Matua Valley – Sauvignon Blanc – 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Cost: app. $16 to $18 / bottle
One of the hidden gems in the world of dry white wines can easily include the sauvignon blanc, and New Zealand is well known for producing fine examples. This Matua Valley was quite simply… awesome. This is crisp, light to medium-bodied, with a slight pewter in color. The aromas and flavors that dominated the entire time were a refreshing array of grapefruit, lime, and just a suggestion of lemongrass. Went very well with the summery cuisine I enjoyed alongside this wine of excellent value.
Rating: 90
Clos La Coutale 2007 – Cahors, France (dry red wine)
Cost: $10/Bottle
Browsing at a wine store, they give this bottle to me and say, “just try it and see what you think.” At $10/bottle, how could I go wrong? And I certainly didn’t. It does indeed have good value with its dark opaque purple color and medium-bodied package— but with its rich color, it really looks heavier. Its nose is dark cassis, cherry preserves, herbs, menthol, with a slight hint of heat that gives it a sherry-like fragrance. It remains smooth and firmly tannic on the palate. A dry finish, suggesting a little age would help this come along, with a good level of fruit that could meld better with time. I don’t believe I have ever had a wine from the Cahors region in France, but this truly looks promising.
Rating: 87
(I may pick up 2 or 3 bottles and allow it to rest on its side for a year. Will report on its progress over time…)
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of luck[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Cute.
Please rate the Bar:
Fine. Spacious, welcoming, comfortable, clean. And the bartender is affable and enthusiastic enough, if not exactly meticulous.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Good. Decent assortment of wine, unless you take seriously into account the vintners "are all women" (their first names even appear on the list alongside the description of their offerings). Not quite sure how those women feel about their wines being served in rocks glasses, but I guess you’ll have to ask them. Drink prices by the glass are "tasting" size; bottle prices are fair-ish, all relatively square in the mid-range. A bit more diversity would have been nice (especially for a "wine bar"), but the good bones are there; maybe they’ll expand eventually.
The cocktail list (not on the menu but on the wall behind you) is all classics, but the execution is proficient.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Also cute. Imaginative and creative. Nice use of spare square footage. Cozy and casual but not cramped.
Please rate the BOH:
N/A; technically the BOH is in the FOH.
And uh, it’s… uh… "not a restaurant," remember? Definitely keep that in mind.
How was the staff?
Satisfactory. Both of them. Ha ha.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
San Daniele with homemade breadsticks : OK. Personally, I’m not a particularly huge fan of the San Daniele, but it’s adequate enough. Great for nibbling/drinking.
Melanzane with Goat Cheese : Not bad. Is it made in a toaster oven? That would be kind of impressive I suppose.
Polpette : Uhh… yeah. This one needs a re-think. And they know why, come on now. If I say any more than that, I would need a consultation fee.
But just an illustration, I no longer have any confidence/interest in ordering the crab cakes or vegetable lasagna, both of which I had been considering. Next time (if there’s a next time), I’ll likely stick to the cheese and salumi.
What did you like?
The location. The ambience. And the wine (I tried four varietals) was pretty good.
What did you dislike?
Oi, those meatballs…
What was your last impression?
… and what’s with the music?
Would you come back?
Sigh. Maybe…
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thanks and best of luck.
Bangin Red 2006 – Napa Valley, California
Cost: $11.99/bottle
Shopping at one of my favorite liquor stores, the manager recommended an $11.99 bottle of Bangin Red, made of a blend of 6 grape varietals: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec, petit verdot, plus a scant 2% of zinfandel— a blend I couldn’t help but find intriguing. And I’m glad I succumbed to the temptation.
An amazing nose of red berries and cherries greeted me immediately, and in another 20 minutes or so emerged a wonderful scent of rosemary— yes that sweet smelling nose. A slight hint of eucalyptus (but mostly rosemary) accompanied, with a twinge of cherries and berries. Very impressive. In the mouth, the 14.2 % alcohol seemed tamed (but it’s there), taking a back seat to the fruit and supple tannin textures. Very juicy, ripe, and quite nice, perfect for an easy relaxing night.
