Tuscan drive

November 8th - 2007

We did a loop drive from Montepulciano to Pienza...then on to San Quirico d'Orcia, Montalcino, Sant' Antimo and thru Castiglione d'Orcia.

We stopped for a fabulous lunch at Taverna dei Barbi on the Barbi wine estate. It's located on the road from Montalcino to Sant'Antimo....there is a small sign and you turn off to your left.

We had a wonderful prix fixe lunch...25E. We choose the vegetarian menu.
We started with a rollatini of zucchini stuffed with cheese and a touch of 'picante' tomato sauce....with a side of baked ricotta. Second course was the most incredible pasta fogoli...drizzled with to-die-for olive oil and Parmesan cheese. (we paid for our sins later). Third course...a pecorino flan served with grilled zucchini, eggplant, radiccio and tomato. Dessert was a cabernet-soaked pear served with whipped cream and a smear of dark chocolate.
We tried two different glasses of the estates' Brunello di Montalcino, the Riserva 2001 and 2000. 2001 edged out the 2000 but just barely. They were robust, full of cherries...complex. Great! 2001 a 17....2000 16+.
A wonderful place to stop for a marvelous lunch!! The grounds were peaceful...the dogs a hoot...the staff very solicitous. Maybe it's the other way around the staff was a hoot and the pups were solicitous??
Here's a link to Taverna dei Barbi

It was a marvelous day with incredible light!

We met this Maine Coon when we pulled off the road to take these shots. He/she... I didn't get a close enough look....ran through the gates of the farmhouse and immediately began the adoption process. A lovely warm creature that I had to temp away from the car so that it wouldn't join us. I once had a Maine Coon...the closest cat to a dog. Terrific companions....I guess they aren't too picky about whom they adopt for affection.