Hess Collection Allomi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

From Northeast Napa Valley, Hess Family Wine Estates, a fifth-generation wine company produces this beautiful and intense Cabernet. Spicy aromas pervade and an assault of black fruit, cassis and raisins ensue. The palate shows hefty tannins balanced with bold and ripe black cherry, blackberry and stone fruit along with a sweet echo reflecting oak, vanilla and spice. Perfect for a pairing with a Thanksgiving Holiday dinner.

Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial 2013, Spain

What a wonderful succulent red blend from La Milla de Oro (the Golden Mile) of Castillo y Leon - Sardón de Duero, in Spain. Instead of the D.O. classification the producers opted for the more flexible "VdlT Castilla y Leon" allowing a terrific blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah and other varieties like Merlot and Petit Verdot.

Aged for 13 months in French and American oak barrels, this viscous red has thick dark colors accented with heady aromas of cherry pie and dark chocolate. The palate shows a richness that treats the tongue to a bombardment of ripe red and blue fruits through a lens of silky tannins and exquisite balance. What a beautiful treat! This bottle goes for about $30.

Little Black Dress Diva California Red 2013

Winemaker Margaret Leonardi crafted this red blend from Mendocino, California. Made from a blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Petit Sirah, with smaller amounts of Zinfandel, Tannat, Mourvèdre, Garnacha, Malbec and other red grapes.

Ruby colors with aromas of cherry, cassis and licorice, then a mild lingering toasty edge. The palate showing playful notes of wild berries and dried flowers combining to form a complex show for the money (about $12).

The Federalist Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

The Federalist expresses this revolutionary blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petite Syrah and 1% Sangiovese. Different blocks were fermented separately to preserve the character of each. Aged for 15 months in new oak.

Very dark purple in the glass, with good weight; on the nose a playful cherry creamsicle set against an earthy leather, after breathing a while opens to ripe blackberry and spices.

On the palate... OMG, blueberry pie a la mode! (with vanilla ice cream), black fruits really noticeable at back of tongue along with sour cherry. Chewy texture, good ripe fruit with excellent tannin structure. SRP $17.76.

Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Near perfect conditions made 2012 a banner year for California's grape growing season, and here's a Cabernet that proves it without breaking the bank. Sourced from Napa, Lodi, Paso Robles and Monterey, with a blend of 76% Cabernet, 13% Syrah, 7% Zinfandel and 4% Merlot, this juicy red is a study in supple tannins and bright acidity. Aged in American and French oak barrels for 8 months.

Reddish purple hues coloring the glass, with an opaque density, fruity aromas of cassis, blueberry, and some red fruits, along with subtle hints of vanilla bean. Then the palate shows ripe flavors of plum and black cherry, underscored by more red and black fruit.

Can't go wrong with this one at about $9!!!!

Rutini Encuentro Barrel Blend 2009

From Mendoza, Argentina, Rutini Encuentro Barrel Blend 2009 is a delicious Bordeaux blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot sourced from seven of Rutini's vineyards and aged in French oak for 18 months.

Ruby colors with beautiful concentrated port-like aromas...or even in the Amarone family. Also present are notes that come in pairs, for instance licorice and menthol, violets and lavender, vanilla and chocolate. 

While the palate delivers such delicious flavors of coffee and tobacco and ripe summer fruits. The tannins are ripe and easy and the finish goes on and on to exhibit a unique balance and makes for a wonderful quality wine.

GOTG First Look Series: Barollo Wines

I recently had the good fortune to try the new line of wines soon to be available in New York from Barollo (not Barolo) wines from the Veneto region of Italy.

The first white wine up was the 2013 Barollo Sauvignon Blanc made from 100% of the same. Stainless steel fermentation. The first thing I noticed about the aromas was the absence of cat pee, which frequently appears in varied quantities in many Sauvignon Blanc's. There are nice grassy base aromas layered below herbaceous nuances of citrus, while the palate displays a verdant earthy slate minerality along with more citrus fruits like grapefruit and lime. A very fine acidity with balance and juicy finish.

