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Il Poggione Rosso Di Montalcino 2004

tom@personalwinebuyer.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:07:37 +0000

Established in 1890, Tenuta Il Poggione has become one of the most highly regarded and sought-after Brunello di Montalcino producers. This Tuscan estate, or tenuta, is owned by the Franceschi family, who continue to build on their already stellar reputation.Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino is made with carefully selected Sangiovese grapes handpicked from estate vines that are at least 15 years old and aged in French Allier Oak barriques for 12 months.

Ruby red in color, this nose had some basement characteristics which were a little too much for me -- I decanted a number of times and came back to it a couple of hours later and the nose had softened quite a bit -- some stewed rhumbard and dark plum. Medium body, with good tannins and acidity, with some sour cherry. I had a glass of this the day after I opened it, the nose was much more approachable -- and while I thought it was quite drinkable, I would put this wine in the food wine category. It's a decent wine, but I think it probably shows better served with food -- and probably with a slight chill (52-56 degrees).

Rosso von Banfi

wolfhos — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:49:41 +0000

Castello Banfi ist einer der großen Produzenten in Montalcino und gehört einem amerikanischen Weinimporteur. Die Produktpalette umfasst nicht nur Brunello und Rosso, sondern auch Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio und diverse Sangiovese-Gemische, die Banfi als Super-Tuscans bezeichnet. Ich hatte einen Rosso von 2002, kein besonders gutes Jahr für die Toskana. Der Wein hingegen war sehr ordentlich, ein typischer Barrique-Sangiovese, aber sehr stimmig komponiert. Und für das schlechte Jahr ordentlich im Alter. Die Farbe ist dicht, granatrot, schon ins ziegelige gehend. Intensives Aroma, würzig-beerig, Brombeere, Himbeere, Wacholder, Leder, Zigarrenkiste, Vanille. Im Geschmack eine frische Säure, Beeren, trocken, immer noch deutliche Gerbstoffe, körperreich, etwas feurig, lang. Gut im Alter, hat noch eine gewisse Strenge, Eleganz und sicher noch ein paar Jahre vor sich. Passt zu Rinderfilet.

Birthday Dinner (Pegu Club & Peasant)

mheusler — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:12:06 +0000

So last night my girlfriend took me out for my first birthday dinner (the second being at Babbo next week.) Don't ask my why.

We started with a drink at the Pegu Club which is one of those "original cocktail" bars in Greenwich Village. While it turned out to be a pretty cool place, I liked Tailor and Death and Company much better. Both places were quieter and carry less of a touristy theme to them. The drinks we had were very good, not quite up to the quality of the other two but still tasty. My girlfriend had some sort of champagne cocktail (she didn't like it, I did) that I can't remember and I have a rye based cocktail that was good but nothing extremely memorable. We also shared a plate of chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce which surprisingly tasted a lot like chicken stay with spicy peanut sauce... What is really cool about Pegu is that on some of the tables and the bar there are different syrups, molasses and bitters so that patrons can make drinks to their liking. This is something that I think only Pegu does and it takes a cocktail lounge with some serious confidence to let people "alter" the bar tender's "babies." Next week we're going to PDT and hopefully Milk and Honey a little while after so those reviews will be forthcoming.

For dinner we tried a restaurant that I have been wanting to go to forever and a day, Peasant on Elizabeth street. Peasant is a high end Italian restaurant (complete with the whole menu in Italian), a large regional wine list and an open air kitchen filled with wood burning ovens.

We were seated very close to the kitchen which bothered me for multiple reasons. Firstly, every time something was put into the hot oven, smoke would shoot out and engulf our section, already suffering from a pretty bad cold and irritated throat, this was not enjoyable. Secondly, it was hot and we were literally feet away from hell burning fire. We got used to it after a while but should there really be seating to close to the kitchen? Lastly and obviously this is to no fault of Peasant the couple next to us (who ordered the same exact things we did) was unbelievably annoying. I am not exaggerating when I say that they both spent at last a half an hour describing their parent's mansions, room by room by room. Aren't you supposed to stop bragging about your parents by six at the latest?

Peasant starts you off with a big basket of bread accompanied by some very good extra virgin olive oil and a bowl full of fresh ricotta cheese, that was rich and creamy. For appetizers we shared a dish of spicy octopus baked in the wood burning oven and a plate of beef capriccio with ricotta cheese and marinated artichokes. The octopus was very spicy, drawing it's kick from chili peppers, I liked it very much though my girlfriend though it was overcooked. It was a miniscule portion. The beef capriccio was okay, nothing great to say nothing bad here, but I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't find this dish in at least fifteen restaurants a few blocks south in Little Italy.

For entrees we both had pasta. My girlfriend orrecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage and I had potato gnocchi with a white rabbit ragu. I didn't think that the orrecchiette was anything special although I must admit that my gnocchi was cooked perfectly and the shreds of tender rabbit meat made for a very nice accompaniment. Both servings were more then ample.

To drink with all this we shared a Rosso Di Montalcino by Talteni. It was really good, nothing that's going to blow you away but a very nice, affordable, fruity Tuscan. none the less.

For dessert we had a bread pudding with baked plums and white chocolate ice cream. I thought that this was the best part of the meal and for some reason I'm always disappointed when I enjoy dessert the best.

The cost of the dinner was around one hundred and seventy dollars with tax and tip. I apologize for not providing pictures but unfortunately both spots were just too dark and I did not want my flash going off. I would absolutely recommend stopping into Pegu Club for a cocktail before dinner but would avoid Peasant. There are plenty of places (Lupa, Otto, Il Buco, Bar Stuzzuzchini etc) where you can eat a lot better for less money.

Babbo next week!!

Peasant Restaurant- 194 Elizabeth Street (Btwn Prince and Spring) NY, NY 10021, 212-965-9511

Pegu Club- 77 W Houston Street (Btwn Wooster and W Broadway) 2nd Floor, NY, NY, 10021, 212-473-738

2005 Argiano Non Confunditor

auvin — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:40:00 +0000

Argiano Non Confunditor

Tuscany, Italy

40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 20% Sangiovese

2005, 14% Alcohol

Argiano is a noteworthy producer of Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino and stands among the giants of Tuscany with its well-known Super-Tuscan Solengo. Beginning in 2002 Argiano has made Non Confunditor each year as a more affordable alternative to Solengo that at the same time gives wine drinkers a taste of its more famous Super-Tuscan cousin. Non-Confunditor pays hommage to the winery's past as they are the Latin words written upon the Argiano Coat of Arms.

"Spicy black cherries with a touch of tobacco leaf and tree bark. The palate is initially tight with a good dose of chalky, vanillin tannins in the finish but opens nicely to become a masculine, licorice-laden wine that's perfect with red meats and stronger cheeses."