Marchesi de Barolo Wine Dinner at Michaels on Naples

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Two dinners scheduled today by Chianina and Michaels on Naples. Owned by the same person so you would think that scheduling would be better.  We opted for dinner at Michaels
tonight. www.michaelsonnaples.com.  Better menu and we have done Stags Leap before which is the winery Chianina was featuring.  Valentina Abbona who is with Marchesi de Barolo wines in Italy was hosting. She is part of the family. Apparently the town that the winery is there are only 700 people. Probably all family since it is Italy.

Started out with Branzino de Sale.  Salt baked Mediterranean sea bass. Very good flavor, fish was moist and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately I had one fish bone in the flesh and another at the table had several.   Paired with a 2016 Gavi di Gavi. Wine was perfect with the dish

The Antipasti was Vitello Tonnato which is a  roasted and chilled veal loin with tuna sauce and caper berries. The sauce was interesting and really accented the veal loin. The large caper berry on top. One person at the table had never eaten a caper berry before. New experience for them. Similar to a green olive flavor but different texture. A 2016 Barbera D'Alba "Ruvei" was the wine selection. Not you typical rustic wine. I really liked this one. Full, rich and very easy drinking.

Third course is Agnolotti Del Plin, which is a beef stuffed pasta with veal reduction and fried sage.  Outstanding flavor and the  reduction was rich and loaded with flavor.  This was my dish of the night. Wine paired was a 2014 Barbaresco. This wine was a bit on the rustic side. Dark fruit and a bit of spice. 

Intermezzo is a Anatra Trio. Liberty Farms duck three ways. roasted breast, confit duck leg and duck  neck panzarotto which was similar to a croquette.  I liked this dish but it did not hold a candle to the stuffed pasta we just had.  Three wines were served. 20121 Barolo "Cannubi", 2011 Barolo, "Coste di Rose" and a 2011 Barolo "Sarmassa". All good but when I got down to just a small amount in each glass and blended them together I was pleasantly surprised at how good that blend was.

Next dish is Brasato Di Manzo. Barolo braised short rib with polenta and escarole.  I though the short rib was a bit on the dry side. Good flavor. The polenta was really good,  very creamy. Paired with a 2013 Barolo.  Excellent wine. Big and bold but soft on the tannins.

Dessert is a Torta Di Nocciola. Hazelnut cake with gianduia gelato. Gelato was outstanding but the cake was a bit dry but have really good favor. The wine is a NV Barolo Chinato. Almost medicinal. I wasn't taken with this wine at all.

Favorites tonight is the beef stuffed pasta and the Barbera wine.  Haven't been to Michaels for dinner in quite some time. Ever since he opened Chianina I have preferred their food.  But this was such a good dinner I may have to revisit soon.