Author: Bruno Donaggio

Wine Spectator N.Y. Wine Experience 2024 Day 2

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The 43rd annual Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience was held on last October 17-19. It was three days of wine seminars and a Critics Choice grand tasting. The proceeds were for benefit of The Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation.

The Grand Tasting was held on two days and had over 250 international winemakers pouring their wines in a walk around tasting.

This event is probably, if not the best consumer wine tasting of the year with two floors of over 200 international wines rated 90+ points on the Wine Spectator ratings scale.

This year I was lucky enough to attend the event on both days. As is usual for me at these mega tastings, I focused my energies on one floor each night prioritizing Bordeaux and Napa Valley wines.

The event was held at the Marriott Marquis hotel at 1535 Broadway in the heart of Times Square, Manhattan.

Some of what I sampled:

New World

2004 Ridge Monte Bello (Santa Cruz Mtns.): Opaque black, tar, graphite and black leather on the nose, silky fruit with graphite notes ending with silky tannins.

2008 Pahlmeyer Merlot (Napa Valley): Opaque black fruit, brick rim, crushed raspberry and mint on the nose, juicy, smokey fruit and nicely balanced.

2014 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, roast nuts and bacon on the nose, juicy black fruit with mint notes, firm tannins.

2015 Opus One (Napa Valley): Opaque black, brick rim, earthy crushed dark fruit with mint notes on the nose, concentrated, stoney black fruit ending with a great grip and balance with a long finish.

2016 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Lot No. 1 (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, crushed blueberry, wet stone and graphite on the nose, chunky, juicy dark chocolate fruit, great grip, long finish.

2019 To Kalon Vineyard Co. Cabernet Sauvignon H.W.C. (Oakville): Opaque black, purple rim, closed nose of crushed blueberries, juicy crushed fruit with firm acids.

2019 Bond St. Eden (Napa Valley): Clear medium red, purple rim, tarry nose, bright black fruit, firm tannins.

2021 Dominus Estate (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, graphite and black fruit on the nose, juicy and silky with silky tannins and a firm grip.

2021 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mt. District (Sonoma): Opaque black, purple rim, gritty dark chocolate on the nose, very concentrated black fruit with herb and mint note ending with firm crisp tannins.

2021 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard The Reserve (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, crushed red fruit and stone on the nose, juicy black fruit ending with big tannins.

Old World

2012 Chateau Cos d’Estournel (St. Estephe): Opaque black, brick rim, nose of dirt and stinky dark chocolate, tight concentrated fruit ending with big tannins.

2015 Chateau Canon (St. Emilion): Opaque black, brick rim, big nose of barnyard, chunky dark chocolate fruit ending with lip smacking tannins.

2015 Chateau Giscours (Margaux): Opaque black, brick rim, tar and dried leaf on the nose, concentrated black fruit with mint notes ending with firm but balanced tannins.

2016 Chateau Talbot (St. Julien): Opaque black, brick rim, toasted roast nuts on the nose, concentrated fruit with raspberry notes, silky and firm tannin.

2017 Chateau Pavie (St. Emilion): Opaque black, purple rim, crushed black stone on the nose, silky black fruit with graphite notes, great balance, long finish.

2018 Chateau Phelan Segur (St. Estephe): Opaque black, brick rim, crushed blueberries on the nose, concentrated, silky red fruit ending with a great grip.

2018 Chateau Pichon Longueville Lalande (Pauillac): Opaque black, purple rim, crushed stone on the nose, concentrated and silky black fruit with mint notes, silky tannins, great balance.

2019 Chateau Leoville Barton (St. Julien): Clear dark red, purple rim, crushed black fruit and dark chocolate on the nose, silky red fruit with tar notes, firm grip.

2019 Chateau Montrose (St. Estephe): Opaque black, purple rim, stone and crushed black fruit on the nose, juicy red fruit, firm tannins.

Saint Emilion Tasting NYC 2024

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On October 28th, the Association de Grands Crus Classes de Saint Emilion held their USA trade & press tasting tour of Saint Emilion wines from the 2020 vintage. Most of the 25 Grand Cru Chateaux of the region were on hand at the tasting to pour their wines.

Bordeaux has 57 appellations on the right and left bank of the Gironde Estuary with the Entre Deux Mers in between. St. Emilion is on the right bank and the wines are dominated by Merlot with many of the Chateaux at this tasting bottling wines made with 100% Merlot.

