Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Lunch at La Cave, Milan

A few months ago, a certain Mr. Giampero Sappa contacted me thru my blog, that he had stumbled upon surfing the web. He is the Sales Manager of a Winemaker called Mauro Sabaste, in the town of Alba in the Piedmont region. He was asking me if I knew any wine distributors in Manila, so I told him I would hook him up with the ones I know. I also mentioned that I was going to be in Milan. He immediately said that we should meet for lunch and he would bring some samples of the wines they produce.

We met in a Restaurant in downtown Milan called La Cave. A simple Restaurant that offers lunch for businessmen, fresh ingredients and a very nice and cozy place. We started with Giampero, who is an enologist, explaining to me how they produce the wine and where it is located.

For starters, we had a white 2008 Mauro Sebaste Roero Arneis. Roero is a DOCG located in the Roero hills north and east of Alba in southeastern Piedmont. Its made with 100% Roero. Very light wine and refreshing, was a good match to the first dish we had: Tuna and Swordfish Carpaccio with Salad.



For seconds, we had: Stinco di Vitello al forno con Patate (Roasted Veal Shin with Potatoes). The veal was quite tasty, although I found it a bit tough. For our wine, Giampero recommended we try the 2006 Mauro Sebaste Centrobricchi Langhe. This wine is 80% Barbera and 20% Nebbiolo. The vineyards are located in the Commune of Alba, La Morra, Monforte, Barolo and Roero, that is the reason of the name “Centobricchi” which means top of the hills.


As far as I can remember, I have never tried this type of wine and I really enjoyed it. The wine was not decanted but it was open for about 1 hour before we drank it. It was a well balanced wine with some tannins. Perfect match with our meat dish.

After our meal, we continued chatting about the wine industry and in particular over a cafe (that's how they call espresso in Italy). He also left me six bottles of samples of his wine, which I can't wait to try once I get back to Manila...

Grazie Mille Giampero !!! Ciao !!!

10 comments:

Noel said...

Sorry, I posted this in your previous entry by mistake:

You've had a somewhat similar wine to the centobricchi (but 100% barbera, also oak aged) during our 14 April 2009 Italian lunch at Pepato: Jojo's 2004 Elio Perrone Mongovone Barbera d'Asti Superiore.

Best,

N

Unknown said...

Hi Mig! I know someone who might be interested in distributing those wines here. Will get in touch with her:-)

Winston said...

Wow, Miguel! You and your blog are going places. Congratulations!

thebluefrog said...

Hi MIguel! My friend Chinkee told me about your milan trip. If you are still in the area, please visit Marchesi Alfieri (one of the most excellent winemaker from Piedmont-PARKER) Emmanuella Rossi-the owner, is a good friend of my hubby's mother. I was planning to import their wines. I just received the samples but i have not tried them yet since i think i have to leave it to rest for a week or two since they travelled by air. http://www.marchesialfieri.it/index.html

I hope you get to visit their Chateau, if you want, i can give them a call so they can accomodate you and let you taste the wines and compare :)
Best,
thebluefrog

Miguel said...

HI Bluefrog - Pity I just left MIlan and in Rome now...although I'll be back in MIlan in September - I'd love gto visit them then....

Miguel said...

Chinkee - great. Let m eknow and I can hook them up :)

Tyhye are very easy to deal with :)

Miguel said...

Thanks Winston :)....

thebluefrog said...

Hi Miguel,

No worries, i received the samples from Marchesi Alfieri by Fedex. Let me know when you get back lets have a tasting with Chinkee. Im not so familiar with Italian wines. :)

Miguel said...

Sure :) anytime .....

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