Paired perfectly with a first course of shrimp with yellow squash, baby kale, tomato confit with a champagne vinaigrette dressing.

Barollo Pinot Bianco 2012
Similar to a Chardonnay but slightly dryer, aromas of buttery apple pie and tropical fruit partnering well with a palate of ripe apples and hints of banana. Very food friendly with lively acidity which pairs well with a second course of pumpkin risotto.

Barollo Manzoni Bianco 2012
Manzoni Bianco, an indigenous grape from the province of Treviso, which was originally a cross-breeding of Riesling Renano and Pinot Bianco in the 1930's. Usually used as a blending grape, Barollo is one of a handful of wineries presently producing Manzoni as a single varietal.
Pale golden colors in the glass, on the nose a floral bouquet with nuances of apricot, apple and marzipan. On the palate notes of pears and powdery flower petals. Delicate but with texture and structure showing minerality that also works very well with the pumpkin risotto.

Barollo Frater Rosso 2013
Stainless steel fermentation and 3 months in bottle. Deep purple in the glass, animal and underbrush on the nose, exotic spices, super ripe cherries, violets and an overall floral bouquet. Flavors are intense but not overpowering with gamey notes, red bing cherries, and a lingering finish of violet candy and nutmeg. Beautifully balanced and complex... but, easy drinking, and as someone at my table pointed out, "... bridges the gap between new and old world reds".

The Frater (above) and Frank (below) both paired well with 3rd course of Grilled Hanger Steak with Caramelized Onions & Oxtail Marmalade.

Barollo Frank 2010 Cabernet Franc
Late harvested for ripeness, the stems are removed early to eliminate any green taste. Aged 12 months in French barriques before bottle aging for 6 months, resulting in an elegant, well structured, mouth watering Cab Franc with smooth, even aromas. Ruby red colors with warmer colors around rim, on the nose ripe cherries, tobacco and cocoa. On the palate a soft, elegant balance of acidity and tannins, with earthy flavors of coffee and red berries and a wonderful long finish.

Lieb Cellars Bridge Lane Red Blend 2012

Lieb Cellars produces this excellent affordable red blend from the North Fork of Long Island. A second label for Lieb, Bridge Lane is a Bordeaux style blend of 46% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec aged 12 months in French oak barrels.

Dark red cherry colors with intense aromas of balsamic, vanilla, and root beer candy, flavors of ripe raspberry jam, black cherry, cola, and spice with a long, smoky, cedar finish. SRP is $20 and 12.9% alcohol.

Besides the 750 ml bottle, it is also available in 3 liter boxes (equal to 4 bottles), and... get this... a 19.5 liter Keg! which is equal to 26 bottles or 130 glasses. Sounds like a great idea for any big event.

Mustache Vineyards Merlot 2011 Lodi California

From Lodi California this excellent Merlot is a huge bargain at $15 per bottle! It's actually a blend of 87% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Sirah and 2% Petit Verdot and is truly a thing of beauty. After fermentation the grapes were soft pressed and 30% went into French and American oak barrels while 70% went into stainless steel tanks for 11 months prior to bottling.

Warm rose colors the glass, with enormous ripe fruit aromas showing raisins, spices, maple syrup, vanilla, plums and marzipan. On the palate blueberry, blackberry, cola, white pepper and leather. Pretty acidity, nicely integrated and balanced with a long, smooth finish.

Black Bear / Red Chair California Petite Sirah 2010

Rocket ship wine company partners with the Childhood Cancer Society to raise money and awareness for cancer research. 

This beautiful Black Bear / Red Chair is sourced from Paso Robles, Lodi and the Sierra Foothills, using a blend of 81% Petite Sirah, 14% Zinfandel and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon all fermented separately in stainless steel and then combined and aged for 14 months in oak barrels. 

Violet colors the glass with aromas of chocolate, mint, vanilla, eucalyptus and ripe blueberry. The palate shows super ripe cherries, cocoa, cola, white pepper and tobacco along with spice and cassis. Very complex mature flavors with a good long finish and mild tannins rounding out the profile.

$18 bottle price, may be purchased on line from BB/RC, see link above where you can also find a list of restaurants and wine shops where it is available.

