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Westchester magazine held their 8th annual  Wine & Food Festival from June 5-10. It was a week of foodie events that included a burger & beer bash, an Italian wine tasting and a Chefs food and wine pairing. On Saturday the 9th they held their signature event, the grand tasting village.

The grand tasting village was an outdoor, under the tents event that featured 200+ wines and spirits and food from over 50 local restaurants. The event was held this year as in last at the Kensico Dam Plaza, a park in the village of Valhalla which is about a 40 minute train ride north from New York City.

In addition to the general admission they had a separate “connoisseur tent” which was away from the crowd and had some special wines with food to go with them.

In my opinion, this is one of the best consumer wine tastings out there for the number and variety of quantity wines that were poured with plenty of food tastings to go along with them.

Some of what I sampled:

NV Laurent-Perrier “Ultra Brut” (Champagne) A no-dosage champagne that was bone dry and crisp and was the recommended pairing with the raw oysters served.

2015 JP & M Auvigue Pouilly Fuisse “Soltutre” (Burgundy) Medium gold with honey and pineapple on the nose, moderate juicy with tropical fruit notes on the fruit and a nice balance.

2015 Vincent Pouilly Fuisse “Marie Antoinette” (Burgundy)  Light gold, tropical fruit on the nose, tight, sweet fruit with moderate to low acids on the finish.

2014 Vrignaud Chablis (Burgundy) Gold in color with a perfume of tropical fruits with tight, lime notes on the fruit and nice astringency on the finish.

2015 Bodega Catena Chardonnay White Stones “Adrianna Vineyard” (Mendoza) Light yellow, green herbs on the nose with floral and citrus fruit on the tight finish.

2016 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay (Carneros) Medium gold with a perfume of green herbs, with juicy tropical fruit notes.

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NV Velenosi Vernaccia di Serrapetrona Secco (Marche) A fizzy red, medium brick, tar and fresh herbs on the nose, off dry with slate and herb notes on the finish.

2014 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Private Reserve” (Napa Valley) Dark red to black, warm cooked berries on the nose, tight and concentrated with slate notes on the nice balance.

2014 Hewitt Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) Dark purple, warm crushed dark fruit on the nose, dusty dark chocolate on the fruit with crisp acids at the finish.

2014 Rombauer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Diamond Selection) (Napa Valley) Dark red to black, crushed black fruit and mint on the nose, concentrated and juicy.

2015 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) Dark red to black with plummy stones on the nose, concentrated and chewy with dark chocolate on the firm finish.

2015 Seghesio Vineyards Zinfandel “Sonoma” (Sonoma County) Dark red to black, crushed red fruit on the nose, juicy red fruit with red leather on the firm but balanced finish.

2015 Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyards Grenache (Santa Lucia Highlands) Medium red with damp earth notes on the nose, some green stem notes on the moderate fruit.

2015 Archery Summit Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) Medium red with ripe red berry on the nose, red cherry and cola notes on the fruit with firm acids.

2016 Tua Rita Rosso dei Notri (Tuscany) Medium red with crushed rocks on the nose, tight red licorice and black cherry on the fruit, firm finish.

2012 La Togata Winery Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany) Medium brick, toasty tar on the nose, tight black licorice fruit with firm acids on the finish.

2013 Tenuta Helena Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso (Friuli) Medium brick with red cherry tar on the nose, leather fruit with a tight finish.