Just In Case

Just in case you were looking for an amazing rose to drink this weekend, let me share this newfound gem with you:

Roger & Didier Raimbault Sancerre Rose, 2012 (approx. $20)
Kir-soaked cherries.  Balsamic-glazed strawberries. Lime zest.  Stone-licking, mineral-saturated deliciousness.

Available at Union Square Wines.  Just sayin...

Happy Fourth of July!

Can Sud de France Overcome Its Bad-Boy Rep?

PR and marketing can do wonders for a person or brand's ailing reputation.  Think about Angelina Jolie going from goth maven to humanitarian; J.Crew from boring preppy basics to arbiters of fashion; Lindsay Lohan from wild child teen star to......(well, ok, maybe not her).

The annual Sud de France promotion kicked off Memorial Day weekend, starting a month filled with pouring events around the city. It focuses on the Languedoc-Roussillon region and improving the reputation of their wines.  Historically, the area produced a lot of bulk wine of mediocre quality and although there has been improvements in recent years in vinification techniques, the infamy continues. 

These wines are worth taking a look at, though, especially in these summer months. The wines are produced to complement the warm and sunny climate and are ideal for the June - August stretch. While not all are rock stars, there are enough options to find something that can overcome the tabloid-cover reputation.

Chateau de Manissy Cuvee des Lys, Tavel, 2012 (Approx $18)

It's southern France, and you'd best be believin' they be making rose.  (I'm trying to sound tough in the face of all the rose blogs i post.  It's a lot of pink to have going on).  I totally dug this particular one.  Wild strawberry fields and ripe juicy berries were balanced by some nice minerality and acidity, which kept it from becoming a juice box.  It finished dry and it's medium-bodied style would stand up well on its own to food.  Yeah, this rose's not afraid of some dinner.  This pink's no wimp.

Domaine des Deux Puits, Cotes Catalanes, Muscat Sec, 2012 (Approx $13)

Muscat is often vinified in a sweeter style, so this dry Muscat was something fun to try.  The nose was rather floral, redolant of white flowers and honeysuckle along with essences of melon and a wee bit of citrus. On the palate, there was a lot of ripe orchard fruits, such as peach and apricot but high acidity.  It's a sitting-on-the-porch-in-the summer-sipping-some-wine kind of situation with this bottle.  Perhaps pair it with a hammock?

Chateaux Coupe Roses, La Bastide, Minvervois, 2010 (Approx $17)

Eh.  Just not in love with this one.  Made with carignan from old vines, It was really earthy and barnyard-y, lots of musky, dirty stuff going on.  There were some blackberry and black, brambly fruits on this and it could have fallen into the "fun n' funky" category of wines but it just didn't sing to me.  It was light-bodied and good for the summer but I don't ever see myself reaching for this one. The label is pretty fun, though.  On second glance the flower isn't as delicate as first impressions may give;  it looks like a tattoo on a biker chick, or maybe some big dude named Bubba. 

Keep tasting, friends...

All Rose, All The Time

Here's what I've been up to ever since Memorial Day:

I've hit rose-season full-throttle, exclusively drinking the pink stuff.  I'm not interested in the lighter Provence-style roses (yet); right now I'm favoring the more full-bodied, juicy and ripe pours. 

A particular rose of note is Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Rose 2012  (approx. $30 retail).  I had this recently at Barbuto and am OBSESSED.  Gigondas is located in the Rhone region in France and is considered the kid sister to Chateauneuf du Pape.  It produces wine very similar to CdF  but since Gigondas doesn't have the marketing machine behind it, you can often find great values without the markups.

The medium-bodied wine had vibrant notes of strawberry and tart cherry but were balanced by the prominent zing of white pepper.  It was crisp yet savory, fruit-forward but not cloying and exactly what I wanted to be drinking that warm spring night.

Keep tasting, friends....

An Ode to La Spinetta

One of wine's most important elements is its ability to evoke memories. We tend to gravitate towards particular wines not only for the way they taste but for the way they can transport one to a particular moment. You may remember that beautful bottle that was served on your birthday and now, whenever you see it on a menu, you may smile with recollection.  Or what about that bottle of rose that you drank at dinner on a beach vacation, overlooking the ocean?  I'm sure you are more apt to select that bottle over any other in a wine store.

