The Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri (three glass) award is given to wines which are seen by the editors as outstanding, and of the highest quality. Come to Basil T’s on March 1st to enjoy a complimentary tasting of these award winning wines:

Poggio dei Gorleri Cygnus 2010

All the wines being tasted will be available for purchase at special pricing available during this tasting only! As always, this is an open tasting, so no reservations are necessary. Italian cheese and salume will be served.

Victor Rallo Jr.’s book has arrived! Join us for book signings at various local venues, celebrating the release of Victor’s new book, Napoleon Wasn’t Exiled. In this wine and travel journal, Victor recounts his journeys through Italy in 2011, the food he enjoyed, the wines drank, and the people he met. Victor will be signing books available for sale for $29.99. A must read for any wine and food lover!

Join us for the first book signing this Saturday at Sickles Market!

Saturday, February 18 |  Sickles Market , Little Silver NJ.
From 12 – 2 pm, book signing, cheese and wine.
www.sicklesmarket.com

 
Thursday, February 23 | River Road Books, Fair Haven, NJ.
From 7 – 9 pm, book signing, cheese and wine.
www.riverroadbooks.net

Wednesday, February 29 |  Undici Taverna Rustica , Rumson, NJ.
From 6  – 8 pm, book signing, cheese and wine.
www.undicirestaurant.com

 
Thursday, March 1 | Basil T’s, Red Bank, NJ.
From 5 – 7 pm, book signing, cheese and wine.
www.basilt.com

 
Thursday, March 8 | Dearborn Market: Homdel, NJ
From 7 – 9 pm, book signing, cheese and wine
www.dearbornmarket.com

BIRRE & VINI

Vini di Casa: Vino Rosso – Vino Bianco  $4

Birre: a mug of Award winning house made micro brewed beer  $3

Bevande: Pepsi, seven-up, diet pepsi $1

ANTIPASTI & INSALATE

Caesar: fresh romaine, traditional Caesar dressing shaved Reggiano, ciabatta toast $6

Inverno: mesculin greens, crushed almonds, ceci beans, house made balsamic vinaigrette, provolone  $7

Mozzarella e peperoni: fresh mozzarella and house roasted peppers with ciabatta toast $7

Cozze: fresh black shell mussels, ceci beans, garlic, white wine and extra virgin olive oil $7

Zuppa: house made pea soup with pancetta and grated Pecorino Romano $4

Sicilian Calamari: fresh calamari sautéed with capers, black olives, garlic, tomato, olive oil & toasted ciabatta $7

PIATTI DEL GIORNO

Spaghettini Pesto: House made spaghetti, rapini pesto, broccoli rabe, pignoli nuts, olive oil & Parmigiano Reggiano  $12

Pasta Fagiola: Cannellini and ceci beans, pancetta, San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, basil, Sicilian extra Virgin olive oil and house made ditalini pasta  $11

Spaghettini and Meatball – Big Vic’s Famous meatball slow cooked in Italian tomato Sauce with house made spaghetti  $12

Lasagna al Forno – House made lasagna pasta, layered with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, baked in the oven served with Parmigiano twill  $12

Salsiccia – grilled Italian sausage, with sautéed broccoli rabe and roasted fingerling potato $13

Costata di Manzo: – slow roasted boneless beef short rib, brussel sprouts and Yukon gold potato puree $14

Pollo Francese – Tender chicken cutlet, white wine, capers and lemon with spinach risotto and lemon gremolata $14

Gamberoni: Three Grilled jumbo shrimp marinated in olive oil, over creamy risotto with fresh tomato concassé $14

Salmone: Grilled Fresh Loch Duarte salmon, red and yellow beet salad, sauté fresh spinach  $15

Pizza Napoletana: with DOP Italian tomatoes, mozzarella, provolone, Parmigiano Reggiano, extra virgin olive oil $8

DOLCI

Mini Cannoli: Fresh filled chocolate & traditional cannoli, sweet cream and chocolate curls $4

Tiramisu: “pick me up” Big Vic’s recipe  $4

Torta di Mele: house baked Tuscan apple cake with powdered sugar and fresh cream  $4

Caffé & Tea $1

*Menu subject to change based on seasonal availability

*Please no substitutions

*Gratuity of 18% will be added to parties of 6 or more

Taste the Wines of Tenuta di Tavignano
with Winemaker, Stefano Aymerich di Laconi
February 16th, from 5 – 7 pm

Join us February 16 from 5 – 7 pm for a complimentary tasting of Tenuta di Tavignano wines from the Marche region of Italy!

