Today it's three wineries, a tour of the town of Montefalco and lots of wine and more and more food - where do these people pack all this stuff??? ... here's the pictorial evidence:
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| Arrival at Cantina Scacciadiavoli | |
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Celebrating 130 years of continuous operation in the Montefalco region
... said to be the region's oldest winery. |
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| The courtyard pictures is just how it was 130 years ago |
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| Another look at the courtyard |
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A look from the winery building --- this was actually built as a "wine factory"
back in 1884 by Prince Ugo Boncompagni-Ludovisi, of Piombino, and was a 4-story gravity flow style ... obviously
our good Prince was a renaissance man ahead of his time. |
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| the only two areas not designed for wine is the kitchen |
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| and the communal 'living area'; or meeting area |
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| Upstairs they have converted the old drying area into a special events area |
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| complete with cute kitch on the walls |
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| most of the structures are as is from 1884: ceiling, beams, posts ... |
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| ... corridors ... |
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even the original posts are here and they bare the emblem of the Prince,
on each and everyone |
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| Barrel caves |
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Floors in this barrel / tank room are elevated in the middle and sloped
to the sides for easy cleaning of the winery. |
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| Bottom level houses barrels and a double wall tank ... |
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It has been created to look like one barrel, but in fact there are two large
concrete tanks back there - the one on the right house 545hl while the left is 555hl |
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| now up to the tasting room for a look at the wines |
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| here is our sit down tasting; maybe we should have skipped breakfast |
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| a little bit closer now |
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2013 Grechetto
exotic fruit like pineapple and guava with floral hints; palate is floral but
with more grapefruit pith flavours - dry and lively on the tongue (*** 1/2+) |
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2010 Rosso
a blend of 60% Sangiovese / 25% Merlot / 15% Sagrantino
invitingly red fruit nose with a fruit driven palate and easy drinking flavours (****) |
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2008 Sagrantino
aromas of anise, black raspberry, vanilla and smoke; shows big tannins and acidity
with chalky raspberry and strawberry (****) |
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Liu's "very dirty car" - she was embarrassed to have us ride in it earlier because
she said it was 'embarrassingly dirty' - I think it's the mismatched wheels |
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| next stop: Cantina Colle CiOcco |
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the outside view: back in 1997 an earthquake destroyed the winery
so this is its re-incarnation |
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| We are here for lunch - and the table is set with care ... |
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| ... both of them |
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| Our hosts: Francesca and Lamberto Spacchetti |
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| Starting with prosciutto and melon and bruscetta |
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all topped with there house made olive oil
(more on this in a bit) |
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| Awesome plate of pasta - fresh and lovely: olive oil and fresh tomoatoes |
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| I can't believe we ate the whole thing |
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paired with the 2010 Rosso: fresh and fruity with good spice (*** 1/2+)
a great pairing with the pasta |
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| Next up, the roast beef, it's never a small amount of food here is it? |
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And we get a comparative of two vintages of Sagrantino: 2005 versus 2007
2007 is much more elegant, more friendly and more approachable
2005 is astringent, harsh, sharp and angular; tannins out of balance |
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Olive Oil here is like a religion; here we have the "three churches of Colle CiOcco":
Fiore, Fruttato and Gentile |
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Dessert is served with 2008 Passito:
black cherry, chocolate and plum - delightful and delicious (****) |
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| Taking a break to re-group my faculties on the back patio ... beautiful view |
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Finally: a double dose of grappa - both Sagrantino one is barrel aged in
cherry wood (right) and the other, not. |
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| The after lunch chats |
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| Interesting to note that the winery is 100% run using solar power |
The Centre of Town ...
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Here we are looking at City hall of Montefalco - from the tower you can get a
"Ringhiera Umbria" - 360 degree view of Umbria |
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| Here Elisabetta Rambotti struggles to get the secret door to the tower opened |
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| Success!!! |
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the climb is steeper and more dangerous then it looks - it was also made
for much shorter people (ouch! my head!) |
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| View of the centre of town from the top of the tower |
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| Here's the full 360 degree view - I'll shut up now while you take it all in |
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| And Now ... What goes up, must come down ... oh boy |
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| Our walk back to the hotel includes this sight |
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| and this one: parental discretion is advised |
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can you imagine this sign on the street so North America
- people would lose their minds: "the children, protect them!!!" |
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| The 'gates' of Montefalco |
Last Winery of the Day ... Col Santo
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| View from the front seat of the driveway up to the winery |
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| This is Renato, the winemaker for Col Santo - love the shirt |
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| The front of the winery - notice how you walk right into the production area |
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| see ?!? |
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| the vineyard (part of it anyway) |
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| a close-up of one of the guardian roses |
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| vineyard view from the upper patio |
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from left: Konrad Ejbich, Roberto Staiano, and Maurizio Dalmasson
enjoy the comforts of the patio and the view that goes along with it |
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Dinner starts with prosciutto (surprised???)
"When you have antipasti in Italy don't fill up too much, the train is coming,
it's only the smoke." - Maurizio |
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| This delight from Friuli: 2012 Friulano is a wonderful started wine (*** 1/2+) |
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| Taratella with wold boar ragu - oh so good - now that's Italian!!! |
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| especially when topped with fresh Parmessan |
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| main is rabbit |
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Another 2 bottle tasting of Sagrantino: 2002 versus 2010:
this one is more of a fair fight, but the '10 nudges out the '02 |
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2010 - fresher, fruitier, approachable with red licorice and sweet black cherry,
blackberry, cassis, blueberry and smoke - all well structure (****)
2002 - dried red berries, fig and plum, succulent and supple and still shows good power
from the tannins and acidity. |
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plus we get a special surprise out of Friuli: 2011 Pignolo "Eldore"
only 50 hectares are grown in all of Friuli, this grape was re-discovered in the 70's and
only 8-10 producers make a wine from it these days ... what a treat. |
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2nd last of two more surprises:
the yet to be released 2012 Passito - smooth and yummy |
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and the paint thinner, gut wrenching, throat-seering 25 year old grappa ...
"brought out for special occasions" says Maurizio |
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| Goodnight from Umbria |
