Pinot Noir at Le Bernardin

Posted on March 16, 2010 by admin

Last week I dined at Le Bernardin,  one of the top five restaurants in NYC and one of only a select few to be awarded three Michelin stars.  For foodies everywhere this is culinary heaven and the epitome of fine dining in the Big Apple.  I was given the wine list which was quite literally a book-pages upon pages of every varietal you could imagine.  Being that Le Bernardin is known for their fish and seafood dishes I knew it would be quite a challenge to select wines that would not only please the six other guests at the table  but would also complement every-one’s meals, especially when everyone agreed they wanted red wine only.  My two picks for the evening were both Pinot Noir from the West Coast.

brick house les dijonnais pinot noir 2007Our first selection was Brick House Les Dijonnais Pinot Noir 2007 from the Willamette Valley.  This wine was very light red in the glass, so much so it had a pretty dark pink hue at the edges.  The aroma was of sweet red berries which led into  flavors of strawberries and raspberries.  A slight spiciness was detected on the back end of each sip.  This pinot is 13.4% alcohol and had pleasing acidity which led to a long and crisp finish.  It didn’t overpower my starter choices of smoked salmon topped with caviar and salted cod salad with white gazpacho sauce.  This wine retails for under $40 and has been rated 92 points by Robert Parker. Also try their Select Pinot Noir which is also a great value.

lynmar estate pinot noir 2006The second Pinot Noir was Lynmar Estate 2006 from the Russian River Valley.  This was my favorite of the two.  Darker ruby in color, it had more body and more intense aroma and flavor.  The nose was earthier with cherries and strawberries.  There was a higher concentration of  fruit flavors with more pronounced spiciness,  but overall it was extremely well balanced.  This pinot noir is slightly higher in alcohol at 14.4% and is available for under $45 in stores.  My main course was served with this wine-black bass with a sauce of ham and green peppercorns.  The combination of the sauce with the wine seems a bit unconventional but the wine didn’t detract from it at all.

Pinot Noir proves to be an extremely versatile red wine that can work for any occasion and can compliment almost any dish.  Oregon is becoming  a top producing region with most wineries using sustainable methods of production and organic grapes.

Posted in California, Oregon, Pinot Noir, Wine bars/Restaurants | 3 Comments

Au Bon Climat Chardonnay

Posted on March 4, 2010 by admin

au bon climat chardonnayI never thought I would say this but I have found a 100% chardonnay that I am currently enamored with and have actually been buying on a regular basis.  The discovery of Au Bon Climat Chardonnay 2008 was made at a recent Court Street wine tasting.  I cannot stress enough to people who want to learn about wine how important it is to attend tastings and try as many different wine varieties as possible.  They are not only educational but so much fun to sit through.  They have led me to many excellent wines including this current pick.  Not one to ever order or buy a bottle of Chardonnay since it has always been my least favorite white wine variety, I was amazed with Au Bon Climat from the first sip.  Produced in Santa Barbara, CA this wine is medium bodied and aged in French oak, adding to it’s flavor and depth.  The aroma was soft and buttery with notes of melon.  The flavors of tropical and citrus fruits marry well with a good acidity and a slightly mineral finish.  Au Bon Climat works well with food but is also great on it’s own.  It is well worth it’s price tag and can be purchased for less than $20.

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British Columbia Wines-Canada’s Best Kept Secret