Taste and talk about the wines from this outstanding producer with Victor Rallo Jr. and special guest, winemaker Stefano Aymerich di Laconi.

Rosso Piceno 2009

Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi, Tavignano 2010

Verdicchio, ‘Misco’, Tavignano 2010 (Tre Bicchieri award winner)

All the wines being tasted will be available for purchase at special pricing available during this tasting only! As always, this is an open tasting, so no reservations are necessary. Italian cheese and salume will be served

January 9 – Chris Roselle
January 10 -Bob Burger Solo
January 11 -Dave Miller

January 16 – Vance Solo
January 17 – Melissa Chill
January 18 – Steve and Johnny

January 23 – Chris Roselle
January 24 – Bob Burger Duo
January 25 – Dave Miller

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PRIMITIVO………the Working Class Hero

By Bob Rallo

Puglia. A vast open land that’s sunny, dry, hot (almost too hot), but saved by the cool Adriatic breezes. These characteristics create the perfect environment for growing primitivo grapes in abundance. These grapes; a clone of zinfandel; create dark, bold, flavorful wines. Puglia is the second largest wine producing region in the world’s top wine producing country. It has quietly lent a strong loving hand to the lighter, softer red wines of the north. However, over the years, Puglian winemakers have created some outstanding wines of their own; blue collar wines that are not only satisfying, but a great value as well.

Will it have the great tannins and structure of the $100 Nebbiolo wines of Piedmont? No. Will it have the elegance and international flair of a great $100 Super Tuscan blend? No. Will it have the power and age-ability of its neighboring Aglianicos? No. What it does have, is a wine that is rich, ripe, and explosively fruity with high alcohol content. A very satisfying and rewarding wine that you can drink now!

The working class hero gets the job done now, at a great price, and it never disappoints!

Botromagno Primitivo Rosso IGT Puglia 2008

Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Varietals: 100% Primitivo

Primitivo is one of Puglia’s most noble and ancient grape varieties. Benedictine monks first imported it into the area in the early 19th century, probably from Croatia. It is trained exclusively to the bush (alberello) method, and its yield per hectare is by nature quite low. Because of their exposition and elevation, the vineyards exhibit a distinctive personality compared to primitivo vineyards elsewhere in Puglia; the wine is not quite as high in alcohol, although it remains powerful in this respect, and it possesses an elegance and fragrance that set it apart from other wines produced from the same grape.

Tasting Notes: Luminous, deep ruby red, with purplish rim; Bouquet: Fruity aromas of dark cherry, wild cherry, red mulberry, complemented by nuances of vanilla, cinnamon, sage, mint, and tobacco leaf; Palate: Velvety smooth, appealing, with medium-level tannins

Charcuterie, semi-aged cheeses, roast lamb, wild game

Leone de Castris Villa Santera Primitivo 2009

Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Varietals: 100% Primitivo

Cantele Primitivo Rosso 2008

Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Varietals: 100% Primitivo

The color is a lively ruby red with delicate garnet reflections. The bouquet is mineral with undertones of cherries and plums; the finish is of flowers and spices.

Tasting Notes: Soft tannins, good acidity and the soft mouth feel are characteristics of the bounty of Primitivo; which was once a strong and rustic wine and is now one of elegance and nobility. Serve with pasta and meat sauce, red meats including lamb. An ideal partner for medium to well seasoned cheese.

