A Tuscany Classic: Rosso di Montalcino Il Poggione

Yesterday I had a wonderful dinner with two friends of mine at one of my favorites Italian restaurants, Paola's (1295 Madison Ave - http://www.paolasrestaurant.com/), a terrific restaurant where the food is prepared to perfection, something rare among NYC Italian restaurants. No industrialized tomato sauce, no heavy preparations, only the finest Italian cuisine at reasonable prices.
I was given the honor to choose the wine, and I decided to pick one to match with the restaurant style: classic, not fancy, but extremely elegant and tasty. So, my choice was a Rosso di Montalcino, specifically Il Poggione 2008.

Rosso di Montalcino Il Poggione. Tenuta Il Poggione, Montalcino (Italy). Medium-full bodied red (100% Sangiovese). 4 Stars ($$)
For more information: http://www.tenutailpoggione.it/

This wine is extremely elegant, with a complex bouquet, highlighting truffle and fig notes, but also a subtle woody touch with vanilla and a light toast. A perfect balance, rounded tannins and a long, delicate aftertaste. This wine (2008) is ready to be drunk, but it can also stay in your cellar for, at least, three to four years. Outstanding!

Although we had different dishes, ranging from scallops to mushroom-filled pasta, the wine was very versatile, pairing with all orders. This is another advantage of Rosso di Montalcino wines. This lovely wine costs around US$ 25.00 in the US market (US$ 60.00 in the restaurant and around R$ 250.00 in Brazil) and worth every sip. Salute!!!