WIMPS Piemonte, Trompette, 29/9/22

Always excited when Piedmont comes round on the WIMPs calendar; my first wine region that I visited (many years ago)

A smorgasbord of vinous delights is Piedmont in a nutshell, and over on "Novara" we had an eclectic mix of varietals to enjoy I'm pleased to say. A really enjoyable afternoon; a fun table of fellow forumites to share a great lunch with. Alex's escapades of driving /encounters with the Thai police in particular a highlight of conversation :) . Many thanks to Don for pulling all this together, and my fellow dining companions for their company/generosity

A real treat to have two Whites to start proceedings

2020 Azienda Agricola Pugnane Langhe Chardonnay 12.5% DOC (100% Chardonnay)
A late replacement for the Arneis that was listed. Pale lemon colour with some floral /toasted hazelnut aromas. Quite light in style, fresh, delicate some buttery flavours. Good apertif style. Very pleasant.

2018 Vigneti Massa Derthona "Montecitorio" 14.5% VDT (100% Timorasso)
I'm a big fan of Timorasso and Massa is the benchmark producer for this variety. This is a cru vineyard Timorasso; 1.6ha parcel planted at 300m on marl/calcareous soils, stainless steel fermented and aged in steel and concrete. Deep gold tones. Fragrant aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, mandarin orange and honeycomb. Big, broad, textured and rich to taste; this is still very youthful and plump at this point in it's development. However this is not some fat, overblown variety as it's counterbalanced by the searing acidity which is characteristic. It's heady, waxy, and concentrated but with a stony/mineral undertone lurking in the background which will emerge with further cellaring (10 years+ easy). Stunning even at this point.

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Next up a Dolcetto and Barbera pair from Rinaldi

2019 Giuseppe Rinaldi Dolcetto d'Alba 13.5% DOC (100% Dolcetto)
Now I'm not a fan of Dolcetto for the most part, but in the hands of Rinaldi it's a wine that really appeals. This is a Dolcetto with complexity and layers. Aromatically enticing with notes of graphite/pencil shavings, black/red cherry fruit, vanilla, aniseed and wild mushrooms. This is so light on it's feet, bright, fresh (the acidity is so on point). Crunchy fruit flavours, fine tannins. Just lovely (probably my Red wine of the day).

2015 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barbera d'Alba 14% DOC (100% Barbera)
After the Dolcetto this is tough, more angular, chewy, muscular. More in the Black fruit rather than Red fruited spectrum. Love the turbo charged acidity in this though.

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Nebbiolo based wines next and a great Barbera

2012 Colombera & Garella Bramaterra 13% DOC (80% Nebbiolo, 10% Vespolina, 10% Croatina)
A bit funky initially. Bottle is quite evolved with vegetal, dried fruit, bacon fat and spice notes. Red fruited. Did wake up with time in the glass although possibly a bit "clipped"

2010 Famiglia Anselma Barolo Mosconi 14.5% DOCG (100% Nebbiolo)
Meaty. Minty top note. Attractive brick red tones. Still very youthful at this point in it's life-cycle and the oak quite dominant. Dry, bitter finish. Saying that though I thought that there is a great wine there (currently hidden, except for a few sneaky flashes of the riches that are lurking).

1998 Pio Cesare Barolo 14% DOCG (100% Nebbiolo)
The biggest surprise of the day for me as it seemed to constantly change over the course of the lunch (very much in a good way I might add); initially hard/impenetrable (reminded me of Marcarini) but although it didn't seem to lose that edge throughout, some sweeter fruit flavours and earthy/mushroom notes emerged as well as some freshness. Really interesting.

1997 Braida Barbera d'Asti "Ai Suma" 14% DOC (100% Barbera)
What a pleasure tasting some aged Barbera and still drinking so beautifully. Mix of primary/tertiary notes still in play; dark berry fruit coupled with forest floor, expresso coffee and porcini. Rich and round, silky tannins and fresh acidity. All elements perfectly integrated.

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2015 Bartolo Mascarello Langhe Freisa 12.5% DOC (100% Freisa)
On reflection I think that moving this to the end of the meal, chilling it and pairing it with the dessert was a mistake. Ordering a Moscato or Brachetto off the list would have been a better bet. As a result I though that the chilling of it rather dulled it's aromatics and general flavour. Felt quite hard to drink; a shame.

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Belated notes from me. Huge thanks to @Don Reid , to Donald and the team at La T, and huge thanks to my tablemates for their generosity with their wines and company. We are most fortunate indeed to have this community as part of our lives.

The new regime in the kitchen is just excellent - definitely not just a recreation of the Glasshouse in Trompette, but definitely bringing some of that lightness, delicacy and willingness to use different flavours. The vegan, cauliflower based starter was a particularly welcome addition to the Trompette menu, I think.

