One of the things at work that we, the team, have most wanted to get going in our dining room is a series of Paulees…
The reason being it is a great opportunity to share wines and food with customers, for customers to meet other customers and, slightly naff though it sounds, friendships to be forged. On the wine side it is just interesting and most importantly fun – different wines, producers and vintages. The first one we did was last month and focussed on Italy, I wonder whose idea that was?…
The format was a simple one, bring a magnum or bottle and we’ll go from there. It is very importantly NOT a competition. The line-up we ended up with was perfect – big names, small names but either was no “legendary bottles” (there’s a place for those but that’s not, in my view, a Paulee). We lined up, through our food man Clive, a simple but delicious four course menu:
Crudo di Mare
Girolle tagliatelle
BBQ’d Bannockburn rib of beef served with salsa verde, frenh beans and potatoes
Pecorino Sardo Matura, Robiola Bosina, Gorgonzola
We started the evening with Prologue NV from Champagne Labruyere while everyone gathered and then we moved down to the dinning room for an array of wines. I tried to list the vast majority and realised very quickly that note taking was almost impossible.
The Whites
Passobianco 2014, Tenuta di Passopisciaro, Franchetti
Passobianco 201, Tenuta di Passopisciaro, Franchetti
Cervaro della Salla 2010, Antinori
GiovinRe 2014, Michelle Satta
Costa di Giulia 2015, Michelle Satta
Grattamacco 2015, Bolgheri
The Reds
Barolo Pajana 2001, Clerico
Barolo Sperss 1990, Gaja MAG
Il Frappato Terre Siciliane 2015, Occhipinti MAG
Brunello di Montalcino 2007, Cerbaiona
Poliziano 2005 Asinone – Vino Nobile de Montepulciano
Barolo Delizia 2011, Giulia Negri
Brunello di Montalcino 2006, Il Poggione
Brunello di Montalcino 2007, Biondi-Santi Tenuta “Greppo”
Barbaresco 2004 Vigneto Gallina, La Spinetta MAG
Ornellaia 2001, Antinori
Barolo Tartufaia 2011, Giulia Negri MAG
Barolo Bric del Fiasc 1996, Paolo Scavino MAG
Barbera Cerretta 2014, Giacomo Conterno
Rosso Ca’del Merlo 2008, Quintarelli
Alzero 2007, Quintarelli
Barolo Cascina Francia 2003, Giacomo Conterno
Brunello di Montalcino 2008, Col D’Orcia
Barolo Cannubi 2008, Paolo Scavino
Barolo La Serra 2005, Gianni Voerzio
Rosso di Montalcino 2011, Valdicava
Sammarco 1997 MAG
Valpolicella Superiore 2006, Quintarelli
Cepparello 2007, Isole e Olena
La Villa Langhe 2011, Elio Altare
Palazzi di Trinoro 2011, Tenuta di Trinoro
Barbaresco Costa Russi 1998, Gaja
After dinner
Barolo Chinato, Cappellano
Vinsanto de Chianti Classico 2010, Vignamaggio
To pick out highlights would be unfair. What I was left with though was the over-riding feeling that people buy these wines with the pure pleasure of wanting to open them. There were young wines and old wines, decanted and un-decanted but the food, the fun atmosphere and general good natured evening highlighted what wine is all about – people, personalities and a rather delicious drink that has a certain relaxing quality – Conviviale!!
