Author: WestchesterWineGuy

Some Last Minute Valentine’s Day Picks

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Yes… I realize posting a blog actually on Valentine’s Day is a little last minute. But what can I tell you, better late than never? Whether it is my skeptical view of these “Hallmark” holidays or just having a little less time these days… it just didn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, any reason to tell the one you love how much they mean to you is absolutely something to celebrate.  But the materialistic hoopla that follows it is not my favorite aspect of any holiday.

What IS my favorite part of Valentine’s Day is that it usually involves a romantic candlelit dinner at home or a quality meal at your favorite restaurant. So while I am sure you already have made your dinner plans for the evening, the least I can do is offer up a couple of good wine recommendations for your celebration.

First things first…Champagne! Typically I would say there is no reason to spend the extra dough on Champagne and just stick with a sparkling from California or a nice Prosecco. However there is something about Valentine’s Day that screams Champagne. Maybe it is the romanticism that comes along with region, or the yeast and acidity that can only be captured by the traditional method of making Champagne, but sometimes there is no substitute. My favorite is always Piper Heidsieck Brut Cuvee ($30-40), although the most romantic bottle of bubbly has to be a vintage Perrier- Jouet Fleur de Champagne ($140-160) if you’re feeling extra saucy!

If you want to stay on the value side and are looking for a good red, then the 2007 Red Splash blend from St. Francis is a perfect way to follow in the Valentine’s Day motif. At around $10-15 a bottle, this is one of the more original concoctions produced in Sonoma. It’s a fun blend that includes Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Zin and a couple of other varietals. Lots of supple fruit and spice makes it a perfect pairing to everything from pizza and pasta to steak and potatoes.

A lot of wine bloggers put the “Bitch” Grenache wine in their top Valentine selections for all of those V-Day haters out there. While that is a great value wine option, I am going to buck the trend and vie for Hope instead of spite. After all, if we can’t find Hope for love on Valentine’s Day then when can we?!? This makes the 2009 Austin Hope Grenache fromPaso Robles the perfect pick for your romantic evening. Not only is it loaded with ripe and concentrated fruit, but the aromas of rose petals (seriously!) will keep you in that Valentine’s Day spirit. Plus it’s perfect for your roasted lamb or veal dish.

However you decide to celebrate and whatever wine you choose for your meal, keep in mind today is for celebrating the ones you love and to make sure you let them know. Flowers, candy, presents… they are all well and good. But without genuine emotion and passion behind them, they just don’t mean the same.

Cheers!

Some Fun Ideas for your Super Bowl Party!

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Check out this post I wrote for the Wine Enthusiast blog page. Some cool and fun additions for the big game blowout you are throwing this Sunday… or ANY Sunday really 😉  Just click on the link below.

GO GMEN!!!

http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/2012/02/01/top-10-necessary-accessories-for-the-big-game/

Crabtree’s Kittle House Proves Again Why it is One of Westchester’s Finest!

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Been to Crabtree’s Kittle House lately? If not… shame on you! But if so then I am sure, much like myself, you are already anxiously anticipating your next visit. Tucked away at the end of a windy and tree lined country road in Chappaqua lies the Mecca of Westchester dining. The old world charm of this establishment, that was originally a barn back in 1790, is perfectly suited for the fantastic dining exprience that awaits you inside.

Last week a large group of us had the pleasure of sitting in the wine cellar dining area. This is a glass enclosed extension off of the 65,000 bottle (not a misprint) wine cellar. Needless to say it is one of the more impressive collections not only in Westchester, but in the world!

Glenn Vogt, Wine Director and GM, took us on a tour of this infamous cellar and it’s all you can do to keep your hands in your pockets. Staring down the barrel of a 1997 Shafer Hillside Select or a 2001 Harlan can be somewhat intimidating and invigorating all at once. Having worked under wine guru Kevin Zraly at the Windows of the World just before 9/11, Glenn is unbelievably knowledgeable about the collection, and a hell of a nice guy to boot.

We started with an array of appetizers ranging from the Jumbo Diver Sea Scallops with Black Truffles to the Big Eye Tuna Sushi Pizzetta…however the Escargot really stole the show for the first course. We paired that with a 1999 Saintsbury Carneros Chardonnay and it was simply delectable. That is another great thing about the wine collection. They have some rare back vintage wines that are very reasonable (that bottle was $47), and because the cellar is properly temperature controlled you can be confident that the wine has held up over the years.

For my main course I got a little adventurous and went with a Venison Loin over a Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash and Applewood Smoked Bacon hash…ummm, yeah it kicked some serious ass! However a colleague ordered the Roast Berkshire Pork Chop with a Potato Puree and Glazed Onions in a Blood Orange Reduction and that seemed to be the show stopper of the night. Of course the Sirloin looked great also, but with the culinary genius available at the Kittle house, the steak seems a little too easy.