PIEMONTE WIMPS - La Trompette (01/10/2022)

Canapés
The most amazing duck roll things.
  • 2016 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
    Served from Magnum. On the nose, a whiff of struck match, silage. Pale lemon colour. On the tongue, bit of a spritz. Very sweet - someone mentioned sherbet pips, which i got, and a hint of creaminess. I really want to like this kind of wine but struggle to do so - hopefully continued exposure will work...
Roast Cauliflower, cashew, pickled king oyster
A great transplant from the glasshouse is a vegan, cauliflower based starter. A victory.
  • 2018 Heinrich Mayr (Nusserhof) Blaterle Bianco - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Vino da Tavola
    Lovely stuff with a fascinating story - evidently this is a somewhat rare indigenous grape variety whose name is not permitted to be printed on the label. Medium pale yellow. On the palate - someone described it as "weight without heft" and I thought that was very fair. Some body here for sure, but it's elevated - vibrant without being too acidic. Lovely stuff and I will look out for it again.
  • 2018 Giuseppe Nada Langhe Bianco "Armonia" - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
    My extra wine - brought due to a slight mix up in the listings and kindly served due to an excess of generosity on the part of the restaurant. Perfectly decent wine - I believe a blend including indigenous varieties but I also sense a bit of sauv blanc. Told far less of an interesting story than its flight mate however, and I didn't finish my glass.
Raviolo of rabbit, white onion velouté
  • 2010 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
    Served from magnum. On opening - tightly coiled, and could maybe even be described as foursquare. Opened up, what seemed like rusticity or clumsiness started to unfurl - this has years ahead of it but a jolly decent wine.
  • 2010 Giuseppe Nada Barbaresco Riserva Casot - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
    Looks older than the preceding wine, more bricking around the rim. And almost went in the opposite direction - on opening, clearly more perfumed, more elegant, but seemed to somewhat fall apart at the end - like a guitarist attempting a complex solo and not quite being able to pull it off. With some air, became more together. I have a few bottles left and will endeavour to drink them in the next year or two - but still more than pleasurable.
  • 2011 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
    It would be both trite and damning with faint praise to say that this is the Hegelian synthesis of the flight. Really lovely stuff - a hint of plushness perhaps, but in the classiest way. Fragrant - a hint of, maybe blueberries - and a length on the palate. A treat to drink at this lunch, and (perhaps along with the Mayr) a wine that would benefit from being contemplated over the course of an evening.
Aged beef fillet, roasted cep, potato galette
I often feel that choosing fillet in a restaurant is a waste, as it's so easy to cook well at home. There are some circumstances under which this is wrong - this was absolutely lovely in every way.
  • 2008 Marcarini Barolo La Serra - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Just what I imagine barolo to be. Purple colour with a little bricking. On the palate - tar, cherry stone. There is some fruit under the structure but it must be sought out.
  • 2004 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Cannubi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    On the nose, forest floor, just a hint of complexity. Very clean palate - clearly barolo but more resolved, more ready to share its pleasures than the previous bottle. On swirling around the mouth this really came into focus - a wine definitely worthy of contemplation - certainly one could imagine drinking this slowly over the course of a few hours and enjoying seeing its progress.
  • 2004 Fratelli Brovia Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    A slightly burned, pruney flavour which I found to be faulty. Some interesting discussion at the table as my fellow diners did not perceive this - is there perhaps a specific compound to which I am uniquely sensitive (as some are to brett or TCA)? I recall having a case of halves of some 98 St Emilion which I thought had a similar fault, but a friend loved so...perhaps I learned something more about myself than I did about wine with this one.

    We were also offered a glass of the 98, which I did enjoy, and had none of that characteristic.

    My apologies to my fellow diners, who heard my opinions on this wine shared more loudly and often than was required.
Posted from CellarTracker
 
Leon Marks said:
A slightly burned, pruney flavour which I found to be faulty. Some interesting discussion at the table as my fellow diners did not perceive this
Click to expand...
Did you try it from anyone else's glass, Leon? I have on occasion found when having a different experience to my neighbour that it's because there is a noticeable difference.
 
Leon Marks said:
Belated notes from me. Huge thanks to @Don Reid , to Donald and the team at La T, and huge thanks to my tablemates for their generosity with their wines and company. We are most fortunate indeed to have this community as part of our lives.

The new regime in the kitchen is just excellent - definitely not just a recreation of the Glasshouse in Trompette, but definitely bringing some of that lightness, delicacy and willingness to use different flavours. The vegan, cauliflower based starter was a particularly welcome addition to the Trompette menu, I think.

