HAIL

We had a disaster 4 days ago in the Vineyard.

On Sunday 4th July, a brief but incredibly powerful hail storm hit us around 3pm. It lasted around 30 minutes, but it was so severe, the hailstones were almost the size of Golf Balls. It came from nowhere.

The neighbour said they hadn't seen anything like it in 50 years. It actually smashed some of their windows. The grapes were smashed, with most of the bunches showing around 50% devastation due to the impact of the hail. And the vines themselves were buffeted by strong winds. There is a lot of work to be done to tidy the vineyard up and to get the vines back on track. Undoubtedly any crop will be severely limited, if not lost altogether.

What Wine with Fresh Truffles ?

Well of course, it does depend very much on the chosen Truffle dish.

But last weekend, I think we came very close to a near perfect combination. At a charity truffle dinner one of the dishes was a Black Winter New Potato and Green Bean Salad.

The recipe link is here;

http://www.trufflehunter.co.uk/truffle-recipes.php?id=13&folder_id=4

The wine we chose to accompany this was a Cono Sur Viognier 2009, and the combination was heavenly !

Latest Truffle News 5th October 2009

We are now pleased to report that we are seeing a good and steady supply of high quality black autumn truffles. These are now available to our clients at just over £300 per kilo.

Unfortunately the quality of the white truffles is not yet satisfactory, and we consider that it is still too early in the season to be hunting these. Past experience and current climatic conditions indicate that the White Truffles will not be at their peak until around early November. Further updates to follow.

Truffle Hunting Days

If you ever get the chance to visit Le Marche during the Autumn or Winter season, we would recommend you make an effort to attend one of Moreno's Truffle Hunting Experience days.

These excursions can be tailored to your group's requirements. The basic truffle hunting day costs € 90 and includes a truffle hunt, a cookery demonstration to learn how truffles are best used, followed by a very long and wonderful lunch.

Moreno can also organise truffle hunting and cookery weekends.

The truffle hunting is carried out in a very scenic location and Paulo Ciccioli, the truffle hunter, is a very fine chef.

For more information check out Moreno's website and contact him directly;

http://www.lemarcheholiday.net/contacts.html

Italian Truffle Bonanza!

Rain, rain, rain ! During May June and July 2009 central Italy has been inundated with wet weather. This has been the wettest summer anyone alive can remember. Afternoon thunderstorms, accompanied by heavy rain have been the daily norm.


This has been a difficult summer for anyone working in the tourist industry. The bad weather, combined with the dreadful state of the world economy, has resulted in greatly reduced visitor numbers. The farmers are also having a difficult time, battling against the rain to get their crops in.


Now for the good news. Trifolau are already forecasting an absolutely bumper autumn for truffles, with prices expected to be well below those seen for years.


The wet weather in May June and July will greatly improve both the quantity and quality of the truffle harvest for October, November and December, meaning that there has never been a better time than Autumn and Winter 2009 to sample the world’s finest fresh truffles!

The Best Breakfast in the World?

Well maybe not, but the breakfast we had at Hotel Losset in a Burgundy village called Flagey-Echezeax was certainly the best breakfast I've ever had.

This small family run hotel is in a village in Burgundy, where we stopped off recently while driving from England to our house in Italy.

The breakfast started with the usual offerings of tea, coffee and fresh orange juice. Then followed a beautiful selection of home made fruit compotes, mango and apple, strawberry and mint, kiwi and pineapple, orange and banana, and finally blackcurrant and pear, all beautifully presented in a varied range of small glasses.

Then a basket of home baked fresh bread, croissants, and pastries, accompanied by three very large pots of home made preserves; strawberry jam, apricot jam, and a home made marmalade.

Followed by homesmoked salmon, and a plate of 4 local cheeses, including a wonderful cheese called Époisses de Bourgogne, an unpasteurised stinky cow’s cheese made in the local Epoisses village.

This was all home cooked food, lovingly prepared and beautifully presented.

And the price ? 8 Euros for each adult. What a bargain ?

The hotels website is; http://www.hotel-losset-bourgogne.com/en-default.htm

Does anyone else out there have any other great breakfast experiences ?

CHATEAU MUSAR VERTICAL

On Friday the 24th April, I was very lucky to attend a Chateau Musar Vertical Tasting held at Lower Mill Estate, Gloucestershire. The tasting was a Musar white, followed by 6 vintages of Musar Red going back to 1989.

The event was organised by the various Ashton Keynes wine groups, and the tasting was tutored by Richard Brazier, Ancient and Modern Wines, and raised £850 being the first in a number of events planned this year for the Ashton Keynes 2009 Hope for Children fundraising.

The following are my tasting notes;

Musar White 2001; Rich Gold colour, bouquet of apricots, apples, honey, soft oak. On the palate, complex flavours of apricot, honey, floral notes, full bodied, dry long lingering flavours. 90 pts.

Musar Red 1997; Medium garnet colour pale rim, light bouquet of warm spice, aromatic wood, soft red cherry. On the palate, big acid, lots of full on red fruit, mainly red cherry, strawberry, tobacco, quite tannic and should improve 5-10 years +. 92 pts.

Musar Red 1996; Very pale, almost rose colour, watery edge transparent. Soft bouquet, red fruit, raspberry, farmyard. Palate, soft red fruit, cherry flavours, burnt musar flavour, very raisiny, well balanced but short flavour lacking intensity. Very Good. 89 pts.

Musar Red 1995; Medium garnet, pale rim. Bouquet slightly oxidised flavours, treacle, licquorice. Porty, raisiny, hint of oxidisation, tasted slightly burnt, big alcohol and very rich. Disappointing. 84 pts.

Musar Red 1993; Medium to dark garnet, watery pale rim. Bouquet red fruit, farmyard, spice, leather, tobacco, vanilla. Palate; big acid, full on red fruit, cherrys, strawberries, lots of dried fruits, figs, plum, soft after taste of leather, spice, oak, tobacco. Lots of complex flavours,. Well balanced, long lingering intense flavours. Should keep well for 5-10 years more. This was the highlight of the evening for me. Excellent. 94pts.

Musar Red 1991; Pale crimson, almost rose colour, very light transparent. Soft bouquet, red fruit, raisins, dried fruits, spice, leather tobacco. Palate; sweet red fruit, big aromatic wood and spice, soft and gentle complex lingering flavours. Well balanced classy wine. Should keep well for 5-10 years more. Excellent. 93pts.

Musar Red 1989; Pale rose salmon colour, slight cloudiness. Bouquet rich red fruit, jammy, raisins, leather. Palate; soft red fruit, well integrated, soft wood leather, hint of spice but fruit dominated. Lacked complexity of the 91 and 93. Time to drink up? Good; 88 pts.