The Penniless Pensioner or PP as we all know him isn’t exactly penniless. In fact he’s filthy rich and a bit of a rebel. He can afford 1982 Chateau LeSnob but looks for a deal and sometimes I think it is to aggravate his wine snob friends. If you have been reading his autobiography lately in this publication you may remember he was madly in love with Ginevra the most beautiful woman in Italy. Unfortunately as the daughter of a very bad mob boss in Naples, Don Lupara, she was murdered in a car bomb attack just before PP was to marry her. Enough of that sadness.
PP did recall while living in Naples and often dining with Ginevra and Don Lupara they had wines made by local growers bought in demi-johns for unbelievable low prices. And they were great wines. Don Lupara was a vicious brute if you were on his wrong side PP used to say and as PP was the apple of Ginevra’s eye Don Lupara treated PP with respect but also warned him if he ever double dealt Ginevra he would personally slit PP’s throat.
It was Don Lupara that introduced PP to Prosecco although he could have afforded the best Champers because he was a true Italian at heart supporting the Italian wine (and cocaine) industry. Don Lupara was fond of Albino Armani Prosecco which PP loves to drink although he tends to cry as it reminds him of Ginevra so he asks me to have some with him to offer friendship and consolation. You see PP has “gone through” countless women but it is Ginevra that stirs his soul.
The Prosecco has fine bubbles and on the nose is loaded with lime and lemon with lemon tarts Ginevra’s mother used to make with local lemons grown in her own orchard in Positano. It is crisp and frothy, lightly citrusy. More of a sensation than a wine PP likes to say. PP loves it with prawns flown in from Capri prepared in a butter garlic sauce. The Prosecco cuts through the garlic and butter and compliments the prawns. We went through four pounds of prawns and two bottles of the Prosecco and PP did not cry thank goodness.
(Albino Armani 1607 Conegliano Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. Cantina Vini Armani, Ala, Italy $18.95, Liquor Control, Board of Ontario # 16602).
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