We don’t often have the opportunity to taste single
estate regional wines from Europe and it is always a very good learning
experience when we do. On Monday we attended a tasting of wine from the
Fruili area in North East Italy, presented by the producer, Fantinel. The tasting was held
at Mondiall restaurant in the Waterfront. We were welcomed with a glass of
chilled crisp Spumante Prosecco DOC extra Dry and then proceeded upstairs to a
tasting of their range of wines, which they export to South Africa. The company
was founded by their grandfather Mario, who was in the hotel and restaurant
business in 1969 when he bought his first vineyards, continued by his sons
Luciano, Gianfranco and Loris and is now run by the third generation Marco, Stefano
and Mariaelena
Lunch downstairs in the main restaurant was prepared
for us by Chef/owner Peter Tempelhoff and was rather tempting and special
Mondiall
restaurant in the Waterfront
The view from
the dockside outside the restaurant. Postcard perfect
A slight
distraction, the Volvo Ocean Race arrived this week and the boats are all in
the same vicinity, out of the water being repaired and prepared for their next
lap of this round the world race
Awaiting us was the chilling Prosecco,
a Charmat method sparking wine made from Glera (the grape formerly known,
itself, as "Prosecco"
in unusually shaped bottles for bubbly
Lynne chatting to two sommeliers. Angela
Lloyd in the foreground
Canapé of Miso glazed pork belly
topped with pineapple salsa, a nightmare to eat neatly, but superb flavours.
Art on display in the restaurant
The wine tasting took place in the
smaller upstairs gallery
Marco Fantinel presented their wines
The wines come from just outside Trieste
and Vencò-Dolegna del Collio, a few steps from the boundary with Slovenia. The
mild climate, provided by the protection of the Julian Alps in the north and
the Adriatic Sea to the south with the fertile soil made up of sandstone marls
from Eocene origin create good terroir for their wines
We tasted 2 Proseccos; one Ribolla
Gialla Brut full of bready perfume with quite crisp acidity and length; a
Friulano smelling of linen and almonds with a silky mouth and the classic touch
of bitterness on the end – Lynne, who used to ski a lot in Northern Italy is
sure she drank a lot of this lovely wine.
Two Pinot Grigios, Italy’s most popular grape –
the second one was full or artichokes, earthy and smelling of daffodils, with a
nice full satisfying mouth, definitely a food wine. Then a Collio Bianco which
is a blend of Fruilano, Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay. The white blend Eclisse La
Roncaia blew us away. It is full of fresh Hanepoot grapyness, and sweet honey
silkiness. Warm grapes balanced with acidity, lovely depth and length with a
nice bitter wood on the end. And this is only from 1 barrel of Sauvignon Blanc
which was added, the wine was not wooded
Mauro Pavesi, Fantinel's Brand manager for Africa
The line up of wines served with a great lunch.
The red wines were a
Cassis driven elegant Cabernet Sauvignon; the Venko Collio Rosso was our
favourite red. The K should be reversed but is impossible to print. It’s a
blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. Incense wood and good deep fruit
on the “dive in” nose, with chalky tannins and a huge expression of ripe fruit
layers with sophistication. The only question for this great wine is to drink
now or keep? Then a Refosco , an ‘Amarone’ style made from this indigenous
grape. After a late harvest the grapes are partially raisined for three weeks
on straw, then not crushed, but macerated for 25 to 40 days after which it
spends 2 years in French oak . It won the Decanter Grand Trophy. It tastes like
a spicy and aromatic shiraz with cassis, chocolate and cherries
Neil Pendock looking pensive
Cathy Marston too
Chef patron Peter Tempelhoff in his kitchen
saying “Oh, it’s you!”
Time for lunch downstairs. The starter
was truly magnificent. Beautiful fresh seared Tuna Tataki, with a red quinoa
and seaweed salad and a miso vinaigrette with a creamy mayonnaise. So many
complimentary textures and flavours. Most of us could have done with a second
helping
On the table at the same time, some
chick pea humus with grilled vegetables and a dusting of smoked paprika
Media and food and wine trade enjoying
lunch. We sat with Nicholas from Giovanni’s and Roberto Reffo from Adriatic,
the importers of Fantinel
Oh those chips. Completely irresistible
duck fat truffle and parmesan chips, served with a tender grain fed sirloin and
in a small side bowl, a rich whisky mushroom cream. It also had a rather sweet
barbecue sauce on the steak which we were not overly keen on. It was
accompanied by fresh asparagus and grilled vine tomatoes
Pudding on the pass
Crunchy almond tuille, white chocolate
and passion fruit gateau with a raspberry sorbet and coulis. This was served
with the Ramandolo dessert wine made from Verduzzo Fruilano
The local price list
It was a very good presentation. Viva Italia!
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014
