Author: Bruno Donaggio

Anderson Valley Day 1

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After a couple of days touring Paso Robles, it was back on highway 101 and a five-hour drive northbound to my next destination, Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. At Hopland, I left highway 101 for highway 128 and a torturous drive over the mountains (thank God it wasn’t raining) to the valley. At the head of the valley I ran into the tiny Yorkville Highlands appellation and stopped at the first winery of the day. After which I followed 128 which meanders through the valley and stopped at the small town (about four blocks long) of Boonsville for a couple of tasting rooms.

Yorkville Cellars: First winery of the day in Yorkville Highlands, they bottled all six of the Bordeaux blend varietals individually from estate fruit.

2013 Malbec. Dark red, crushed strawberry on the nose, bright fruit, leather notes on the finish with good balance.

2013 Petite Verdot. Inky black in color with a big nose of black licorice, tight and silky with firm tannin at the end.

2013 Carmenere. Don’t see much of this grape bottled on its own, dark purple, juicy and silky with green vegetable on the fruit, balanced tannin and acid.

Meyers Family Cellars: Right up the road from Yorkville Cellars, family owned winery founded by Silver Oak Winery.

2014 Chardonnay. Light gold with toast, honey on the moderate fruit with melon notes and nice balance.

2012 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark red with a pretty nose of leather and pencil shavings, tight and dusty with graphite on the finish.

2012 “Spitfire” Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. American oak, dark red, closed nose of dried plums, concentrated with a dusty , moderate to long finish.

Foursight Wines: Tasting room in the town of Boonville, husband and wife team making very some very nice small production wines.

2012 Pinot Noir Charles Vineyard. Light red, slightly cloudy, warm cooked spicy fruit on the nose, bitter licorice on the firm finish.

2012 “Clone 05” Pinot Noir Charles Vineyard. Clear medium red, barnyard, earth on the nose, bright dark berry fruit, dried mushroom on the moderate to long finish.

2013 “Paraboll” Pinot Noir. Light brick, wood and forest floor on the nose, gorgeous fruit, mushroom, cola and a balanced, long finish.

Lazy Creek Vineyards: up a long road off the main highway, owned by Ferano-Carano.

2013 “Lazy Day” Pinot Noir. Clear light red, red leather on the nose, bright, tart cola notes on the finish, astringent.

2012 Estate Pinot Noir. Clear, medium purple, warm dark berry fruit on the nose, tight and tart.

2013 “Middleridge Ranch” Pinot Noir. Medium purple, cooked black fruit on the nose, tart and toasty.

 

Paso Robles Highway 46

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Second day of tasting in Paso Robles. Decided to focus at wineries along highway 46 which runs East to West as highway 101 runs North to South. I assumed visiting wine country in the Autumn would be full of cool, crisp days in the countryside. Not in Paso this week, today the temperature made it to 97º (36º for you foreigners) in the afternoon and that’s hot. Did begin the day visiting the Warbird and exotic car Museum in the East side of 46 where I began wine tasting and headed Westbound for the day and finally ending at some tasting rooms in tow.

Eberle Winery: First stop on the highway, the “godfather” of the Paso wine industry.

2014 Viognier “Mill Road Vineyard” Yellow with earth and honeysuckle on the nose, earth notes on the full and balanced finish.

2013 Sangiovese Dark brick, spicy black vanilla and cherry on the nose, dusty tannin on the moderate to long finish.

2013 Syrah “Steinbech Vineyard” From the 2nd oldest syrah vines in North American so I’ve been told, dark purple with a big perfume of toasty crushed black berries, chunky with big tannins at the end.

Peachy Canyon: Family owned winery on highway 46.

2012 “Especial” Low production of three zin lots,  dark purple, cooked vegetable on the nose, starts out juicy, tightens up with cola flavors and moderate tannin and acid at the end.

2011 “Para Siempre” All five Bordeaux grapes, dark red, green bell pepper on the nose, tight, concentrated with dill notes on the moderate to long finish.

