Valentines at Tr. Nostrani

Tonight we went for our accustomed Valentine’s dinner at Trattoria Nostrani. It was wonderful as usual. We started with glasses of Jacquesson Rosé; which were a great palate cleanser before the meal; and very good with my starter of lobster bisque. We also had a 1997 Paneraletta ‘Terrine’ which was very good with Carollee’s starter of a rich tomato bisque with a pecorino flan. The Terrine was a little shy of acid, with rich dark cherries and other dark fruit, and an earthy dark fruit finish. It was quite tasty with our mid-courses of speck with figs for Carollee and cod & potato ravioli in a rich herbal broth for me. The low acidity was helped by the rich fruit. Then with our mains we had a 1990 Prunotto Barolo ‘Bussia’, this took a while to open up. It was uncorked at the same time as the Terrine, and poured as we were finishing the Terrine. With our mains of Osso Bucco with shrimp on a bed of rice and barley in a rich marrow broth for Carollee and roasted pork tenderloin on a very rich barley and spinach base for me. The base was richer and better tasting than the tenderloin for me. The Barolo as it opened was very good with this course.

Then for dessert we had biscotti with a glass of a pleasant Isole e Olena Vin Santo for Carollee and a rich chocolate savarin with a Taylor-Fladgate 40-year old Tawny for me. It was a lovely Valentine’s evening for two lovers celebrating over 48 years together.

That may just be the best sentence I’ve ever read on a wine board.