2009 Tres Palacios Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Maipo Valley

Down the street from us is a sweet little wine shop called, "Discovery Wines". They used to be located further away but had to move - even better for us. They have awesome deals and a huge selection. Last night we hit up this Cabernet from Chile. The photo I took was sideways and my computer froze when I tried to rotate it, so here is a stock photo from the interwebs. Note: we had the 2009, not the 2007. Anyways, it's ruby red in color and a dry cherry, licorice and dark chocolate on the nose. It's juicy and fruity and drinks well - not too sweet at all. Want to know what the best part of this wine was? It was $10! HOLLA!

It's a French thing...

My friend, Kurt, introduced me to a new drink last night called Kir. Traditionally it is white wine mixed with a splash of creme de cassis; however, in North America the trend of using Chambord instead of creme de cassis is on the rise. I also learned that a Kir Royale is with Champagne and Chambord. Sounds awesome, right? Well, they are! Better get on that with a quickness!

Occasion? Just a night in from the rain.

This is kind of hard to see but my grandma sent me this cute book to record my favorite wines.

This is a close up of page one. You can record the vintage, who it was bottled by, where you bought it, the cost, the type, the appearance, the nose, taste, balance and the occasion served. I was going to save this book and only put "special occasion wine" in here but then I thought against that. I want to record my favorites as well.

This page lets you record any special notes and gives you a spot to put the label. Pretty cool, eh?

This is what we were drinking. I first discovered this wine at this little French wine store called Wine Therapy in Soho. (Close to my old hood). It's been a favorite ever since.

Dinner: French bread pizza with spicy chicken and light Ceasar salad.

Wine Tasting

The Loft on Fifth Ave was the venue chosen for last nights wine tasting. About 120 people and 30 different wines. Good times!

Christina and Curtis - about a foot and 2 inches between the two! haha And notice Brian sneaking into the picture. Wise guy!

We crouched down so Christina could be in the picture. :) What a fun night! After we left the wine tasting, we walked across the street to Shake Shack.

Vino please!

I've had these pictures on my desk top for ages. I've been meaning to blog about some wines for awhile but I haven't gotten around to it. I think I bought both of these from Trader Joes. (TJ's is my go to for all things wine.

This bad boy is super cheap and really good. What the label says, “Made only with the Nero d’Avola grapes, this is a great wine with a beautiful rich, bright garnered colour and full bouquet redolent of berries, cherries and spices. The flavour is clear-cut, full-bodied and elegant. Perfect with grilled red meats and game." I love a full bodied wine and this one is a steal for around $6.

The Brooks 2007 Pinot Noir is an very light Pinot.(Both in alcohol content and by how it hold up alone). You need to pair it with some grub to really highlight it's flavors. In the glass, it's very light red. On the nose, you get muted fruit with hints of mint. In the mouth, this wine delivered very modest fruit, bright acidity, and a long finish that at times offered prominent cherry notes.

Dinner at my house...

I had friends over on Sunday night for dinner. It was a random planning that kind of just happened, but it was fun- as always...my friends rule! We grilled out some chicken breasts and some Boca burgers (for our vegetarian eaters) and had yummy salad and corn on the cob - Cajun style. These were my pre-dinner hor devours. I also made mini pastries (not shown) filled with feta and topped with caramelized onion. (Well, I baked them but Trader Joes made them.)

Kurt, Terence and Curt. Watching Ghostbusters and drinking Pinot.

Brandi and I.

Drinking Pinot on the couch. Happy! :)

Got these two bottles from this place on 8th St between Ave B and Ave C called Brix. Super nice lady named Beatrice runs the shop and they do wine tastings every Friday. I may be back! :)

For my wine friends...

The label says, "Intense aromas and flavors of dark red berries, cranberry and cassis." Well, I remember what cassis is from blogging about wine before. Cassis is a hint of earthiness and is typical of the Sangiovese grape. What? You didn't know I was becoming smart at this, did you? Anyways, the wine label continues, "Full bodied yet elegant and supple...silky tannins (we all know what tannins are, no explanation)...food friendly." I would agree about the cassis but I don't get intense aromas. I think this Chianti is...ok. But again, I'm not like a chianti fanatic, so this is hard to judge.

Ah, Rosenblum. One of my favorite vineyards. This Zinfandel is very spicy and very fruit forward, so if that’s your preference this may be a good pick for you. Rosenblum is known for it's Zin's and while it's not the best Zin ever, it's a really good pick for a California Zin that won't break the bank at about $12 a bottle. On the nose it is mostly cedar, black pepper and plum. There is also a subtle cherry cola aroma. The palate is predominantly big blackberry flavor and raisin. There is also some plum and cherry with less intensity than the blackberry. The finish brings a touch of raspberry and a snappy spice giving this wine a nice complexity. The tannins are fine grained.

Wine Tower

Curtis and I have been wanting a wine tower for quite some time. We saw one we really loved at Crate and Barrel awhile back, but we waited to see if we could find one cheaper. We forgot about the wine tower and got distracted with other things until recently. The haunting tower from C and B came calling for us again and this time we decided to just go buy it.

