Elisabetta Foradori is one of Italy’s top “superstar” wine-makers. I am a huge fan of her wines, especially her Teroldego. So I was very excited to see this one in the fridge at Amanti Vino on my way to a birthday dinner.
My son Pierce just turned 17 and he chose one of his favorite, and one of our favorite restaurants, Raymond's in Montclair. Dinner was great and this wine was amazing. Pierce has a very discriminating palate for his age and knows great food. Plus we always run into friends at Raymond's which of course is one of the most popular restaurants in Montclair.
Let me tell you more about this wine.
The full name of the wine is Myrto I.G.T.Vigneti delle Dolomiti Bianco. It is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, which I am sure you are familiar with and 40% of an exotic grape called Incrocio Manzoni.
"This white grape is the result of crossbreed of Riesling Renano and Pinot Bianco, and was created by Professor Luigi Manzoni, of the Istituto Tecnico Agrario (Technical and Agricultural Institute) of Conegliano, between 1930 and 1935." Italian Flavor Consortium.
The juice of these two grapes are blended after aging in wooden casks of oak and acacia to a delicate, airy, yet richly flavorful and fragrant wine.
It went very well with the rich and diverse flavors of our dishes which included the delicious calamari with a tamari ginger sauce, an Asian styled seared tuna with wild rice cake, broccoli, mushrooms, leeks and soy honey chili sauce, diver scallops in a spicy Mango salsa with greens over creamy grits, and the Monk fish tacos shredded cabbage, guacamole, garlic crema, roasted tomato salsa. Usually I might serve three different wines with these dishes.
The wine maker is likens it to the Myrto plant of the Mediterranean that has a " delicate expression of elegance, it is a symbol of strength and vitality for its energy and compact form that enables it to survive long, dry summers." Wine Maker.
I found that it has bright and flourishing aromas of white flowers, citrus, and young peach. As it hits the tongue and mouth it opens and evolves with stronger tastes of peach, apricot, and honey. It unfolds with light but flavorful fruit, slight minerality and also has a almond bitterness in the finish. It has a delightful and interesting texture white with balanced acidity and a long graceful finish. Not at all like typical New Zealand or California Sauvignon Blancs.
I was lucky to get the 2004 vintage of this wine. These quality whites do age nicely. The current vintage is the 2007. It is a $32 or $27 bottle depending on the vintage. People often ask me if wines at that price point are really better than the good wines I find in the $10-$15 range.
The key concept here is "what is good?" I prefer to use the word enjoyable. Most of us do not have a very sophisticated wine palate. We know what we like and know when it tastes and feels good and when it does not. And of course when wine is enjoyed with food as opposed to alone the experience is completely different. Many of us really don't notice the often subtle differences that distinguish wines that are good, better, and best.
I find many $10-$15 wines that are very enjoyable, especially when pared with the right food. Many $25-$30 wines are better (more good) but not necessarily any more enjoyable. I will agree that finding quality wines at the lower price point can be a challenge.
Myrto, as are all of Elisabetta Foradori's wines, is both much better and much more enjoyable than wines you find at a lower price point. In fact I would place this wine among those that command much higher prices. At $25-30 it is a real value.
Amanti Vino is very good at offering wines at all price points and you can count on every one being good and very enjoyable.
They have great wine tasting most Saturdays. Their wine dinners and classes are among the best I have ever attended.
Their staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.
Myrto was also the name of a woman in Greek mythology that some say the Myrtaan sea was named for she was a daughter of Menoetius and sister of Patroclus. By Heracles she became the mother of Eucleia. I can picture her drinking this wine with great pleasure.
Raymonds
28 Church Street
Montclair, NJ
(973) 744-9263
Amanti Vino
30 Church St Montclair NJ 973-509-9463
