Exceptional Italian Gastronomical Experience from Artusi in February

This February Artusi promises to bring you something truly special. It offers a select group of precious wines from the best regions and wineries in Italy, especially Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto with wines like Solaia, Sassicaia, Tignanello, Gaja Sperss and Barbaresco, Amarone from Allegrini and Masi, Ornellaia; Brunello di Montalcino from Castello di Banfi, Il Poggione, Col d’Orcia, Catelgiocondo, Ruffino and Pieve Santa Restituta; Super Tuscans like Luce and Mormoreto (Bordeaux blend) from Marchesi Frescobaldi, and Isole e Olena. They also have a wide range of champagnes including the super-premium Dom Perignon and Louis Roederer Cristal for those with evolved palates and deep pockets. The problem is that thanks to the fixed custom duty of 150% and high value- based excise duty, the selling price is normally a tad too expensive for ordinary mortals with refined palates but low budget for frequent consumption.

Oscar Balcon, the Italian owner and a wine connoisseur of the award winning Italian restaurant has opened the doors for its clients for the first time, for the whole of February at very special prices to help clients an excellent gastronomical experience. A special food Menu has been designed- priced at Rs. 1,990++ for the 3-course dinner and Rs. 2290++ for the 4-course experience (strongly recommended). Of course, there are a-la- carte options available from their new menu too.  

Any wine bottles from the Wine List-can be purchased for a range that varies from Rs. 20,000 (an outstanding value), Rs. 10,000 (an excellent value), Rs. 7,000 (very good value) and Rs. 4.000 (good value). In fact, Oscar has list them in three ‘Vaults’-Vault 1 at Rs. 20,000 a bottle (imagine a Sassicaia or Gaja available at that price-perhaps it costs more in Italy too!) and so on.

Oscar says, ‘these wines are now at their best and "ready to sing" along with a fine meal at Artusi Ristorante in Delhi and Gurgaon. Throughout February we will offer these wines at truly exceptional prices. Browse through the wine vaults at our restaurants and discover these rare and sensational wines. That's not only the lowest price by far anywhere in India, but it is also a knock out price even directly at the wineries in Italy. And, there is more: we have other vaults with top quality Italian wines starting as low as Rs 4,000 per bottle.’

Being a wine buff, Oscar does stock them properly. If one could read his lips, these are perhaps some of the wines left over from older vintages and should thus dance on your palate with food since these age for decades and older the vintage , the more it would cost you even at the winery and so the better value it is. 

For the budget conscious we recommend a group of 8 people ordering a 4-course meal, 3 bottles of Top Rs. 20,000 each and a mid-level Champagne would cost Rs. 10,700++ per head (go figure!) though the real budget conscious can go as low as Rs. 4500 each on a 6 pax basis with 3-course Menu.

Quantities are limited for each wine in the LIST. You need to make reservations (at 011-49066666 or 0124-6676666) and get ready for a truly exceptional wine and dine experience.  But don’t blame Oscar or delWine/Indian Wine Academy if you don’t find a particular wine from the List. He promises to upgrade the list everyday based on his stock position on that day. To a connoisseur that is by itself very exciting.

Ordering a wine is the privilege of each customer. But for our loyal viewers, we have prepared a suggested List of 3 wines in each category (6 for Rs. 4000 as most whites/bubblies are in this classification), I have tasted all wines recommended and in fact, all of the ones in the inventory:

Category A (Rs. 20,000)

1. Gaja Sperss Barolo

2. San Guido Sassicaia

3. Roederer Cristal Champagne

Category B (Rs. 10,000)

1. Frescobaldi Luce della Vite

2. Antinori Guado al Tasso

3. Barone  Ricasoli Casalferro

Category C (Rs. 7,000)

1. Marchesi di Barolo Barolo

2. Gaja Rossj Bass Chardonnay (white)

3. Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino

Category D (Rs. 4,000) Red

1. Ruffino Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva

2. Castello di Banfi Chianti Classico

3. Gamba Ripasso di Valpolicella Superiore

Category E (Rs. 4,000) White

1. Marchesi di Barolo Gavi Classico

2. Ferrari Metodo Classico Brut

3. Bottega Gold Prosecco

One hope the experience is beneficial to all and other restaurants will emulate the idea-it is good for them as well for the customer. Please send your comments to arora@delwine.com

Subhash Arora

MENU                   LIST                         VAULT 1                              VAULT 2                               VAULT 3

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