Friends with whom we're going to spend a week in southern Tuscany in October want to do a combination dinner with Brunello tasting. I know Ristorante Banfi offers a 5-course tasting menu with wines. Can anyone suggest other options, preferably based on personal experience? Thanks for the help.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
The only issue I would draw about the Banfi tasting course is that it is Banfi wines which are commercial wines lacking the individuality of the smaller producers. Many a restaurant in Montalcino offers a Brunello by the glass but not a full on tasting selection.
Osticcio is a wine bar with food just up the street from the Communale, When youare at the Piazza di Populo it is on the "lower" of the two streets heading "uphill". If you see the Communale on your right and the Bar alle Loggia del Piazza on your left you are heading the right way.
They offer a 4 Brunello tasting and the wine selection is quite good. The food is top rate bar food. They close at 7pm so this is only a lunch option. I recommend the Misto di CInta Sinese, a huge plate of salumi made from the rare traditional Sienese pig. You get prosciutto, salami, capicolla and a tiny bit of lardo. Also wonderful are the anchivoes with green salsa. This was the best balance of wine and food we had. You can also have meats and cheeses at the Enotecca Fortezza at lunch.
For a dinner, you can go to one of several places that have good wine lists and try several wines. It will be easier on your pocket book and palate if you go with 2001 Rosso di Montalcino. I would rather have a great Rosso than a run of the mill 1998 Brunello.
Grappolo Blu has a very nice selection of Rosso and a super menu. 4 Rossi from great producers will set you back about 80 Euro.
Boccon di Vino has rather rich and a little but fussy food that is wonderful as well. They offer wines with their menus. I would definitely try them at least once but I really preferred the traditional Montalcino foods more.
Thanks, Dean -- Osticcio sounds great. And don't worry -- I'm going with all your info on Brunellos AND the Rossos printed out. BTW, I thought you also like the 2002 Rosso and thought it was a great bargain???
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
We LOVED Boccondivino and it was the one place we splurged on a really good Brunello. Compared to Dean we are NOT knowledgeable about wines (so listen to him not me) but their list of Brunellos was unbelieveable and they don't make you feel "stupid" if you aren't a true afficianado, It was definitely our best meal in a month in Italy, and the Brunello list was incredible! And the feelign was so friendly and accomodating -- I can't recommend it highly enough!
THey do have a realy good list of wines at Boccon di Vino. We really enjoyed the Ciro Pacenti 2001 Rosso. I ate there twice (once with the ST GTG and once with Andrea Costanti) in one week. That to me was a bit much. But I did enjoy our meal. It just was quite rich.
We were debating weather to go to La Chiusa (way far away in Montefollonico) and the meal at Boccon di Vino met our need for imaginative cooking so well that we dropped the La Chiusa idea.
Another palce that has a lot of nice wines on the list is Osteria di Piazza Padella. Its just behind the Communale on the "upper" road. Great imaginitive cooking but lighter and more earthy flavors. THey have Gianni Brunelli Rosso and Brunello 97 on the list.
I think that 2002 Rosso will ahve a huge range of quality. The best will be mostly what would normally be Brunello. But for producers who buy their grapes or who are still going to make a fairly normal amount of Brunello, the 2002 Rossos will probably not be so good. Hill side vineyards will fare better than flatter vineyards. You will just start seeing some 2002's coming out at vintage time this year. They ahve to wait a year after harvest to release them.
For a wine shop, I finally visited Bernard Dalmazo. Great selection with a lot of wines at some lower prices than other stores and some wines that other stores are sold out on. They also ahve a comprehensive selection of wines other than Brunello. Plus a free internet access point.
BD and Pierangolini are my favorite shops.
Osticcio had a really small but well selected range of Montalcino wines with a lot of harder to find vintages, but the pricing is variable. And the view is spectacular!!! They too had a great selection of non Tuscan and other Tuscan wines. I wanted to buy a bottle but forgot to of Traminer Maso Furli from Alto Adige. Its spectacularly aromatic.
Hi Ann. This is not from personal experience, so file this information as you see fit. I have corresponded with the winery Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona and plan to visit there in early November. It is located in Castelnuovo Dell'Abate. Their e-mail makes mention of a new (as of this fall) estate restaurant at Agriturismo Ferraiole as a good place to enjoy lunch or dinner after a tasting at their winery.
Our current plans are to lunch at Boccon di Vino (if they are open in Nov.), but we might also check out this new restaurant.
Posts: 1453 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
Thanks, Janice -- here's a link to Ferraiole. If we go there, I'll let you know what it's like, although we won't be back till 22 October and you may be gone by then. BTW, where in Alabama are you from?
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
I live in Selma now but was born in Tuscaloosa. Would say "Roll Tide" but our football team has had some problems of late (probation, coach with penchant for strippers).
We leave on the 24th. Perhaps there is someone out there willing to check out the restaurant for both of us. I am not sure of the opening date, though.
Posts: 1453 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
quote:Originally posted by Janice in AL: Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona .... It is located in Castelnuovo Dell'Abate. Their e-mail makes mention of a new (as of this fall) estate restaurant at Agriturismo Ferraiole as a good place to enjoy lunch or dinner after a tasting at their winery.
We are friends with Jenna Patterson of Ciacci. When we were talking about where to eat she did not mention the restaurant at the Agrotourismo. I wonder, it is owned by the winery or is it a separate operation that is leasing the property from the winery?
In any case, it looked very nice and is a bit off the beaten path, about a mle out a white road from Castelnuovo dell'Abate.
If you do visit Ciacci, buy some bottles of their Riserva 97. It is one of the 2-3 best bottle of wine from the vintage that I have had. My favorite 97 Riserva is Costanti, followed by Le Chiuse and Ciacci. While the Ciacci is porbably the most expensive of the three, it is also the most collectible of the three. In any case, the only difference between the three is their stylistic differences. There certainly is no intrinsic quality difference, just which you prefer.
Not sure, Dean. The e-mail refers to the restaurant as the "estate" restaurant. That phraseology certainly leads one to think there could be a connection or mutual ownership.
Ciacci Piccolomini is mentioned in the Carla Capalbo book, was recommended by a collector friend in San Francisco, and also has been mentioned here on several occasions. I did take note of the wines you brought home and was duly envious.
My husband and I have vowed to abstain from wine hauling this year after two consecutive years of such. But, that is what we say now, safe from all temptation here in the States. I can anticipate that we will become weak, probably after a 3 hour lunch at some heavenly trattoria with glorious view, food and wine to match.
Posts: 1453 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
After a taste of the 97 Brunello Riserva, 97 Brunello Normale and 2001 Rossi di Montalcino, I bet you cave in big time. Its so easy too with the styrofoam boxes. Pierangolini will give them to you if you buy about 8 or so bottles! Checked luggage, how hard is it! (I am such an enabler )
The CIACCI PICCOLOMINI D'ARAGONA website has a section on agriturismi including Le Ferraiole so there is a connection of some sort. And I still say "Roll Tide," Janice, having grown up in TN but with a mother from north Alabama (which is why I asked).
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
I have been to the restaurant you mention and found it quite acceptable. We were there in May of 2003. They have a great outdoor seating area that has a splendid view. As previously noted it is owned by the same group as the winery. The afternoon we were there Beppe was entertaining a few other growers so I was very interested in what they were drinking - unfortunately could not get close enough.
Beppe is also President of the Montalcino Football team so congratulate him on moving up a division last year.
Dan, Athens, Georgia
Posts: 202 | Location: Athens, GA | Registered: 14 April 2002
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