Les avis de ChiantiClassico123 sur Qype
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Fraz. Bardella 1, 14022 Castelnuovo Don Bosco
ChiantiClassico123
le 4 octobre 2008
Castelnuovo don Bosco is a small place south of Turin on the way to Asti. We nipped up here to see the proprietor’s son, Angelo Turco. He was the best man of our local friend’s son and they attended agricultural college together.
This is one helluva remote place to find and involves negotiating miles of unmarked and untarred roads, going up and up until you get to the lovely scruffy old farm at the top. To get up there, a tractor is perfect and a Fiat Panda does the job, but leave the Lambo at home.
The smell of farm, cowshit and grapes is lovely and the views are delightful (see pix).
Angelo cultivates various grapes from Chardonnay and Merlot through to the local reds Nebbiolo and Freisa. I asked him whether they did in fact cultivate Sangiovese grapes in Piedmont (Sangiovese mostly grows in Tuscany and goes into - yes - Chianto Classico!). He grinned and disappeared for a couple of minutes, returning with a bunch of Sangiovese.
Jeez! Have you ever eaten grapes fresh off the vine? It was a first timer for me and I rather fancy it won’t be the last.
To come back to the mission in hand. We had gone to get supplies and wanted some of his Freisa d’Asti.
Freisa is a beautifully dark purple coloured grape. In Italy, they have bubbly reds, ranging from the well-known 'spumante’, down through the less-lively 'frizzante’ to the very, very slightly bubbly 'vivace’. I suppose bubbly red may not appeal to all, but this is delightfully light, has less bubbles than mineral water and prosecco and is just effervescent enough to tickle the palate.
It is pleasantly light while being full of taste and is an ideal 'summer session wine’, suited to the requirements of discerning and cultured pissheads like myself.
But having said that, true connoisseurs have always appreciated Freisa d’Asti and among them was the first king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, who always insisted that the wine be served at the royal table.
Mission accomplished, we went on to meet Mama, the cats and dogs and the herd of some 16 Piedmontese cattle. They are a very light colour, something like Swiss cattle and are said to be delectably tasty. I must admit that upon viewing the charming little 2-week old calf, I had slight pangs of conscience about my predilection for veal.
So let’s see what the future holds for good old Angelo - a lovely guy. Inquisitive? Learn more here:http://www.qype.co.uk/place/248594-La-Borgarella-Chieri
arlene Sounds like an ideal outing for Dolce Vita-ers…!
5 octobre 2008
ChiantiClassico123 (Late response) Do those guys ever do anything these days? ;-)
10 septembre 2009