Last night after a nice tasting at Susan’s we went to Nostrani for an early dinner. We got there about 20 minutes early (before there official opening at 17:30. We were seated at our usual table and ordered sparkling water and wine. We started with a 2006 Conterno Fantino Dolcetto d’Alba ‘Bricco Bastia’ - dark ruby-garnet in color; bright, spicy cherry fruit in nose and flavors; rich, full mid-palate with good acidity; and a medium long fruity finish. Shortly after 17:30 our server came over and took our appetizer order. Carollee had a peach & foie gras flan with a glass of 2006 Ch, Haut-Mayne Sauternes. I had Beet Salad with a blue goat cheese dressing. The beets were rich enough to temper the blue cheese so that the whole was nice with the fruity Dolcetto. The Sauternes was also good with the dressing. Then as we finished the appetizers we ordered our primi - Carollee had Saffron Tagliarini with cherry tomatoes and creamy ricotta; I had cauliflower ravioli in sage brown butter. Both dishes were very good with the end of the Dolcetto.
The we ordered our secondi - Carollee had Roast Chicken with Mushrooms and Marsala; I had Roast Quail stuffed with pork sausage and cherries. To go with our birds, Eric selected a nice 2006 Vietti Barbera d’Alba ‘Scarrone’ - dark ruby in color; primary red fruit in initial nose and flavors, opening with time to rich, spicy red fruit; slightly tight mid-palate with adequate acidity; and a long, eventually, bright fruit finish. It was good with Carollee’s rich chicken as well as my slighly spicy sausage-stuffed boneless quail.
The to complete our indulgence, Carollee had a cookie plate and i had the berry cream stuffed cannoli - lacy crisp pastry stuffed with rich cream with red and black raspberries. These were enjoyed with a couple short, intense double espressos.