Masseria Altemura Primitivo  2009

Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Varietals: 100% Primitivo

The wines of Masseria Altemura reflect the Zonin family’s dedication to expressing the utmost respect for the traditions of a given territory, as well as the family’s deep-rooted production philosophy which has always been geared towards promoting and giving new life to indigenous grape varieties. Consequently, in the Salento area, an extraordinary zone which yields wines of both great flavor and charm, the Zonins have sought to highlight the products’ links with vineyards of special quality (the crus) and their interrelationship with the human, historical, cultural and environmental heritage of the area.

Tasting Notes: This wine offers the nose full and intense aromas with hints of plums, jams of red fruits and sweet accents of spices. A wine of a good body; it has a mouth-filling flavor that is warm and soft and expresses a highly mature fruitiness that’s supported by a pleasant complex of sweet tannins.

With our stunning Wine Room and spacious Banquet Room, you can book your party of up to 40 people!  Both rooms also have televisions equipped with multimedia input for presentations for all your corporate party needs as well.

Reserve space for your party now, as we become booked very quickly for the holiday season!

November 4-13

3 Course Pre-Fixe Dinner $30.11

ANTIPASTI & INSALATE

Caesar: fresh romaine, traditional Caesar dressing shaved Reggiano, foccaccia toast

Escarola: crisp escarole, granny smith apples, candied walnuts and shaved provolone

Peperoni: Fresh mozzarella and house roasted peppers with extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil & ciabatta toast

Cozze: fresh black shell mussels, pomodoro fresco, oregenata bread crumbs, and extra virgin olive oil

Calamari: golden fried calamari, with homemade marinara sauce

Zuppa di Piselli: homemade pea soup with root vegetables, pancetta crispy parmigiana toast

PIATTI DEL GIORNO

Rigatoni Melanzane: House made rigatoni, crispy Parmigiana coated eggplant, filetto di pomodoro and fresh mozzarella

Frutti di Mare: House made spaghetti, mussels, clams, baby shrimp, pomodoro fresco, basil &

extra virgin olive oil

Malfadine Bolognese : Northern Italian meat sauce with veal, beef and pork over house made ruffled papardelle and finshed with mascarpone cheese

Pollo Parmigiana– Bell and Evans Frenched chicken breast golden fried in olive oil, baked with filetto di pomodoro and mozzarella cheese served with house made rigatoni

Pollo Francese – Tender chicken cutlet lightly egg battered with white wine, capers and lemon with creamy spinach risotto

Sogliola Oregenata – Fresh hand cut filet of sole, baked with oregenata bread crumbs, and white wine served with asparagus risotto.

Gamberoni – marinated grilled jumbo shrimp, with house made spaghetti pomodoro

Saltimbocca – Pork tenderloin pounded thin with Prosciutto di Parma, fresh sage, sauté escarole, and crispy fingerling potato

Costata di Manzo – Slow roasted beef short rib, with root vegetables and Chianti wine, Yukon gold potato puree and brussel sprouts with pancetta

DOLCI

Cannoli– Miniature chocolate and traditional cannoli filled with homemade cannoli cream

Panna Cotta– Vanilla Italian custard, with fresh berries

Tiramisu – The classic “pick me up” espresso mascarpone custard with lady fingers, milk chocolate and fresh cream

Gelato – vanilla gelato, amarena cherries and fresh cream

No substitutions, Menu Subject to Change based on Availability
Gratuity added to parties of 6 or more

Served Until 7pm on Saturday

November 4th, from 5-7pm.

In her long awaited return appearance to Basil T’s, Isabella will be signing bottles, taking pictures, and give us the latest on winemaking in Piemonte. Wines being tasted will be available special pricing, with signed bottles will also available.

The Wines Being Tasted

Langhe Nebbiolo 2008

Barolo 2006

Moscato d’Asti 2010

About Oddero

Oddero Winery was founded in 1878 in the area of Santa Maria, a Hamlet of La Morra. It is definitely one of the oldest producers of Barolo, a family that kept the distinctive traditional style of wine making for over a century. Over the generations, the Oddero family has gradually expanded its vineyards to today’s impressive 60 hectares, many of which lie in the illustrious Barlolo vineyards of Brunate, Rocche di Castiglione, Villero, and Mondoca.