Sandy Sippers

As I write this, Hurricane Sandy is fast approaching and scaring the hell out of me.  Course of action?  Wine consumption, lots of it.

We grabbed dinner last night at Schillers, one of the few places open in my friend's neighborhood. Still in a Spanish mood from the tasting the other night, I went with a El Coto Rioja Rose 2010.  This is always a good bet in terms of rose.  50/50 Garnacha and Tempranillo, this is a medium-bodied wine with a decent amount of acidity and zing.  On the nose there are a lot of bright berries such as strawberry, cherry and raspberry.  On the palate, the same berries come through but this also is drier and crisper than expected.  Not the most complex but definitely cuts through the gloomy and windy night with its brightness.

Today, we felt it was calm enough to venture outside for lunch.  The brave souls at The Meatball Shop (@MEATBALLERS) were open for as long as they could sustain guests.  Apparently, we weren't the only people with the same lunch aspirations:

Veggie balls and a glass (or 3) of Borell Diehl-Pfalz Muller Thurgau 2011 made the afternoon pass pleasantly and took our mind off Sandy's approach.  Medium bodied with peach and citrus notes on the nose, lively acidity melded harmoniously with the lemon-lime palate.  Refreshingly dry, it contrasted with the wet storm outside.  

And what storm isn't complete without some comforting dessert?  An ice cream sandwich with pumpkin ice cream definitely made the afternoon better, accompanied by Moscato d'Asti.  The light sparkler, redolent of peaches, apricots and orange blossom was enough fortification to fight the lines at the bodega to pick up water and batteries.

Happy Sandy-ing!

Spain's Great Match Event

Wednesday night brought Spain's Great Match to NYC.  This was truly one of the better wine events I've been to with good producers and wines being offered along with the one aspect that tends to be lacking at these tastings - food!  There were about 10 restaurants offering tastes and in the tradition of Spanish cuisine, I had a great "tapas dinner" comprised of the little plates from places like Casa Mono, Tertulia, Socarrat, Baracca, Boqueria and other NYC favorites.  But, onto the wine...

There was a few familiar favorites being poured along with some great new discoveries.  After tasting through the tables, here are some of the highlights:

Best Sparkler

Sabartes Brut Rosado, Bodegues Sumarroca, DO Cava

This deeply pigmented cava has the same mousse-y texture as my beloved Ruinart Rose champagne.  However, on the palate, this wine has prominent berry notes and is more fruit-driven then the Ruinart.  Strawberry, cherry and raspberry all strongly sing on the tongue. What you sip is what you get, though; this wine is fairly straighfoward and lacks complexity, but it's very juicy and refreshing.  

Best White

Serra Da Estrela Albarino, DO Rias Baixas

This Albarino is a bit lighter in body than other Albarinos I tasted, but there was a slight effervescence that was reminiscent of a Vino Verde.  Crisp, with green apple and grassy notes, balanced with a little bit of pear, this wine makes me long for a summer day on the beach.

Best In Show

Luis Canas Reserva Seleccion de la Familia 2004, DOCa Rioja

Ooooh baby, come to mama.  I could drink this Rioja for days.  On the nose there was notes of blackberry, ripe raspberry and hints of stewed, almost jammy fruits with some oak and earthiness coming into play.  On the palate, this full-bodied stunner has the same prominent fruit notes that were on the nose, but pronounced and round tannins gave this wine body and balance.  A long finish is like a lingering look from a lover and makes you want to return for more. 

The entire Luis Canas portfolio was actually pretty spectacular: 

Not a dud in the bunch and I think it's safe to say this table was best in show. 

Keep sipping.....