11.6.8 WINE, ZUPPPA, AND B.B.KING

“The thrill is gone… The thrill is gone Baby”…
Sing it B.B.
“Yeah yeah yeah… the thrill is gone Baby.”

No B.B…. the thrill ain't gone yet… maybe we'll be singing that tomorrow but tonight you are helping to put a cap on the most perfect of days, on the perfect mountain, in the perfect ristorante and the most perfect spot in the whole world [for now]:

Toscana, Italia.

Rewind time…

We left you off as we were heading back down the VEERRRRYYYYY winding road from Montalcino to Castelo Banfi on the next mountain over.

We were welcomed with a delightful Cuvee Aurora Rose Spumante aperitif by the cheerful Bernadette, from Germany, along with some excellent piccorino cheese and bread sticks as we prepared for our Pranzo a la Castilo [lunch in the Castle]

We had chosen a 3 course tasting menu with select wines and started off with a Selezione de Salumi con crostino lardo, a selection of Tuscan meats and cheeses, 2 salami’s an outstanding Capacolla, a Parma Prosciutto unlike any I have ever tasted and a crostini with jellied lard. This was pared with a delicate Pino Grigio that was soft yet ambitious with a light fruitiness with a very crisp finish.

Then came a true piate tipiche [typical dish] Ribollita Toscana, a hearty Zuppa, with fresh Fagiole Cannalinni, Spinachi, a light pomodoro sauce and sourdough crostini. Unbelievable flavors. My tongue was still a bit raw from the recent flair up of lesions from radiation damage to my mouth but I wasn’t missing this for a anything. This course was accompanied by a rich Rosso di Montalcino, a tart yet surprisingly smooth vino rosso that had light hints of berries and plums with a warm glowing finish.

Our Secunda Piata [second plate or Entrée] was a Tagliata di Manzo con patate rosemarino, Sliced Steak with a light balasmic glaze done to perfection. Even though I was having a hard time swallowing it… it was incredible as was the Brunello di Montalcino that it was paired with. A great nose and color, it was soft and supple, with large flavors of cherries, plums and berries. The smoothest Brunello I have ever had.

This fabulous lunch was capped off with assorted biscotti. a great cappuccino for me and a Caffe Normale [espresso] for the still licking her chops, Dragon Lady.

After meeting a delightful family from New Zealand celebrating the mothers 59th birthday [another Scorpio as was her daughter], who invited us to join them on a tour of the castle, we had to beg off as our winery tour was ready for us, but we exchanged email addresses and promised to keep in touch. We meet such interesting people… in the most interesting places.

The tour of the winery was very delightful and complete including background on the creation of Banfi vineyards by an Italian-American John Marianni Jr. in 1977 who bought 1100 acres of mountainside forest, in Montalcino, cleared the land and started the first vintage in 1984. A subsidiary of Banfi Vintners of Old Brookville, NY which was inspired by his great aunt Teodolinda Banfi, the first lay person ever to head a pope's household staff.
Through intense research to define the geo profiles of the land, what to plant etc, they invested big bucks in Sangiovese and Muscato. His researchers defined 19 clones of 680 varieties, they chose 3 and planted them on the highest mountains for the perfect product and shared the technology and clones with the community to raise the bar for quality in Montalcino

There’s more to come… we’re writing this on the flight home….but the battery is dying… and we haven't gotten to B.B. King yet...

Ciao 4 Now
Chuck and utterly ecstatic, if not dizzy from the heights and the wine, Dragon Lady.