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1302 East Sixth Ave, Denver, CO 80218 303-744-6219 |
The Food
Pork with Fennel and Juniper (Serves 4)
1/2 fennel bulb
1 tbsp. juniper berries
2 tbsp. olive oil
Finely grated rind and juice of 1 orange
4 pork chops, each about 5-1/2 oz/150g
Finely chop the fennel bulb, discarding the green parts.
Grind the juniper berries in a pestle and mortar. Mix the crushed juniper berries with the fennel flesh, olive oil and orange rind.
Using a sharp knife, score a few cuts all over each chop.
Place the pork chops in a roasting pan or an oven-proof dish.
Spoon the fennel and juniper mixture over the chops.
Pour the orange juice over the top of each chop, cover and marinate in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
Cook the pork chops under a preheated broiler for 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat, or until the meat is tender and cooked through, turning occasionally.
Transfer the pork chops to serving plates and serve with a crisp, fresh salad and plenty of fresh bread to mop up the cooking juices.
The Wine
Every now and then, I come across a wine so delicious and exciting, that I am reminded of what I really love about the wine business. I taste dozens of wines weekly, if not daily. At the store, I don’t want to know anything about the wine, including its origin, the varietal or price, until I have tasted it and taken copious tasting notes. On occasion I run across a whole slew of wines that are amazing. As a buyer, it is even more thrilling when the cost is significantly lower than expected. This just happened while tasting a round of wines from the Italian importer Small Vineyards.
Some importers offer DI’s (direct imports). This means that the wine is directly imported as ordered by retailers and restaurants, usually months in advance of shipping. The retailer can often find special wines and good values. There is a savings because the distributor and importer do not have to keep the wine in inventory, it is just shipped out to the retailer.
I tasted several amazing wines when Gabrielle from Small Vineyards visited us at Joy Wine and Spirits. But one in particular stood out, not only because it us delicious, but also because it is incredibly well priced … and when I read the recipe this month, I knew they would make a wonderful pair. The 2001 Tre Donne Logos (yes, 2001 is their most current release) is a unique blend of wine from the famous Piedmonte area. Piedmonte is most famous for producing Borolo and Barbaresco – made from the Nebbiolo grape. Tre Donne Logos is made from 60% Barbera, 20 % Nebbiolo and 20% Cabernet. Its wonderfully powerful nose is reminiscent of Nebbiolo, aromatic of dark cherry and candied almond with hints of anise. The wine is medium-bodied and complex with anise, cherry, orange zest and hints of black tea. Its long, crisp finish is slightly tart and has mild suede-like tannins. Only 400 cases of this wine have been produced, some of which will be arriving at Joy Wine and Spirits at the end of November. This wonderful wine will sell for around $25. If you are interested in a direct import to you, e-mail us or call by Friday, and the case of this spectacular wine will only cost $20 per bottle. It may be cellared for 8 to 10 years with its peak being in 3 to 4 years. Ciao!
