On April 28th I attended the 7th annual Wheeling Forward Wine on Wheels grand tasting and auction. Wheeling Forward is an organization that helps people with disabilities live life to the fullest through advocacy, mentorship and support services. One of the founding members, Yannick Benjamin is a Sommelier so it’s not surprising that they have many wine themed fundraising events throughout the year.
This event was held at City Winery, a music venue and urban winery located at 155 Varick Street in lower Manhattan. Many distributors/importers donated well over 100 wines from most of the major wine regions in the world. Pouring at the event were dozens of Sommeliers who volunteered their time and it really was “great wines for a great cause”.
It was an eclectic list of old and new world wines with everything from great Champagne to Pet-Nats. Before the general public were let in they had a premium wine room that poured some interesting older vintages some of which I sampled:
2014 Cucamon Granache A Tribute to Grace “Hofer Vineyard” (Cucamonga Valley). Light red, leather notes on the nose with cherry red leather fruit.
1985 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot (Napa Valley). Medium amber with an amber rim, closed nose of roasted meat, dusty black cherry fruit, firm silky tannins. Still drinking nicely.
1991 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon “Cherryblock” (Sonoma Valley). Amber in color, ripe plums, bell pepper and mint on the nose, chewy black leather fruit and dried leaf notes on the finish.
2010 Cerretto Barolo (Piedmont). Medium amber, tar and leather on the nose with moderate tannins on the firm finish.
Others that I sampled:
2015 Joseph Drouhin Chassange Montrachet
2013 Domaine Faiveley 1er Cru Clos de l’Ecu Monopole 1.5L
2013 Domaine de la Chapelle Corton Bressandes
2014 Chateau Mont Redon Chateauneuf du Pape 1.5L
2000 Chateau La Louviere
2005 Calon-Segur
2005 Chateau d’Issan
1999 Chateau Lagrange
2011 Brane-Cantenac
2011 Chateau Phelan Segur
2013 Bruno Giacosa Barolo “Le Rocche del Falletto”
2013 Mount Eden Chardonnay “Estate”
2015 DeLoach Vineyards Pinot Noir RRV
2009 Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
2015 Raymond Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Reserve”
2014 Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon “Animo”
2015 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel
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