PIEMONTE WIMPS - La Trompette (01/10/2022)

Canapés
The most amazing duck roll things.
  • 2016 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
    Served from Magnum. On the nose, a whiff of struck match, silage. Pale lemon colour. On the tongue, bit of a spritz. Very sweet - someone mentioned sherbet pips, which i got, and a hint of creaminess. I really want to like this kind of wine but struggle to do so - hopefully continued exposure will work...
Roast Cauliflower, cashew, pickled king oyster
A great transplant from the glasshouse is a vegan, cauliflower based starter. A victory.
  • 2018 Heinrich Mayr (Nusserhof) Blaterle Bianco - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Vino da Tavola
    Lovely stuff with a fascinating story - evidently this is a somewhat rare indigenous grape variety whose name is not permitted to be printed on the label. Medium pale yellow. On the palate - someone described it as "weight without heft" and I thought that was very fair. Some body here for sure, but it's elevated - vibrant without being too acidic. Lovely stuff and I will look out for it again.
  • 2018 Giuseppe Nada Langhe Bianco "Armonia" - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
    My extra wine - brought due to a slight mix up in the listings and kindly served due to an excess of generosity on the part of the restaurant. Perfectly decent wine - I believe a blend including indigenous varieties but I also sense a bit of sauv blanc. Told far less of an interesting story than its flight mate however, and I didn't finish my glass.
Raviolo of rabbit, white onion velouté
  • 2010 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
    Served from magnum. On opening - tightly coiled, and could maybe even be described as foursquare. Opened up, what seemed like rusticity or clumsiness started to unfurl - this has years ahead of it but a jolly decent wine.
  • 2010 Giuseppe Nada Barbaresco Riserva Casot - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
    Looks older than the preceding wine, more bricking around the rim. And almost went in the opposite direction - on opening, clearly more perfumed, more elegant, but seemed to somewhat fall apart at the end - like a guitarist attempting a complex solo and not quite being able to pull it off. With some air, became more together. I have a few bottles left and will endeavour to drink them in the next year or two - but still more than pleasurable.
  • 2011 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
    It would be both trite and damning with faint praise to say that this is the Hegelian synthesis of the flight. Really lovely stuff - a hint of plushness perhaps, but in the classiest way. Fragrant - a hint of, maybe blueberries - and a length on the palate. A treat to drink at this lunch, and (perhaps along with the Mayr) a wine that would benefit from being contemplated over the course of an evening.
Aged beef fillet, roasted cep, potato galette
I often feel that choosing fillet in a restaurant is a waste, as it's so easy to cook well at home. There are some circumstances under which this is wrong - this was absolutely lovely in every way.
  • 2008 Marcarini Barolo La Serra - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Just what I imagine barolo to be. Purple colour with a little bricking. On the palate - tar, cherry stone. There is some fruit under the structure but it must be sought out.
  • 2004 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Cannubi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    On the nose, forest floor, just a hint of complexity. Very clean palate - clearly barolo but more resolved, more ready to share its pleasures than the previous bottle. On swirling around the mouth this really came into focus - a wine definitely worthy of contemplation - certainly one could imagine drinking this slowly over the course of a few hours and enjoying seeing its progress.
  • 2004 Fratelli Brovia Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    A slightly burned, pruney flavour which I found to be faulty. Some interesting discussion at the table as my fellow diners did not perceive this - is there perhaps a specific compound to which I am uniquely sensitive (as some are to brett or TCA)? I recall having a case of halves of some 98 St Emilion which I thought had a similar fault, but a friend loved so...perhaps I learned something more about myself than I did about wine with this one.

    We were also offered a glass of the 98, which I did enjoy, and had none of that characteristic.

    My apologies to my fellow diners, who heard my opinions on this wine shared more loudly and often than was required.
Posted from CellarTracker
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike and Leon for the very welcome and pleasing glass of JJP WS Kab 16.
 
Lovely lunch, such a treat for me, thanks to Don, Team Trompette and so many friendly faces. Very nice to finally meet some forumites in person too which I was so looking forward to.

I particularly enjoyed the Raviolo and the dessert but the food side is definitely in safe hands.

Wines, I can't add too much to Mark's superb notes but I enjoyed the contrasting whites, both with a place to have purpose, the Rinaldi Dolcetto was by far the best example I've tried and Steve's aged Barbera was perhaps the most complete wine for me.

I shall look forward to my next WIMPS enormously, probably in February :)
 
Leon Marks said:
My apologies to my fellow diners, who heard my opinions on this wine shared more loudly and often than was required.
Click to expand...
Nah,
If it seems to you to have issues you gotta stick to your thoughts, even if no one else shares your concern.
I am again coming back round to a theory that I formed early in my offline career.
Generally red wine drinkers are way more tolerant of faults within a bottle of wine.
Occasionally though may show surprising sensitivity to comments about said faults.
 
