Rubesco Rosso di Torgiano DOC 2005 Lungarotti

Dinner in Tric Trak opposite the Duomo. Tartufo night. We shared the house starter of bruschette al tartufo and tiny parcel of white onion. I then had Taglionlini al Tartufo and Lesley had Strongozzi with a slightly spice sauce. Outstanding food.

I fancied a Sagrantino to end out visit to Spoletto but the rather pricey Umbrian section of the wine list precluded that so at €15 this Lungarotti stood out as potential value for money.

Which it was – a slightly dull ruby colour, perhaps because it is unfiltered. Faint whiff of herbs. Thin body, fruity finish, slightly musty. Ready to go now. Went well with the pasta. 70% Sangiovese and 30% Canaiolo.

The book says any wine by Lungarotti in Umbria is good and the Torgiano vineyard was recently used as a stop-over for the launch of the new Jaguar F-TYPE.

Apparently, Rubesco Rosso di Torgiano is one of Italy’s first DOC wines, dating back to 1968 and “Rubesco” is a Lungarotti trademark deriving from the Latin verb “rubescere”, to blush!

“Podere Il Caio” Grechetto dell’Umbria IGT 2012. Restaurante Il Panciolle

This is a 100% pure Grechetto, normally a blending grape which features heavily in Orvieto whites. The friendly waiter in Il Panciolle suggested this when I asked if the local wine I’d chosen was dry (& @€12 on the carte somewhat less than I’d chosen – so downsold too).

Lovely pale green yellowy colour, good legs, beautiful nose. Great bang of citrus fruit – mainly apricots – rounded but crisp, dry with a very clean palate finish, this was a delicious compliment to our meal out on the terrace. Me – bruschette pomodorro followed by strangozzi al tartufo. L – Antipasto misto followed by strangozzi al verdure. A complimentary Amara rounded off an excellent meal.

Castello di Corbara have been cultivating Grechetto for some time and we’ll come back to this one again.

We took a nightcap in the piazza mercati, cold, clean, refreshing Menabrea Lager. Craft Brewery using alpine water. Nice story.