Tonight we are having a baked pasta dish out of the current issue of Bon Appetite which features an article entitled, "Baked Pasta" and exclaims that it "is kitchen alchemy at its best. A turn in the oven takes these recipes to a melty, rich, transcendent level."
We are trying the Rigatoni with Eggplant and Pine Nut Crunch, a recipe by Roxanne Gold.
So what are some good Italian wines to serve with this dish? It is a week night so it has to be an inexpensive every day wine. The dish has no meat but a lot of tomato so that tells me a medium bodied red. Many would say Chianti and we do have two you might like, but I would also suggest something different a Dolcetto, or a Sangiovese, the predominant grape in Chianti, from outside of Tuscany.
This Chianti is an elegant young wine with a lovely bouquet of fresh fall flowers and a hint of violets, abundant with flavors that will develop with aging. Drink with your favorite pasta or pizza.--Winemakers Notes
At Shoppers Vineyard for 6.95
Melini Chianti Borghi d'Elsa Vintage: 2009
"Selected vineyards on the hills along the river Elsa, by old and picturesque villages of Montes Reggiani, Colle, San Gimignano and Certaldo comprise the blend of this soft bodied and subtle Chianti. The wine is aged for more than one year in oak imparting velvety soft vanilla tannin. This versatile wine makes an excellent pairing with pizza, pasta in meat sauce, chicken, beef, Antipasto, and pork. " Winemakers Notes
Sells for around $9 Of the two I liked the Elsa better.
Both of these wines from Tuscany are predominantly made of with the Sangiovese grape. But this grape is also grown in other areas of Italy like this one from the region of Molise which is along on the Adriatic Sea between Puglia and Abruzzo. Wine has been produced here since 500 BC when the land was inhabited by the Sanniti and the Osci, two pre-Roman civilizations.
Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2008 Molise : Terra degli Osci
The Di Majo Norante winery is found on the estate of the Marquis Norante of Santa Cristina which has producing wine since the 1800s. The estate was upgraded in the 1960s a and vines were replanted to gain optimal exposure and take advantage of the summer breezes. The region has excellent soil composition and a slope toward the Sciabolone and Madonna Grande valleys which make a perfect grape growing setting. The owner Alessio Di Majo hired Riccardo Cotarella a renowned enologist, to ensure the highest quality production for all the estate’s wines. The wine is aged in steel and large oak barrels for months to achieve greater smoothness and softness while preserving the supple fruity flavors of Sangiovese.
Wine Advocate
The 2008 Sangiovese Terre degli Osci is an incredibly delicious, full-bodied wine with gorgeous clarity and definition. Made in a bold, fruit-driven style, the wine offers terrific depth and a long, polished finish. This harmonious red is a knockout! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012.
Found at Magnolias Wines for $9.99-7.99
My last suggestion for something different is the Domenico Clerico Langhe Visadi Dolcetto 2008
" "Colored a deep, purple red the Visadi has a very fine nose, graciously perfumed with notes of blackcurrant, plum, eucalyptus, and a bit of toast. It is warm and soft on the palate, velvety and fresh in the mouth. The tannins are delicate, and rounded by an intense and long finish. An excellent companion to red meat, pasta dishes, and medium aged cheeses." Wine Maker
This small estate is renowned for its sexy and highly sought after Barolos but also produces impressive Barbera and juicy Dolcetto. Owner Domenico Clerico is one of the key proponents of the modernist movement in the winemaking process of Barolo, creating more round, fruity wines. He believes that the grape, rather than the production processes, is the key to quality wine and passionately advocates the importance of the land in wine-making. This explains his concentration on single-vineyard wines as they allow the character of the land to shine." Wine Press
At Magnolias for 14.99 - 11.99 the later being after case discount