2012 “Vortex” Zinfandel A blend of four single vineyard zinfandel, dark purple with crushed red berry and mint on the nose, dusty, dark chocolate on the finish.

Caliza Winery:

2013 “Sidekick” 140 cases mad, mostly Roussanne, deep gold with a stinky nose with full, rich fruit and some sweet notes on the finish.

2012 Primitivo Estate wine, dark purple with a big nose of cooked vegetable, chewy and chunky, big fruit, juicy, dark plums and nicely balanced.

2012 Syrah Estate wine, dark red to black, warm graphite on the nose, thick, concentrated and chewy, good balance.

Four Lanterns Winery: From the Willow Creak AVA, about 750 cases total produced.

2014 “Apricity” Picpoul Blanc, light yellow, dried herbs on the nose with tart lime notes on the finish.

2013 “Shadow” Grenache/Syrah blend, dark red to black, red leather on the nose, slky red leather on the fruit and green herbs, nice balance.

2013 “Firelight” Syrah, decanted, dark red to black, nose of crushed black fruit and mint, silky red fruit and nice balance.

Tooth & Nail Winery: Low key winery, big castle with a moat.

2013 Stasis Viognier Murmer Vineyard Light gold to greenish tint, white flowers on the nose with full tropical fruit flavors with some peachy notes on the finish.

2012 Stasis Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Big old school Chard, vanilla oak, buttery finish.

After touring the wineries I usually head back to town to end the day at the urban wine trail. Usually the wines aren’t impressive. While wandering around I stumbled on a couple of off the radar tasting rooms that would be worth a visit if you are in the town of Paso.

Paso Under Ground: A small sign on the sidewalk directs you to walk through a clothing shop with a back room with a terrace with four tables staffed with small, independent producers pouring their wine. I stopped at Copia Winery which had the owner/winemaker as well as the owner of the back room Michael Dewiit pouring his wines. At 200-300 cases total production from the Willow Creek AVA for the year, these wines are extremely limited.

2014 “The Reason” 100% Viognier, yellow with a greenish tint, some green vegetable notes on the nose, rich fruit with good acidity and green apple notes on the finish.

2014 “The Answer” GSM blend, black in color with green, black fruit on the nose, thick and chunky, mint notes with good acidity on the finish.

2013 “The Blend” Another GSM blend, black with a purple robe, crushed green, red berry on the nose, big and juicy with moderate tannins and acids on the finish.

Another sign on the sidewalk pointed you to an entrance in an alley for Taste in the Alley. Small, brick-lined room that’s actually a wine shop but they will open any wine they have for a glass. I had a glass of the 2010 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir.

Paso Robles West Side

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After a night in Buelton, the next morning I got back on highway 101 and headed North about an hour and a half to my next wine region destination, Paso Robles. The region is more or less divided by the highway to the East and West. I concentrated on the very hilly west side.

Kukkula: My first stop far up in the mountains, the owner poured and told the story of the Finnish heritage of the label.

2008 “Sisu” A GSM blend, Dark brick with black cherry tar on the nose, chewy dark fruit with bright cola notes and balance on the long finish.

2010 “Lothario” Dark brick  with warm black fruit on the nose, juicy, black cherry and leather on the fruit.

2011 “Pas de Deux” Syrah and Grenache, dark brick with a purple robe, earth and dried mushroom on the nose, bitter dark fruit on the firm but balanced finish.

Thacher Winery: The grasshopper logo is from the family crest, very small production.

2012 Mourvedre Medium red with earth and dried mushroom on the nose, chewy cherry vanilla flavors on the fruit.

2012 “Controlled Chaos” Red blend, dark purple. closed nose of red leather with dried herb notes on the balanced finish.

2012 “Constant Variable” A GSM blend, dark purple with dried herbs and bright red cherry on the nose, bitter cherry on the finish.

Oso Libre Winery: “Free Bear” , sustainable vineyards and winery with various sheep and Black Angus cattle grazing on the grounds.

