This is a great wine at a great price. Very few clients are buying $30-40 Zins these days, in my opinion is that Zin shouldn’t be that expensive. It is a drinking wine not a trophy wine, anyway the Ridge Zinfandel East Bench 2009 resides in the rarified air of the Zin-o-shere along with the pantheon of Zin gods at well under $30 so mortals can spring for it now and then.

Come by this weekend and taste four gutsy Australian reds and a super dry, crisp riesling from 100 year old vines. Starting at 3pm, the tasting is free and the tasting wines are deeply discounted.

Cotes du Rhones are such a a great expression of southern French Grenache and Syrah as well as the terroir they come from. They show the warm, ripe berry flavors from well ripened grapes infused with herby, brushy scents reminiscent of garrigue and the mineral qualities of crushed stone. We currently have a nice stable of Cotes du Rhones and are featuring four great ones from; Saint Cosme based in Gigondas, Perrin of Beaucastel fame as well as the  smaller producers Gilles Ferran and the delicious wine of up and coming Vasco Perdigao of Domaine Chamfort. I’m writing about Rhone wines now, at the end of October because we just had a cool snap, my blood has not thickened up yet for winter and I’m thinking about comfort food and wine. For everyday drinking and eating these are great.  Have them with dishes like Cassoulet, pot roast, beef bourgignon, Coq au vin, or any hearty, meaty stew. They have ripe berry flavors balanced with good natural acidity and tannin to cut through the richness of the food.  About our featured Rhone producers: Just follow the links

Louis Barruol of St. Cosme est’d 1570	The Perrin Family	Gilles & Daniel Ferran	Vasco Perdigao of Dom. Chamfort

Vasco’s dog

Coming this week, on sale, limited availability

My notes:

Color: Saturated purple, very opaque medium viscosity

Nose: Lovely ripe red fruits, raspberry, cherry, blackberry.

Palate: lots of mineral and herb on the palate with good acidity. Not as fat and fruity as the nose leads you

to expect. lots of intense flavors up front and in the midpalate, falls off a bit in the finish but very satisfying.  Nice balance, can drink or hold a few years, very delicious right now.

Check Out The Line Up

…. Spanish Monastrell, Paso Robles Chard and a top rated Malbec blend form Argentina. Its a mish mash of epic proportions. stop by 3 to 6pm, free tasting, free advice and really great prices on the tasting wines.
Cheers

at the Port Jeff Village Center

Don’t miss it, Saturday Noon to 4pm, the Port Jeff Chamber of Commerce puts on a huge walk around food and wine tasting. Sample dishes from all the local restaurants plus local wineries, breweries and Mora’s Fines will be there with 50 wines!  call the Chamber for tix at 631-473- 1414  $35 in advance, $40 at the door

Cliff Rames

Croatia of course. This region has a long history of fine winemaking temporarily interrupted by communism but they are back on track. With the pretense of visiting my mom and donating to a good cause (MS Society) I went to Manhattan this Monday to learn a little about Croatian wines. I learned a lot. Two of our good customers, Rebecca Van der Bogart and Haley Olin hosted a fundraiser around the theme of a Croatian wine tasting, featuring Cliff Rames, sommelier at The Plaza and Croatian wine expert as well as Daniel Pedesich who imports Croatian wines. The night was financially successful for the MS Society, my mom had a good time and I really enjoyed these wines. I’m not used to going to wine tastings and being so completely unfamiliar with the wines. Actually the wine helped my pronunciation of some of the names, a little unintentional slurring gets you through. Here are a few thoughts about the seven wines chosen. All these wines were definitely cool climate more affected by the continent than the Mediterranean although some regions are in land and the Dalmation coast is on the Adriatic/Mediterranena. Overall they had a wonderful delicacy. Pricewise the top red is about $60 (Saints Hills Plavac Mali) all the rest were $20-25, a little pricey but understanable for limited production wines like these. But very distinctive and well made wines. Nota klunker in the bunch.

The Whites:
1.Matosevic Malvasia Istriana
Winery:Matosevic best label of whites
light crisp and bright like a refined gruner white flowers hint of green apple hint of white pepper and slighty flinty quality nice persistent finish
2.Coronica Malvasia Istriana
Same grape different terroir darker color a bit riper more fruit less spice and mineral a bit of unripe pineapple Very nice a little rounder than the Matosevic.
3.Karaman Dubrovnic Malvasia The Dubrovnic Malvasia is a totally different variety from Malvasia though similar profile Sweet nose very ripe seems more apple and pear than citrus flavors, like a ripe New Zealand Sauv Blanc with more finesse.
4.Bibich G.6 Grenache great label Grenache was introduced post WWII to produce big quantities of wine isn’t central planning great? Very nice wine lots of soft raspberry flavors very easy drinking I think of Grenache coming from a hotter climate though, may not be the best terroir for this grape

The Reds:
5.Dingac Vinarija Peljesac Plavac Mali lame donkey label it is also not from the better Dingac slope (as its name implies) but rather from the Peljesac valley aged in large ovals. Overall it was pretty good with spicy notes and some nice fruit flavors. A touch pruny
6.Bibich Shiraz great label same story as Grenache also soft and fresh and fruit driven
7.Saints Hills Plavac Mali The Best, Coolest label best of show (anchor label) subtle hints of herb and weed delicate structure light color lots of of bright fruit (cherry red raspberry)
Cardamom cinnamon hints of oak and cedar , sees 12 months French oak blended by Rolland very good Sourced from the Dinjac slope about 45 degree slope the real deal.

No jelly this weekend Saturday Oct 15th starting at 3pm. We will have a great line up of highly rated wines from Portugese Port to Argentine Torrontes. Don’t miss it

A Spanish Wine Dinner with Jorge Ordoñez of Jorge Ordoñez Selections At Restaurant Mirabelle Monday, November 14^th, 2011  7:00pm to 10:00pm

Please enjoy this rare opportunity to meet and dine with Jorge Ordonez whose vision for Spanish wine in America has led to a quality revolution and a renaissance in Spanish wine making and the cultivation of Spanish wine regions.  The latest vintages are matched to a dinner created by the celebrated Chef Guy Reuge of Restaurant Mirabelle for a night to remember. Don’t miss it, reservations are required, please order at the shop, by phone (631) 941-4458 or online.

Buen Provecho!

Menu

Prix Fixe $84.99 + tax and gratuity

Bubbly: Marques de Gelidas Brut Reserva 2007 with passed hors d’oeuvres:
-Honey glazed pearl onion, Idiazabal cheese
-Black mission fig compote, Monye Enebro on toast
-White bean Puree, crisp Serrano ham
-Oxtail empanada
-Panisses, harrisa mayonnaise

White: Jorge Ordoñez & Co. Botani Moscatel 2010 (91 erobertparker.com) with Basques fries, crispy shrimp

White: Bodegas Avanthia Godello 2010 (93 Wine Spectator) with Chestnut cream

Red: Bodegas Volver Volver 2009 (92 erobertparker.com) with Caramelized scallop gazpacho

Red: Tarima Hill 2009 (Alicante) with Mushroom “Meat Balls”, celery-cheese remoulade

Red: Bodegas Avanthia Mencia 2009 (92 Wine Advocate) with Butterflied quail Elcano

Red: Emilo Mora Malleolus Sanchomartin 2007 (96 Wine Advocate) with Loin of Lamb

Red: Alto Moncayo 2008 (95+ Wine Advocate for the 2007) with
Seared skirt steak, bean and chorizo ragout

Dessert: Jorge Ordoñez & Co. “Victoria” Moscatel 2007 (92 Wine Advocate) with Key lime pie