The end of the year usually brings a lull to the wine/cocktail tasting events in the city, but there is still an event or two around town to attend.
Pierre Loti is a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar with locations in Chelsea and Union Square in Manhattan. On Sundays they usually host some sort of wine tasting.
On Sunday, December16th they hosted a holiday wine tour of Spain at their Union Square location located at 53 Irving Place. It was a sit down tasting of ten interesting Spanish wines with a nice selection from sparkling to dessert. It was a cozy room filled with people there to taste some wine and to listen to commentary from Spanish winemaker April Cullom and resident wine guy, Robin Kelley O’Connor.
It was a nice way to spend a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon.
White
NV Caves Torllo Brut Reserve (Penedes)
30% Macebeo, 45% Xarel-Lo, 25% Parellada: Light gold, crisp and lemony
2017 Bodega Gaintza Txakolina (Tzakoli Guetaria)
85% Hondarrabi Zuri, 10% Gros Manseng, 5% Hondarrabi Beltza: White floral nose, with lime notes on the crisp finish, fresh.
2016 Casa Abril Godello (Valdeorras)
100% Godello: Orange and stinky undertones on the nose, moderate floral fruit with nice acidity on the finish.
Rosé
2017 Vinos Guerra Armas de Guerra (Bierzo)
100% Mencia: Very light red in color, red cherry on the nose, cooked vegetable notes on the moderate fruit, moderate to low acids.
2017 Zestos Rosado (Madrid)
100% Free Run Garnacha: Medium copper in color, dark flower and dark cherry on the nose, juicy with firm acidity on the finish, nice balance.
Red
2016 Bodegas Barreda Casa Abril Coupage (Tierra de Castilla)
60% Tempranillo, 20% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon: Opaque dark purple, crushed black fruit and slate on the nose, tight with cherry and roast coffee note on the firm finish with tight tannins.
2016 El Quinon Barco de Piedra (Ribero del Duero)
100% Tempranillo: Opaque dark red, dusty green herbs on the nose, dusty and tart with firm tannins.
2014 Celler Vinos Piñol Portal (Terra Alta)
50% Garnacha, 20% Carignan, 10% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 10% Tempranillo: Opaque medium red with crushed red fruit and toast on the nose, tight moderate fruit with crisp acids.
2016 Bodegas Nekeas El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa (Navarra)
100% Old Vines Garnacha: Medium red, crushed red fruit and dark flowers on the nose, bright, tight and toasty silky red fruit, crisp finish.
2010 Bodegas Ochoa Reserva (Navarra)
55% Tempranillo, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot: Opaque dark red, crushed dark fruit and ripe leather on the nose, tight, juicy fruit with a medium to long finish.
Dessert
2016 Bodegas Ochoa Moscatel Vendimia Tardia (Navarra)
100% Single Vineyard Late Harvest Moscatel: Light gold with a big perfume of lychee, thick, with melon notes on the moderate finish.
Bodegas Alvaro Domecq Oloroso Reserva 1730 (Jerez)
Palomino Fino Aged 30 years: The color of chocolate milk with a perfume of gun metal, cut grass and raisons, thick and creamy, not a shy dessert wine.
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