Damn it's been a while since my last entry. A few long days of work and my ability to drink AND write fizzles. So since there was only time for one, I chose to drink and drink, then write. So what have I been drinking?
Well last week my friend and I went to Vino in Manhattan for a Brunello di Montalcino tasting. (Advertised as four Brunellos and one Rosso) I guess some hardcore wino might accidentally take a sip of the rosso and do a spit-take reaction at the horror of it not being Brunello he was tasting. This place is a great Italian wine boutique with great selection from every region including those hard to find Friulian reds. The tastes were poured in standard sized red wine glasses by a well dressed and well informed pourer that answered every question I had. Even though we walked in fifteen minuted after the tasting was scheduled to stop, he poured for us anyway. The truth is I would have been quite intimidated by this place as recent as a few months ago. These $40- $60 bottles tasted are out of my usual price range and my knowledge of fine Tuscan wines is from generic info at best. As for what I thought of the wine, it was quite tasty. The first few tastes were dulled by the chewing gum that I had to swallow as I walked in though the door. I don't remember the producers, but the vintages were from 1998 to 2000. In the future I'd like to taste some Chianti with the Brunellos, and other Sangiovese based wines next to each other to really get a feel for the region.
A few days later I ventured to Vintage New York with my girlfriend as a sort of buzz inducing tailgate party for the game of going to pick up several bottles at Astor Wines. As she drank the fizzy wines from NY, I went into Cab Franc investigator mode. I tasted the Schneider "Le Breton" 2004, the Lamoreaux Landing 2002, and the Peconic Bay 2002 Cabernet Francs. The Schneider was tight and it wasn't bright and peppery like I expect. The Lamoreaux was as I remember it from the first bottle I had, not like the second bottle that had some cork taint. Smooth and well rounded with a silky feel and a greater density than those from Long Island. That leaves my favorite from the three, the Peconic Bay 2002 Cabernet Franc. It's blackberry and cherry flavors and soft tannins are what I love about this grape on the North Fork. The finish has a hint of pepper and just feels right in the end. Not too heavy, not to light, a perfect food wine.
This week there are a few organic wine tasting events here in NY. I may cruise by the free ones and rub shoulders with that crowd if I can make it. Astor wines is also opening their new location next week too, with a grand opening event the following week. I'll try to take a few pics in between pours. Cheers!
Where's the Hungarian Cab Franc post?
Posted by: wino's girlfriend | March 07, 2006 at 12:24 PM
Hey, thanks for checking in at The Wine Chicks! And fyi: I used to work at Peconic Bay - quite a coincidence. It was a loooong time ago, when it was under command of Ray Blum. I think he now owns Ackerly. Or something. Anyway, I did find Premier, and it's saved my life.
Posted by: Jay | March 07, 2006 at 03:33 PM