WTN: St Emilion, frizzante Campania, outlier Piedmont

Wednesday Betsy made a bolognese sauce as well as broccoli with mushrooms (Jenise's broccoli 2 ways recipe, very good); while I went downstairs looking for a Chianti, I espied the NV Carputo Ardore Piedirosso. You know, Emilia-Romagna is the home of Lambrusco, and while this isn't Lambrusco, it IS slightly petillant slightly sweet red wine. When am I ever going to open this (and why did I ever buy it?). You know, this isn't bad. A little frizzante, just a touch off dry, bright and prickly, light body but with some tannins in background. Raspberry fruit, a little tobacco leaf, not complex but not bad. If you can handle semi-bubbly semi-sweet red.
B/B-

I opened a Bordeaux later that evening and had one glass. Thursday I had a board meeting, hurried home afterwards to see if I could see my wife on "Live at Lincoln Center" performance of Butterfly. Bastards kept cameras on singers, but I did get a glimpse of my favorite cellist at the beginning of 3rd act. Nursed some of the Bordeaux as I wateched, the 2004 La Confession (St Emilion). Big, extracted, and ripe for a 2004, dark berry and coffee flavors. Pretty impressive, but didn't say St Emilion or even Bordeaux to me, and while I wasn't unhappy at having spend $23, not looking to buy more. B

I am however planning on buying more of the $15ish 2004 Sella "Orbello" (Coste delle Sesia ). Mostly Barbera, with Nebbiolo and other grapes making up balance. Delicious tonight with pork chops sauteed with mushrooms, while watching the Heels romp. Black cherries and raspberries. Some earth, mineral, asphalt aromas. Lighter body, good acidity. Combines qualities of Beaujolais, Loire, and Piedmont. Not especially complex, but lovely food wine. B+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

 

Goodness me, we missed Betsy on TV? Think "Live from the Lincoln Center" is top notch, how did I miss this broadcast?

Hard to say you missed her, orchestra shots were minimal except for one section. Some friends of ours got more "face time." Good "Butterfly", though its not my favorite opera and I've seen several times. Will watch beginning of rebroadcast (I missed due to meeting) to see if there are better orchestra coverage, just because its fun to see folks you kno on national TV, even for a sec.

Thursday I had a board meeting, hurried home afterwards to see if I could see my wife on "Live at Lincoln Center" performance of Butterfly. Bastards kept cameras on singers, but I did get a glimpse of my favorite cellist at the beginning of 3rd act.

Dale, I know how you feel with regard to Betsy's performance getting short shrift on TV. I mentioned my father's passionate interest in classical music in a post to Diane from Long Island this morning. He, also from Long Island, has been to the Lincoln Center many, many times to enjoy performances there. But in his own right he has been interviewed and videotaped at least five times for TV shows about the moon landing, because he managed the team that developed the Apollo Rocket. My father is a great speaker and very presentable, but every time, when the show finally got spliced together, they chose to show the astronauts only, who just drove the thing. Besides my father, everybody but possibly one member of that team of scientists and engineers is dead, I believe. When he goes, so goes the story. I should write a piece about him some time instead of all the stupid things I dream up to write about. At least some of the folks in the audience at the Center probably focused on the Cello. And I am proud of Betsy.

Covert

Dale, I found it!! Betsy plays at 4am up here. KSPS Spokane.

guys, my "bastards" was in fun. I (and Betsy) are pretty clear that people go the opera for the singing (its one of those cases where one hopes that orchestra isn't too noticable!). Betsy gets her attention the other six months of the year playing chamber and Indian music, in opera season she is content with the appreciation of colleagues.