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Wine Details
Price:
Description:
We have followed the highly idiosyncratic 2001 with a grandly successful and
more balanced 2003. (2002 was a ruinous vintage in many parts of Piemonte,
inclusive of Castagnole Monferrato.) Ruchè relies on neither anthocyanic
endowment nor tannin to insinuate its way into one’s life. It is a variety
which employs charm and curiosity to do its bidding. Ripe ruchè veritably
reeks of dusty rose petal and on a scale of 10, this one goes to 11. The intense
floral character is also met in counterpoint by a strong impression of autumnal
baking spice.
This wine is made for us by Luca Ferraris and Francesco Gatto at their eponymous
winery in Castagnole Monferrato, the heart of the tiny district through
which the ruchè road winds. As ruchè is typically not considered a variety
suitable for extended aging, we expect this wine to reach its peak in just a few
years. And while this ruchè may not be a wine for the ages, it is a most excellent
wine for the epoch of now.
This is a very nice accompaniment to light and medium-rich red meat dishes,
though it has proven not so stellar with dried sausages. It is also a very
compelling mate to tagliatelli con funghi or, if one is fortunate to be passing
through northern Italy in November, some risotto with truffles, the
Piemontese miracle of autumn.
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