Food & Wine magazine and the Food Network held their annual New York City Wine & Food Festival on October 16-19. It was four days of seminars, food demonstrations, parties, food, spirits and wine events at various venues in the city. I was able to attend a seminar on Saturday afternoon and the Grand Tasting on Sunday afternoon. The seminar which was a sit-down tasting featuring six wines took place at the Hudson Hotel on 356 West 58th Street. The Grand Tasting which was a casual, walk-around event to sample food, check out new products, view culinary demonstrations and of course to try wines and spirits provided by Southern Wines and Spirits took place at Pier 94 on West 55th Street. The Pier is a 1300,000 square foot size venue and there was a lot to see and sample. After the tasting I was able to attend the meat-centric , Meatopia event at Pier 94 as well.
Seminar: Iconic Wines of France hosted by Eric Hemer
NV Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle “La Cuvée” (Champagne). Yellow in color with a greenish tint on the nose was floral with toasted bread notes with a subtle fizz on the lemon tart fruit.
2012 Jean-Marie Berthier Coteaux du Giennois “Terre de Silex” (Loire). Medium yellow with a green tint, very ripe nose of white flowers and toast tight with mouth puckering lemon notes on the finish.
2007 Lucien Albrecht Riesling “Clos Schild” (Alsace). Deep gold in color with honey and petroleum on the nose, medium body, silky with sweet and sour fruit on the nice balance.
2010 Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Gréves Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus (Burgundy). Brick color with meaty, black plums on the nose, tight with some salinity on the finish. I thought it dropped a bit at the end.-
2011 Domaine Alain Voge Cornas “Les Vielle Vignes” (Rhone). Dark red to black with a big perfume of mint and dried herbs, tastes lighter than it looks with tart raspberry flavors on the fruit with moderate tannin.
2010 Chateau Duhart-Milon Rothschild Grand Cru Classé (Pauillac). Inky black with a closed nose of meat and red licorice, silky with toasty oak on the moderate finish, a little light at the end.
At the Grand Tasting there was a “Vip” area where some nice juice was poured. Some of what I enjoyed:
2010 Grgich Hills Estate Zinfandel (Napa Valley). Dark purple with smoky dark plums on the nose, chewy with meat notes on the balanced finish.
2011 Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley). Black in color, black licorice notes on the nose with dried leaf and bell pepper on the finish.
2010 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon “Cask” (Napa Valley). Black in color with toasty dark plums on the nose, concentrated with some mint notes on the moderate finish.
2009 Inglenook “Rubicon” (Napa Valley). Dark brick in color with crushed sweet fruit and tobacco on the nose, silky with dark chocolate on the balanced moderate to long finish.
2012 Conundrum Red (California). A “non-traditional blend” of red grapes. Black in color, crushed blueberries on the nose, thick and syrupy with juicy blueberry and mint on the fruit.
2012 La Crema Winery Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley). Medium red with dried herbs on the nose, medium bodied with some cola notes on the fruit with good balance.
2010 San Pedro “Sideral” (Chile). A blend of five red varietals, dark red to black in color, very perfumed with sweet black fruit and minerals on the nose, concentrated and silky with crushed rock notes on the finish with silky tannin.
2009 San Pedro “Cabo De Hornos” (Chile). Cabernet Sauvignon based blend. Dark red to black with dried herbs and cooked fruit on the nose, thick and fruity with moderate balance. Impressively heavy bottle.
2010 San Pedro “Altair” (Chile). Cabernet Sauvignon based blend. Black with crushed red fruit and roasted meat notes on the nose, dark and concentrated with coffee and dark chocolate notes on the balanced finish. Big wine with a big bottle as well.
2006 Castello D’Albola Chianti Classico (Tuscany). Dark red with dark plums on the nose, moderate fruit with tobacco notes, nice balance with a long finish.
2010 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico “Riserva” (Tuscany). Dark brick with cooked vegetable on the nose, silky with red fruit and mint notes, moderate tannin and cigar box on the finish.
2005 Fontanafredda Barolo “La Rosa” (Piedmont). Brick color with tar and cigar box on the nose with delicious silky fruit and nice mouth coating tannin at the end.
2008 Marchese di Barolo Barolo (Piedmont). Brick color with a closed nose of pencil shavings, dry and dusty with tongue coating tannin at the end.
2006 Bertani Amarone (Veneto). Brick in color with some mint notes on the nose with tight and concentrated fruit with subtle tanning on the finish with some stewed fruit notes.
2009 Chateau Lagrezette (Cahors). Decanted, 100% Malbec. Inky, dark purple with a nose of crushed, dark berries, tight, concentrated and silky with dried herb notes on the firm balanced finish.
2006 Matarromera Reserva (Ribera de Duero). Cloudy brick in color with dried herbs on the nose, tight and concentrated with black olives on the finish.
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