They say Zinfandel is the ultimate BBQ wine. I tested out that theory when I paired this 2009 Nickel & Nickel Zinfandel with pork ribs. I can’t take credit for the ribs, the manfriend owned the dry rub and 2 day process of marinating, baking, and finishing off on the grill. I can’t really take credit for the wine either as a friend brought it…..but…
It’s over, officially. My month+ long birthday celebration culminated in the most amazing weekend surrounded by family and friends at home in Napa. I’ve thought about this “big birthday” celebration for many years now, imagining how it would be and feel. This was everything and more. I feel so lucky to be at this place in my life right now, I really couldn’t ask for…
You may have gathered from my lack of posts, but Sauvignon Blanc is not my favorite varietal. I often find it too acidic and harsh. This 2015 Estate Sauvignon Blanc from Rochioli was a pleasant surprise. While still full of citrus, it was softer than typical SB, with a pleasant, round finish. Somewhat surprising since it was still so young and only bottled in January!…
With my frequent trips home, I’ve had fun exploring new restaurants in San Francisco on my way home from the airport, it’s a completely different city than the one I grew up in! After seeing a post from Miss Gwyneth about dinner at Cotogna, I was intrigued and added it to my list to try. I remember my first taste of Lambrusco, 9 years ago…
One of the things I enjoy most about wine is the opportunity to experience things outside my wheelhouse. A recent score from Benchmark Wines in Napa yielded two such opportunities for learning and exploration: a 1980 Barolo from Ceretto and a 1986 Ribera del Duero from Ibernoble. Older wines can be a bit of a gamble, as one would expect, but much to our surprise and…
It’s no secret my propensity for White Burgundy. So when a recent recipe I was trying out called for a crisp, full bodied white wine like Chablis to pair with the mustard roast chicken, I was happy to oblige. Domaine Garnier et Fils is a family run operation, brothers Xavier and Jérôme decided to start making their own wine in 1996 after decades of…
As many of you know, I have a rather big birthday coming up in May. To kick the celebrations off, I’m heading to France, and Alsace in particular, this Friday! To get in the spirit for my upcoming trip, I recently tried an Alsatian Pinot Noir from Vignoble André Scherer. When I think “Alsace” I think Pinot Blanc and dry, zippy Riesling, not necessarily red…
One more from my weekend in the Berkshires. I was lucky to spend valentine’s day with my mama. We celebrated at the Prairie Whale, a lovely restaurant from the same group that runs Diner, Marlow & Sons, Reynard etc. in Brooklyn. As you may have guessed, Mom is a white wine only drinker, which obviously impacts my choices when dining with her. Lucky for us,…
A definite highlight of our dinner at Allium in Great Barrington was the truffled popcorn appetizer paired with a White Burgundy from Domaine Marc Morey. Located in Chassagne-Montrachet in the Cote de Beaune, the domaine was first established in 1919 and is now under the direction of the 4th generation of the Morey family. This wine comes from a premiere cru parcel in Rully. …
In honor of the 75 degree day today in NYC, I have a new and different rosé to kick off the spring season! This 2014 Grenache rosé is a pétillant (Pet Nat for short), meaning “naturally sparkling”. This method was a precursor to Champagne and quite possibly was born out of ignorance. Basically wine is capped before fermentation is entirely complete, leaving a wine with…