We were lucky enough to have someone bring some fantastic wines for the evening (thanks Tom!) including the 2008 Kobalt and Noemi Napa Cabs. However the real treat came after we finished our meal and our host decided he wanted to venture into the cellar for something REALLY special. As per Glenn’s recommendation we went with a 2001 Merus Napa Cab, which scored 96 Pts by Robert Parker. Again, not that scores mean everything… but RP was dead on with this one!! It was a truly intricate, elegant and memorable wine from one of the best vintages in Napa. Needless to say, this was one of those meals that didn’t suck.

Granted, the Kittle House is not an inexpensive restaurant by any means. However when you consider how much your standard steakhouse (Ruth’s Chris or Morton’s) can cost for a meal, the Kittle House can actually be a lot less expensive if you order properly. Moreover if you take some advice from the knowledgeable “wine guys” on staff they are quite helpful in finding some of those older vintage value wines that are just really fun to drink. So if you are looking for somewhere special to go for your next big occasion, be certain not to overlook the Kittle House in Chappaqua.

You can also sample some of their dishes at the upcoming Westchester Culinary Experience…more details to come on that.

Cheers!

A Little Press for the WWG!

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Just thought I would share a nice little write up that was done about me for Wine Enthusiast that you can view by clicking on the link below. As you may or may not know I manage a very talented team of Wine Storage Consultants at Wine Enthusiast and double as an in house Wine Specialist. So if you ever have any questions regarding anything related to wine or wine storage feel free to comment here or email me directly.

Enjoy!

http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/2012/01/19/meet-our-wine-storage-consultants-marshall-tilden/

Some New Wines to Try in the New Year

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So here we are in 2012. I’ll be honest; I’m not much of a New Year’s resolution kinda guy. However I do think about things that I would like to do in the year to come to try and better myself and expand my horizons. With the end of the world just around the corner, one thing I am planning on doing is focusing on trying some new and obscure varietals. I love finding those random new wines that can become a seasonal or perennial favorite of mine.

For example, I have recently been enamored with the wines of Campania in Italy, and more specifically the ones from the Taurasi DOCG which is an appellation within Campania. Aglianico is the main grape varietal used in the region and helps to produce big, concentrated and complex red wines. They make wonderful pairings with beef or veal dishes, as they can be somewhat tannic when they are young with lots of dark fruit character. My favorite right now is the 2007 Donnachiara Taurisi. It’s not cheap running in the $30 range, but man is it impressive!

While almost every wine drinker in the world is familiar with Cabernet Sauvignon, its neglected distant cousin Cabernet Franc can influence some pretty exciting wines as well. While it is mostly used as a blending grape in Bordeaux, more US wineries are using it as the feature grape variety in their wines. In warmer areas like California and Washington State it can mimic a lot of the Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics leading to big, fruit driven and tannic wines. However the cooler climates of the Loire Valley in France and New York lead to lighter wines with some herbal notes and bright acidity making them inherently food friendly. A few favorites of mine are the 2010 Ironstone Cabernet Franc California ($8-12), the2006 Pellegrini Cabernet Franc Long Island ($14-18) and the2009 Owen Roe “Rosa Mystica”  Cabernet Franc  Columbia Valley, WA  ($35-40).

The Rkatsiteli grape is one of the oldest known to man. It produces wines similar to a Riesling or Gewurztraminer which I have been diggin’ lately, especially ones from the Finger Lakes Region in Upstate NY. Someone turned me on to the Dr. Konstantin Frank 2009 Rkatsiteli ($14-20) about a week ago and I was pretty surprised how pleasant it was. It has this aroma of fresh flowers and herbs followed by a mouth full of clean fruit and crisp acidity. So now I am on the look out for more of these Rkatsiteli wines, specifically from the Finger Lakes, in hopes they are all this tasty!

Remember, there are literally hundreds of different grape varieties that are out there and they all will show different characteristics when grown in different regions. So don’t be afraid to try something new to see what floats your boat. After all, even if it is not your new favorite wine you can probably still catch a pretty good buzz from it 😉

Cheers!

Seven Wines to pair with the Feast of Seven Fishes

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The holiday shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday has come and gone, and everyone is probably a little lighter in the wallets because of it. So now that most of the materialistic aspects of Christmas are in our rearview mirror, its time to focus on what is truly important this season…family and friends coming together to celebrate this most joyous holiday. My family partakes in the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve, and it is always one of the most memorable meals of the year. I generally have the honor (and the pressure) of selecting the wines to go with the meal…talk about stress!

