Tentua di Biserno @ Grill 23

One of my favorite things about keeping up with this blog is the discovery and opportunity regarding anything new. This includes tasting elegant (and expensive!) Italian wines on a Tuesday evening in an opulent wine room at Grill 23. 

Wine tastings are nothing new around here, neither is the beloved Boston steakhouse Grill 23, but these wines and exposure to the region where they are grown in Tuscany certainly are! A sweet Italian man named Marchese Lodovico Antinori proudly presented to us his latest wine making project; Tenuta di Biserno, a unique blend leading with Cabernet Franc.

The Biserno Estate thrives in Western Tuscany in the coastal area of Upper Maremma among the hills of Bibbona, a small wine village bordering the more famous Bolgheri. The wild, rugged terrain only more recently tamed by winemakers is now home to vineyards and olive groves that stretch down towards the Mediterranean Sea. 

Lodovico decided to plant exclusively Bordeaux with Cabernet Franc in greater percentage - followed by Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and an almost abandoned varietal - Petit Verdot. The estates soil is rich in minerals, silt, alluvial sand and clay - terrifically distinct, complex and produces some truly remarkable wines. Here's a look at the five beauties we tasted paired with an excellent three course meal.

Caesar Salad | brown butter croutons, anchovy marmalade

Il Pino di Biserno 2012 - (SRP $75) intense nose with dark berries and plenty of sweet spicy notes. Concentrated palate with beautiful depth and length.

Il Pino di Biserno 2014  - (SRP $75) notes of red cherries with underlying oak adding spice and complexity. Elegant and harmonious palate with fine round tannins and a long polished finish.

Boneless Ribeye | roasted mushrooms with sherry, confit shallots, sautéed spinach w garlic
Biserno 2012 - (SRP $175) their eponymous wine, only the finest grapes are selected resulting in a thought provoking intensity and complexity with notes of plum and blackberry followed by toasty spice. Elegant palate with fine rounded tannins. 

Biserno 2010 (SRP $175) - deep ruby red, scents of blackberries, freshly ground coffee and licorice. Elegant structure to the palate with fine grained tannins, balanced acidity and a mineral-y feel with a lengthy finish.

Cheese Selection | with cranberry pecan crostini, membrillo, honey comb, black pepper apricot chutney

Chevre Berger du Haut Bearn (Goat) Pyrenees, France / Gruyere Reserve AOC (Cow) Friebourg, Switzerland | Pecorino di Pienza, Gran Reserva (Sheep) Tuscany, Italy 

Lodovico 2011 - (SRP $419) A rare, unexpected assemblage, this wine is all about the full bodied, rich texture and complexity, balanced by a fine acidity. 

Wow, this wine is exceptional. All of them were!

Combining the unique terroir with the cooling influence of the sea, Upper Maremma plays host to some of most famous and celebrated wines of Italy. I felt incredibly lucky to taste Lodovico's wines among a spirited group of wine lovers. 

Grill 23 & Bar

161 Berkeley St

Boston, MA 02116

Ocean Prime

I want to say this was one of the most indulgent meals I've had in along time - but that would only be half true. Last week was a whirlwind of spontaneity out and about the city. First came the sushi bar at Super Fusion in Watertown - one of our favorites which never fails to impress. We had double toro maki and a caterpillar maki, alongside carafes of hot sake, edamame and more. Second, after a night at Hotel Envoy's Lookout (the new see and be seen rooftop bar) a visit to Dumpling Cafe in Chinatown where we enjoyed crab rangoon, a heaping plate of mango chicken, ice cold Sapporo, and loads of the pork and vegetable dumplings that made them a citywide craze. So So GOOD.

And third this week came Ocean Prime, the Seaports newest upscale chain. This Steakhouse is swanky and sophisticated with an extensive wine room. We go all out, I'm talking east and west coast Oysters on the half shell ($19) followed by an exceptional Ahi Tuna Tartare ($18) and a ridiculous Point Judith Calamari ($16) tossed with sweet chili sauce and cashews - for no other reason than it's Thursday and we've had a great week, why stop now! 