2012 “Carnal” Red blend, medium red with ripe black fruit on the nose, silky black cherry fruit and nice acids.

2010 “Grande” Bordeaux blend, dark red, dried herbs on the nose, tight and concentrated with silky tannin at the end.

2007 “Jovis”  red blend with some Nebbiolo and Sangiovese thrown in, brick with a big, funky perfume that I can’t place, cigar box and funky earth on the crisp finish.

NV “Solera” Unusual wine, they don’t sell but offer it to club members, made in the solera method with wines left over from each harvest, brick in color with cooked fruit and cigar box on the nose, leather on the fruit and a nice balance.

Villa Creek Winery: Very small production.

2013 Roussanne Gold in color with green apples on the nose with full, ripe and floral fruit, herb notes on the finish.

2013 Garnacha Whole cluster fruit, dark purple with red licorice on the nose, silky bright red fruit, firm acidity on the moderate to long finish.

2012 “High Road” GSM blend, dark purple with crushed red berries and green herbs on the nose, juicy dark chocolate on finish with some green tannin at the end.

Shale Oak Winery: Very modern looking wine room, Cassie hooked me up.

2013 Albarino Light gold with cooked asparagus on the nose, moderate fruit and a nice balance, tasty.

2012 Zinfandel From 60 year old vines, dark purple with a big, brambly nose, chewy with some mint notes on the fruit.

2012 Petit Verdot Dark red to black, fresh herbs on the nose, concentrated and silky and nicely balance.

LXV Wines: A boutique winery with the tasting room in downtown Paso Robles with juice from the Willow Creek AVA and art on the walls from the KarmaSutra.

2014 “Summer Satine” 100% Viognier, yellow with a greenish tint, earth and floral notes on the nose, earth notes on the balanced fruit.

2013 “Crimson Jewel” Brunello clone of Sangiovese and Petite Sirah, dark red with graphite on the nose, dusty, chewy and balanced on the long finish. Very nice.

2013 “Lovers Spell” Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, dark purple, closed nose, chunky, mint notes on the fruit, still young.

California Wine Tour: Los Olivos Wine Crawl

Published on by Bruno Donaggio1 Comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Taking a week for a wine tour of California. Flew into Los Angeles, picked up my rent a car and spent a couple of hours on highway 101 heading north to the town of Los Olivos for a wine crawl. Los Olivos is a very small town, about five blocks long and three blocks wide with the usual small shops and restaurants. What it also has are a lot of tasting rooms, about 40 in fact.  Many of the local small producers don’t have tasting facilities at their vineyards so they have them in town so there are lots of options for a day of wine sampling.

Saarloos + Sons First tasting room of the day.

2013 “Daddy’s Girl”. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, yellow with a greenish tint with melon and kiwi notes on the nose, nutmeg on the moderate fruit with nice acidity.

2014 “Matriarch”. Estate Grenache Blanc, light yellow, bubble gum and cinnamon on the nose with vanilla spice on the finish.

2014 “Extended Family”. Pinot Noir, only 85 cases produced, brick in color with smoky, toasty nose with black licorice on the moderate fruit.

2013 “High Hill”. Syrah from the estate in Ballard Canyon, medium red with smoky, dark fruits and some funky earth on the nose, moderate fruit with some mint and black licorice notes on the fruit, good balance.

Carhatt Winery

2013 Pinot Noir “Riverbench Vineyard”. Medium cloudy red, smoky black cherry on the nose with tart, red cherry fruit.

2012 Grenache Noir Santa Ynez Valley. Floral perfume of Asian spices, moderate-light fruit with a dusty, long licorice finish.

2013 Sangiovese Estate Santa Ynez Valley. Medium red with some toasty tar on the nose, tight with bitter cherry fruit notes.

2012 Mourvedre Curtiss Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley. Only 220 cases produce about 3 miles from the tasting room, dried red fruit on the nose with crushed black fruit notes on the finish.