The traditional fishes that are served in the Feast are Calamari, Scungilli, Baccala, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels and some type of big fish (usually a snapper, sea trout, tuna or large shellfish like lobster or crab). However over the years the rules on what fish to serve have really loosened up, so these are by no means set in stone. What’s really fun about this meal is the fish can be prepared in so many different ways that it leaves your wine options wide open

Most of our dishes are prepared in a red marinara sauce (even the lobster tails and crab legs!) so I usually load up on reds for the main course, with some whites for the apps. But I know many families do the complete opposite and use a lot of white wine and cream sauces that lend themselves to a night of whites. Although if there are any old school Italian men attending your Christmas Eve dinner, I would highly recommend having some reds on hand…otherwise you may be sleeping with the seven fishes!

So below I have compiled a list of seven wines that are no brainer pairings for your Christmas Eve Fish Fest. There are literally hundreds of wines that will compliment this meal, but these seven wines are what I believe to be the best options based on various varietals, style and budget.

WHITES

Durand Reserve Sancerre 2014 ($20-25)  –  This is a wine that overdelivers on quality vs. price each vintage. Piercing acidity and a flinty minerality make it ideal for those chilled seafood dishes/

Fox Run Reserve Chardonnay Seneca Lake, Kaiser Vineyard 2012 ($15-20)  –  Lovely balance of acidity, green apple fruit, banana and toasty oak lends itself perfectly as a lobster companion.

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier California 2014 ($10-15)  –  Loaded with citrus and lemon lime flavors, perfect for those white wine clam sauce dishes. One of my first true white wine loves.

REDS

Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva ($25-30)  – I was pretty shocked at the depth and complexity of this wine. Dried, sour cherry with smoke, earth and toasted almond notes. The acidity will drive through all of those red based sauces.

Hanna Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($20-30)  –  Simply put… I just love this wine. Dense and vibrant red and black cherry fruit with hazelnut and vanilla notes and a plush mouthfeel. A big boy with a flash of elegance.

Tormaresca Neprica, IGT Puglia 2013 ($8-12)  –  This is a bright red wine with lots of spicy red fruit and floral aromas. If you’re looking for that solid $10 bottle of red, this is it.

Villa Mt. Eden Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley 2009 ($12-15) – A few years of bottle age has done some wonderful things to this affordable Pinot. Soft tannins, vibrant acidity and mature fruit gives this some serious depth and structure.

BONUS WINE

Gaja Promis, Toscana 2012 ($50-60)

Angelo Gaja is infamous for his Barolo and Barbaresco wines that usually fetch about $200-400 a bottle. This Super Tuscan gives you a chance to sample some of his outstanding juice at a relative value. Granted $60 is still a good chunk of change to spend on a bottle, but this is a pretty special wine that is sure to enhance your Christmas Feast.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Check out WWG in the Latest Wall Street Journal Article!

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Check out this very cool article by Lettie Teague from the Wall Street Journal with some insight and quotes from the Westchester Wine Guy (aka Marshall Tilden III)! While wine and wine storage are always the top priorities, during the holiday season the wine accessory business is huge, especially for the industry giant that is Wine Enthusiast. So if you are looking for some gift ideas for the holidays, or just a good read, click on the link below. Cheers!

http://on.wsj.com/rIczm7

Duckhorn offers something for everyone’s taste and budget!

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While the movie Sideways rejuvenated the wine world about 7 years ago, there was one mild casualty…Merlot. It suffered a damaging blow that it may never fully recover from in the US. Miles’s drunken and aggressive proclamation that he will not drink any f*&#in’ Merlot was heard around the country and taken to heart. However the sentiment has started to change over the last few years and Americans are beginning to embrace one of the more prolific grapes utilized in almost all the US wine producing regions. Of all the Merlot that is out there, no one does it consistently better vintage after vintage than Duckhorn Vineyards.

While Duckhorn is most recognizable for its Merlot, it’s their Cabernet Sauvignon that has been gaining some stature over the past several vintages, and for good reason. The 2005 Estate Napa Cab was one of my favorite wines from that entire vintage and the 2007 Napa Cab just received 95 points from Wine Enthusiast. Not that professional ratings mean everything… but that is a big freakin’ score! Even more impressive to me was the 2008 vintage I just had the pleasure of sampling. Truly a well rounded and wonderful wine to drink now, or to lay down in your cellar to age for a few years.

Granted, these Duckhorn Cabs and Merlots are not cheap. So if you are looking to enjoy some of their juice on a more affordable level, then the Decoy line of wines may be up your alley. These are a little bit more approachable (meaning they are ready to drink without aging and are typically fruit forward) and are available in Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel and the original Decoy Red Blend (my personal favorite). All of these Decoy wines will be around $20 or less and offer tremendous value as they are made in a similar style as Duckhorn’s higher end wines.

