"She Who Must Be Obeyed" has been demanding more restaurant experiences and fewer at home repasts lately. This can get expensive for those of extravagant tastes, so the more regular restaurant visits have been leaning toward the more mundane. We've become regulars at a new Italian chain that's opened recently in Colorado Springs, Biaggi's. It's more than a Carrabbas and not yet a full-blown Michelin contender. The food is good, the wait staff although young is well trained and the real attraction has become the "reserve" wine list. Over the last several weeks have had the opportunity to sample some Italian offerings that I might not have picked up off the wine merchant's shelf and broadened my palate a bit. Among the recent tastings were a Prunotto Barbersco, a Pio Cesare Barbera d'Alba and last night a Super Tuscan from Terrabianca called Campaccio.
The Campaccio '99 is 70% sangiovese and 30% cab sauvignon. It shows dark purple in the glass and looks a bit heavy, almost syrupy. The nose is warm with smoke, black fruit and vanilla. In the mouth it remains wonderfully warm, smooth and unctuous (always wanted to try that word in a sentence...). The finish is long and smooth with the tannins quite well resolved. Black cherry, black raspberry, smoke, leather and vanilla all seemed to show up.
The down side of these excursions into the reserve wine list have been the need to follow up with acquisition of a case of the goodies to squirrel away for the future. The Terrabianca Campaccion '99 was found at both Wine.com and Sam's
I think next week we may spring for some Barolos. Gotta check the credit card balance.