Newly released Bordeaux tend to be a bit hard edged and need some time in the bottle to round out, the wines at this tasting for the most part were no exception with many having firm tannins. Each producer did bring a wine from an older vintage, and I always welcome the opportunity to sample Bordeaux with some bottle age to it.

The tasting was held at the Metropolitan Pavilion located at 123 West 18th Street in Manhattan.

Some of what I sampled:

2012 Chateau Bellevue: Opaque medium brick, graphite, tar, chocolate and dirt on the nose, chewy, dried leaf fruit, long finish.

2015 Chateau Chauvin: Opaque black with a brick rim, black tar on the nose, chewy and chunky fruit with mint and graphite notes, firm tannins.

2015 Clos Des Jacobins: Opaque dark red with a brick rim, violets, mint and dark chocolate on the nose, chewy with slate notes, silky tannins ending with firm but manageable tannins.

2016 Chateau Badette: Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed red fruit and mint notes on the nose, chewy, minty red fruit, very firm tannins.

2016 Chateau Grand Corbin-Despagne: Opaque dark red with a brick rim, perfume of mint, graphite and barnyard, chewy red fruit, silky tannins, good grip with a long finish.

2016 Chateau Fombrauge: Opaque dark red with a brick rim, perfume of tar and barnyard, concentrated black fruit ending with firm, silky tannins.

2016 Chateau De L’Oratoire: Opaque black with a brick rim, black earth on the nose, chewy black fruit with graphite and mint notes, good grip.

2016 Chateau Badette: Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed red fruit and mint on the nose, chewy minty red fruit ending with very firm tannins.

2016 Chateau Grand Corbin: Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed red fruit, graphite and milk chocolate on the nose, chewy, black fruit ending with silky but firm tannins.

2019 Chateau Franc Mayne: Opaque dark red with a brick rim, crushed red fruit and white pepper on the nose, silky, chewy red fruit ending with silky firm tannins.

2020 Chateau La Croizille: Opaque black with a purple rim, violets and tar on the nose, tight and concentrated with crushed rock notes, moderate tannins.

2020 Chateau Fonplegade: Opaque dark purple with a purple rim, nose of crushed red fruit and barnyard, juicy red fruit with leather notes, moderate tannins.

2020 Chateau Badette: Opaque black with a purple rim, sweet tar on the nose, chewy black fruit, silky tannins, good fruit and balance.

2020 Chateau La Tour Figeac: Opaque dark red with a purple rim, white pepper and tar on the nose, juicy fruit with steel notes, moderate tannins.

2020 Chateau Bellevue: Opaque purple, purple rim, closed nose of roast meat and nuts, tight, silky fruit, firm tannins.

2020 Chateau De L’Oratoire: Opaque dark red, purple rim, minty dark chocolate on the nose, chewy red fruit, moderate silky tannins with some bitter almond notes.

2020 Chateau Croix De Labrie: Opaque black, purple rim, violets, roast meat and slate on the nose, silky red fruit, very firm tannins.

2020 Chateau Fonplegade: Opaque purple, purple rim, crushed red fruit and barnyard on the nose, juicy red fruit with leather notes, moderate tannins.

Mujeres del Mezcal NYC

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On November 3rd I attended the Mujeres del Mezcal mezcal spirit tasting which was held at Mamazul Mexican Grill located at 1155 Broadway in Manhattan.

The “Women of Mezcal” tasting was promoted by Panorama Mezcal as a way to showcase women in the mezcal spirit industry. There were over 60 mezcal producers on hand with a handful of tequila producers as well. The event was open to the consumer.

Mezcal is a spirit produced in Mexico similar to tequila and all tequilas are mezcal but not all mezcals are tequila.

Simply, the differences between the two are that tequila must be made from the Blue Agave while mezcal can be made from any of the dozens of varieties of agave. The piña for tequila is steamed while the piña for mezcal is roasted in pits which gives it a smoky flavor. Tequila has to come from specific areas of Mexico while mezcal can come from any part the country.

While tequila can be a more consistent product, you can sit down for a tasting of a dozen mezcal from the same producer and have twelve different spirits made from different agaves and villages.

