The sky is clear and there's a stiff cold November breeze. We dart from our apartment on Horatio Street to La Foccacia a small bistro in Manhattans meat packing district close to the hum of Village life. The welcome is warm and friendly and the place is full of locals. We slowly take off our layers and settle down to peruse the menu. The wine list has many wines, some familiar but plenty of new faces too.
After a 7 hour flight from Edinburgh and a tinge of jet lag hanging over me I plump for known territory. I don't think I've ever had a disappointing Montepulciano d' Abruzzo. This one is from Cantina Zaccagnini. This cantina produce a great many different wines and have some award winners in amongst them. 2003 was a hot year in Italy but successful as the montepulciano grape can stand the heat with excellent results. The Il vino dal Tracetto was as expected. The solid familiar deep red and the aroma of stewed damsons and suet pudding. It's dry, smooth east drinking wine and I wish there had been a chocolate on the dessert menu, I just love this wine type of wine with dark chocolate.......
It's not fancy or complex and as I said there were no surprises, a perfect wine for this occasion.
As I'm finding with most Italian wine producers Cantina Zaccagnini has a cool website: http://www.cantinazaccagnini.it/
There wines are inexpensive and can be bought from:
http://www.thecellardoor.it/
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Saturday, 20 October 2007
La Serre 2006 Sauvignon Blanc - defining modern France
At least that's what it says on the label.
It's Saturday night and friends we haven't seen since leaving NZ arrive for a flying visit, a visit that coincides with the Scotland v NZ game in the Rugby World Cup.
We choose a small restaurant on the Lothian Road that appears to provide every type of eastern promise......Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian...........I'm surprised that a Riesling isn't on the wine list, a great match for this type of food.
At £12.95 a bottle La Serre is cheap but I wouldn't say cheerful, more quite happy.
Originating from Southern France it's not too green and is quite different to the NZ SBs our guests are used to.
We catch up on news and gossip from NZ and predict the scores for tomorrow's match, all in all a great evening. We are last to leave the restaurant and head home amongst the loud and vibrant party goers of the city.
Tasting notes:
It's not a powerful on the nose but you can detect subtle ripe white fruits.
On the palate it's dry but not tart with a hint grass but powerful white fruits such as pear and melon.
It's Saturday night and friends we haven't seen since leaving NZ arrive for a flying visit, a visit that coincides with the Scotland v NZ game in the Rugby World Cup.
We choose a small restaurant on the Lothian Road that appears to provide every type of eastern promise......Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian...........I'm surprised that a Riesling isn't on the wine list, a great match for this type of food.
At £12.95 a bottle La Serre is cheap but I wouldn't say cheerful, more quite happy.
Originating from Southern France it's not too green and is quite different to the NZ SBs our guests are used to.
We catch up on news and gossip from NZ and predict the scores for tomorrow's match, all in all a great evening. We are last to leave the restaurant and head home amongst the loud and vibrant party goers of the city.
Tasting notes:
It's not a powerful on the nose but you can detect subtle ripe white fruits.
On the palate it's dry but not tart with a hint grass but powerful white fruits such as pear and melon.
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Domaine de Salvert - Tasting Notes Part 2 Sweet & Sparkling
We finished our afternoon's tasting with a delightful semi-sweet that Georges recommended with white meats such as roast chicken. Only produced in 2003 and 2006 it was floral and sweet but not too overpowering. This was followed a semi-sweet rose made from the cabernet franc, a personal favourite of Georges. It's orange tile red (tuille) and the fresh sweetness asking to be drunk with hot and spicy foods. It's a really drinkable wine and I can imagine its appeal to young and old alike, especially ladies.
The 2004 Cremant de Loire we enjoyed in the comfort of the living room. A great crisp taste of apples, citrus, limes and a dryness that compliments the fruit flavours delightfully. The bubbles on the tongue are insistent and vibrant and lengthy.
The final tasting of Rose Cremant, yet to be released and called Esprit de Sophie (Sophie being Georges daughter who is due to be married this September) I guess you could call the icing on the cake. Not too floral on the nose, a perfect balance of fruit and fizz on the tongue. It has a freshness and taste that's hard to describe.
It's available from next year but only to wine partners, perhaps a reason to have the vines for another year at Domaine de Salvert. I can't wait for my order to arrive.
The 2004 Cremant de Loire we enjoyed in the comfort of the living room. A great crisp taste of apples, citrus, limes and a dryness that compliments the fruit flavours delightfully. The bubbles on the tongue are insistent and vibrant and lengthy.
The final tasting of Rose Cremant, yet to be released and called Esprit de Sophie (Sophie being Georges daughter who is due to be married this September) I guess you could call the icing on the cake. Not too floral on the nose, a perfect balance of fruit and fizz on the tongue. It has a freshness and taste that's hard to describe.
It's available from next year but only to wine partners, perhaps a reason to have the vines for another year at Domaine de Salvert. I can't wait for my order to arrive.
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