La Spinetta wines hold that special memory for me.  With that first sip, I'm instantly transported to our first dinner on the patio at La Villa, our hotel in Piedmonte, on what was to become a pinnacle trip in my burgeoning passion for wine.  Sitting amongst the vineyard-covered hills, the setting sun alighting the mountain peaks like small volcanoes, I felt an ease and fluidity in my being I had never experienced before. The marriage of land and wine became a crystalized concept and I knew this was the beginning of a passionate journey.

Now, at a crossroads in my life, La Spinetta brought me back to a place of peace. Recently, Eataly hosted a tasting of four La Spinetta wines, including a first vintage rose. Tasting through these, I was transported to that moment of happiness, felt in its purest form
.

Langhe Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 ($46.80)
This was a gorgeous, old-world style sauv blanc, a must-drink alternative to the popular Italian pinot grigio. A bit pricey, yes, but it oozed character. Green apple, citrus and a brisk minerality announced themselves right away on the nose and palate. The acid, high and bright, was somehow tempered by a softness and roundness that is often found in Sancerre. I adore this wine.

Il Rose di Casanova, 2012 ($14.80)
This was their premier effort at rose and I hope they continue production. This wine came from their Tuscany estate and was 50% Sangiovese/50% Prugnolo Gentile. More Provence in style than the full-bodied deep Rosatos of Italy, this one had fresh-picked wildflowers, light cherry, strawberry fields and an overall brightness. Again, there was a good amount of acid on this fresh vino. Summer, where are you already?

Ca' Di Pian, Barbera, 2009 ($27.80)
Looking back at old posts, I'm shocked I haven't written about this one yet, considering it's offered by the half bottle at many wine bars in the city and I drink it all the time. At any rate, this is what I consider to be a textbook example of a good Barbera. On the nose, black cherry, plum and violets give way to cherry, raspberry and a solid earthiness on the palate. Again, acid is very prominent and some moderate tannins. Classic, classic, classic.

Vigneto Bordini, Barbaresco, 2005 ($53.80)
This was a lighter, refined style of Barbaresco. Violets, cranberry and an almost strawberry note wafted in the glass, layered with tones of chocolate. On the palate, the cranberry was even more noticeable, along with well-structured tannins and acidity. This is a barbaresco that I think could be sipped on by itself, along with being a great food wine.

Dedicated to S.P.

It's Rose Season!

What's in the box?

You could say it's part of my spring cleaning.  However, I'm not going through my closets and packing up snow boots (who in Manhattan has enough closet space to do a full swap-out anyway?); I'm making room in the wine fridge for.....

ROSE!!!!

These gems are Proprieta Sperino Rosa del Rosa, Piedmont, 2012 ($21). Last year, while sitting on the patio during a girls' reunion weekend, we opened up a bottle of the 2011 amidst the chatter of memories and recollections. Literally, I stopped talking for a good few minutes as I was so beguiled by my glass.  This nebbiolo-dominant rose was stunning; round and juicy but still crisp and refreshing.  Last week, when Moore Brothers Wine Company sent the email announcing the newest vintage had arrived, I rushed over and secured myself two bottles. 

More and more, I find with a great wine there is often a great story attached to it; it's as if the passion and courage are infused in the bottle.  This wine is no exception.  According to Moore Brothers, the winemaker, Paolo De Marchi, produced award-winning wines down in Chianti Classico; however, his ultimate desire was to restore his great, great uncle's vineyard in Piedmont, which had been abandoned since 1952.  Ten years ago, Paolo and his son went to work revitalizing the vineyard and implementing traditional winemaking methods from the region.  To date, they are now producing some gorgeous wines and creating a mini-reinassance in the region.

 I can't wait to open them and share some tasting notes with you.  (I know, you're waiting with baited breath). So, who's going to join me and have a glass? 

Goldilocks and the 3 Bubblies

Once upon a time there was a girl named Goldilocks.*  One evening, close to New Year's Eve, the fair-haired maiden was invited to a party. Full of excitement and merriment, she donned her favorite party dress, glossed her lips and curled her hair in the most fetching manner.  She was just about ready to go but one thing was missing: a gift for the host.  Knowing she could not show up empty-handed, Goldilocks set out to find the perfect present.

