Halloween Tasting Please Join Us

The Halloween Tasting Friday 5-8 PM - No Charge Please Join Us

Located in Sant' Angelo in Colle in the commune of Montalcino, Tenuta Il Poggione was established at the end of the 19th century by Lavinio Franceschi and is still owned today by the 5th generation of its founder, siblings Leopoldo and Livia Franceschi. Tenuta Il Poggione is one of the original three producers of Brunello di Montalcino. The estate covers a surface area of 1,482 acres, of which 309 acres are planted to vine, 173 acres with olive groves and the rest are arable and woodland used for grazing and raising cattle and pigs to promote biodiversity and a natural approach to farming. Many of the vines are grown at more than 1,315 feet above sea level and are among the oldest in the appellation. The estate is also blessed by its proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea (about 30 minutes distance by car) to the west and the Orcia River Valley and Mt. Amiata in the south. Led by father-son winemaking team, Fabrizio and Alessandro Bindocci, Il Poggione's guiding principle is to pay meticulous attention to the vineyards with regular monitoring of vineyard conditions along with constant efforts to preserve the typical characteristics yet improve grape quality through research and selection. Harvest is conducted entirely by hand and the wine is made in the traditional method, though modern, state-of-the-art equipment is used. Total control of the vinification process is guaranteed, thanks to the new cellar built in 2004 and the introduction of extremely advanced technology, but as tradition is important, the company keeps the large Allier French oak barrels used for aging its wines five meters below ground. Please Join Us This Friday  For Halloween Presented By Bob Neville World Wide Wines

Mazzoni Pinot Grigio  A Tuscan Pinot Grigio created by two distinguished winemaking families; Franceschi from Italy and Terlato from the United States. The partnership between Italy's Franceschi family and the Terlato family has flourished for more than 35 years when the Terlato's began importing their world-class Brunellos to the United States. MAZZONI is made from hand-harvested 100% Pinot Grigio and each family brings its expertise to the making of this wine. It is crafted at a state-of-the-art winery in the prestigious Montalcino zone, and is the perfect confluence of old and new world techniques guided by the desire to create world class wine today, and for future generations.    Flavors of citrus fruit and tropical fruit. On the palate it is fresh, with a mineral note which underlines its savory tones.

Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino      Il Poggione is one of the most highly regarded Brunello di Montalcino producers with a rich history and reputation for stylistic consistency. This is a younger, more accessible version of Brunello, but already very well-developed with a strong character, Rosso di Montalcino is a very important wine for Tenuta Il Poggione.   Produced entirely from Sangiovese grapes from the youngest of the estate's vineyards, Rosso di Montalcino is matured for 12 months in large barrels before undergoing a period of bottle aging. Some have called this a "Baby Brunello."    Very well structured, mellow, long lasting flavor with smooth, velvety tannins.

Nipozzano Riserva    Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina DOCG is on of the historic wines produced at the Castello di Nipozzano.   Nipozzano Riserva is a lovely ruby-red. The nose opens with dark wild berries and cherry, hints of candy floss and pleasant floral notes of lilac and chocolate. The spicy component emerges with nuances of clove and green peppercorn. The palate is characterized by a distinct tactile approach in which the stamp of the terroir is underlined by a lively minerality. The tannin texture is tight but not sharp which is also an expression of the uniqueness of the soils of Nipozzano. The finish returns to the intense fruity notes already identified on the nose. This wine has a silky richness that is hard to describe. Please try it on Friday night.

Stuff We Love: The Ultimate Whiskey Cocktails in a Bottle We all love a good cocktail, but sometimes you just aren't in the position to make a cocktail at the drop of a hat. Sure, cocktails have been bottled before, but they haven't ever really been comparable to what your favorite bartender whips up for you. Until now. Fluid Dynamics has released cocktails aged in barrels, and they are pretty spectacular, maybe even more spectacular than the drinks that your favorite bartender makes for you (ingredients have a chance to merge and become a richer whole because of the aging process). With options including The Saratoga, The St. Nick, the Brandy Manhattan, and the 1850 Cocktail there are plenty of options to keep even the biggest cocktail aficionado satisfied too. They come in "cocktail sized" bottles too - super convenient. Ask for a sample this Friday.

MONKEY 47  Just Another Gin? "Certainly Not! Admittedly, it appears somewhat eccentric to claim that a recipe for gin has the power to unite great British traditions, the exoticness of India, and the purity and nativeness of the Black Forest. And yet it is precisely this eccentricity that defines the enigmatic character of Montgomery Collins, from whom our Schwarzwald Dry Gin originates. MONKEY 47 - Distilled from 47 predominantly unusual but regional botanicals such as lingonberries and blended with natural spring water. Cheers!" Ask for a sample this Friday night - Forget What You Thought You Knew About Gin.

Low Gap Whiskey   Low Gap California Whiskey is made exclusively from malted Bavarian winter wheat, which has a high protein content and is ideal for fermentation. Once the wheat has been malted and mashed, it is fermented into a craft beer with an 8.8% ABV. Following fermentation, the wash is twice distilled in an antique 15-hectoliter cognac still. After distillation, the whiskey is aged in three different types of barrels: new American oak casks, 350-liter French Limousin oak barrels that were previously used to age brandy, and used American oak barrels that were previously used to mature Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. After the whiskey has aged for a minimum of two years, it is brought to proof using rainwater and bottled by hand. The whisky has an oaky aroma, with touches of grain, vanilla and apples. The aroma fades into notes of sweet caramel, red fruits and berries on the palate, and ultimately leads to a finish accented by raisins, prunes and plums. The whiskey earned the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.

Jasper Hill Moses Sleeper Jasper Hill Farm, the expansive dairy project hatched by brothers Mateo and Andy Kehler, was first established in Greensboro, Vermont, during the summer of 2002. With their small herd of Ayrshire cows, the Kehlers began to make an array of cheeses that would soon bring them renown, including a soft, bloomy-rinded barrel called Constant Bliss and the savory, Stilton-esque Bayley Hazen Blue. Inspired by French Brie, Moses Sleeper is named for a Revolutionary War scout who was killed while helping to defend Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.  The cheese has a thin bloomy-rind and a soft, milky core that offers an array of flavors at peak ripeness: cauliflower, crème fraîche and toasted nuts.   Swiss Nufenen The milk for the Nufenen comes from alpage herds, which is to say that the Braunvieh cows are brought up into the mountains in the summer, to graze on the unique blend of grasses, herbs and other flora found in the rolling alpine pastures, during which time these seasonal cheeses are fabricated.  The flavor is buttery, nutty and fruity, a little bit of a "spicy" personality as the name implies - although it's not spicy in the sense of hot but more of an herbal, complex quality - with meaty, hazelnut and caramelized onion notes and a subtle barnyard pungency on the finish.

BUZzzz CALENDAR  Friday October 31st - Halloween Bob Neville - World Wide Wines Friday November 7th Tom Belcher - Martin Scott Wines Wednesday November 12 Edward Brown - Vinifera Friday November 21st Eric Bellnier - M. Touton Selections Wednesday November 26  Ryan Connolly - Michael Skurnik Wines