I’m more of a brown spirits drinker so most of the labels at this tasting were unfamiliar to me, especially the mezcals since most tend to come from small producers. Since all the producers poured more than one spirit, I stopped at each table to try at least one version of what they were pouring.

Some producers I sampled:

Lopez RealRayo Seco
CamintosSan Cosme
BanhezMal Bien
Madre MezcalEstancia
PichnagaTepextata
YolaComunidad
LeyendasFosforo
El BuhoCasa Lotos
ElveloDoce

Wines from Romagna Master Class

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On October 24th, I attended a Wine Enthusiast Master Class; An Exploration of Wines from Romagna, presented and curated by Jeff Porter.

Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 regions in Italy located in the north central part of the country with the eastern half bordering the Adriatic Sea.

The largest city in the region is Bologna where the oldest university in Europe, the University of Bologna is located. This region is also home of some of the most famous food products in the world. Those would include Parmesan cheese, Prosciutto di Parma ham, Mortadella, Balsamic vinegar, Tortellini and the pasta dish, Ragu Bolognese to name few.

This tasting focused on the eastern half of the region, specifically Romagna. Even though the food products are world famous, the wines from this region are not with the exception of Lambrusco, a fizzy red wine in both sweet and dry styles that pair well with the various cold cuts of the area. The still wines definitely don’t have the recognition of the wines from the regions directly to the north such as Piedmont, Tuscany and the Veneto.

The master class poured 10 red wines from some of the 16 subareas of Romagna. The majority of the wines were produced using organic methods and fermented in stainless steel or concrete.

The tasting for members of the trade was held at the Arlo Soho Hotel located at 231 Hudson Street in Manhattan.

Master Class

2019 Monografia/4 Riserva (Marenzo): Clear medium red with a brick rim, sweet tar on the nose, tight with some roasted nut notes, bitter almonds on the finish with firm tannins.

2021 Cadisopra (Marzeno): Opaque medium brick with a brick rim, sweet tar on the nose, tight red fruit with slate notes, firm tannins.

2021 Condé (Predappio): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, tar and graphite on the nose, juicy red fruit ending with firm tannins with slate and graphite notes on the finish

2021 Notturno (Predappio): Opaque black with a purple rim, dusty crushed black fruit on the nose, juicy black fruit with spice and slate notes on the finish, some heat.

2021 Ombroso Riserva (Bertinoro): Clear dark red with a purple rim, dirty tar and graphite on the nose, tight black fruit with slate notes, big tannins.

2021 Vigna Baruccia (Mercato Saraceno): Opaque black with a purple rim, violets, tar and dark chocolate on the nose, chewy and dusty black fruit ending with firm, silky tannins.

2022 Godenza (Predappio): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, sweet dirt and dark chocolate on the nose, tight with graphite notes and firm tannins.

2022 Classe 33 (Serra): Opaque dark purple with a purple rim, dusty slate and graphite n the nose, juicy red fruit with graphite notes, silky tannins, nice balance.

2022 Il Colombarone (Bertinoro): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, closed nose of plummy violets and slate, juicy and silky bright red fruit ending with firm tannins.

2023 Papasse (Modigliana): Clear medium purple, dusty crushed raspberry and slate on the nose, juicy red fruit with firm, dusty tannins.

Big Bottle Bordeaux NYC

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On October 10-31, Bordeaux Wines held their 5th edition of their Big Bottle global wine campaign targeted to restaurants and retail shops in the New York City area.

It was to introduce new and current consumers to “discover the modernity and diversity of Bordeaux”.

They would do that by pouring white, red and rosé wines from 3-liter bottles which is a double magnum also called a Jeroboam. Those bottles hold four standard (750ml) bottles of wine.

The kickoff event was held on October 9th at OCabanon restaurant located at 245 West 29th Street in Manhattan with a trade tasting in the afternoon and a consumer tasting later that evening. I attended the trade tasting.

Wine in large bottles tend to age slower than wine in regular bottles, but I have to say, drinking a glass of wine poured out one of those huge bottles always taste special.

Some of what I sampled:

2015 Chateau Thieuley (Bordeaux): Opaque black with graphite and roast meat on the nose, chunky and tight with crisp acids.