Traditional cocktails accompany our indulgent first courses - a Dirty Martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives and their own Manhattan ($15) that adds Rosemary Grapefruit Peppercorn bitters! 

My 8 oz Filet Mignon ($41) and Bob's 12 oz Bone in Filet ($50) are executed medium rare with a warm, pink center. Both are expertly seasoned, tender and juicy. To accessorize our steaks we order Black Truffle Butter ($6) which is a very good call. Our a la carte sides of Whipped Mashed Potatoes ($9) and Asparagus with Hollandaise ($11) are flawless. We perused the lengthy wine list for quite sometime and decided on an Argyle Pinot Noir ($65) from Willamette Valley, Oregon. (We visited their tasting room last October - it's always fun to pick a wine that brings back good memories!) Finally, there was Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie ($11) with fluffy peanut butter mouse and decadent bittersweet chocolate ganache . You definitely can't end a meal like this without dessert.

Ocean Prime

140 Seaport Boulevard

Boston, MA 02210

*this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own*

Seasons 52 | Chestnut Hill

Another week, another restaurant in the suburbs showing off their repertoire! That seems to be the trend as of late and I am enjoying seeing what these spots are all about. A sophisticated grill and wine bar, Seasons 52 is a part of the specialty restaurant group that owns The Capital Grille. Their menu changes with the seasons four times a year and is accompanied by an exceptional wine list of which 52 are available by the glass. One of them includes an affordable champagne, Chartogne-Taillet ($15.50) Cuvee Sainte-Anne which proves to be an ideal aperitif - light, bone dry and deliciously fruity. 

Of the ten or so appetizers presented to us, pictured here are my favorites. 

Their rendition of the ever popular Blistered Shishito Peppers ($7.20) are served with roasted corn, Sonoma goat-feta cheese, lemon-aioli and sumac. There were delicate strips of lightly seared Ahi Tuna and tender bites of oak grilled Lamb Lollipops that benefited from a smokey char. They exclusively serve Nantucket Bay Scallops, which were beautifully rendered with brown butter and meyer lemon, served in the shell. Flatbreads with a delightfully crisp, paper thin crust have mass appeal for sure, but only the Blackened Steak + Blue Cheese ($10.50) with cremini mushrooms, spinach and caramelized onions managed to stand out in a crowd. 

As for the entrees, everyone around the table seemed to really enjoy theirs. Bob had the Asian-Glazed Sea Bass ($31.80) over organic black rice with snow peas and shitake mushrooms. My Oak Grilled Filet Mignon ($28) was expertly cooked to medium rare, bathing in a red wine sauce with yukon gold mashed, broccolini, roasted tomato and mushrooms. A glass of Jolie Saison Gamay ($12) unfolds with rich fruits and subtle spice notes. A good structure with silky, graceful tannins prove it's well suited to match the filet mignons smooth and buttery texture. 

Their take on dessert is refreshing. Let's be honest, after a heavy steak or seafood meal you rarely want a dessert matching in feat and size, but your sweet tooth kicks in regardless. A rotating selection of mini parfaits and tortes offer delicate spoonfuls of goodness served in a double shot glass. Pictured are the Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cannoli, the Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte and Pumkpin Pie. They are the perfect way to end this type of meal, especially alongside a glass of aged Tawny Port. 

Seasons 52

220 Boylston St

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

*this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own*

Westland Distillery @ Grill 23

Westland single malt whiskey is a thoughtful expression of the Seattle, Washington distillery's Pacific Northwest roots. At the core is a flavor profile of roasted and kilned barley malts, contributing deep and rich notes of chocolate, nuts, caramel and mocha. Belgian brewers yeast further enhances during fermentation producing a fruitiness that rounds out the flavor. Finally, the whiskey is matured in new American oak casks, complimenting with a vanilla and coconut finish. The result is an approachable and mature whiskey that in this instance, perfectly suits a classic steak dinner (I chose Cotuit Oysters, Steak Frites and Crème Brulee!) at Grill 23.

Be on the lookout for Westland and don't hesitate to give this wonderful whiskey a try if you spot it behind the bar or on craft cocktail menus around town!

Grill 23 & Bar

161 Berkeley Street

Boston, MA 02116