Every time Michele and I are in Rome we go to L’Angolo Divino, a wine bar just off Campo dei Fiori. This time it was a mild sunny day and we were able to sit at tables outside in a charming piazza a few steps from the restaurant.
We have known the owner Massimo Crippa for many years. I enjoy speaking to Massimo about wine. Sometimes I will choose the wines and sometimes I will ask Massimo to choose the wine for me. This time I asked Massimo to select 3 local wines from around Rome.
Cosmico Vino Frizzante IGT Lazio 2019 Casale Certosa made from 100% Trebbiano from the Castelli Romani. The soil is of volcanic origin. The wine ferments in the bottle for about 12 months. Then there is the refermentation in bottle and the wine is disgorged by hand. Aging takes place in the bottle. The winery is certified organic. This is a wine with hints of citrus fruit, lemon a note of pear and a touch of apple with good acidity.
Assortment of Italian Cheese – We asked Massimo to choose a variety of local cheeses which were served with chestnut honey.
Assortment of meat – including mortadella, coppa and prosciutto
….
Olive paste and zucchini Bruschetta
Fresh Bufala Mozzarella with olive oil and herbs
I asked Massimo for two wines made from the Cesanese grape that comes from the hilly region south of Rome. This grape variety comes in two distinct types, the large-berried Cesanese Comun, and the less widespread Cesanese di Affile. The two are united in both Cesanese del Piglio DOCG wines and Cesanese di Olevano Romano DOC wines. Cesanese di Affile, which is considered the superior of the two, has its own Cesanese di Affile DOC. Massimo chose two wines which were different in style.
Cesanese Olevano Romano Càlitro 2016. Piero Riccardo Lorrella Reale made from 100% Cesanese di Affile. The soil is sandstone from the cretaceous period. The wine is aged for 34 months in wood and another 24 months in bottle before release. This is a medium bodied wine with hints of cherry, pomegranate, red plum and cranberry. Very enjoyable.
.
Casale Della Ioria Torre Del Piano 2018 made from 100% Cesanese Piglio Superiore Riserva. This dry red wine comes from a vineyard with volcanic soil at the beginning of the Ernici mountains. The training system is guyot, there are 3,500 vines per hectare and the vineyard was planted in 1986. Maceration on the skins takes place, then fermentation in stainless steel for 15 days. Malolactic fermentation is in steel. The wine then ages in barriques for 8 months. This is a full bodied wine with hints of sweet red plum, sweet pomegranate and vanilla.
Ossobuco
Zucchini Torta
L’Angolo Divino Via dei Balestrari n.12/14 angolo con Vicolo del Giglio n.6 Roma 39 06 6864413
Charles Scicolone on Wine 