2017 Chateau Blaignon (Medoc): Clear dark red with a purple rim, crushed ripe red fruit on the nose, chewy and dusty.

2018 Les Haut de Smith (Pessac-Leognan): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, perfume of ripe, earthy fruit, silky red fruit with dusty, crushed stone notes, moderate tannins and acids.

2019 Chateau Paloumey (Haut Medoc): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, crushed red graphite on the nose, chunky with firm and dusty tannins, crisp acids.

2019 Chateau Puyanche (Francs Cote de Bordeaux): Clear medium brick in color, dusty ripe fruit on the nose with chewy, dusty fruit.

2019 Chateau Clos du Roy (Lalande-de-Pomerol): Opaque black with a purple rim, nose of black ripe fruit, thick, chunky and dusty fruit, firm tannins with nice balance.

2020 Chateau Haut Selve (Graves): Opaque dark red, earth, tar and dark fruit on the nose, juicy and silky with good structure.

2020 Mouton Cadet (Bordeaux): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, closed nose of ripe red fruit, chunky and dusty ending with tight, firm tannins.

2021 Chateau Robin (Castillon): Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed stone and blueberry on the nose, concentrated fruit ending with big tannins.

2022 Chateau Pascaud (Bordeaux Superieur): Clear medium purple with a brick rim, bell pepper, white pepper and roasted nuts on the nose, chewy with minty firm tannins.

Vino Noble & Art

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Avignonesi is a winery in Tuscany, Italy with vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino. They specialize in Vin Nobile di Montalcino. Vin Nobile is a D.O.C.G (Denominazione D’Origine Controllata e Garantitta) and not surprisingly in this part of Italy where the Sangiovese grape is King, their DOCG wines are made primarily from the Sangiovese grape, specifically the Prugnolo Gentile Sangiovese clone.

They also produce wines outside the DOCG classification with international grape varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Those wines that are outside of the DOCG and are classified as I.G.T. (Indicazione Geografica Protetta).

Avignonesi’s stated mission is “working every day to become a good ancestor, nourishing the land and people, creating a better world for those to come”. They focus on organic and biodynamic wine practices.

On October 3rd the winery held a wine tasting in collaboration with artist Amrita Marino who created artwork for the event. The tasting was held at a Chelsea art gallery located a 541 West 25th Street in Manhattan.

They served one white and seven red wines from their portfolio.

2022 Da-Di Rosso: A field blend of various red grape varietals, clear light purple, tar, rocks and crushed red fruit on the nose, dusty leather fruit with a firm finish.

2014 Vino Nobile di Montalcino Vintage Release: 100% Sangiovese. Clear brick in color, perfume of tar and mint with tarry, silky red fruit, medium bodied.

2020 Vino Noblie di Montalcino: 100% Sangiovese. Clear light red with a brick rim, graphite on the nose, dusty, licorice fruit with firm, dusty tannins.

2020 Vino Noble di Montalcino “Poggetto di Sopra”: 100% Sangiovese. Clear dark brick, closed nose of tar ending very tight and tannic.

2021 Grifi: Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Opaque dark red with a purple rim, tar, graphite and crushed black fruit on the nose, chewy and dusty fruit with silky tannins.

2020 Desiderio: 100% Merlot. Opaque dark red with a brick rim, big perfume of sweet crushed black fruit and dark chocolate, chewy with stone and mint notes on the fruit, great balance.

2019 50 & 50: A collaboration of two wineries, 50% Sangiovese and 50% Merlot. Clear medium brick with dusty graphite on the nose, firm with tight dark fruit.

Wine Spectator N.Y. Wine Experience 2024 Day 1

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The 43rd anniversary of Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience was held on October 17-19 and was sponsored by the wine spectator’s scholarship foundation.

The yearly event began in San Fransico 43 years ago and for a while alternated between San Franciso and New York City until it was decided to make New York City the permanent home for the event.

The event consisted of several vertical wine tastings and seminars in addition to two days of Critic’s Choice Grand Tastings.

The grand tastings were an opportunity to sample over 260 international wines that scored 90+ points from Wine Spectator in addition to be able to speak with many of the owners and winemakers that were pouring their wines.

I would say that this is the best wine tasting event of the year for the consumer. It was a huge event with two floors of wine.

I was lucky enough to attend both days which gave me the opportunity to sample a good amount of really good wine.

