I recently had the pleasure of attending the Attems Winemaker’s Dinner at Ristorante Frescobaldi, tucked away on a quiet street off Regent’s Street, at 15 New Burlington Place. The first UK restaurant and bar from the famed wine making Frescobaldi family of Tuscany in partnership with the Good Food Society, it brings together over 700 years and 30 generations of wine makers from the Marchesi de’Frescobaldi.
Winemaker’s Dinners are held regularly at the restaurant to introduce guests to wines from the Frescobaldi Estates alongside Tuscan-inspired food. On this occasion, they showcased wines from the Attems Estate, located in the Collio district of Friuli, with a special guest wine from Luce della Vite.
We were lucky enough that the rain had passed just in time for us to enjoy a bit of fresh air and sunshine out on the outdoor terrace, where we sipped on glasses of fruity and crisp Friulano 2014 alongside canapes.
Head Chef Roberto Reatini had created a special 4-course menu to complement the fine wines from the Attems Estate.
For the Antipasti, we were served a sea bass carpaccio, so thin and delicately sliced, topped with sweet cherries and a drizzle of olive oil. I really enjoyed the fresh and clean subtle flavours, and also had the joy of eating the Marie’s portion of cherries too …
This was paired with Pinot Grigio Ramato 2014, and a Sauvignon Blanc 2015. The Pinot Grigio Ramato, which was my favourite of the two, had a pale copper tinge that comes naturally from the skins of the grapes, and was really clean and refreshing.
The Primi Piatti was a courgette ravioli with veal ragu and almonds. The pasta was well made with delicious fillings of flavoursome veal, and a lovely added crunch from the almonds. A good, hearty dish that I would happily have second servings of.
The dish was accompanied by a glass of bright and fruity Pinot Grigio 2014, and a crisp and lemony Cicinis 2013, with its rich golden yellow colour a result of oak aging.
The highlight of the meal for me was most definitely the Secondi Piatti of lamb rack with pea puree and dauphinoise potatoes. Grilled to perfection and still pink in the middle, I couldn’t resist picking up the bone with my fingers to (discreetly) nibble on any leftover meat that I could get my teeth on …
The potatoes were on the side were really rich and indulgent and a great accompaniment to the dish.
I also had a little taster of Marie’s alternative fish dish which was also very tasty.
There was certainly much appreciation for the special guest wine from Luce Della Vite: Luce 2012 (“20th anniversary”), which had a bright and attractive Garnett colour to it, with pleasant notes of dark chocolate and cherries. I don’t usually drink a lot of red wine, but this was rather pleasant on my palate, with a good balance and lovely finish.
Keeping a close eye on the time, my eyes lit up as the dessert finally arrived, and I guzzled up the refreshing dessert of semifreddo with melon in about a minute before rushing to catch the tube home. This was of course after I had downed a glass of sweet Attems Picolit 2011 … I do love dessert wines.
For those looking to celebrate a special occasion, they also have a private dining area and cocktail bar downstairs that looks quite charming and cosy. Some have commented that it felt somewhat like being inside a super yacht – not that I have ever experienced being in one, but I would certainly be inclined to accept the offer if one does come up …
A word of thanks to Ristorante Frescobaldi for a splendid evening of delicious food and wines. For those who work in the area, they also do a great lunch set menu, alongside a delicious looking a la carte menu.
The Cheekster, signing out x
The meal was complimentary, but views remain my own.
