Wine Experience Grand Award Banquet 2019

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The 39th annual Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience was held on October 17-19 at the Marriot Marquis hotel in Times Square, Manhattan.

The premier consumer wine event of the year hosted several wine seminars, and a couple of critics’ choice grand tastings.

The finale of the Wine Experience was the Grand Award Banquet held on Saturday evening in which presentations were made to the 2019 Grand Award winners and to the recipient of the Distinguished Service award.

The eight grand award recipients for 2019 came from the United States, Mexico, Austria and France and the Distinguished Service Award was presented to Georg Riedel, proprietor of his family’s Austrian glass firm.

This year’s live entertainment was provided by one of the most popular bands in musical history, The Beach Boys.

Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year was the 2015 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia.

It was a sit-down, formal dinner preceded by a Champagne cocktail hour.

Champagne Reception

Barons de Rothschild Brut

Bollinger Special Cuvee

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve

Henriot Brut Souverain

Louis Roederer Brut Nature

Piper Heidsieck Brut Cuvee

Tattinger La Francaise

Dinner

Cream of parsnip, walnut and pear en croute served with fall mixed greens, shaved baby carrots, beets, radish, ricotta salata and red currents in a Champagne vinaigrette.

2017 Robert Mondavi Chardonnay (Napa Valley)

Medium gold with a honeyed nose, juicy tropical fruit with a nice balance. Big, old school Cali Chard.

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Herb crusted filet of beef with slow roasted beef croquette, potato gratin, cipollini onions and baby carrots with a red wine reduction.

2015 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Lot No. 1 (Napa Valley)

Dark red to black, crushed black fruit and dried herbs on the nose with juicy fruit with dust and mint notes with silky, lip smacking tannins at the end. Another fruit forward Cali style of wine.

Dan’s Taste of Two Forks 2018

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Dan’s Papers is a weekly lifestyle magazine of all things Hampton’s. Every Summer they host/sponsor several parties out in the East End including Rosé Soirée, Chefs of the North Fork, Grill Hampton and Montaco.

On Saturday July 21st they held their 8th annual Taste of Two Forks event. A food and spirits party that showcased the “bounty of both the North and South Fork of Long Island”.

The event was held under the big tents overlooking Mecox Bay at Mecox Farms located at 19 horsemill lane in Bridgehampton, Long Island.

In addition to bites provided by local restaurants, there were local wines and wine from Italy, California and Chile, beer from Corona and Blue Moon, and several cocktail stations including the Jack Daniel line of whiskeys, the ever-present Tito’s vodka, Aperol, Campari and Espolõn tequila to name a few.

The celebrity host this year was David Burtka, the music provided by DJ Phresh and a portion of the ticket price went to benefit the all for the East End charity.

The weather was a concern since a big storm was forecast but the rains held off for most of the evening.

Some of the food I sampled:

The Basil House & Hotel: Basil soaked mozzarella, heirloom tomato chutney, zucchini.

Simons Center Café: Long Island Fluke, citrus, watermelon, green peppercorn.

Buoy One Seafood: Local corn, fresh blue claw crab and black bean salad.

Shucker’s Lobster & Clam Bar: Blackened shrimp, guacamole, cucumber and jalapeno relish.

Topping Rose House: Local catch ceviche, coconut milk, calamansi gelee, crisp chicharron, shiso and spicy corn cake.

Claudio’s: Pan seared day boat scallops with cioppino broth and summer vegetables.

Events by Peter Ambrose: Carolina low country Paella.

Southampton Social Club: Sushi roll, scallion, avocado, cucumber, toro, sashimi, wasabi tobiko.

Little Red: Heirloom tomato and watermelon salad with ricotta salata, basil oil and balsamic reduction.

The Frisky Oyster: Peconic gold oysters Friskafella with garlic chipotle spinach and parmigiana aioli.

North Fork Roasting Co.: Sunkissed melon salad, Mexican mint, dehydrated lemon crystals, edible flowers.

Insatiable Eats Catering: Sicilian meatballs two ways.

North Sea Tavern: Shrimp ceviche.

Smoking Wolf BBQ: Slow smoked BBQ pulled pork sliders with pickles and onions.

SAAZ: Chicken tiki masala, mix vegetables, naan bread and basmati rice.

Wine On Wheels Fundraiser 2018

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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

Dressner Fundraiser 2018

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On March 25th, Chambers Street Wines and Louis Dressner Selections held their 17th annual tasting and benefit for Partners in Health.

