Wine & Spirits magazine available in both print and online, is dedicated to the news. the people and places of worldwide wine and spirits.
The magazine of course, reviews wines and spirits of the world using a 100-point rating system.
Every year they hold a tasting in San Francisco and New York City honoring the top 100 wines of the previous year based on their ratings. The New York event was to raise money for the NY/NJ Baykeeper, an organization that advocates “clean water in the local watershed and the citizen guardian of the harbors, bays, streams and shores of the New York and New Jersey harbor estuary”.
They held their New York tasting on February 15th at the Metropolitan Pavillion event venue located at 125 West 18th Street in Manhattan.
It was the top 100 wines of the world so they had a nice selection of wines of the world. All the major wine producing countries were represented though surprisingly the wines from France were minimal with a token Burgundy presence and no Bordeaux from what I could find.
There were noticeably fewer vendors at this event than there were in previous years which was disappointing, on the other hand the catered food was outstanding, much more than the usual cheese and crackers.
Some of what I sampled:
2021 Williams Selyem Chardonnay (Russian River): Light gold with a greenish tint, nose of honey with tropical fruit and good acidity.
2021 Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mtns): Clear light yellow, big toasty nose, tight with a hint of tropical fruit with firm acids at the end.
2021 Williams Selyem Estate Pinot Noir (Russian River): Clear light red, dark leather and tar on the nose, bright red leather fruit, nice balance.
2021 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon “Metier” (Columbia Valley): Clear medium red, tobacco and earth notes on the nose, tight and smoky.
2021 Ridge Vineyards Geyserville (Alexander Valley): Clear medium red, smoke and earth on the nose, tight and dusty with firm tannins. Still young.
2021 J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon “Carol’s Vineyard” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, mint and crushed black fruit on the nose, dense and concentrated, tight with fresh herbs on the finish.
2021 Walter Scott Pinot Noir “Sojeau” (Oregon): Clear medium red, toasty earth on the nose, light red cherry fruit with earth notes on the firm finish.
2020 0rnellaia (Tuscany): Opaque medium red with a brick rim, tobacco smoke and dusty black fruit on the nose, silky red fruit, gritty tannins, nicely balanced.
2020 L’Ecole No. 41 Ferguson Vineyard (Walla Walla Valley): Clear medium to dark red, wood notes on the nose, juicy, dusty, ripe red fruit with slate notes on the firm finish.
2019 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon “Volcanic Hill” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, dark earth on the nose, dense and chewy with firm slate notes and a balanced finish.
2019 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon “Three Vineyard Blend” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, ripe black fruit on the nose, starts juicy then followed by firm tannins.
2019 Le Macchiole (Tuscany): Clear medium red, roasted nuts on the nose, silky dark fruit with firm and silky tannins at the finish.
2019 Bordini Barberesco (Tuscany): Clear light red, smoky tar on the nose, silky light red fruit, on the light bodied style with firm tannins.
2019 Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mt District “Reserve” (Napa Valley): Opaque medium red, smoky barnyard on the nose, silky red fruit with dried herbs on the firm finish.
2019 Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mt District “Mernet” (Napa Valley): Opaque medium red, bitter dark chocolate on the nose, silky red fruit with green herbs on the nicely balanced finish with some bitter almond notes.
2017 Rocca di Montegrossi “Ridolfo” (Tuscany): Clear medium red, sweet tar on the nose, chewy dark fruit with a dusty finish.
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