G.Washington Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

This remarkable blend of 85.6% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Alexander Valley, 10.4% Petit Verdot from Andrus Island Vineyards in Clarksburg and 4% Malbec from Lodi's Cinque Terre Estate Vineyard, is aged in oak for 18 months. It has deep ruby colors and shows aromas of ripe cherries, tobacco and black fruits, while the palate exudes rich flavors of cassis, dark chocolate and coffee with cedar undertones leaving you with a beautiful acidity and great finish.

G.Washington is truly a gem, especially at am SRP of $26. If you shop around you might find it for a bit less. Available at Windsor Wine Shop in NYC, Jolson's Fine Wines in Astoria and Eaglehouse W&S on LI.

Bargetto Winery

Earlier this month while in Monterey, California I had the pleasure of visiting the Bargetto Winery Tasting Room, right on Cannery Row. Billy Norton was my excellent wine guide and took me through the following 5 wines, 1 white and 4 reds.

Bargetto Viento Vineyard Monterey County Gewerztraminer 2011
Clear straw colors the glass, aromas of apricot, ripe grapefruit, mango and lychee, while the palate is an intense blend of green apple and citrus. Crisp acidity and long thoughtful finish.  $15





Bargetto Monterey County Sangiovese 2012
Aromas of spice, cinnamon, potpourri, vanilla and pine, flavors of dark fruit, licorice, cherries, black pepper and earthy finish.

Bargetto Tuxedo Red 2011
A really pretty blend of Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, and Refosco, with additional contributions from their signature La Vita blend of Sirah, Zinfandel and Merlot. Named after Tuxedo, the Winery's mascot cat, this blend is aged in new & neutral French, American and Hungarian oak for 18-36 months. Aromas of violets, rosewater and barnyard, on the palate cassis, blue fruits and leather, beautiful bright acidity and soft tannins. Enjoyed this immensely, great as an everyday wine. This was one of my favorite bottles and a bargain at $18.

Bargetto Monterey County Petit Sirah 2012
Aged in 30% new and 70% neutral American and French oak for 24 months. Dark fruits, cherries, chocolate covered raisins, toasted oak. Nice balance of chewy tannins and acidity. $22

Bargetto Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Sourced from Peter Martin Ray vineyard, aged in oak for 18 months. Sweet ripe cherries, red and black ripe fruits, blackberry contrasting with a slight vegetal hint of red bell pepper and tobacco. Full bodied, complex and well balanced. $48

Claude Reaut Chateau Bujeau La Grave Bordeaux 2010

From the Bordeaux region of France this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc displays a deep ruby color in the glass, with aromas of violet and dried herbs, set against flavors of cherry, cola, cassis, plums and blueberry. Nicely structured, and good fruit intensity while tannins were soft and well balanced. Sampled this by the glass at Friend of a Farmer in NYC.

Beringer Estate Selections Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Ripe vibrant aromas of concentrated cherries with black fruits and cola, eucalyptus and menthol. Smooth leathery tannins and a juicy acidity weave though the palate of a heavy fruit statement with influences of vanilla, dried herbs, cocoa and cafe latte. Super long finish, SRP about $32.

Ice Age Comes to the Lower East Side via Preserve24

After a four million dollar investment, and a year an a half of hard work, venture partners Terry Goggin and his son, artist Brian Goggin opened Preserve24 last spring. The space is a wondrous work of art, and one of the most expansive concepts for a restaurant I’ve ever seen. 

Serving as a multi-disciplinary art installation, the eye-popping interior utilizes old and new implements for an upcoming 2014 expedition to Greenland. During this expedition, a two-ton iceberg will be extracted from an ice-age glacier, then brought to New York and installed in a reliquary inside the restaurant. 

The owners feel this unique installation of ancient ice is the perfect demonstration of the effect man has had on planetary change, and will serve as a reminder for all of us that the only way we can reverse the damage already done is by becoming aware, sustainable, and most importantly, accountable.