Chocolates?  She wondered.  Flowers?  Our heroine wandered the chilly night pondering her options.  Just when she started to despair, the glowing lights of a wine store appeared in the distance.

Of course!  She would bring a bottle of bubbly.  With glee, she entered the shop.

Our leading lady first tried Clement Klur Cremant D'Alsace, a sparkling wine (but not champagne as it was not from the Champagne region) from France.   It was yeasty and toasty, with some notes of sour cream and green apple on the nose.  On the tongue, it was very dry and the baking bread tones again appeared.  But oh dear!  The bubbles felt like soda carbonation! "These bubbles are too harsh!" she declared.

Next, she saw a beautiful pink Cleto Chiarli Rose Spumante Brut de Noir Lambrusco from Italy.  Delicious strawberry, raspberry and rhubarb appeared right away on the nose.  On the tongue it was slightly fruity up front, rather toasty on the finish, dry and contained a decent amount of acidity.  Hmmm, she thought, this is very nice, but, alas, it was only lightly frizzante.  "These bubbles are too soft!"  she cried.

Our heroine was overcome with hopelessness, but just as she was about to leave, the kind shopkeeper brought out one more, a  Marc Hebrart Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne.  "Oooooh," she thought, and her eyes widened with the first sip.  Toast and yeast were prominent on the nose, along with pear and some yogurt/dairy tones.   The palate was similar in flavors, refreshingly dry and the refined, moussey bubbles danced on Goldilocks' tongue.  "This is just right!"  she announced.

With a twinkle in his eye, the shopkeeper wrapped up this treasure and our heroine skipped off into the night.

*These characters are a work of fiction and any resemblance to real-life people is purely coincidental.  Trust me.  The last time I tried to style my hair with a curling iron I ended up burning my ear.

24 Hours of Cote Du Rhone - Part 1

Unfortunately, not 24 hours IN Cote Du Rhone.  I'm still in Manhattan, trying to navigate the post-Sandy city.   There is a huge divide at 40th Street, where downtown is living in apocalyptic darkness and chaos while uptown buzzes about nearly unperturbed. Beyond more crowding in bars from the influx of downtown refugees and some transportation challenges, life hums along in northern Manhattan. As comfortable as I am at my friends' place, the gridlock, stalled subways and gas shortages (read:  no taxis) is starting to wear on me.

(photo courtesy of New York magazine)

I was scheduled to conduct a wine tasting on Saturday and luckily was able to pick up a last-minute job for Friday as well.  The tastings were for Cote Du Rhone wines so I immersed myself in the region for a couple of nights.  Let's just call it vacation in a bottle.

Like any good vacation, you want to prolong your time, so let's linger on the first day.  Friday's tasting showcased 3 wines:

Gallician Prestige Rose Costieres de Nimes 2011
This bright rose had strawberry and cherry on nose and the fruit followed through on the palate with a long, dry finish and a good amount of acidity.  It was a more robust, medium-bodied rose than the pale pink or salmon sippers that appear in everyone's glasses during the summer, making it ideal for the cooler weather.  This one can stand on its own but wouldn't get lost if paired with food.

Cote du Rhone Vidal Fleury 2007
This grenache/syrah/mourvedre blend, a pretty classic Cote Du Rhone composition, had ripe raspberry, strawberry and cherry aromas that lead the way for the same berry juiciness up front on the palate, followed by spicy black pepper, earth and a bit of tobacco.  Like many Cote du Rhones, it was a rather light-bodied red. This guy had quite a bit of acidity and was a bit more astringent than I usually like, but it was still quaffable.

Domaine Galevan Cote du Rhone 2010 
Grenache/mourvedre/carignan - no syrah here! - was a fun comparison to the Vidal Fleury.  It started again with that ripe berry bouquet but unlike the Fleury, it was rounder in the mouth with softer tannins.  There were more pronounced tones of earth and tobacco, but the absence of the spiciness was noticeable.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures, so for now, let's just pretend the airline lost my luggage with my camera....

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!