We just couldn't let Wednesday's visit be the last of this trip, so we headed back and had a great day. The weather was much better, there were tourists around every corner, AND Fatamorgana was open! Yay!
We strolled up the hill, each doing our own thing, then met at the top. Joe wanted to do some wine tasting, so we went to the Talosa cantina, just off the Piazza Grande, and had a wonderful tasting experience with Christian Pepi, the winemaker. We started with a trip down into the Etruscan-era cellars--a vast maze that stretched out like octopus tentacles under the piazza--then headed back up to the tasting room where we were the only customers at the time.
We tasted four wines and their vin santo--all were exceptional. Christian was an excellent guide, passionate and animated about his creations. What a talker!! We were there for nearly an hour and had fun. Of the four wines, the 2004 Riserva and the 2009 Fillilunghi Riserva were extraordinary. We bought a mixed case to ship home.
Then, since we were already at the top of the hill, we decided to get some lunch at Gattavecchi. I had to have the tagliatelli al vino nobile, Joe too. Mine was with a duck ragu and Joe had the special venison ragu. Yum! We also shared the Fantasia di Lilliana antipasti. Yum again!
After lunch, we decided to head up to the shopping area near Bettole. We had been searching for a wine rack for the apartment all week and could not find one anywhere. Finally, at a homegoods shop in the mall, there was a 12-bottle rack.
OK, it's official. . .I"M DEAD!! You have killed me off with longing to return to Montepulciano! Novembre?? Dopo Thanksgiving?? Forse!
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