Making the Case for Elio Grasso

The Grasso Estate in Monforte d'Alba

Elio Grasso is a top notch producer from the Monforte d'Alba region of Barolo. Their cellar vinifies only estate-grown grapes. The classic Nebbiolo that has been cultivated in the area since the early 20th century has been joined by Dolcetto and Barbera planted in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

We recently had the opportunity to bring in some Elio Grasso wines at some great pricing. And tasting these three wines at our bar confirmed the greatness of Grasso. The Dolcetto, Barbera and Langhe Nebbiolo are fantastic wines for their respective categories, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better value at this kind of pricing. You really should try some while they are around.

2007 Elio Grasso Barbera Vigna Martina $22.99
2008 Elio Grasso Dolcetto d'Alba Dei Grassi $15.99
2008 Elio Grasso Langhe Nebbiolo Gavarini $18.99

And if you can find their Barolo, buy them up; either the Gavarini Vigna Chiniera or Ginestra Vigna Casa Maté, aged in Slavonian oak barrels in a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Barolo style; or the Rüncot, made in a more modern idiom and matured in new French oak barriques.

Find your style. Buy by producer.

Spring Risotto with Alsatian Riesling

Spring Risotto with Asparagus, Leek and Shallot

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons of butter
4 cups 1/2-inch cubes asparagus
3 cups 1/2-inch-wide slices leeks (white and pale green parts only)
4 tablespoons finely diced shallot
2 cups arborio rice
4 14-ounces (or more) vegetable broth (home made best)
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese plus additional (for serving)

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and shallot and sauté until they begin to soften, then add asparagus next to soften as well (but no need to cook through yet).

Add rice to pot and stir 1 minute making sure to coat the rice with oil and sauté. Keep broth hot in another small sauce post, and ladle 1 cup of broth in. Simmer until absorbed, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining broth by 1/2 cupfuls, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding next, stirring often, about 15 minutes.

Continue to cook until rice is just tender but still very creamy, stirring gently and often, about 10 minutes longer (about 25 minutes total cooking time). It must still have a bite. Remove from heat. Stir in freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano and finish with a few pads of butter. Season to taste with salt and white pepper.

-- Try this dish with this wine. An excellent pairing. --

2009 Kuentz-Bas Riesling Tradition
This wine expresses a complex nose of bright citrus fruit and orange, finishing with apricot and a menthol-like note. On the palate it is crisp, lively and full of tropical fruit. Great acidity gives it a certain freshness which longs for food. This is one the best values for Alsatian Riesling on the market. Retail: $16.99

Pork - Eight Ways

Korean BBQ at Palsaik Samgyupsal; highly recommended. Pork Belly marinated and seasoned 8 different ways. All very different. All excellent. Very reasonably priced. Festive environment. What's not to like?

Check out the Jonathan Gold review [here].

Palsaik Samgyupsal
863 S. Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 365-1750
Open daily, Noon-9pm

Los Angeles Daily News Picks

Rosso Wine Shop
3459 1/2 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA
Ph: 818-330-9130
rossowineshop.com

Jeff Zimmitti, owner 

Red of the week

Chateau de Macard Bordeaux Superieur, 2009 ($12.99)

This French red has a taste of plum, blackberry and blueberry, with notes of sweet spice and tobacco. A blend of cabernet franc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, it is a perfect match for grilled steak or lamb chops.

 White of the week

The House of Independent Producers Chardonnay, 2010 ($11.99)

This unoaked white from Columbia Valley in Washington is filled with bright citrus fruit and lemon notes. Fresh aromatics and a clean finish make this wine a perfect match for any grilled fish or a Nicoise salad.

Great values!

Get Yourself to Santa Barbara

The wines of Santa Barbara are only getting better and better. The winemakers are figuring out the best sites for the right grapes and they are developing a deft hand on the production side of things. There are more interesting places to eat and the region itself is spectacular (much like most wine country).

This past trip we discovered some great new wines but we also cemented our opinion on some favorites. At the top of the heap, we very much enjoy Brewer-Clifton and Arcadian. Come the end of the day, those are the wines you will find in my personal cellar. They age nicely... well, for newish standards, meaning 10+ years. And they are some of the most balanced wines you will find. Graceful and fruitful but also brimming with acidity and structure.

Some other favorites from this visit include Samsara, Piedrasassi, Demetria, Bratcher and Ojai (not quite Santa Barbara but visited on this trip). Expect to see more of these wines in the shop soon.

By way of food, we highly recommend Brothers Restaurant at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos and Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos. Both excellent quality.

Demetria Winery

2006 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir

Full of Life Flatbread

Happy New Year!

We want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! We graduated our fifth year at Rosso Wine Shop this past September and we are excited for the future. It is, and looks to be, a great time in the world of wine. Plenty of fantastic choices. And no shortage of good deals. If you look. And we do.

Here are some of our favorite non vintage Champagne picks (all from the Terry Thiese portfolio):

NV Chartogne-Taillet Brut Cuvée Ste. Anne $48.99
(90 Points: Wine Advocate) The NV Brut Cuvee St. Anne bristles with considerable energy for the year. It shows lovely balance in a fairly approachable style best suited to near-term drinking. The St. Anne is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, based on the 2007 vintage with 20% reserve wines from 2006 and 2005. In 2007 Chartogne was not happy with his Meunier, so it was left out of the blend. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged June 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.

NV L Aubry et Fils Brut $46.99
(90 Points: Wine Advocate) The NV Brut is a pretty, graceful wine layered with expressive red fruit, dried roses and sweet herbs. It shows plenty of the house’s understated finesse and personality. The finish is round, caressing and totally inviting. The NV Brut makes a great introduction to the wines of Aubry, one of Champagne’s most fascinating growers. The NV Brut is 25% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 45% Meunier and 5% other grapes. This version is 45% 2008 juice and 55% a solera reserve spanning vintages 1999-2007. Disgorged July 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.

NV Pierre Peters Brut Cuvée Réserve Grand Cru $59.99
(92 Points: Wine Advocate) The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvee de Reserve is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of Chardonnay in the Cote des Blancs. Pure, wiry and wonderfully expressive, the Cuvee de Reserve flows gracefully with layers of varietal fruit from start to finish. This shows superb clarity, depth and polish, particularly at the NV level. The current release is 65% 2007 and 35% reserve wines from a solera cuvee that contains 15 vintages. Roughly 2/3rds of the fruit comes from Mesnil, while the rest is from Cramant, Avize, Oger and Chouilly. This is Lot CBSAAI, disgorged: May, 2010 and bottled with 7 grams of dosage. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016.

Favorite Restaurants of the Year

Here is a short list of some of our favorite restaurants this year. Most are relatively casual but deliver in the quality department and, if you can, they are well worth the visit.

Animal
435 N. Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.animalrestaurant.com

Bashan
3459 N Verdugo Rd
Glendale, CA 91208
www.bashanrestaurant.com

Bouchon
235 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.bouchonbistro.com

Canele
3219 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
www.canele-la.com

Lazy Ox
241 S San Pedro St 
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.lazyoxcanteen.com

Le Comptoir at Tiara Cafe
127 E 9th St
Los Angeles, CA 90079
www.lecomptoirla.com

Papilles
6221 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
www.papillesla.com

Providence
5955 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
www.providencela.com

Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90069
www.lucques.com

Spago
176 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.wolfgangpuck.com

Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
www.thetastingkitchen.com