Montepulciano and Montalcino

Seems like the months before and after Christmas have been a wine and food blur. I am only just recovered enough to start writing again.
The commencement of our indulgences was at Montepulciano where a bunch of us - led by our intrepid and very well connected North American travellers - met at Sant'Antonio (www.santantonio.it) in Montepulciano for a long weekend in late November.
Our warm and inspiring hosts - Nico and Elena - were a delight and truly hospitable. Elena also has a family connection to Avignonesi (www.avignonesi.it) - the noted producers of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (current vintage in Wine Spectator's Top 100) as well as the much awarded Vin Santo "Occhio de Pernice". Their olive groves yield highly perfumed and fruity olive oil.
Our first experience was the Tuscan specialty - pappardelle al cinghiale - sampled at La Foce. The next night was at Osteria del Leone in Bagno Vignoni (where the hot baths are found) owned by Nico and apparently the oldest in southern Tuscany (www.illeone.com). We ate and drank soooooooo well. Gnocchi allo zafferano, coniglio al vino rosso and insalata di finocchio were the dishes I chose. The fennel was shaved with the simplest dressing of lemon and olive oil. Richard had the tagliata with olive oil and rosemary.
Next day we took ourselves to Montalcino in search of the 2006 Wine Spectator's wine of the year - Casanova di Neri, Brunello di Montalcino, Tenuta Nuova 2001. We did not find it and if we had it would have been 3 times the price. So we had a hearty and gutsy tasting lunch at Il Grappolo Blu of crostini assortiti, salsicce e fagioli and cinghiale al vino bianco - all washed down with a half bottle of Brunello di Montalcino.
Other fun things we did was go to a Vin Santo tasting in Montefollonico; tasting sheeps milk cheese in Pienza and, finally, a light meal (with amazing wines which I can't remember right now) at La Porta in Montichiello.
Photos to follow as soon as I find my camera cable!!!!!!!!!!!
I have found my camera cable - finally! The photos are of neither Montepulciano nor Montalcino. The first shot is a shot taken while approaching Pienza - the next shot is in the town. Montefollonico is the third shot. We went there because they had a Vinsanto tasting which was very disorganized! Sant'Antimo is the next shot but doesn't do it justice. The olive tree is just one of many ancient trees surrounding Sant'Antimo.