Over the Easter lockdown, I savoured two amazing wines. A white pinot noir from Piemonte and an intense cab sav from Coonawarra. Tasting notes and food pairing suggestions
Welcome to my second drinking under lockdown article here on Wine and Other Stories. While most of us are in self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, we winelovers need to find a new (and more private) setting to enjoy our beloved beverages.
As I mentioned in my first drinking under lockdown post, the intimacy of your own home can offer its own pleasures. There, you relish a bottle at a slow pace, observing how the wine evolves over time. Even better, you can pair it with carefully chosen and lovingly prepared homemade delicacies.
During this period I’ve decided to share with my readers some of the best wines I have imbibed under lockdown. I will also suggest food pairings that I believe will enhance the wine’s enjoyment.
In this article, I will highlight two wines made from black grape varieties. But… Surprise! One is a white wine! The two wines are: Cavallotto Pinner Bianco (from Piemonte, Italy) and Bellwether Cabernet Sauvignon (from Coonawarra, Australia).
“Pinner” Bianco by Cavallotto
‘Pinner’ is an astounding and unusual wine. It comes from the slopes of Bricco Boschis, in Castiglione Falletto (Piemonte, Italy). Located in the heart of the Barolo area, you would expect this wine to be a powerful red made from the nebbiolo grape. Instead, this wine is made from pinot noir. And it’s even a white wine!
Cavallotto vinify a black grape (pinot noir) to obtain this fresh and harmonious white. The result is a wine that retains the best pinot qualities, such as elegance and earthiness. I paired ‘Pinner’ with salmon steaks cooked in a soya sauce and balsamic vinegar reduction. It was delicious. ‘Pinner’ is not only great with seafood but I imagine it would also be terrific with white meat.
This wine is available for purchase at the Wine Society. Below are my tasting notes.
Cavallotto - Pinner Bianco, 2018
The Cavallotto winery was officially founded in 1928. Cavallotto own 23 hectares in Castiglione Falletto, bang in the middle of the Barolo area in Piemonte, Italy. Most of the property lies in the Bricco Boschis district. With the exception of a few small plots, the entire Bricco Boschi cru is a monopoly of the Cavallotto family. Over the years, they have contributed to the development of the area and its increasing prestige.
Cavallotto’s Pinner is vinified from pinot noir at a low pressure and using gentle pressing. Fermented in stainless steel vats, the wine is left in contact with lees for 6 months before being bottled.
Pale antique pink in the glass, the wine opens up with notes of apple, pink grapefruit and pithy white fruit. Typical of the pinot noir grape, there are subtle nuances of strawberry and a lovely earthiness. On the palate, the wine’s texture is silky and refined. It is medium in body with a limpid high acidity. Citrus notes integrate with red fruit, flowery suggestions and a whiff of dill and acacia leaves. This is a really pretty wine. What it lacks in concentration, Pinner makes up with harmony and finesse. An example of great balance and poise.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon by Bellwether
I tried this wine a few years ago during a tasting held by The Whisky Exchange (where it is still available to buy). At the time, I was so impressed I bought six bottles. Now I wish I bought more…
Situated in the south-east corner of South Australia, the Coonawarra district is famous for its cabernet sauvignon. Bellwether’s wine is a textbook example of Coonawarra cab sav, and one of the best I’ve tasted so far.
While celebrating with my girlfriend on Easter Sunday, I prepared baked lamb chops (see picture below) and paired it with a 2010 vintage. However, I can see this wine pairing splendidly with any kind of meat, especially barbecued. Hard cheese would also make a wonderful pairing. Complete tasting notes follow.
Bellwether - Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010
Award winning Australian winemaker, Sue Bell first founded Bellwether in 2008. The winery is located in a historic shearing shed outside the small settlement of Coonawarra. Sue specialises in small parcels and works with a number of local growers. No matter the origin of the grape, the wine is always made in the shearing shed. Her website states “Sue believes wine alone is irresponsible and a bit strange, so has established a place to share life with wine in it. People are literally invited to see and get involved in the process”.
Dark ruby in the glass, the wine is inky with a deep intensity. On the nose, the flavour intensity is pronounced. After 10 years of ageing, the multitude of flavours coalesce and contribute to the wine’s harmony. Blackberry and blackcurrant fruit notes are at its core, with hints of dried thyme, eucalyptus, juniper, earth, roasted pepper and smoked wood. On the palate, it’s velvety and full bodied, rich and textured. Supported by high acidity and a persistent intensity, this wine is juicy, complex and long. A first-class Aussie Cab Sav for a special occasion!
I thoroughly enjoyed the two wines I presented in this article. During this challenging time, we do need to savour the pleasures of life. For me, wine is one of them. Especially when it’s so good!