This is part of it laying on the floor.

My honey putting it together.

Viola! Here is the top half.

The bottom half.

The whole enchilada. :)

Domaine Dupeuble Père et Fils 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau

We were walking around the West Village and spotted this cute little wine shop. The woman recommended this wine above. It's a perfect summer red! Very light and juicy! I LOVED it!
The color is very nice - clear, dark purple, with a clear violet edge. The aroma is very forward ripe-strawberry. Juicy and fresh strawberries on the palate, nicely framed by mouth-watering acidity. US Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, Calif. (Nov 25, 2008) This is so getting a gold star in my book! One of my new faves!

Grapes from some of the finest vines in the Paso Ribles appellation...

Ah, Rosenblum. My fave. On the label it says, "This Zinfandel has a fragrant bouquet of ripe blackberries and currants with hints of vanilla and black pepper. Rich flavors of blackberry and creamy cherry follow."
Yeah, pretty much nails it. Happy Cinco De Drinko!

Vino time!

We've had some decent wines this week. The first: a Pinot Noir for Oregon. We begin with it's brilliant red color. Buttery nose with spice, earth, and cinnamon highlights. Mouth is bright red, black cherry with light raspberry, strawberry, cinnamon, and earth, with long cherry berry finish. What's good about this? It will continue to develop and improve for 4–7 years. But, we drank it. No better time than the PRESENT!

The second. A wonderful crisp Chardonnay from France. This is the Eric Chevalier Vigneron en Pays de Retz Chardonnay 2008. The color of this wine is a pale golden hue...reminds me of a dry Sauvignon Blanc; however, the bouquet is crisp citrus. The flavor is a mix between a buttery Chardonnay and a crisp Pinot Grigio. It leans more towards a Pinot Grigio in taste than a Chardonnay. Perfect summer wine!

Hearth

Last night Curtis and I went on a fancy date to Hearth. The creators of Hearth are Marco Canora and Paul Grieco.

Marco used to work with Tom Colicchio at Gramercy Tavern. He left the Tavern to work at La Cucina, but when he returned he was made the night time sous chef. He then worked with Colicchio to create a new restaurant and was under the helm of creating Craft. Paul Grieco was the Assistant GM of Gramercy Tavern. He joined forces with Marco and together they created Hearth.

The Hearth philosophy is a commitment to not only good food, but hospitality.
This is the Hearth Manifesto (above). And their website goes on to explain the difference between hospitality and good service:

"While some may confuse hospitality with good service, they are vitally different. Good service ensures that food arrives on time, that one has the correct flatware with which to eat one's meal, that finished plates are cleared properly and discreetly, that an appropriate glass is offered to enjoy the wine, and finally that the check arrives when asked for and that it is correct. While correct service will be offered, it will not supplant hospitality. Hospitality ensures that ALL the needs of the guest have been met and exceeded."

Curtis and I both agreed that they are very hospitable. Our water glasses never ran empty, our bread plate was never bare. The wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable and on point. We had the tasting menu called "Cucina Povera", which is an Italian phrase referencing humble cooking. It started off with Marco's Ribollita, which is a warm stew with black cabbage, white beans and Parmesan. It was a hearty winter dish. We did the wine pairing with the tasting menu. This course was accompanied by a glass of Asprinio di Aversa, Villa Carafa, 2006,Campania. It was a golden white wine that was crisp and juicy. The aroma of apples were delightful and pleasant on the finish as well. We were both surprised, considering we rarely drink white. Plus, the color was so golden I thought it would be too sweet--but it wasn't. It was just right!

The main course was a braised lamb shank with polenta and gremolata. This was a real pleaser. It was well cooked and super tender. I ate mine with a fork! This came with a glass of Monastrell, M3, Vinos Sin-Ley, 2006, La Mancha. It complimented the smokiness of the meat very well. I can't rave enough about how good this was.

For dessert we had the Hazelnut Budino with real whipped cream and candied hazelnuts. The wine that came with this was Moscatel, Emilin, Emilio Lustau, NV, Jerez. I hated it. LOL! It was like drinking maple syrup with a high alcohol content. I actually didn't drink it at all and instead asked the server for another glass of a medium bodied red. I forgot what she gave me because she gave me her favorite off the menu and at that point I was too distracted by my dessert to care.

Our server Lindsay, told us that these owners also own Terrior (a wine bar in our neighborhood that we've been dying to try). They have happy hour wine from 5 to 6 every day, including Saturday too. Holla! $6 glasses of high end wine? I'm totally down!

Anyways, it was a nice date. Something we haven't done in a long while. I highly recommend.

Vino time.

Red Diamond. Merlot.