Partners in Health is an international medical organization “committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized” in 12 countries.

The tasting featured 22 winemakers from France, Italy, Germany and Portugal pouring their artisanal wines grown in the most “natural” way, that is avoiding chemical treatments and with as minimal intervention as possible.

This year the tasting was held at Racines restaurant located at 94 Chambers Street in lower Manhattan. The event was in the afternoon and was crowded with people who as I, were able to taste many interesting natural wines from off the radar producers.

Some of what I sampled:

White

2016 Immich-Batterieberg Riesling “Ellergrub” (Mosel)

2015 Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet “Clisson” (Loire)

2015 Domaine du Closel Savennieres “Clos du Papillon” (Loire)

2014 Julien & Francois Pinon Vouvrey Brut (Loire)

Red

2015 Domaine Beliviere Jasnieres Coteaux du Loir “Vielles Vignes Eparses” (Loire)

2016 Fredrik Filliatreau Samur-Champigny (Loire)

2016 Damien Coquelet Morgon “Cot de Py” (Burgundy)

2014 Kewin Descombes Morgon “Vielles Vignes” (Burgundy)

2015 Louis Benoit & Violetta Desvignes Morgon “Cotes de Py Javernieres” (Burgundy)

2014 Romeo del Castello Etna Rosso “Vigo” (Sicily)

2015 Arianna Occhipiniti Terre Siciliane Nero D’Avola “Siccagno” (Sicily)

2015 Nusserhof Sudtirol Lagrein Kretzer Rosato (Trentino-Alto Adige)

2013 Nusserhof “T” Teroldego (Trentino-Alto Adige)

2015 Foradori Vigneto delle Dolmaiti Teroldego “Granato” (Trentino-Alto Adige)

2015 Fonterenza Rosso di Montalcino “Alberello” (Tuscany)

2011 Fonterenza Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany)

2011 La Stoppa Emilia “Macchiona” (Emilia-Romagna)

2016 Vignetto Saetti Lambrusco “Il Cadetto” (Emilia-Romagna)

2016 Vignetto Saetti Lambrusco “Rosso Viola” (Emilia-Romagna)

Toast Of France

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On October 8th I attended the Toast of France wine event. The tasting was a fundraiser in which 100% of proceeds benefit Wheeling Forward and Hurricane Relief.

The event was held at Le Dû’s wine shop at 600 Washington Street in lower Manhattan where I’ve been to many a wine tasting in the past. It was hosted by Somms, Yannick Benjamin, one of the co-founders of Wheeling Forward and by Jean-Luc Le Dû.

All of the French wine regions were represented with a table of wines served by volunteer Sommeliers. There was a live and silent auction, oysters in the Champagne room, cheese and paté in the main room, and some French guy strolling around playing the accordion. It was an enjoyable afternoon of sampling wines from all of France.

Some of what I sampled:

Champagne

NV Krug “Grand Cuvee” En Jeroboam

NV Larmandier-Bernier “Longitude” En Magnum

NV Marc Hebert Brut Rosé

Bourgogne

2014 Domaine Christine Moreau Chablis Grand Cru “Les Clos”

2014 Pierre Morey Meursault

2014 Domaine Antonin Guyon Pugliny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Pucelles”

2013 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Cazetiers”

Beaujolais

2015 Domaine des Billards Saint Amour

2015 Domaine de Haute Combe Julienas

2013 Chateau des Jacques Moulin a Vent “La Roche”

Bordeaux

2009 Le Petit Caillou de Ducru

2009 Chateau Bourgneuf

2014 Chateau Cartier

2012 Sirene de Giscours

2012 Chateau de Sales

Loire

2016 Domaine Pabiot Puilly Fume

2012 Domaine de la Chevalerie Bourgueil “Galichets”

Savoie/Jura

2008 Chateau d’Arlay Vin Jaune

2012 Domaine Berthet-Bondet “Tradition”

Alsace

2010 Domaine Trimbach Pinot Gris

2012 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris “Clos Windsbuhl”

Rhone

2014 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

2013 Pierre Gaillard Cote Rotie

2014 Domaine J. Despesse Cornas

2012 Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge

Provence/Languedoc

2009 Domaine Hauvette Baux de Provence “Cornaline”

2012 Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol

2014 Mas Daumas Gassace Rouge

Roussellon

2014 Domaine du Clos des Fees Les Sorcieres

2014 Chateau Haute Serre