2012  Estate Merlot Carhatt Vineyard. Dark purple in color, some green fruit notes on the nose, licorice, crushed black cherry on the fruit with a hit of tannin at the end.

2013 “Rebel Roan”. Rhone blend, medium purple, cigar box on the nose, tight red tarry fruit on the firm finish.

Kaena Winery launched by Mikael, the “Grenache King”

2013 Grenache Larner Vineyard Ballard Canyon. Medium brick, red licorice on the nose, bright fruit with red licorice flavors.

2011 Hapa Red Santa Ynez Valley. Red blend, dark red with sweet violet on the nose, bright fruit with dusty, cigar notes on the finish.

2013 Ronin Santa Ynez Valley. A blend of Malbec and Tempranillo, dark red with red licorice on the nose, tight, a bit unbalanced, high tannin.

Larner Vineyards  Closet sized tasting room

2014 Malvasia Bianca. Yellow with a big, spicy nose, tight but big spicy fruit with a moderate tart finish. 25 cases made.

2011 “Elemental”. GSM blend, dark red, crushed red fruit on the nose, bright black fruit, firm acids.

2010 Syrah Estate Ballard Canyon. Dark red to black with a nice perfume of smoky violets, tight, smoky fruit with silky tannin at the end.

2010 Syrah Reserve Ballard Canyon. Bottle was opened yesterday, dark red to black, juicy, black fruit, tight with lip-smacking tannin at the end.

Cheers New York

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Cheers NY was an event showcasing New York State made wines, ciders, beer and spirits. It was a consumer event with two sessions on Saturday afternoon and evening and a session on Sunday afternoon. I attended the Saturday afternoon session. The event took place at The Factory Floor at Industry City, 241 37th Street in Brooklyn. I’ve been to a few events at this venue, no frills in the industrial waterfront in Brooklyn.

Wines

2013 Brooklyn Winery Chardonnay (Finger Lakes). From a boutique urban winery in Brooklyn, un-oaked, clean and crisp with some lime notes at the end. Very drinkable.

2012 Brooklyn Winery Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes). Black with a purple robe, spice and cooked fruit notes on the nose with chunky and dusty tannins and black cherry on the finish.

2013 Brooklyn Winery Old Vines Zinfandel (Lodi). Black in color with sour notes on the nose, chunky, mint notes on the fruit, balanced with some green on the moderate to long finish.

2013 BOE Rosé of Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes). Brooklyn Oenology, another urban-based winery in Brooklyn, salmon in color with cherry fruit.

2013 BOE Social Club White (NY State). A blend of several  varieties, yellow with nutmeg and cinnamon on the nose, moderate fruit with some vanilla notes on the crisp finish.

2013 BOE Pinot Gris (Finger Lakes). Gold in color, sweet candy on the nose, lighter in body than it looks, starts crisp and drops a bit at the end.

2012 BOE Social Club Red (North Fork). A blend of several red varieties including one I’m not familiar with, Corot Noir, dark brick with ripe black fruit and Asian spices on the nose, tight with black licorice on the moderate to long finish.

2010 BOE “Motley Cru” Red Blend (North Fork). Dark brick in color with dark plums on the nose, cooked black fruit notes on the fruit and firm acids and tannins at the end.

2014 Red Hook Winery “Salt Crush” White. And another urban winery based in Brooklyn using several wine makers using New York State fruit, medium yellow with lime punch on the nose, medium bodied with some RS on the saline finish.

2011 Channing Daughters “Mosaico” (South Fork). The next two wines poured courtesy of 61 Local bar, an exotic field blend of six white varieties, very light copper color with a ripe nose, ripe funky fruit with good acidity.

2012 Palmer Vineyards Chardonnay “Reserve” (North Fork). Gold in color with damp earth on the nose, chewy fruit, good acidity with honey notes on the long finish.

Ciders

Awestruck Cider Company

Eastern Dry

Lavender Hops

Hibiscus Ginger

The Standard Cider Company

True Thirst

True Couple

True Believer

True Companion

McKenzies Original Hard Cider

Original Sin Hard Cider

Standard Oak & Rye Wormwood Absinthe. Brown instead of green because they don’t use herbs in the blend, didn’t see the brown farie.

