Holidays in Italy

[Nicklasss]

In Roma. We enjoyed that wine last night, that was fresh, with almonds, light peaches and white flowers. Vety enjoyable.

We also had a 2021 Cesanese del Piglio, a bottle at 5 euros, that was very good with it cherries, little animal style and character, with anise and mineral.

A Rosso di Montepulciano of the same price was so boring and neutral, the ladies want to keep it to do sangria.

[JCNorthway]

Enjoy your trip, Nic. And do provide updates from time to time.

[JoelD]

Have a great trip, Nic! Post some cool pics of non wine related activities too!

[Nicklasss]

This is sincerely as good as basic Champagne cuvée... for 20 euros. Wr'll open some unknown white later.

Bought a 2021 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo from Emidio Pepe, to try this week.


Only the second day

[Nicklasss]

As a fan of geography, i really liked the "Italia geographic room" of the Vaticano today.

[Nicklasss]

Are the wines better in their country vs when exported? Good question. But tonight, these two wines are just outrageously good.

I'm happy we're going to Castellare di Castellina when we'll be in Tuscany. This 2020 tonight was extremely linked to my conception of Chianti : violet flowers, cherries, light ashes, more fruits. Drinkability incredible, superb with the pizza capricciosa.

The Castello di Verduno Barbaresco is also very genuine to it DOCG. Strawberries, wet cherries, kirsch, tar, dark flowers, black licorice, light cinnamon. Mouth is fresh and acid, but filled with complex nebbiolo fruit, medium power, and complex rocky smoky minerality. Already great , and for long.

We save money drinking extremely well here.

Ah yes, the olive oil, kind of mid price point grocery stuff is... great! Lot of it on good or great bread is completely worthwile.

Ciao.

[AlexR]

If I were to live in another country, it would.be Italy.

AR

[Nicklasss]

We're drinking quite well here in Rome. Many wines, lot of different bubbly cuvées from Ferrari all good. Cheap whites are more a jeopardy, but a bottle of the 2022 Venica Talis Pinot Bianco was the very best wine i had from the grape, on a dense mineral and very fruity style, but very balanced at the same time.

And now, a young wine from a legend, and if you're tired of heavy modernized wines, this is the opposite, so "artisanal and traditionnal". Light medium red color, complex nose of cherries, old strawberries, forrest floor, light chocolate, light horse, and spicy cinnamon stick. In mouth, light to medium, with old ripe cherries, grape, minerals, with lot of freshness, long final of red apple peal, dark red strawberries, and redish flowers. The final is amazingly long, and some red berries and black licorice. Well, thank you the Pepe family.

[Nicklasss]

BTW, MC was not drinking that much red wines anymore. Now she has hope, as she liked very much 50 % of red wines opened here...

[JimHow]

Sounds like an amazing trip Nicola!

[SF Ed]

Pepe's wines are so great. They are goofy expensive in the US but the early drinking ones like you had that don't get officially exported when in Italy is fantastic.

When we are in Italy Lisa will drink Pepe just about the exclusion of everything else regardless of region if it is available.

Ed

[Nicklasss]

From that Pepe wine, i guess Lisa and you are right Ed. I think i will bring back a bottle of Pepe wine to Canada. Maybe i'll go for the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo?

By the way, i tried to have a reservation at one of your recommended restaurant, but i was tou late.

And many thanks to MichaelP, for the recommendation about Franciscan/Capucins bones cemetary, and the Rome catacomb visit. Wow, unusual, amazing, and my two daughters won't sleep for 1 or 2 nights...

[Nicklasss]

Sounds like an amazing trip Nicola!

I thought you were coming here Jim, the week before us. But i guess the trip to Tokyo changed your plans. This was surely as amazing as Rome.

But i have to say, Rome, the "Eternal City", is quite something. Food, wines, art from the past, tremedous historic stuff and statues everywhere... what a place!

Getting out of Colloseo metro station to have the colleseum directly "in your face" : priceless!

[JimHow]

Yes we are pushing Rome off to October, Nicola, Tokyo was amazing. Trip of a lifetime, hoping to find the time to post a report and pictures.

[Nicklasss]

We're now in Scafati, near the Vesuvia.

Picture of MC and me, with volcano in background.

Sunset on the Vesuvia.

And having Cappucino this morning, at 10:30, where it is 33 Celsius in the shadow.

Last night, Barbaresco was big and structured for a 2017. Very good with flowers, spicy cinnamon, strong ripe red currants. More blue fruit, licorice, ashes in mouth.

[dstgolf]

Magical view Nic. Great way to spend your family honeymoon and building lifelong memories. Marriage is looking good on you!!