CorkRules - Episodes | Lyla Lila Lyla Lila

Available on

About this Episode

Sam Hohl, certified sommelier, joins Robert Tas to explore Lyla Lila’s wine list. Lyla Lila is located in Midtown Atlanta, and this southern European restaurant provides menus that evolve seasonally, reflecting local availability of fresh produce and seafood. Their carefully curated wine list champions winemakers and grape growers who farm their vines responsibly and craft their wines with little to no intervention. Sam identifies the best bottles on the list and offers pairing suggestions to ensure you enjoy an exceptional culinary experience.

Wines reviewed include:

2017 Guastaferro, “Memini”, Campagnia
2018 Comando G Tumba del Rey Moro, Spain
2014 Ca’ del Vent Anima, Lombardy

Transcript: Lyla Lila

Lyla Lila

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier.

Hello Sam, it’s great to be back together for another episode.

SH: Hi Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well… it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Lyla Lila.

Cork Rules

Lyla Lila

Overview

Lyla Lila is located in Midtown, Atlanta Georgia. They are a Southern European-inspired spot with an Italian focus and feature locally sourced ingredients to create dishes ranging from seafood to pasta.

Sam, I can’t wait to hear what you think of their wine list.

Where to start

This list has been crafted with primarily Italian producers, but it also offers wines from around the world to transport you wherever you want to go. There are plenty of options to complement their Italian and Southern European-inspired menu, and the focus here is selections from winemakers and grape growers who farm responsibly and create their wines using as little intervention as possible.

Starting off the evening I’d go with something refreshing while still having some solid flavor, such as the 2014 Ca’ del Vent Anima. This is an Italian sparkling rose wine made from pinot noir from the Lombardy region. Antonio Torninkas is the naturalist behind Ca’ del Vent wines and is committed to farming his vineyards using biodynamic practices and applies minimal intervention in his winemaking. In 2015 Ca del Vent’s wines were rejected from having DOCG status due to being “too complex and rich.” DOCG status means a wine is typical to an area, it guarantees quality and it means controlled winemaking methods. Antonio strives to provide an honest expression of his vineyards through his wines, and has actually embraced the fact that the wines are truly unique. This bottle is going to bring fleshy dark fruit flavors, notes of toasted biscuit, and gripping acidity. Super delicious to sip on and would be a true beauty with the crispy artichokes with lemon-mint aioli.

Another really fun way to start the evening would be with the 2019 ‘Egg Fermented’ by producers Dirty and Rowdy. Now, you might be thinking what is up with that name? Don’t be put off, it’s in reference to how they ferment the white grape juice, using large egg-shaped cement containers

that are roughly 5-6 feet tall. It’s a practice that is used in old and new-world winemaking. This is 100% Semillon from Napa Valley also ferments on the skins for 24 days, giving it structure. It’s got tropical notes bursting with lime along with mineral and dried herbs. It would be wonderful alongside your pasta course and would really compliment the creaminess of the burrata cappelletti ravioli.

Value

The beauty of an Italian-inspired wine list is the wide range of prices. There’s plenty of affordable bottles on this list for whatever your preference may be. I think the 2017 Guastaferro, ‘Memini’ would be a great option. It comes from the Campania region and is made from 100% Aglianico grapes, which are known to produce full-bodied reds. The Guastaferro vineyards are family run and they have vines up to 200 years old. They’ve trained their 10-foot vines to grow upwards like trees, so it almost gives off the feeling of a grove with those vines growing overhead, which is so cool. This bottle will have bright red cherry, pepper spice and smoke, with a silky mouthfeel. Pair it with the lamb rack with merkén and black-eyed peas to complement the meat and play with the smoky flavors from the spices on the lamb.

Celebratory

If you’re out to celebrate an occasion or just looking to take your night to another level, I’d try the 2018 Comando G Tumba del Rey Moro. This is a 100% Garnacha from the Sierra de Gredos mountain range in Spain and is grown from 60-70 year old vines. Winemakers Daniel Landi and Fernando Garcia took interest in exploring the inaccessible vineyard plots scattered through the mountain ranges they had heard about. Through this exploration they located and revived the high-altitude Tumba del Rey Moro plot a few years ago, which had been previously inaccessible and what they refer to as an “ancient landslide” that had been overgrown with brush. 2018 was a particularly good year for this wine, the weather was nice and cool, and the grapes were very healthy and able to fully ripen. The result is super mineral and stone flavors complimented by delicate floral and herbaceous notes. It’s got juicy notes of strawberry and red fruit. This would be incredible alongside their pappardelle with morel & oyster mushroom ragu.

RT: Sam Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Lyla Lila’s wine list. I can’t wait to go try them myself.

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End