 

 

Best Of France 2015 Edition

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This weekend, Best of France which is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to “promote the image of France abroad, through major events which highlight the expertise and “Savoir-Faire” of France”, held their 2015 festival in New York City. It was to promote Franco-American friendship and to showcase French art, culture, fashion, technology, gastronomy and of course, wine.

The last time this event was held in New York was a couple of years ago when it was called “Taste of France” and took place under the big tents at Bryant Park. This year the Grand Wine Tastings in which over 100 French wines from the leading French wine regions were poured, were held on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon in the AXA Equitable Center at 787 7th Avenue near Times Square in Manhattan. I attended the Saturday evening session. As to be expected, excellent bread and cheeses (and cookies) were served to accompany the wines.

Champagne

NV Drappier Rosé Brut “Nature Zero Dozage”. Light red, crisp and earthy.

NV J.L. Vergnon Blanc de Blancs “Conversation”. Crisp with citrus notes.

2005 Pascal Doquet Blanc de Blancs “Le Mont Aime”.  With doughy and yeasty notes.

Burgundy

2012 Domaine Guillot-Broux “Genievrieres”. Organic, gold in color with butter-scotch on the nose, tight and crisp with some funkiness at the end.

2012 Domaine Thierry & Pascal Matrot Meursault. Gold with ripe tropical fruits on the nose, chewy for a white wine with some salinity on the long finish.

2012 Joseph Drouhin Pugliny-Montrachet “Folatieres”. Light gold with ripe pineapple on the nose, full ripe tropical fruit, balanced with good acidity.

2012 Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey “Clos des Barraults”. Light red in color, closed nose of black cherry.

2012 Domaine Petitot Cotes de Nuits Villages. Bright red with smoke and minerals on the nose, bright red cherry fruit and a hit of tannin at the end.

2012 Domaine Lecheneaut Morey St. Denis. Bright medium red in color with barnyard on the nose, tight with oyster, saline notes on the finish.

2010 Domaine Aurelien Verdet Chambolle Musigny. Brick to light red in color with warm black cherry on the nose, silky black fruit on the long and balanced finish.

Bordeaux

2012 Malartic Lagraviere Grave Blanc. Light gold with ripe kiwi on the nose, nice fruit and crispness on the long finish, very drinkable.

2005 Chateau Sudiraut Sauternes. Beautiful wine.

2007 Branaire Ducru St. Julien. Dark red, bell pepper, dried leaf on the nose, dense and tight with a firm finish.

2008 Duluc de Branaire Ducru St. Julien. Dark red with an amber robe with cooked red berry on the nose, chunky, dried leaf on the fruit with moderate acids.

2012 La Croix de Beaucaillou St. Julien. Dark red with dusty dark berry and mint on the nose, silky with crisp acidity.

2010 Chateau d’Armaihac Pauillac. Dark red to black with a warm nose of crushed nuts, dusty fruit with some earth on the firm, long finish.

2008 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Pauillac. Black in color with a perfume of red licorice, chunky, minty fruit.

2007 Chateau Palmer Margaux. Dark red, warm black cherry on the nose, tight silky tannin on the finish.

2004 Chateau d’Issan Margaux. Dark red with some funky barnyard on the nose, dense and firm.

2011 Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere St. Emilion. Dark red, smoky black cherry on the nose, silky black licorice on the great balance.

2005 Chateau Gazin Pomerol. Black in color with a piney nose with tons of chunky fruit.

Rhone

2012 Domain Ogier Condrieu “La Combe de Malleval”. Yellow in color with a nose of sweet peaches, full body of canned peaches with moderate to low tannins.

2010 Chateau du Trignon Vacqueyras. Medium red, black cherry on the nose, silky black licorice fruit, firm and balanced.

Languedoc

2011 La Fond del’Olivier Carignan “Vieilles Vignes”. From Carignan that are over a hundred years old, black in color with slate and black fruit on the nose, dense, chunky and chewy, like a good baguette, nice glass.

