L’Aquila d’Oro
(Castello Di Trussio), 

Localita' Ruttars,11,

34070 Dolegna Del
Collio

Tel.: +39 0481 61255May 2008 

I admit to having a special fondness for L’Aquila d’Oro as
this is where I had my wedding reception a few years ago. The restaurant is
located in the Castello di Trussio, which sits on a picturesque hillside in the
Ruttars district of the Collio. The Castello itself is beautiful and impeccably
maintained. An outdoor terrace provides a gorgeous setting for an aperitif
and/or dinner when weather permits. The indoor dining room is decorated in a
formal, traditional style. The always-charismatic proprietor Giorgio Tuti runs
the dining room with his inimitable flair, while his sister and wife work the
kitchen. L’Aquila d’Oro is famous for its extensive wine cellar, which is
Tuti’s passion. While prices aren’t cheap the selection is extraordinary.
Reservations are an absolute must, regardless of the season.

This delicious dinner provided a much-needed break from my
hectic tasting schedule. A plate of shrimp wrapped in lardo, a specialty
here,was delicious,as the flavors played off each other beautifully. The giant
raviolo with a poached egg insidecovered the entire plate and was utterly
hedonistic. My lamb chops were also quite flavorful, although the traditional
presentation with accompanying vegetables came across as an element of the
cuisine that could use a little updating. After an intense day of tasting
Friuli’s great whites I was in a mood for a change. Vega-Sicilia’s 1987 Unico was in great shape. Still vibrant and
fresh, the wine offered up an exotic array of spices, roasted coffee beans,
leather, licorice and ripe dark fruit. This bottle provided about 30 minutes of
superb drinking, after which it began to clamp down. While the 1987 is not
regarded as a one of the most profound Unicos, it was nevertheless a privilege
to catch a glimpse of this beautiful Spanish red.

Food:

Shrimp wrapped in lardo

Poached egg raviolo

Roasted lamb chops

Wine:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

1987&nbsp;&nbsp; Vega-Sicilia
Unico&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 92

--Antonio Galloni

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