For the Pinot lovers, Duckhorn’s Goldeneye Vineyards are producing some of the best Pinots to come out of the Anderson Valley. Goldeneye Pinot comes from four different vineyards and offers premium wines with the quality, accolades and unfortunately the price tag to back it up. And for all the ZinHeads, don’t overlook the Paraduxx Red Blend.  This big and spicy Zin based Napa blend has a healthy dose of Cab added and is a cult favorite in certain circles. For a moderately priced Napa red, this wine can hold up to some of the top tier Zins that cost twice the price…and makes for a great steakhouse wine!

Here’s the bottom line: when you have a hankering for some quality CA juice and are looking to spend $20, $100 or somewhere in between, Duckhorn has all the bases covered. Their style is consistent and recognizable throughout their various vineyards and vintages, which allows Duckhorn fans to purchase these wines with a high degree of confidence that they will be pleased with their selection. Lastly, Duckhorn has always been, and continues to be, a high class organization and a staple in the Napa Valley. So if you find yourself in that neck of the woods, be sure to head over there for a visit and tasting… just tell ’em the Westchester Wine Guy sent ya 😉

Thanksgiving Wine Selections!

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It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but that is indeed the case. There’s a lot of hype out there on what wines you should serve with your Thanksgiving meal. Some wine retailers will use this as an excuse to move some wines that have been sitting around too long in their inventory or as an opportunity to make a “profound” statement on how some obscure varietal makes the best pairing with your turkey. WWG is here to give it to you straight about what wines to load up on for Thanksgiving.

First things first, if you’re going to serve white wine it really should be Riesling. I know all the Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc fans are rolling their eyes right now, but it’s the truth. Nothing lends itself to the flavors and texture of a bird the way Riesling does. Just because its Riesling doesn’t mean it has to be sweet. Look for any German Riesling from the Mosel area with the term trocken (meaning dry) on the label to avoid the sweet stuff. Riesling also works wonderfully for all the pre game appetizers before the feast begins. Below are my 2 choices, one as the value pick and the other for the big spenders.

Value (Under $15) – 2010 Pacific Rim Riesling Columbia Valley,WA–                      #1 Wine Enthusiast Best Buy of the Year… can find it under $10 at certain locations.

Top Choice – 2009 J.J. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese –   With the grapes picked a little later in the season, this will be mildly sweet and extremely food friendly. Should run around $35-40.

The two types of red wine I would recommend serving on Thanksgiving are Pinot Noir and Zinfandel…NOT the pink stuff. Pinot always makes a fantastic accompaniment to any poultry dish, with turkey possibly being its most desirable mate. The cherry fruit and acidic backbone allow the food to take center stage while accentuating all the spices and nuances. If you are going all red for the day, you may want to serve the Pinot with the apps and move on to the bigger Zins for the main course. Check out my 2 picks below.

Value (Under $15) – 2009 Castle Rock Pinot Noir Mendocino County, CA – 2009 was an epic vintage in all of CA for Pinot…tough to beat this one for the price.

Top Choice – 2009 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir Reserve  Russian River Valley, CA – Rodney Strong is one of my favorite Vineyards in all of CA, and this is one of the best efforts they have put out… EVER!! Available for around $35 and worth every penny.

Last but certainly not least is the classic Thanksgiving pairing… Zinfandel. All you ZinHeads out there already know this, but the berry fruit and spice of Zin allow all the wonderful flavors of your juicy bird, mashed potatoes, sausage stuffing and all the trimmings to gain complexity and intensity over the course of the meal. The great part about Zin is there are A LOT of quality options out there for around $15-20. Just make sure it is from Dry Creek, Napa, Amador or Lodi and it’s hard to go wrong. Top picks are:

Value (Under $15) – 2007 Terra D’Oro Zinfandel Amador, CA – Black fruit, chocolate and gripping yet smooth tannins make this my favorite value Zin of the Year!

Top Choice – The Prisoner by Orin Swift (Any Vintage)  Napa Valley, CA– Year in and year out this Zinfandel blend never disappoints. With a good amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and a couple of other varietals blended in, it combines power and finesse. Just be sure to let it breathe about an hour before serving.  It’s widely available anywhere from $27-35.

My final comment is this: If you don’t like Riesling, Pinot Noir or Zinfandel then you should ignore this entire post. Thanksgiving is a holiday to be shared with loved ones, to give thanks for all that you have and to enjoy a hearty (possibly hedonistic) meal. So drink whatever makes you happy alongside that overstuffed bird and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!