A traditional, timeless first course that is simple to prepare and has an irresistible taste, tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms is one of those perfect comfort foods. The porcini – a mushroom that in Italy is found in the northern regions of Piemonte, Alto Adige and Veneto, as well as in the central regions of Emiglia Romagna, Tuscany, Marche and Umbria – with its dense flesh and deep woody flavors with nutty undertones fills this pasta dish with those umami notes that are delicious but not always the easiest to pair with wines. Here are a few porcini and wine pairing suggestions from Sensorial Wine Analyst and leading Italian wine critic Luca Maroni.
Tagliatelle with Porcini Mushrooms and a Chianti
Chianti 2016 Maramai
“Maramai’s Chianti 2016 is an outlier of pure valor. It appears to the eye like a dense, stainless fruit. Its pulp is rich and colorful, compact and harmonious in this very concentrated and complex wine. Qualities that come not separated from fragrance and softness, volume and thickness of an aroma that expresses not only mightiness and opulence, body and structure, but also grace, delicacy, and freshness. The harmony between acidity and softness, between these and its textured tannin is roundly and beautifully accomplished. The sharpness of the bouquet, the turgidity of the residual fruit, the freshness, the smooth, supple pulp of spicy blackberry: this is enological lights of its primary, mighty, viticultural glow.”
Tagliatelle with Porcini Mushrooms and a Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon Lafòa 2013 Colterenzio
“Great wines in great series from Colterenzio. An analytical and palatable quality that to the senses becomes ever denser, ever softer with its stainless varietal clarity. The blackberry and black cherry power of Cabernet Sauvignon Lafòa, pure and violet-like, is apparent.” This wonderful red wine, that is intense, structured and rich, is selected by Luca Maroni as an accompaniment to the tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms. Dark red reflections accompany a bouquet with tones of black currant, bitter chocolate, marzipan and vanilla.
Tagliatelle with Porcini Mushrooms with a Merlot
Merlot 2016 Floriano Cinti
“This is a wine from Floriano Cinti that achieves absolute excellence. It is the result of viticulture driven to its maximum achievement, and of limpidly respectful transformative winemaking technique. It presents a clarity of aroma that the Colli Bolognesi Merlot 2016 reveals of distinctive, very high tenor.”