The Official Wine Thread

Gavi or Soave would be fine. I'd certainly prefer an Italian white over a NZ Sauv Blanc or one from the US (but this is just personal). I forget what is on their list but it isn't bad for being in a town so small. I always had a tendency to load up on Martinis there anyways.

And their specials are usually excellent.

Here are the two most interesting wines enjoyed this past weekend, one temperamentally nearing its natural end, and the other exploding with the fresh exuberance of youth. 2002 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino A poor vintage Brunello bottling priced in the expensive rosso range (about $37), I picked up two at a Ciacci tasting with Paolo Bianchini back in Spring at Federal Wine and Spirits, Boston. Paolo's a charming guy, a former amateur bicycling champ in Italy (I believe that's what he said, mostly via interpreter), and his winery will be a definite stop on that Italian wine vacation I'll be taking one day... This wine was temperamental, but rewarding. Thin for a Brunello, but with a nice earthy bouquet of mushrooms and truffle. Spicier and fruitier upon opening, it began to lose some ***** in the decanter at about the 30 minute mark, tasting a tad vinegary with a woody, bitter astringency. Concerned. Meat needed another hour on the heat. Cook, short ribs, cook. Hour and half later, short ribs on the table with some creamy, parmaggianny polenta and a side salad of assorted heirloom tomatoes dressed with basil, olive oil, and reduced balsamico, and - thank, Bacchus - the wine was showing much better. The nose had expanded, though not to the perfumey heights of a great Brunello, but still bringing those fungal qualities I love (is there a word for this? "sotto bosce" or something?). The emerging nastiness had subsided leaving a much cleaner, spicier fruit. It continued to evolve over dinner and into a cheese course, but not really improving. Even given the weirdness at the half-hour mark, I think I'll pop-and-pour the next bottle. And sooner rather than later. An enjoyable, if somewhat unnerving experience. 2009 Jean-Francois Merieau Touraine Gamay "Le Bois Jacou" Continuing my summer romance with the Loire, this wine joins Delhommeau's Muscadet "cuvee Harmonie" 2008 as one of those initial QPR purchases that upon tasting I'd buy at twice the price. Fortunately, I didn't have to, and quickly ordered up a half-case at $11.99/btl. Fresh red fruit and black pepper with a touch of earthy funk. Juicy, zesty, lip-smackingly quaffable, every sip demanding another and another and another. I brought this bottle to my father-in-laws table - worried that it might not be big enough for the lean, rare, lightly seasoned standing rib roast and mashed potatoes he was serving - but it paired nicely and no one could get enough. Sister-in-law loved it. Little niece enjoyed the nose, but too young to drink. Older nephew enjoyed the nose/mouth ("hey, strawberries!") and it possibly awakened an interest in wine in him, even as he cringed at the feyness of the whole sniffy-sniff thing. And this morning, my wife awoke demanding to know when the new bottles were arriving. Turns out that Merieau is a rather interesting wine-maker. Increasingly organic/biodynamic, low-yield, hand-harvested, single-vineyard stuff from 40-60 YO vines. If only I'd discovered this back in May when the first of the heatwaves rolled in! A damn near perfect summer red that I'll be enjoying well into the fall, this wine has opened my eyes to the beauty of Gamay. Maybe I should explore cru Beaujolais next?

Interesting factoid:

A 1619 Virginia law required every male colonist at Jamestown, the first successful English settlement on North American soil, to plant and tend at least ten vines"”the earliest record of vinifera vine plantings on the East Coast. This experiment, like many others along the Eastern seaboard, ended in failure as the European vines succumbed to new vine diseases and the phylloxera pest.

Click to expand...

great writeups ricardo and thanks for the advice gomestar. i think i'll go with soave, gavi, or maybe even an eastern loire like sancerre or pouilly fume

pio, you mind me asking what you're reading?

Last Sunday I had my last bottle of Bertani Amarone Classico.... I love it. the best Amarone I have ever had....

Originally Posted by indesertum

Click to expand...

the wine list is a pretty decent sized book, but i haven't been there enough times with enough experience to judge it well.

i would say we would order duck or fish. these three sound about right

Oven Roasted Halibut & Jumbo Shrimp
Watermelon Salsa, Shaved Fennel, Sushi Rice & Feta Cheese
Saffron Aioli
35.

