Friday, December 6, 2013

Duck Pond Pinot Gris, Tolaini "Al Passo"


Last week, my wife's boss, a member at Highland Hideaway in SE Iowa, brought us a number of  pheasants that he shot a few weeks ago. I had the pleasure of going hunting with him there a couple of years ago and if not for the late fall hunting date, I would gladly go again.

My favorite thing to do with pheasants is to breast them out and make a stock with the remaining carcass. I season the breasts, wrap them in bacon and them hot smoke them over charcoal and maple chips for about 30 minutes. They are wonderful served over a bed of red wine risotto whose color and texture has been bolstered by a handful of wilted radicchio.

2012 Duck Pond Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley - Thoroughly enjoyed this one before dinner (and had another glass after dinner). Has that glorious, brassy color that I really appreciate in a good Pinot Gris. Herbaceous aromas and flavors of citrus and sweet green bananas with lively acidity and good minerality. I would drink this over and over again. About $15.

2009 Tolaini Al Passo, Toscana - This full-bodied blend of unspecified amounts of Sangiovese and Merlot shows a completely saturated color and a certain cloudiness that suggests a lack of filtration. The nose is dominated by a plummy herbaceousness from the Merlot but the palate is all about licorice-tinted, funky dustiness from of the Sangiovese. Wonderful acidity and tannins suggest this one could effortlessly age for another 5-7 years. Love the long, herbaceous, tart cherry finish. A faithful companion to the dinner. About $25

2 comments:

  1. Nice, Tolaini really brings it. Al Passo is a great bottle for the price, which of course is less here. I got the 2008 on closeout for $8. Can you believe that? Bought every bottle they had. Normally, it's about $21. Nice value at that price and of course Tolaini goes up from there. But their top tier wines are wonderful too.

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  2. Last Duck pond PG I tasted was the 2010, and I loved it; glad to see the consistency!

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