Tag: City Winery

Wine Enthusiast Sip of Italy NYC 2025

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

On September 11th, I attended the Wine Enthusiasts Sip of Italy wine tasting event. It was another their series of “Sip” wine tasting events hosted by the magazine.

It was an all-Italian wine tasting of over 300 wines from most of the wine regions in Italy. Most of the wines were from smaller, off the radar producers with many looking for an importer.

The tasting was held at City Winery located at 25 11th Avenue on the far west side of Manhattan overlooking the Hudson River.

Some of what I sampled:

2018 Vignamaggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione “Monna Lisa” (Tuscany): Clear medium brick, perfume of tar, leather and green herbs, silky red fruit with black licorice notes ending with tight tannin.

2018 Zenato Amarone Riserva (Veneto): Opaque dark brick, toasty leather on the nose, chewy and chunky with green herbs notes on the long finish, good grip.

2019 Ruffino “Alauda” (Tuscany): A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Colorino. Opaque dark red, mint and dark chocolate on the nose, tight and dense crushed black fruit with black licorice notes, great balance.

2019 Banfi “Summus” (Tuscany): Bordeaux blend. Opaque dark red, black leather and crushed black fruit with toast notes on the nose, tight, concentrated and chewy with a firm grip and a long finish.

2019 Ruffino Modus Primo (Tuscany): Clear medium brick, perfume of violets and tarry chocolate, chewy black fruit with stone notes ending with good acidity.

2020 Tenute Orestiadi “Il Rosso di Ludovico” Riserva (Sicily): Clear medium purple, perfume of violets and green herbs, juicy black fruit, firm finish.

2021 Tenute Sette Ponti “Sette” (Tuscany); 100% Merlot. Opaque dark red, brick rim, toasty roast meat on the nose, tight and juicy with gun metal notes, firm finish.

2021 Viticcio Foglia Tonda (Tuscany): Made from 100% of the obscure Foglia Tonda grape varietal. Clear light brick, crushed black cherry and toasty chocolate on the nose, chewy red fruit, long and firm finish.

2021 Brancaia “Ilatraia” (Tuscany): A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Clear medium purple, minty crushed black fruit on the nose, chewy dark fruit with a firm finish.

Wine Enthusiast Sip of South America 2024

Published on by Bruno DonaggioLeave a comment

Wine Enthusiast magazine is a lifestyle magazine focusing on travel, food, wine and spirits. A good portion of the magazine is dedicated to wine reviews.

On Monday, May 6, they held a Sip of South America wine tasting that explored the current state of South American wines in the United States. Not surprisingly, they focused on the wines of South America, particularly from Chile, Argentina and Uruguay that have the magazines 90+ point rating or their Best Buy designation.

The event was held at City Winery, a restaurant/winery located at 25 11th Avenue, overlooking the Hudson River, next to the Meatpacking District on the West side of Manhattan.

Each country poured wines made with the signature grape of each country, Carmenere in Chile, Malbec in Argentina and Tannat in Uruguay, but the other French varietals were represented as well, I tried some nice Pinot Noir.

They poured a solid lineup though I would have liked to have sampled more wines with additional bottle age.

They also had a Pisco Lounge that served cocktails made with Chilean Pisco, which is a brandy like spirit made from grape must.

Some of my highlights:

White

2021 Zuccardi Poligonos Semillon (Uco Valley): Medium gold, white flowers and lemon curd on the nose, medium citrusy fruit with nice acidity.

2023 Catena High Mountain Semillon-Chenin (Mendoza): Light gold, floral and earthy nose, with moderate fruit and good balance.

Red

2015 Vinas Luis Felipe Edwards Pater Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley): Clear medium brick, tar and leather on the nose with those tar and leather notes on the silky fruit, good balance.

2017 Matetic Syrah (San Antonio Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, smoky bacon on the nose, tight and concentrated ending with silky red tannins.

2018 La Celia La Consulta Cabernet Franc (Uco Valley): Clear medium red with a brick rim, perfume of bell pepper with tight green herbs and spicy fruit.

2018 Salentein La Pampa 1997 Vineyard Malbec (Uco Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, tar on the nose, silky black fruit with a nice grip on the long finish.

2019 Clos de los Siete C7 Red Blend (Uco Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed black fruit on the nose with chunky black fruit ending with firm, silky tannins.

2020 Luca “Beso de Dante” Red Blend (Uco Valley): Black with a purple rim, sweet cigar smoke on the nose, tight silky fruit with a smoky finish.

2020 Montes “Wings” Carmenere (Apalta, Colchagua Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, crushed dark fruit and steel notes on the nose, concentrated and toasty with good grip on the smokey finish.

2021 Valle Secreto Private Red Blend (Cachapoal Andes): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, toasty roast meat on the nose, chewy, steely fruit with a long, firm finish.

2021 Escudo Rojo Baron Phllippe de Rothschild Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley): Opaque dark brick, smoke and bell pepper on the nose, silky, smoky fruit, nice balance.

2021 Ventisquero Tara Pinot Noir (Atacama): Clear medium brick, barnyard nose, silky, earthy and stinky fruit, good balance.

2021 Ventisquero Grey Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley): From a single block, clear dark purple, sweet tar and cigarette smoke on the nose, silky, graphite fruit ending with a good grip.

2021 Antigal UNO Estate Malbec (Mendoza): Black with a purple rim, tar and slate on the nose, chewy dark chocolate fruit with nice structure.

2021 Argento Single Block Malbec (Uco Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, sweet violets and cigarette smoke on the nose, bright red fruit ending with crisp acids.

2022 Viu Manent Vibo Punta del Viento GSM (Colchagua Valley): Clear medium purple, smoky nose with bright red fruit with a good grip.