Style: Fruit forward, lush, with some oak spice. Appearance: Deep cranberry ruby with a slight haze, semi-opaque. Aromas: Cherry, black cherry, plum, redcurrant, and sweet pie spice. Medium bodied, lightly tart with plenty of jammy red fruit that is layered over oak spice. It's kinda too jammy for my liking. I personally wasn't a fan. The color was nice, but the taste was too sweet. It kind of was on the verge of a dessert wine. (To me at least) I won't buy again.

La Ferme Julien Cotes Du Ventoux.

Deep, dark color. Deep scents of berries, spice and pepper. Full bodied, big for a fruit-oriented wine. Lots of bright fruit, spice and garrigue (new wine word! Refers to the southern Rhõne Valley and Provence, this is the landscape of small slopes and plateaus.) This one was pretty ok. A steal at TJs for under $10, but if I had my choice I'd get something else. There are so many better choices at TJs.

A time for celebration

Rated 92 points by Wine Spectator, this bottle is almost a perfect 100 points in my book. Curtis tells me he gets the cherry and cranberry aromas. While I get a strange light fruit like strawberry with a hint of a smoky oak and pepper. The finish is fine and cleansing with fresh acidity.
I love pouring this wine into a glass with it's color...a deep violet red. The wine was allowed to age in French Oak barrels (30% new oak) for 10 months where it gained concentration and picked up hints of vanilla and licorice.
This wine was finished off with another indulgence...Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark. A luscious trio of white and dark chocolate with peppermint candy sprinkles. HEAVEN for your mouth...If you don't know, you need to know...That's all...ciao for now...

Xmas and wine: Part 2

Christmas tree...oh, Christmas tree...this tree was given to me randomly by my awesome neighbor Corrine. She bought it then decided she didn't want it. Since I have not bought my tree yet it came in quite handy. Ok...not handy...it came in AWESOME! This tree is rad, considering I wanted a Charlie Brown tree (as is our tradition) and now I have the PERFECT tree. I owe her.

And I decorated it with white lights and silver and pearl balls. Plus, some very special wedding ornaments from Grandma. This is a bride and groom...

By golly, this one says 2008. It's a tangible reminder of our marriage and the permanence of marriage. This is forever!

I love wreaths. Christmas wreaths to be exact. Like this one. It's on my door and it's pretty rad. It looks like little ice crystals. Notice--I'm apt. number five...Send my million dollar checks here!

This is my excited face ('cause I just decorated our tree) and possibly Curtis's relieved face (knowing he doesn't have to help)

It's NEVER to early for another VINE posting. Tonight is BV Napa Valley Merlot 2005. Beaulieu Vineyard was founded in 1900. I made shrimp for dinner tonight and I had this wine with it. I know how some folks feel about Merlot, but gosh darn I like a Merlot or two! The flavors of this wine are dark berries (cherry and berries) but some spice too. There is a hint of oak, light tannins and the finish lingers. Curtis saw this wine on last season's Top Chef and we've been drinking it with dinner since then! Great for a easy wine on a low budget!

Wine Reviews!

Before I start my first wine review entry I want to give you a few photos I took tonight of Christmas lights.
I walked to the grocery store on Ave C and saw this cute display on the way there.

I wish my building was decorated like this.

This giant tree is in the lobby of my office.

These three guys are also in my lobby. Yeah, we have a big lobby.

This tree is seen off in the distance from the ice rink in Bryant Park. Pretty, right?
Ok, now for the purpose of this post. Let's talk wine!
On first glance this wine label would make you question the taste. The wine is subtitled Cote du Bone Roan, a play on the phonetically identical Cote du Beaune and Rhone Valley wine regions in France.

The Rosenblum, founder and winemaker dedicated this wine to the "animals that bring joy to our lives each and every day." I think part of the proceeds even go to animal shelters so drinking it makes you feel good in several ways.

Rosenblum caught my attention in a 2005 edition of Wine Spectator magazine as the Number 3 wine of the year. It was the Zinfandel Rockplie Road Vineyard 2003 (94 points). You know I bought it!

It offers up ripe black fruit aromas --like black cherries and berries and also some notes of spice, and a little smoke. The label says the wine contains a whopping 14.9 percent alcohol, but it's so balanced that the only way you'd notice is if you drank the whole bottle. It's so good and a steal at Trader Joes for around $11!Joel Gott Cabernet 2006. This beauty was a gift from Joe Z. It was a random night last week and he came over for dinner after band practice. He happen to bring me one of my favorite wines.
He got it from this place called De Vino (they actually deliver --no kidding!). So we had it with dinner - of course!
The Cabernet is one of many Joel Gott creations. He also does a mean Zinfandel that he is well known for. "We make the wines from diverse vineyard sites, including high elevation rocky soil vineyards that produce concentrated wines as well as Napa Valley floor vineyards that produce wines with elegance and finesse." - From Gott's description of the wine on his site.
The color is a beautiful purple/ruby red, with aromas of blueberry and mocha. At first taste you get the richness of this wine and you realize it's fruit forward. It also has good structure, acidity, and sweet balanced tannins that leave an elegant finish. I love it!

Hope you liked my wine post. There will definetly be more!