We will review two wines from the same producer in this post. It is seldom I sample two wines and get excited about the range of food they would pair with but this Vermentino and Chianti are like the dynamic duo of culinary pairings. Vermentino is so underrated and for some reason or another, Chianti is not garnering its share of the limelight on dinner tables like it used to.

Alberto Antonini’s  Poggiotondo winery is located in a region where some of the world’s finest Italian cuisine originated and meals consisting of several courses are the norm there. These two wines will easily cover a Tuscan meal such as they might serve at Bottega dell’Oste.  This is a restaurant close to the winery whose menu exemplifies the type of dishes that will pair well with these wines. By Italian standards, it is a simple menu with plenty of range and these wines will pair well with the entire menu.

2009 Poggiotondo Italy Vermentino

I really like this grape and hope to see it embraced on a larger scale by wine consumers everywhere.  It is a fantastic warm weather sipper on its own and equally delicious with many foods that are hard to pair with wine—say for example grilled asparagus or fried squash blossoms. The aromas of nectarine, roasted pine nuts and white floral blossoms fill the air as you pour this wine. Flavors express nuances of nectarine and melon with balanced acidity and forward minerality.  The aroma of toasted pine nut comes through slightly on the palate completing a complex pleasurable flavor profile.  Briny seafood dishes, pesto or salsa verde sauces will be a lot more memorable if consumed with a glass of this fine Vermentino.

Rating: Excellent (90) | $20 | 13.5% ABV

Find this wine to buy: Vinquire | WineZap.com

2009 Poggiotondo Cero del Masso Italy Chianti

Sangiovese always tugs at a soft spot in my heart and I get nostalgic about the long nights on the line slinging pastas and stoking the fire in the pizza oven while making people smile over and over one dish at a time. Chianti in other countries gets more respect than it does here in America. That statement holds true more on the west coast than it does on the east. This wine has a small amount of Merlot, Syrah and Colorino blended into the 80% Sangiovese required by law to be designated Chianti. This blend produces a flavor profile a bit more modern than many Chianti’s. This wine will work well with a wide array of cuisine due to the zippy acidity and bright fruit.

Rating: Very Good (87) | $18 | 13.0% ABV

Find this wine to buy: Vinquire | WineZap.com