be opening in March. To learn more, go to www.greengablesinn.com.

More French Wines Tasted Recently

Over the past couple of weeks, we've been making more new discoveries in French wines. Here's what we found. 

2019 Domaine de Bagnol Cassis ($34 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - Cassis is a Provence appellation situated east of Marseille. Produced from Marsanne, Clairette and Ugni Blanc, this is a distinctive wine, showing a brilliant gold color and a highly aromatic nose of ripe pears and peaches, lemon custard, pear blossoms, honeysuckle, jasmine and a hint of butternut. The flavors, as well, are striking, with lush white fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins, peach stones and Provencçal minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of lemon zest and butternut, followed by a lingering sweet-dry fruited finish. 19/20 points.

2020 Cave de Lugny Mâcon-Villages, "La Côte Blanche" Unoaked Chardonnay ($15.99 - wine.com) - This comes from a well-run cooperative in Lugny. It shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of pear, white peach, citrus, pear blossoms, acacia flowers and whiffs of white incense. The flavors are fresh and lively, accented by grape and pear skins and salty Mâconnais minerals. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of crème fraiche and hazelnut on the way to a crisp, well fruited finish. "For the price, my God!" says Lynn. 18+/20 points.

2020 Domaine Chalet Pouilly Saint-Véran ($24.99 - wine.com) - Saint-Véran is situated between Pouilly-Fuissé and Beaujolais. This version shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple, white peach, grapefruit, apple blossoms and white incense. The flavors are bright and brisk, with white and yellow fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins, peach stones and stony minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of nuts and crème fraiche, followed by a well textured finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau Saint-Véran, "Prelude" ($31.99 - wine.com) - This is a high caliber Saint-Véran from a grower in Pierreclos. It displays a brilliant gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple, white peach, lime, apple blossoms, acacia flowers, wisteria and white incense. The flavors are bright and vivid, with white and yellow fruits dancing on the palate, with notes of pear skins, peach stones and granitic minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire William and pêche liqueurs and touches of crème fraiche and lime zest, followed by a lingering, finely fruited finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Domaine Alain Chavy Bourgogne Chardonnay ($27 - The Thief) - This comes from younger vines in Puligny-Montrachet-Montrachet. It shows a brilliant gold color and floral aromas of pear, peach, citrus, pear blossoms, wisteria, jasmine and wet stone. The flavors are vivid and well delineated, with white and yellow fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins and salty minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of crème fraiche and lemon zest, followed by a crisp, nicely fruited finish. "Only 27 dollars for this?" says Lynn. 19/20 points.

2019 Bouchard Pére & Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Reserve ($24.99 - wine.com) - From a respected Beaune négociant, this offers a brick red color and attractive aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, red roses, tobacco leaf, sweet pea flowers and whiffs of orange incense. The flavors are direct and supple, with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, pekoe tea and dusty earth. The back picks up gently pressed fruits and fraise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a ripe soft tannin finish. 18+/20 points.

2019 Justin Girardin Santenay, Vieilles Vignes ($37.99 - Esquin) - Deep ruby colored, this possesses rich, smoky aromas of raspberries, cherries, brambly currants, crushed roses, bayberry, tobacco, olive and sultry incense. The flavors are thick and generous, marked by licorice, cocoa powder, roasted coffee beans and granitic minerals. The back reveals roasted berries and nuts, kirsch and crème de cassis liqueurs and supple tannins on the satisfying finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2019 Les Pallières Gigondas, "Terrasses du Diable" ($39.99 - wine.com) - Les Pallières is a collaboration of the Kermit Lynch and Brunel families. This combination of 90% Grenache and 5% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre offers a deep ruby-crimson color and intoxicating aromas of wild fruits - raspberries, blueberries, black currants - with scents of crushed black roses, garrigue, olive tapenade, cracked pepper and spiced incense. The flavors are lavish and mouth filling, with black and blue fruits that are infused with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, black tea and Montmirial minerals. The saturation continues on the back with pressed fruits, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a spiced super ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Les Pallières Gigondas, "Les Racines" ($46.99 - wine.com) - This is composed of 80% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 7% Cinsault and 7% Clairette. It exhibits a deep purplish-ruby color and an intoxicating nose of raspberry, blueberry, black currant, crushed black roses, mulberry, pipe tobacco, lavender, olive tapenade, wild violets and spiced incense. The flavors are lavish and mouth encompassing, with layers of red and blue fruits that are infused with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, French roast and Montmirial stony minerals. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs, all followed by a lingering, spiced (nutmeg, clove) ripe sweetish tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

N. V. José Michel Champagne, Meunier ($48.99 - Esquin) - Produced from 100% Pinot Meunier (a relative of Pinot Noir) this is a striking Champagne. It displays a brilliant gold color, streaming bubbles and rich aromas of wild strawberries, pears, peaches, red currants, citrus, pear blossoms, wildflowers, brioche and whiffs of butternut. The flavors are rich and highly textured, with notes of pear skins, peach stones and minerals. On the back, the wine enriches further with sensations of fraise and pêche liqueurs, recurring brioche and lemon zest followed by a lingering dry finish. 19/20 points.