Interesting lunch with my wine group on Friday. Great food totally off men u prepared at Basi Italia a personal favorite of mine. We had a starter o f NV Larmandier Bernier Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Champagne. Served with finger foods of flatbreads of pear, taleggio, arugula and procuitto, a cro stini of a triple cream and parma ham and charred fresh grean and wax beans with garlic and radish. The Champers was good not great, a bit leesy and short.
1st course-Baby shrimp salad over heirloom cherry tomato in basil and parsl ey aspic. 2009 Marco Felluga Collio Mongris-Frcitrusuity, crisp apple long finish "B+"2nd course-Saffron Risotto with Maine lobster claw and Granny Smith Apple-1
998 Drouhin Meursault-Nice to drink an older white Burg with no premox. A bit mature but beautiful honey and lemon curd notes with a nice soft acid b alance. "B-"3rd-Seared fennel dusted Ahi Tuna with Vin Cotto and chicken liver pate-200
4 Chapoutier L'Oree Hermitage Blanc-certainly the pairing of the day. Deli cious depth on the wine. Honey,Apple, mineral, hazelnut. "A"4th-Confit of Rabbit with Gnocchi in a Duck Brodo (oh my) with 1997 Tignane llo, 1997 Cassanuova di Neri Brunello, and 1997 Biondi Santi. Well, had to find a loser in this group. The Biondi Santi was smooth and sleek showing a fair amount of woodsy cedar notes. The Cassonuova di Neri was fruity an d tannic but powerful and delicious and the Fuligni was off the charts hitt ing on all cylinders. All were "A-/A" in my book.
5th Lamb Meatball in a sauce of tomato and cherry compote with fresh ricott a, balsamic drizzle and crispy barley. WOW. 2009 Tenuta di Trinoro Rosso and 2004Ucelleria Brunello. Both quite young and primary. The Rosso is Fr ench varietals very fresh and fruity with a very smooth atttack and tannin laden finish years to go...(B-) the Ucellaria was just OK, a bit woody and not my favorite although others liked it..."C"6th Deconstructed NY Strip steak sandwich with Heirloom tomato, Vidalia oni on ring, butter lettuce and gorgonzola dressing...1999 and 2002 Masetto. T he class of the group. the 2002 had a nose to die for yet still quite prii mary on the palate with red and black fruits. The 1999 was incredibly smoo th and rich with complexity and depth. Plums and cassis with unmistakable Italian balance. Both ranked and A+
7th- an amuse really of crispy veal brain with white truffle served with 19 58 Borgogno Barolo Riserva. The wine was old, but still holding. Dried Ch erries and dried leaves on the nose, palate of cedary tea and roses. Good not great. "B"we had cheese and dessert but I just nibbled as we werre drinking my last b ottle of 1999 Isole e Olena Vin Santo given to me a gift from Paolo di Mar chese the owner of IeO. Wonderful Vin Santo with orange peel, caramel and honey. "B+"