Rating: 90
Hartley Ostini – Generation Red 2006 Central Coast – Santa Maria, California
Cost: $20.99/bottle
An interesting red combination of cabernet franc, merlot, syrah, and refosco grape varietals. Santa Maria is best known for their pinot noir and chardonnay; this Hartley Ostini red blend pulls no punches. Big, with its 14% alcohol and plenty of complexities, including hickory smoke barbeque sauce, herbal tea that blends nicely into cherries and blueberries, and a subtle hint of pepperiness thanks to the syrah. It’s silky smooth on the palate with plenty of juicy glycerine and fruitiness at the middle and back of the mouth. Good finish (and fairly priced at just over a $20).
Rating: 89
Landmark Chardonnay 2006 – Napa Valley, California
Cost: $22/bottle
Nice light-gold color, clear and crisp, notes of lemon, honey, oak, and oatmeal. Full-bodied, smooth and rich on the palate. Gobs of fruit with forgiving acidity. Fills the mouth so much, it can be enjoyed on its own just sipping away at happy hour. Personally, I enjoyed it with a summery seared tuna, and it was just the right ticket.
Rating: 92
Siduri – Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 – Santa Lucia Highlands, California
Cost: $35-$40/Bottle
This was simply a spectacular pinot noir, with its ripe cherry, strawberry, and blackcherry fruit commingled with some violets, cloves, and just a touch of white cake. It’s smooth and rich in its full-bodied, dark purple/ruby coat. It’s a young wine, with firm acids and some strong tannins but is balanced and harmonious with good levels of alcohol, not-too-sweet glycerine levels, and just the right fruit concentration. Siduri hits a homerun with this 2007 vintage and I am still amazed at the great wines— scratch that— the great pinot noirs coming out of Santa Lucia in California. The price ranges about $5 depending on where you shop in the US; that’s because this wine does have a steady following for the Pisoni Vineyard designate and in some areas, they may charge a mark up more than usual. If you see it, just pick it up and enjoy.
Rating: 93
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of luck[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
cute.
Please rate the Bar:
N/A— in a way; the bar is essentially more like a "to go" counter that happens to store liquor. good thing they have lots of tables (in the summer, that is).
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
the cocktail list is a bit contrived in that hotelesque kind of way; it’s trite but sorta tries to pretend otherwise. also, opt for wines by the glass instead of by the bottle— a glass of ChateauMinuty e.g., is $9, but the bottle is $60. so ya know, figure that one out. no wait don’t bother, save your brain energy, i’ll just lay it out for you. it’s HotelGansevoort— in the meatpacking district. make sense to ya now? yah i thought so.
Please rate the Dining Room:
i kinda like it. it’s simple but aesthetically pleasing. spacious, comfortable— and it’s a pretty nice view.
Please rate the BOH:
it’s very… hotel. all the tourist favorites are here— caesar salad, turkey panini, lobster club, burger etc, with the unique addition of crepes. the presentation is hardly creative (except for maybe the dried strawberries in the side salads), but it’s not bad. and the prices are pretty reasonable.
How was the staff?
nice. amiable, professional, conscientious.
personally it’s my opinion the host should maybe rein it in just a wee bit addressing all the passersby. i realize it’s the Gansevoort but hello— this aint miami. if you want to give our fair visitors the true downtown new york experience, you have to be a little more haughty and elitist than that, come on now.
but overall i’d say they get a B+ or perhaps even an A-
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
i tried the turkey panini, pat-lafrieda "cafe" burger, and spinach/mushroom crepe. and it was all okay— rather european in the execution actually. certainly none of it is earth-shattering, but that’s likely not their intent anyway. it’s perfectly fine hotel fare, but it won’t exactly compete with its neighbors at this level. luckily for them, it probably doesn’t have to.
What did you like?
the ambience.
What did you dislike?
nothing really. but i mean— i didn’t have very high expectations.
What was your last impression?
it’s a very pleasant place to relax for a drink.
Would you come back?
if i were in the area already? sure.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
thank you and have a good day.
Rudd – Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay 2006 – Russian River Valley, California
Cost: $65/bottle
Dining at a newly opened restaurant in our neighborhood, we are treated to an impressive selection of fine Italian dishes. During appetizers, we enjoyed this bottle of Bacigalupi Vineyard chardonnay, the signature white wine of the Rudd Estate. Its impressive nose of pear, mild citrus, a hint of black licorice and minerals is gorgeous to sniff. The full-bodied, rich, and layered textures unfold impressive white and yellow fruit while retaining that fine acidic structure but remaining smooth on the mid and back palates. An outstanding wine, worth its hefty premium price tag.
