23rd October 2013 – Wine Dinner at the RIVER CAFE with LE MACCHIOLE

by KD

L&SThe River Café1

LE MACCHIOLE Wine Dinner at the RIVER CAFE

Wednesday 23rd October 2013

7.30 pm for 8.00pm dinner

A four course dinner in the private dining room of the famous River Café which will consist of antipasti to start and then a choice each of Secondi, cheeses & Dolci.

Macchiole labels

Le Macchiole was initially put onto the wine map by Eugenio Campolmi in 1983, and the estate has been run by his wife Cinzia since 2002. With 22 hectares of vineyard over much of the best soils of Bolgheri, these are, along with the Sassicaia and Ornellai’s vineyards, also among the oldest and most established vines in the region. Their careful selection of grape varieties and cultivation techniques according to climate and soil has led them to concentrate on Merlot, Syrah and most importantly Cabernet Franc, a variety which can express itself so well in the hands of Le Macchiole. All of their wines are marked by a unique and unmistakable character. Full bodied wines, and yet with clean and elegant flavours, leading to great freshness and finesse, they are incredibly sought after world-wide.

‘The 2001 Paleo might be considered a Mediterranean version of Cheval Blanc with its fabulously sweet and refined nose of berry fruit, herbs, light spices and minerals, and an aromatic focus and precision which are sheer class. Polished, sinewy, and classy in its flavors, layered, complex, [and] with unequaled breed…’ Daniel Thomases, eRobertParker.com

Wines from Le Macchiole:

2010 PALEO Bianco Le Macchiole

2008 PALEO Bolgheri Rosso Le Macchiole

2007 PALEO Bolgheri Rosso Le Macchiole

2001 PALEO Bolgheri Rosso Le Macchiole from magnum

2006 SCRIO Syrah Le Macchiole

2008 MESSORIO Merlot Le Macchiole

‘The 2008 Messorio is simply marvelous in this vintage. Layers of dark fruit take shape beautifully in the glass as this reticent Messorio shows off its pedigree. The 2008 is a decidedly inward wine that, once again, stands apart from some recent vintages. The 2008 is a mid-weight, refined Messorio endowed with tons of balance and sheer finesse. It will be a fascinating wine to follow in the coming years. 

These may very well be the finest wines I have ever tasted from Le Macchiole. There is no question these are the best wines the estate has ever produced relative to the overall quality and potential of the vintage. Over the years this cutting edge estate has been at the forefront of many developments in Maremma and Italy including working with low yields, densely planted vineyards and using small 112 liter barrels for the flagship Merlot, Messorio. Proprietor Cinzia Merli and long-time oenologist Luca d’Attoma have continued to search for ways to improve. These 2008s show the direction of the future. New oak levels are down, the quality of coopers is up and the estate is moving towards larger 500-liter barrels on some of the wines. Le Macchiole has always produced stunning fruit. Now that much of the makeup is beginning to come off the wines it is obvious the estate’s potential is limitless. Nowhere is a return to a more classic style in Italy more evident than at Le Macchiole.’ Antonio Galloni, eRobertParker.com

£175.00 per person to include a four course dinner and all wines.

Places are limited to only sixteen guests so please respond quickly if you would like to join in on this unique dinner in the private dining room of the River Café.

To book and pay for your tickets please call Colin Patch (colinp@leaandsandeman.co.uk) or James Trelawny (james@leaandsandeman.co.uk) on 020 7244 0522

Tickets must be paid for at the time of ordering and no refunds will be made for cancellations.

River Café PDR