Pig Island NYC 2015

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

As the Summer is winding down, the trade tasting season is starting to heat up. That’s when the various wine and spirits importers, distributors and trade associations hold their portfolio or specialized wines and spirits tastings. There are plenty of consumer events as well. This Saturday I attended the 6th annual Pig Island pork Bacchanalia. Over 20 area Chefs created dishes using hogs raised by Flying Pigs Farms, a farm in Washington county upstate New York that raises heritage breeds of pigs. New York State declared Pig Island a “Taste NY” event for their commitment to support New York farms. Of course as well as the swine, the event had on hand beer, wine, cider and local and regional spirits.

The event was held next door to an IKEA mega-store at Erie Basin Park in Red Hook Brooklyn. The park is in a remote area of the borough surrounded by the rusting and decaying remnants of its waterfront past which made for a dramatic backdrop to the festival.

At the Beaujolais tent:

2014 Domaine Romy Rosé

2013 Chateau de Lacarelle Beaujolais Blanc Cuvée Grande Reserve

2011 Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages

2013 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages

2013 Domaine des Billards Saint-Amour

2013 Chateau du Châtelard Moulin-a-Vent

Local and Rum & Whiskey:

Van Brunt Stillhouse

Widow Jane Distillery

Hudson Whiskey

Cider:

DownEast Cider

Original Sin

 

 

Cal-Ital At The Golden Nugget

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This past Saturday evening I hopped on a bus to Atlantic City to attend the Cal-Ital Summer Winefest, “a celebration of California and Italian wine”. The event was held at the Golden Nugget casino which is located off the boardwalk on the Marina at Huron Avenue and Brigantine Boulevard. It celebrated Italian wines and California wines with Italian heritage with more than 120 poured while a band played light jazz in the background.  Much of the early California wine industry was started by Italian immigrants who brought their wine culture and winemaking skills to the New World.

A wine tasting in a casino is a fun venue and I had some time to kill before the event so I decided to try my hand at the tables and perhaps recoup the cost of the bus ride down. It was not to be. But I did learn my lesson from the first time I attended this event and that lesson was gamble before the wine event and not after it.

Whites

2013 Robert Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) Yellow with classic melon and grass notes on the nose, lemony tartness but not too much, easy drinking.

2013 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay (Sonoma County) Gold in color, honey on the nose with ripe melon on the fruit and good acidity.

2012 Isabel Mondavi Chardonnay (Carneros) Ripe mango on the nose with lime notes on the fruit.

2013 Terra d’Ora Winery Chenin Blanc/Viognier (Clarksburg) Gold in color with a honeyed nose with nice, clean acidity.

2013 Simi Winery Chardonnay Reserve (Russian River) Gold in color with toasty honey on the nose with oak flavors on the fruit.

2014 Planeta “La Segreta Blanco” (Sicily) Gold, turned earth on the nose with melon notes on the moderate to light fruit.

Reds

2012 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon “Oakville District” (Napa Valley) Medium red to black, roasted nuts on the nose, chunky.

2011 Robert Mondavi BDX “Oakville District (Napa Valley) Medium red with ripe black cherry on the nose and dried herbs on the chewy finish with silky acidity.

2012 Ferrari-Carano “Siena” (Sonoma County) Medium red, bottle must of been off, getting sour, cooked fruit notes.

2010 Trinchero Family Estates Cabernet Sauvignon “Haystack” (Napa Valley) Dark red with crushed red berries on the nose, chunky and dusty with nice firm acidity on the finish.

2012 Parducci Petite Sirah “True Grit” (Mendocino County) Dark red to black with black herbs on the nose, tight and firm.

2013 Sebastiani Vineyards Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) Light red with ripe vegetable and earth on the nose and crisp acids.

2013 Sebastiani Vineyards “Gravel Bed Red” (Sonoma County) Medium red with juicy red berry on the nose with juicy dried herbs on the fruit.

