Lacrima di Morro d’Alba , 2008 , Velenosi

Lacrima di Morro d'Alba is a tiny wine appellation in the Marche region which is on the east coast of Italy on the Adriatic sea.This appellation is situated within the Ancona province near the town d'Alba.

 Lacrima  translates a tear drop and when this Morro  grape is ripe it sheds a tear of juice and when this happens  they know in the vineyard that  the grapes are ready to be picked.

This particular wine is made by the Velenosi family in the historic town of Ascoli Piceno.

Retails @ €14.60 

Colour: It is a deep deep  morello cherry colour ...like the cherries u see on a black forest gateau.

 

Nose: This is a wine with a distinctive though not strange aroma.It has a  fragrant almost perfumed nose. Initially  it reminded  me of a talcum powder my granny used to wear which was called Tweed which came in  a brown tin cannister with a tweed pattern on it. ..a combination of  fresh violet and pink rosebuds  with some fry's Turkish delight going on as well.

Palate: On the palate it shows lovely structure.....with the fragrance coming through as well as a lovely citrus cut which comes in very useful with richer foods.

I visited this winery last September  and we were  served this wine with, a  fresh bruschetta  with with wild mushrooms and truffles,Olive all'Ascolana  made from a particular local, giant olive stuffed with mixture of meats which are breaded and fried and  some homemade breadsticks with  a whole array of different types of salami  and hams.

Despite Ascoli Piceno's location a mere 30 kilometers from the Adriatic, seafood is not especially common inland. La cucina delle colline (hill country cuisine) is more prevalent. As well as the foods listed above the  region is  also known for hearty fare with a heavy dependence on pork and lamb; sheep's milk cheeses and homemade egg pastas . 

On the breadstick issue... I like everyone else in Ireland used to think that  the packets of breadsticks on the centre of the table in Italian restaurants were for munching on while waiting for your food.They are in fact supposed to provide a textural foil  for the lovely Italian hams served with the Antipasti course.You are supposed  to  wrap the ham around them!

So travel does broaden the mind, because I would never have know this until I observed  it  in Italy. 
Commercial Breadsticks                                                                                       Fresh Breadsticks

 If anyone is ever on the Adriatic for their hols I would recommend a visit to Ascoli Piceno's Piazza Poppolo.There you  will find the famous old world Cafe Maletti. Service is by white jacketed waiters.Coffee is served with a little plate of biscuits ;alcoholic drinks come with a few savoury snacks. This is the place for an aperitivo before dinner or a digestivo afterwards, and caffe – with or without a amaretto  - at any hour of the day.

Sitting outside on a Sunday morning guarantees you a good seat to watch the Italians take their Sunday constitutional around the piazza.It is actually more like a parade....they  saunter in a clockwise direction  around the square  looking  gorgeous... dressed and groomed to perfection  ...male and female ..one more handsome than the other.

 
Grooming, especially  for men,is a daily part of Italian  life as opposed  to the more sporadic efforts we see here in Ireland!

Q,How do you know a Paddy is going abroad?

A,Because he gets a haircut and polishes his shoes!

Arrevaderchi ! 

Evelyn 
THE VINTRY ,RATHGAR

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