Brian Goggin, along with fellow artist Peter Cole designed the interior with amazing attention to detail, from the wall of ice-cutting tools to ceiling fans made from bakers paddles, as well as oars, and a propeller. Each room is like a three dimensional collage comprised of all sorts of repurposed items like beer tap handles made from piano foot pedals, an 1860 oyster boat reconstructed into a raw bar, and a piano bar made out of...you guessed it…old pianos.  In the kitchen there’s a wood-burning, potbelly stove (affectionately named Pavarotti) where Chef John Parlatore uses local proprietors and purveyors in an effort to operate his kitchen with a minimal carbon footprint. There's so much to take in, that at first it's a bit of a sensory overload, but to my mind it's the perfect excuse to go back again, aside from the food, which is spectacular.

My friends and I whet our appetites with the Sea Witch, a diabolical concoction of vodka, Jalapeno Chartreuse, lime, and passion fruit puree, then shared a mix of mouth watering appetizers including such raw bar favs as oysters, spicy lobster claw and jumbo shrimp, followed by roasted bone marrow with crispy guanciale, and parsley and onion marmalade. Our main course included organic roasted chicken,  a cooked-to-perfection 40 oz porterhouse steak, truffle fries, roasted vegetables, and charred broccoli with cheese sauce, as well as local mushrooms, accompanied perfectly by a bottle of Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Washington State. Dessert was a heavenly, homemade banana and chocolate ice cream topped off with Weavers coffee.

Our conclusion: Preserve 24 truly is a feast for the eyes, for the belly, and for the soul.

Valsan 1831 Noviembre de Finca El Monegrillo 2006, Spain

From Manchuela, Spain where the popular red grape is usually Tempranillo, here is a tasty blend of 60% Shiraz with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 14 months in French oak Allier barrels of varying cooperages, with different degrees of toast and stave sizes.

Deep garnet colors in the glass with aromas of dark fruit, blackberry pie and mint along with a toasted earthy edge. Nice rounded tannins and good acidity along with flavors of caramel, underbrush, anise and pepper. A long mature finish leaves the senses satisfied and wanting more.

End Post Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Paso Robles

Here is another red contributed by my friend Mark S. who over the years has introduced me to many interesting wines.

Dark colors of purple plum paint the glass foretelling the bold aromas of wild dark berries and animal/barnyard, with waves of blackberry and violet. On the palate is a wide range of flavors from coffee and chocolate, to licorice and dried flowers, to black cherry and nuts.

There's a nice balance here of tannins and acidity, so it's no wonder it works so well accompanied by a sampling of London Broil. This one can probably be found for around $18.

Celliers de France Cabernet Sauvignon Pays d'Oc 2011

Pays d'Oc is a traditional "country" wine, in France a step above table wine... but this Cabernet from the southwest is a good everyday wine for around $6.

Dry while showing a certain fruitiness with low acidity and mild tannins. Earthy underbrush aromas are at the core with flavors of cassis, fresh red fruits and rosewater, and a nice smooth surprising finish.

Achaval-Ferrer Quimera 2010 Mendoza Argentina

From Argentina's Lujan de Cayo, Mendoza region and sourced from Diamante, Bella Vista and Mirador vineyards Achaval-Ferrer produces this wonderful Bordeaux style blend of 31% Malbec, 20% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Each variety was initially fermented separately in small tanks before aging for 12 months in new and 1 year old French oak barrels.

Dark ruby colors are a prelude to an expressive bouquet accented by spice and dried flowers, followed by a complex flavor profile showing tobacco, glycerine, red berries, cherries, cola and dried spices. This is a perfect bottle for a special event with family or good friends.

B-Side (from the flip side of) Napa Valley 2011

This lucious Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon is an interesting blend of old and new world red wines. Attractively complex and very fruit forward with ripe tannins while revealing a smooth velvety palate. Dark ruby purple colors the glass, while aromas of blackberry permeate the air, mildly wafting a newly opened cigar box, finally the palate practically yells "ripe bing cherries!", with hints of plums, dark chocolate and coffee. The finish is long with more signs of cocoa and additional blueberries. This is an amazing buy for under $20. Thank you, Mike B. for swinging by for a taste last weekend!