Posted on February 24, 2010 by admin

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games has brought it’s host city Vancouver, British Columbia into millions of homes worldwide.  Their advertising campaign “Discover BC” is prevalent in the media and the dazzling scenery alone is enough to make you want to jump online and book your flight.  What most Americans don’t know is that British Columbia is home to two of Canada’s largest wine regions-the Okanagan Valley and Victoria Island.  Though Canada is know to be the top producer of ice wine there are 192 wineries in the region many of which are creating high quality, award winning wines of many varieties.  Go into any liquor store here in the states though and you would be hard pressed to find any British Columbian wines represented.  Presently only 5% of BC wines are exported.  This is mainly because the majority of the wines are consumed by Canadians but there are also extensive restrictions with customs and duty regulations which raise the cost of the wines significantly.  As a traveler entering the US from Canada you are allowed only two bottles of wine duty free.  Anything above that and you are subject to taxes and duties that can add up to 100% of what you originally paid.  The majority of wineries will not even ship outside of Canada even if you were willing to pay the high price that shipping across the border would cost.  I was unaware of the complexity of the wine laws and tax structure placed on BC wines and find it frustrating that the wines I tried on my recent trip are unavailable to me to enjoy again without making another trip.  With the wine consumption in the U.S. rising each year despite a weak economy it would be in the best interest of Canada to revamp these restrictions and make it easier for these wineries to expand their business and grow their consumer base.  The world should not only be able to discover BC but discover the wonderful world of BC wines as well!vancouver4

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Wine Olympics 2010

Posted on February 22, 2010 by admin

jackson-triggs shirazI was fortunate enough to travel to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Games.  It was truly an experience that I will never forget.  The excitement and positive energy of the city was amazing not to mention it’s picturesque beauty of the skyline set against the mountain backdrop.  On Valentine’s Day we had dinner at Five Sails restaurant located in Canada Place.  I selected a bottle of Jackson-Triggs Proprietor’s Grand Reserve Shiraz 2006 from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.  This full bodied wine was deep purple in the glass and we noticed black pepper and a chocolate aromas.  Flavors of red cherry, currant, chocolate, vanilla, and spices were present on the palate.  I found this wine to be perfectly balanced with a long, smooth finish.  It is 14.3% alcohol and is fermented in both French and American oak barrels giving the wine mild tannins.  This shiraz went very well with all of our meals.  Five Sails is currently offering their special Olympic menu.  My delicious dinner consisted of Austrian style ravoli filled with spinach and ricotta cheese with a hazelnut brown butter and arctic char with a creamy sauce of mushrooms and root vegetables.  For dessert a decadent Valhrona opera cake perfect for the Valentine’s Day holiday.  This was a wonderful dinner with a gorgeous view of the Olympic rings and a fabulous bottle of wine.vancouver1

hudson shahI must also comment on a white wine I had while stopping in Seattle on my way north.  Hudson Shah reisling was just what I needed after a very long flight from the east coast.  Hudson Shah is produced in Washington State and is made of 100% reisling.  It was straw yellow in color and had hints of honeysuckle and pear on the nose.  Peach and pear flavors were nicely refreshing combined with  mineral notes and pleasing acidity.  This wine is available for under $11 in Washington State at retail and  is also available at many high end restaurants in select cities including many of my favorites here in NYC.

So far I am extremely impressed with the wines I have tried from this region.  I am really looking forward to my next trip and to trying more wines that BC and Washington have to offer.

Posted in Australia, British Columbia, Riesling, Washington State, Wine bars/Restaurants | 1 Comment

Mark West Pinot Noir

Posted on February 7, 2010 by admin

Mark West Pinot NoirI have spent the last two days shopping Hoboken’s various wine retailers to see what new selections would catch my eye.  At several locations Mark West Pinot Noir 2008 was prominently featured so I decided to see for myself what this much respected red wine had to offer.  Produced in Graton, Sonoma County, CA by Mark West Winery this pinot noir has a lot of bang for the buck and won’t empty your wallet.  Their focus at Mark West Winery is to create affordable wine that anyone can enjoy by retaining the same elements and quality of a pricier pinot.  After two nights of drinking heavier, more tannic cabernet sauvignon this wine was a most welcome change.  It had a beautiful light translucent ruby color in the glass and a mouthwatering strawberry aroma.  The palate was very fruit forward with concentrated cherry, raspberry, and strawberry flavors with some spiciness from it’s oak aging.  I paired this wine with three different  cheeses: brie, Port Salut, and aged gouda.  It paired well with all of the cheeses and would be the perfect red wine to pair with just about any dish.  I am not surprised that Mark West Pinot Noir won it’s category in a blind tasting.  If you prefer a lighter style red wine that is full of fruit but not too sweet you will really like this pinot noir.  It is a delicious and versatile red wine and is available for under $13.

Posted in California, Pinot Noir | 1 Comment