Since I couldn’t possibly sample every wine that was on hand, I narrowed down on what I would try. I decided each day would be devoted to the wines of one particular floor and on each floor, I focused on what I normally do in these massive tastings, I concentrated on Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with an occasional outlier.

New World

2008 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder (Napa Valley): Opaque dark brick, mint, graphite and cooked fruit on the nose, chewy black fruit with mint notes, silky, firm tannins.

2014 Joseph Phelps Insignia (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, toast, tar and red fruit on the nose, thick with firm tannins and acids.

2014 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford (Napa Valley): Clear medium red with a brick rim, cooked red fruit on the nose, silky black fruit, silky tannins, great balance.

2016 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, nose of violets, tar and pickle juice, juicy, chewy red leather fruit with moderate tannins and acids.

2016 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, smokey tar on the nose, chunky chocolate on the fruit with nice structure and a long finish.

2017 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, roast nuts on the nose, chunky and chewy dark fruit with dark chocolate notes, good grip.

2018 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, plummy, chewy, chunky with silky acids on the good grip, long finish.

2018 Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard (Napa Valley): Clear medium red with a purple rim, sweet tar on the nose, juicy dark fruit, firm tannins.

2018 Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Clone (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, toasty dark chocolate on the nose, chunky and chewy with dark chocolate notes, firm grip.

2019 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mt. (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed blueberry on the nose, chewy dark fruit with lip smacking tannins, long finish.

2021 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, chewy dark fruit with graphite notes, firm tannins.

2021 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, roasted nuts on the nose, chewy dark fruit, firm tannins.

2021 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, closed nose of ripe fruit, tight and concentrated, big tannins.

2021 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, pickle juice on the nose, tight and concentrated with mint notes, big tannins.

Old World

2010 Chateau Haut-Brion (Pessac Leognan): Clear dark red with a brick rim, tar and smokey black leather on the nose, silky, peppery fruit with bitter almond on the long finish, great balance.

2010 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion (Pessac Leognan): Opaque black with a purple rim, toasty and tarry on the nose, thick dark chocolate fruit with silky tannins and a long finish.

2014 Domaine Faiveley Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru (Burgundy): Clear medium brick, nose of tar, earth and cooked fruit, silky red fruit with earth notes and red leather on the finish, great balance.

2015 Chateau Chevel Blanc (St. Emilion): Clear medium brick, closed nose of dark chocolate, silky fruit with tight and firm tannins.

2017 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (St. Julien): Opaque black with a purple rim, nose of sweet tar and smoke, bright red fruit ending with big tannins.

2018 Chateau Leoville Las Cases (St. Julien): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, perfume of tarry black fruit, silky dark fruit with cigarette smoke notes, good grip.

2019 Chateau Lynch Bages (Pauillac): Opaque black with a purple rim, dusty tar on the nose, tight, concentrated and silky with black pepper notes, firm finish.

2019 Chateau Haut-Batailley (Pauillac): Opaque black with a purple rim, roasted nuts on the nose, chewy with firm tannins.

2020 Chateau Pichon Baron (Pauillac): Opaque black with a purple rim, smokey stone on the nose, chewy, bright dark fruit ending with crisp acids.

2020 Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafite (Pessac Leognan): Opaque black with a purple rim, closed nose of crushed strawberry, chewy red fruit with firm tannins.

Spain’s Great Match NYC 2024

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On October 1st, I attended the 30th Spain’s Great Match food and wine event in New York City.

The event which was hosted by the Trade Commision of Spain, showcased 300+ wines from Spain as well as culinary and wine seminars.

This was a huge event not only with the number of wines served from all the regions of the country but with the delicious foods of Spain that were served. Those foods included paella, grilled octopus, patatas bravas and Jamon to name a few. In my opinion, Spain produces some of the best cured hams in the world.

The event was held at Mercado Little Spain, a Spanish food hall located at 10 Hudson Yards in the Hudson Yards district of Manhattan.

I attended the trade event in the afternoon with the consumer tasting later in the evening.

One thing that frustrates me is the trend to use an QR code to access the listing of the wines that are being presented instead of physical book. It makes it very difficult to take notes especially at a tasting with so many wines.

Wines of Abruzzo Master Class

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Abruzzo is one of twenty regions in Italy. It’s located in the central part of the country on the east with a coastline along the Adriatic Sea.