Rating: 92
Rustenberg – John X. Merriman 2005, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa
Cost: $26.99/bottle
A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and some dollops of the remaining Bordeaux varietals, this dark, saturated, ruby-colored wine exhibited a silky smooth medium body with perfume-like scents of cedar, black currants, black cherry, dark Godiva chocolate, and subtle toasted oak. In the mouth, very polished with good inner presence of flavor and fruit, ripe and rich with currant. Dark chocolate flavors unfold easily. There are some wonderful things coming out of South Africa, and Rustenberg is undoubtedly one of them.
Rating: 90
Black Wing Pinot Noir 2006, South East Australia
Cost: $22/bottle
Nice, deep, garnet red, with moderately full-bodied package. For a pinot noir, it looks strikingly similar to a Californian cabernet sauvignon, but the aroma is all pinot noir, with its vibrant bouquet of cherries, raspberries, cloves, and a hint of sage and thyme. Boldly flavored with rich, ripe red fruit— juicy through and through. The acidity, however, is a bit elevated, so I sense a crispness with each sip. Overall, a wonderful experience from the land down under, where sometimes it’s not always a Shiraz that rules (at least for this evening; this Black Wing pinot noir has raised an eyebrow or two). Delicious.
Rating: 89
Trazado Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Maipo Valley, Chile
Cost: $24.99/bottle
On my way to the checkout counter at my local wine shop, I came across this in the “featured” aisle— with a sign expressing that this is Chile’s version of a Read more…
Quintessa 2004 – Bordeaux blend – Napa Valley, California
Cost: $250/bottle restaurant retail or app. $125 store retail
A bit of a splurge on the Quintessa 2004, a wine made predominantly of cabernet sauvignon, but with dollops of other red varietals. Nose of liquid Snickers, and mocha-java coffee that lingers above the blackberries and blueberries, with mild oak, anise spice, and just a touch of underbrush. The wine was carefully decanted to allow maximum air and it was worth it. In the mouth, so creamy smooth, decadent and alive, powerful lush dark berries with chocolate ganache. This is a voluptuous wine, and perhaps the finest Quintessa I have ever been privileged to enjoy. I will look for this wine, and lock down a couple of bottles to relive the moment. It’s just that good.
Rating: 97
Crocker Starr – Cabernet Franc 2006, St Helena- Napa Valley, California
Cost: $54.99
A fabulous cabernet franc from what happens to be my first taste from this winery. I am always interested in trying new offerings from various wineries and encourage everyone to keep exploring, because that is what makes wine all the more exciting. And I came across this cabernet franc, a difficult grape to make good wine (and if not done correctly will yield that vegetal green character)—- while nice as a blending grape to cabernet sauvignon, could be overwhelming if not harnessed correctly on its own. Crocker Starr performs quite admirably by offering more of the red and black currants, mild sandalwood, sage, and a touch of cigar tobacco on the nose. In the mouth, this moderately full-bodied wine holds a consistent flavor profile, with good persistence of fruit that is matched by polished tannins. With about 30 minutes of air time in the glass, I noted some complex cedar-y graphite nose on the palate, adding a pleasant touch. A genuinely solid performance for this cabernet franc.
Rating: 90
Lane Tanner Pinot Noir – Julia’s Vineyard 2007, Santa Maria, California
Cost: $34.99/Bottle
This is an impressive performance from once again, my first taste of a winery of which I’ve never heard. From Santa Maria, California, this pinot noir from Julia’s Vineyard came to life from the minute it was opened. Forward aroma of violets, iris flowers which yield to ripe strawberry jam, and raspberry and cherry fruit, slightly laced with a hint of smoked meat, is a joy to sniff. In the mouth, medium-bodied, this garnet red with a darker ruby center is smooth and satiny from the attack to the finish, unfolding that juicy red strawberry and raspberry immediately with good concentration. Lane Tanner rocks and I must pick up more of this for a penny shy of $35. This is great pinot noir. At a bargain price too!
Rating: 94
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You Read more…
As one sagacious oenophile put it best: "OK, the sommelier will shut up now and the girl will take over… *SQUEEE! HELLO KITTY WINE!*"
[ Side note to resident sommelier and "Cellar Notes" correspondent, Aris Francisco: Please don't hit me. ]
:)
Just a reminder from your favorite "cocktail architect," Yusef Austin of Elitelixirs. Enjoy!
:)
New Spring Cocktails from Elitelixirs:
The Caledonia & The Exotique
White Mischief & Orange Glory
Flames of Paradise (all by Yusef Austin)
= "personne extraordinaire"