WineLovers Discussion Group

Very pale yellow. Nose of citrus and green apple, with like notes on the palate. Medium bodied, nicely balanced. OK so it didn't exactly match with the natto/kimchi/rice on the table (where was that bottle of shochu when I needed it), but it paired nicely with the Alsatian Muenster that ended the meal.

cheers,
al

Thats quite a food/wine matchup!! Would never thought of trying that. The cheese no problem but that is one tough wine to find up here.
Robin did a 30 second advisor on Falanghina last year I believe. Another off-beat varietal this forum is famous for noting!!

Lucio Mastroberardino was in town last month and I had a chance to taste with him through his family's lineup of Terredora di Paolo offerings.

The 2005 Falanghina is much as Al describes with the 2004, with an added note of fine minerality. For me, a big step up (and from $14 to $22 a bottle) is to the 2005 Greco di Tufo Loggia della Serra. Richer fruit, creamier texture, brighter acidity. A bit more exuberant all around. Another $2 will get you the 2005 Fiano, which is more floral, elegant and complex, with a drier profile.

All three have a place at the table, but perhaps not with kimchi!

By the way, among the reds, I recommend trying the 2000 Taurasi Fantica Contadina if you can find it.

-Michael

Bob: You are right, kimchi isn't exactly wine-friendly food. I usually stick with beer or soju/sochu, but figure there's no harm trying a different match once in a while.

Michael: I have seen the Greco di Tufo around (not sure which vintage), and will definitely look out for the others you mentioned. Thanks for the notes!

cheers,
al

kimchi isn't exactly wine-friendly food

I can sort of see a crisp refreshing white to go with kimchi, maybe, but what got me was the meal combination of kimchi natto and Meunster, sounds like quite a diverse range of textures and flavors.

Not that I have ever stomached much natto, but that might call out for Jura whites? Sharing funk, obscurity, relative lack of fans and all

Michael, about the TerreDora greco and fiano, do you think that these wines will age, and if so, for how long. I have had fiano that was 6 years old that (in the words of P-AIr( almost made me cry. Actually this 1999 vtg (not Terredora) drove me to check the distributor to see if there were any more 99 hiding in a dark corner. I have several bottles of the 2004 greco and the fiano, so I will hold a couple of each and see how they do.

Hi Bob,

I like Greco in its youth, but I've had a few from Mastroberardino and Feudi with about 6 years of age that have been really enjoyable--more mineral driven. That might be about as far as I would go.

I have very limited experience with the Fianos, but your experience bodes well!

Michael

alex metags wrote:Very pale yellow. Nose of citrus and green apple, with like notes on the palate. Medium bodied, nicely balanced. OK so it didn't exactly match with the natto/kimchi/rice on the table

I tried this very Falanghina a few months ago and got apples with a hint of almonds and lettuce (but not an offensive vegetal quality). Thus, I matched it with a salad topped with roasted chicken and almond slices. Delightful!