The region is mountainous with three different national parks and is considered the “greenest” region of Italy. It’s pretty much off the tourist trail.

Not surprisingly, they make wine. The notable red variety grown in the region is Montepulciano and for white wines that would be Trebbiano.

On September 30th, Vinous, an online wine magazine, hosted a master class of the wines of Abruzzo presented by Eric Guido.

The event was held on the 60th floor at Manhatta Restaurant located at 28 Liberty Street in lower Manhattan.

At the master class they served four whites, all made with 100% Trebbiano Abruzzese and nine reds all made with 100% Montepulciano.

It was an interesting tasting, most of the wine made in this region is red and when young the reds are very dark in color and full bodied.

Wines of Abruzzo

2021 Ciavolich Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Fosso Cancelli: Medium to dark gold, peaches and green herbs on the nose, tight, firm, with lime notes on the finish.

2022 Amorotti Trebbiano d’Abruzzo: Slightly cloudy light gold, sweet earthy nose, moderate fruit with ripe and earth notes on the fruit, good grip.

2021 Tiberio Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Fonte Canale: Clear dark gold, sweet kiwi, tropical fruit and slate on the nose, firm with tart lime notes.

2021 Francesco Cirelli Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Anfora: Clear dark gold, sweet candy and asparagus on the nose, full fruit with cooked vegetable notes, firm finish.

2020 Cantina Tollo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Mo: Opaque dark red with a purple rim, slate and dark chocolate on the nose, chewy dark chocolate fruit with good structure.

2020 Marina Cvetic Montepulcino d’Abruzzo Riserva San Martino Rosso: Opaque black with a purple rim, sweet violet and barnyard on the nose, chewy fruit with slate notes ending with mouth filling tannins and crisp acids.

2021 La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Docheio: Opaque dark red with a purple rim, stinky, cooked vegetables and crushed rocks on the nose, chewy and chunky with good structure with bitter almond notes on the long finish.

2021 Torre Dei Beati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Cocciapazza: Opaque black with a purple rim, dark chocolate and cooked fruit on the nose, tight and concentrated with crushed rock notes, tight tannins.

2020 Castorani Montelpuciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Podere Castorani: Opaque black with a purple rim, perfume of tar and slate on the nose, chunky with big tannins.

2020 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Vecchie Vigne Branella: Dark purple with barnyard on the nose, bright black fruit with firm tannins and crisp acids.

2020 Tenuta Terraviva Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Lui: Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed peppercorn and barnyard on the nose, chunky bright red fruit with tight acids.

2021 Fattoria Nicodemi Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cocciopesto: Opaque black with a purple rim, slate and crushed black fruit on the nose, chunky with green herb notes ending with very firm tannins.

2019 Illuminati Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Pieluno: Opaque medium red with a brick rim, perfume of tar, leather and violets, silky red fruit with crushed rock notes ending with firm tannins.

The WOW Tasting Experience

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On August 10th, I attended the WOW (Wonders of Whisky) tasting experience.

It was a curated, “journey around the world through spirits” tasting of over 100 whiskies and spirits.

The event was held at The Bordone event space located in an industrial section of Long Island City, New York at 43-10 9th Street. The building was a couple of blocks from the east river and the event was held on the rooftop terrace of the building which gave us a magnificent view of the Queensborough bridge and the Manhattan skyline, even more so when the sun went down, and the lights of the city turned on.

There were mostly brown spirits being poured but gin, rum and tequila were available to sample as well.

With the brown spirits, there was a strong presence of single malt Scotch on hand but there were still plenty of Bourbon and Rye as well as Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky, Cognac and brown rum to sample.

Scotch is not usually my go to spirit but if you’re pouring a Johhny Walker Blue Label or some other nicely aged single malt, I’ll give it a try. But I do like a nice cognac, so I was happy that they poured Hennessy XO to sample.

They had two sets of live music with all women musicians performing on string instruments.

Some of what I sampled:


Wyoming Whiskey Bourbon

Brother’s Bond Rye/Bourbon
Woodinville Rye/Bourbon, 8yrWhistlepig 10yr Rye, 12yr Rye
Hakata Japanese 10yrKeeper’s Hand Irish/Am Whiskey
Glenmorangie 18yrJohhny Walker Green, 18yr
Rum Clement VSOPBarcelo Rum Anejo, Imperial