A little belated... :rolleyes: ! I was on Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and great to meet Russ and thanks for your notes..

PIEMONTE WIMPS - La Trompette, Chiswick, London (9/29/2022)

Duck roll Canapés followed by Roast Cauliflower, cashew, pickled king oyster
  • NV Etienne Calsac Champagne L'échappée Belle Brut - France, Champagne
    Straw yellow and from magnum. Nose is quite rich and shows brioche and lemon zest. Medium full bodied with crisp acidity, plenty of freshness, really pure and well balanced with good energy. An utterly convincing grower Champagne that worked well with our lunch.
Raviolo of rabbit, white onion velouté
  • 2015 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Acclivi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Deep ruby, with forest floor and perhaps some wild mustrooms on the nose. Very fine tannins delivering gorgeous red fruit. Quite prominent acidity, medium bodied and light on its feet yet with good length. It closed up after 45 mins.
  • 2008 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Mid ruby red and with wild strawberries and forest floor on the nose. Very pure fruit and silky tannins, graceful but not lacking in structure. A very soulful and complete wine, easily WOTL.
Aged beef fillet, roasted cep, potato galette
  • 2012 Enzo Boglietti Barolo Fossati - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Pomegranates showing on a deep perfumed nose. Medium bodied, red fruited with light tannins and nice overall harmony and balance. A very drop although best to drink up.
  • 2009 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Colour is correct, nose shows red fruits with a touch of menthol. Medium bodied with fine slightly grainy tannins yet there's piercing acidity that somewhat overwhelms the otherwise delicious red fruits which are on the whole covering up the lick of oak which unfortunately morphs into coconut. Still, overall the wine seemed pretty good even if not quite my style.
  • 2006 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Second encounter with this wine and this bottle seems stellar. Colour is dark crimson, and nose reveals deep red fruit that may be a bit over maturity. Drying tannins, there is red fruit there but it doesn't fill out the midpalate. Yet even if the wine is too dry, there is persistence and its still very nice.
Port roasted figs, hazlenut financier
  • 2021 Fontanafredda Moscato d'Asti - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti
    Fizzy, light bodied, refreshing and simple. Not going to win any awards for complexity but v nice all the same.

As others have said, a fantastic lunch and really enjoyed the beef fillet and admired the hearty portions too.
 
Graeme Harvie said:
A little belated... :rolleyes: ! I was on Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and great to meet Russ and thanks for your notes..

PIEMONTE WIMPS - La Trompette, Chiswick, London (9/29/2022)

Duck roll Canapés followed by Roast Cauliflower, cashew, pickled king oyster
  • NV Etienne Calsac Champagne L'échappée Belle Brut - France, Champagne
    Straw yellow and from magnum. Nose is quite rich and shows brioche and lemon zest. Medium full bodied with crisp acidity, plenty of freshness, really pure and well balanced with good energy. An utterly convincing grower Champagne that worked well with our lunch.
Raviolo of rabbit, white onion velouté
  • 2015 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Acclivi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Deep ruby, with forest floor and perhaps some wild mustrooms on the nose. Very fine tannins delivering gorgeous red fruit. Quite prominent acidity, medium bodied and light on its feet yet with good length. It closed up after 45 mins.
  • 2008 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Mid ruby red and with wild strawberries and forest floor on the nose. Very pure fruit and silky tannins, graceful but not lacking in structure. A very soulful and complete wine, easily WOTL.
Aged beef fillet, roasted cep, potato galette
  • 2012 Enzo Boglietti Barolo Fossati - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Pomegranates showing on a deep perfumed nose. Medium bodied, red fruited with light tannins and nice overall harmony and balance. A very drop although best to drink up.
  • 2009 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Colour is correct, nose shows red fruits with a touch of menthol. Medium bodied with fine slightly grainy tannins yet there's piercing acidity that somewhat overwhelms the otherwise delicious red fruits which are on the whole covering up the lick of oak which unfortunately morphs into coconut. Still, overall the wine seemed pretty good even if not quite my style.
  • 2006 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    Second encounter with this wine and this bottle seems stellar. Colour is dark crimson, and nose reveals deep red fruit that may be a bit over maturity. Drying tannins, there is red fruit there but it doesn't fill out the midpalate. Yet even if the wine is too dry, there is persistence and its still very nice.
Port roasted figs, hazlenut financier
  • 2021 Fontanafredda Moscato d'Asti - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti
    Fizzy, light bodied, refreshing and simple. Not going to win any awards for complexity but v nice all the same.

As others have said, a fantastic lunch and really enjoyed the beef fillet and admired the hearty portions too.
Click to expand...

Some great notes, summing up my thoughts much better than I can.
Thanks.
 
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