2010 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Gran Selezione (Tuscany) An old standby, medium red with an amber robe, smoky, turned earth on the nose, tight with dried herbs, tar and bitter cherry on the finish. Tasty.

2010 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Classico (Tuscany) Medium red, dried herbs on the moderate fruit, firm.

2011 Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva (Tuscany) Medium red, white flowers and dark chocolate on the nose, chunky and chewy with great balance. One of my favorites of the night.

2013 Brancaia “Tre” (Tuscany) From grapes from three of their estates, medium red, bubblegum on the nose, silky with earth notes on the finish, balanced.

2010 Brancaia “Ilatraia” (Tuscany) A Bordeaux blend, dark red with a big nose of violet and dark chocolate, silky with firm acids on the finish.

2008 Brancaia “Il Blu” (Tuscany) First bottle I tried was corked, second bottle much better, dark red, tar and violet on the nose, deep, chewy, balanced, long finish. Very nice.

2010 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany) Medium red, tar and cooked fruit on the nose, tight with dark chocolate on the fruit with firm acids.

2011 Castello Banfi “Belnero” (Tuscany) Dark red, warm, crushed slate on the nose, crushed rock on the moderate fruit with a firm finish.

2013 Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino (Tuscany) Light red, cooked fruit on the nose, light and tart.

2010 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany) Brick in color with smoky violet on the nose, tight and tart.

Dan’s Harvest East End

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This past Saturday I made another trip out East to attend the Dan’s Harvest East End taste of Summer wine and food classic. The last of the trio of food and wine festivals hosted by Dan’s Paper. While the other two festivals were held on the South Fork of Long Island, this one was held on the North Fork where the majority of the wineries out East are located. It was held under the big tents on the property of McCall Winery at 22600 Main Road, Cutchogue.

Co-hosted by Food Network’s Geoffrey Zakarian, it featured food from local restaurants and purveyors and wine from the local wineries. It followed the same formula as the other festivals, big tents with the food stands on the perimeter, wines in the center, and the outlier beer and spirits booths scattered around.

It was another beautiful Summer evening tasting good food and wine with a crowd that was having fun. My drink of choice for the evening was Sparkling Point NV Brut and the 2006 Sparkling Point Brut Seduction.

Some of what I sampled:

 

The Frisky Oyster: Cornell Oysters Friskafella (My favorite of the night)

Smitty’s at American Grill: Homemade Meatball Sliders

First & South: Green Gazpacho

SCGP Café: Cauliflower Beignet

The Ram’s Head Inn: Spice Crusted Tuna with Grilled Local Corn

Jedediah Hawkin’s Inn: Lobster Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage

Petulant Wino: Summer Corn Gazpacho

A Mano Osteria: Local Corn Ravioli

Perabell Food Bar East: Sriracha Hoisan Glazed Duck Steamed Bun

Mirabelle: Long Island Striped Bass, Shrimp and Local Watermelon Ceviche

 

 

Tap & Cork Brooklyn

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This past Saturday afternoon I attended the Tap & Cork Brooklyn Beer and Wine Festival held at Restoration Plaza located at 1360 Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

I had attended the event a couple of years ago and it was a different event this year. The event I attended a couple of years ago took place in Brooklyn as well but at an indoor venue. There were many more wine (and beer) stations which were staffed by someone involved either with the importer or distributer of the product they were pouring.

This years event was more neighborhood block party and Summer festival than a wine tasting. It was held outdoors, under tents with less product and staffed by enthusiastic volunteers instead of salespeople. And a block party it was, a huge crowd of people were having fun enjoying wine, beer and the DJ on hot August afternoon in Brooklyn.

A couple of wines out of the ordinary were the 2014 True Wine Connoisseurs White and the 2013 True Wine Connoisseurs Red. These wines, made in Brazil, were from the Brooklyn duo of Will Davis and Sadat X who produce a wine tasting video series and the wines were nice and easy drinking.