Char Grilled Duck Breast
Duck Confit, Turkish Lahmajoun & Lemon-Macerated Onions
Blistered Tomatoes & Middle-Eastern Potato Salad
Honey Lemon Reduction
29.

Pan Roasted Filet Of Branzino
Spinach-Leek Stuffed Little Neck Clams & Shaved Carrot Salad
Chick Peas Cassoulet & Slow Roasted Tomatoes
Lemon Relish
34.


their steaks are supposed to be house aged prime ribeye, but for some reason i dont really want to order steak there.



i've been kind of wanting to explore italy. would gavi or soave work with duck or fish? or would some kind of sauv blanc be a better choice?

I don't think soave will work well with duck confit - pinot would be best, but a riesling might be a compromise if one of you was eating the fish.

That menu's inspired me to finally do the salt-crusted, whole branzino thing. Lemon and fresh herb seasoning. Roasted tomatoes, potatoes, spinach or other green veg. But I'm a little stuck on the wine pairing.

Inama Soave safest choice? Or any of a number of dry, high acid Loire Valley wines (Anjou, Chenin, Picpoul, Muscadet) or perhaps a dry Reisling? Gruner? Or maybe go bigger with a Lopez de Heredia rosado? I also have a white bordeaux style blend by Elian da Ros that I'm dying to try (the "coucou blanc").

Originally Posted by indesertum

Click to expand...

pio, you mind me asking what you're reading?

The study guides for the Intro/Cert Sommelier exams from the Court of the Master Sommelier.

Thinking of heading to a tasting for Oz Shiraz tomorrow night. I'm 50/50 on that. The setting is stunning but it always leads us to staying for a $300 meal plus plus. Trying to set aside some money for travel later this year

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Click to expand...

We need to think about an SF wine meet up, maybe in Vegas for the WS big tasting.

I'd consider going to Vegas for something like this. When is it?

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Click to expand...

So thinking of doing a multi-course meal at home on Sat. Here's the problem: it's not like we're eating at Cyrus and getting the pairings. It's going to be just the two of us and I can't open 3-5 bottles (or 9 or 10 like Cyrus pairings!) for just us. So I need to think of something that will go with scallop ceviche (going to try the Bayless recipe) and foie and something else.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Click to expand...

It's not matching the ceviche, it's matching both ceviche and foie and something(s) yet to be determined. I greatly prefer a savory presentation, so at least that will help.

I know I have a couple of dry Eye-tie whites in the cellar.

Don't skip the chance to open a half-bottle of Sauterne to go with the Foie. Should be able to find a nice half-bottle for around $30 or so if you don't have one.

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

Click to expand...

I'd consider going to Vegas for something like this. When is it?





Don't skip the chance to open a half-bottle of Sauterne to go with the Foie. Should be able to find a nice half-bottle for around $30 or so if you don't have one.

Good thinking of the split. I've got nearly a dozen and at least half ready to drink.

Think the WS Vegas thing was in Feb. this year.

I would do a meetup in Vegas, I think. I wouldn't do it on a weekend like that, because I'd rather be able to get good dinner reservations.

Originally Posted by iammatt

Click to expand...

I would do a meetup in Vegas, I think. I wouldn't do it on a weekend like that, because I'd rather be able to get good dinner reservations.

chinese seafood buffet. Fixed.

Pio brings the d'Yquem, perfect for the crab rangoon.

We could just extend it out into the week, or come in during the week and then concentrate on the WS tasting. Or, **** the tasting and just meet up in Vegas during the week.

Destinations mag featured the new Oriental in Vegas. That place has some big timer suites. As in, Piob can't afford 3k a night.

It's weird how a person can be really cheap about some things and utterly irresponsible about others. I hate, hate, hate spending money on hotels. The only thing I like less is gambling.

Not to say that unwillingness to spend $3K/night makes one cheap.

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

It's weird how a person can be really cheap about some things and utterly irresponsible about others. I hate, hate, hate spending money on hotels. The only thing I like less is gambling.

Not to say that unwillingness to spend $3K/night makes one cheap.

I have my personal range that I'm willing to spend, and then like my clothes, I can't justify it. When Mrs. Piob took me to Vegas, for my first time, 1500 sq ft suite at the Venetian for ~ $450 a night. Over 30 floors up, awesome Strip view, was happy. 600 sq ft room at the Oriental = $500 a night.

Oriental looks far more classy, and best of all, no casino! I'm with you on the gambling.

Btw, your presence shall be expected.