This year was the 35th anniversary of Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience. Three days of high-end tastings and seminars ending with the Grand Award Banquet on Saturday. The grand tastings on Thursday and Friday featured some outstanding wines, unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend those but I did attend the banquet on Saturday. At that banquet the Spectator presented the 2015 Grand Award winners and the 2014 Wine of the Year award which was 2011 Dow’s vintage port. They also presented the Distinguished Service award to Bill Harlan of Harlan Estate and one of his wines was poured at the dinner. The event as usual was held at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, Manhattan and the entertainment was provided by Huey Lewis and the News.
The night was started with a Champagne reception of some very nice sparklers and then followed by dinner. I was surprised they only served two wines instead of the normal three with dinner until I found out the price of the Maiden.
Champagne Reception
2002 Salon Brut Blanc de Blanc Le Mesnil
NV Tattinger Brut Rosé Prestige
NV Bollinger Brut Special Cuvée
NV Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve
NV Louis Roederer Brut Premier
NV Piper-Hiedsieck Brut
NV Henriot Brut Souverain
Dinner and Wines Served
Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad with Arugula, Citrus Oil and Maldon Salt
2012 Sterling Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve (Napa Valley) Ripe green apple and oak on the nose with tropical fruit and oak on the fruit, moderate fruit. Big time oaky Chard.
Petite Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Fig-Braised Beef Short Rib Served with Bone Marrow Hedgehog Mushroom Pudding, Sweet Potato Puree and Fall Harvest Vegetables.
2012 Harlan Estate “The Maiden” (Napa Valley). Dark red to black in color, brambly, dried herbs, tight and concentrated, on the finish I was getting green olives, tobacco and dark chocolate. Started out as a fruit bomb but the finish tightened up with complex layers, still young.
Carmel and Vanilla Chocolate Bar with Brown Bread Ice Cream
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SocialVino 
Yikes, they served Harlan? How was that? I live in Napa and the 2014 Harlan looks to be priced at $800 a bottle which we refuse to pay for a bottle of wine. The whole event looks great, though. Check out our Napa valley wine blog: http://www.topochinesvino.com.
I don’t blame you, there’s no way I would pay $800 for a bottle of wine unless it came with airfare and a hotel room!
Last time I was in Cali for a wine tour was last October, stopped in Anderson Valley, might come out this October
ciao!