Mano a Vino - Eat, Drink, Write - Great Wine, Food, Beer and Places

A California Chardonnay I really liked, why? Because it drank like a fine Meursault, Cameron Hughes Chardonnay Lot 273 Monterey County Arroyo Seco

Enjoyed this lovely Chardonnay from California with a nice home cooked dinner out of Dreena Burton's great cookbook "eat,drink & be vegan."

As we tasted this wine Diana's eyes popped wide open with a big smile across her face and I knew why. She did not believe it was California Chardonnay saying, "I don't usually like California Chardonnay." She happens to love French Chardonnay especially when it comes from Meursault in Burgundy, where they make Chardonnay as nature intended. No heavy Oak. We have had Mersault on many special occasions, a lot of cherished memories.

This beauty won 90 points from Wine Spectator and first came on the market in the mid $20's. Wine competition being what it is, a buyers market, you can now find this most excellent wine for close to $12. Best place to try is www.winechateau.com

Chinese and Chenin Blanc a perfect pairing with two perfect Vouvrays

Met friends for another fabulous dinner at Chef Jon's in Whippany. Love that place. We had Peking Duck this time and while not quite as good as some of the places in Chinatown, NYC it was still right up there. The other dishes we had were the smoked fish appetizer, scallion pancakes, rice cakes with pork this time and stir-fried eggplant in a rich brown garlic sauce. All delicious.

My friend Marc and I usually talk before going out to strategize our wine for dinner. This time we didn't. To our surprise and satisfaction we both brought Vouvray which when made to be semi-dry is just perfect with Asian cuisine.

Durigutti Malbec a tasting of their Classico, Riserva and Familia $15-$70 at a showing of the documentary, Boom Varietal: The Rise of Malbec

We went to screening of the great documentary - Boom Varietal: The Rise of Malbec, it was an entrant in the New Jersey Film Festival which is hosted at Rutgers University. At the screening we also had the opportunity to meet one of the winemakers featured in the film, Hector Durigutti and to taste four of the wonderful wines that he and his brother produce in Mendoza, Argentina.

The film, produced by Rage Productions of Bend, Oregon, was excellent and truly portrayed the passion and struggles behind the great Malbec wines we so enjoy here in North America.

We tasted four Durigutti wines. They were all exceptional but each in a different way. 

Fattori Soave Runcaris - A Beautiful Italian Vino Bianco

I love Soave. And this Soave I really like a lot. I was not surprised to see that it was a T. Edwards wine, they happen to be one of my favorite importers.

We have written a lot about Soave and I hope, if you have not tried one yet you will have a glass soon. I especially like this Soave because in addition to the typical bright tropical fruit with an almondy or straw background it has a delcious creaminess that is so nice. And it is very well priced.

I've had two bottles now, one with a delicious pasta at Giotto and the other with a dinner at home.

Shochu - The Exciting Spirit From Japan

I've heard of Shochu, the national spirit of Japan, but had never tasted it, until today. Apparently it is becoming all the rage in better Japanese restaurants and outstanding cocktail bars in metropolitan America. 

At a fabulous event held at the lovely Astor Center in downtown Manhattan 16 celebrated Shochu producers showed their stuff, Shochu neat and Shochu cocktails created by Junior Merino, The Liquid Chef, it was amazing.

Happy Valentines Day - Drink Some Sparkling Pink

I liked this one, Cantine Riondo "Pink" Prosecco Raboso

"Transparent and very pretty pale rosy pink, frizzante but not fully sparkling; frothy bubbles quickly fall back in the glass. Delicate red berries and fresh herbs on the nose; crisp, prickly and fresh on the palate," Wine Lovers

Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni, Why This Wine Really Makes Me Smile

What makes some wines really stand out from the crowd, how do they become so special that you want to enjoy them again and again?

I've come to learn that the most important factor in accomplishing an exceptional wine is in the wine's closeness to nature. This is often conveyed as the concept of terrior, the natural qualities of the place were a wine is cultivated and made. For dedicated winemakers this means finding the best grapes and the best growing and harvesting techniques for the soil, sun, wind and climate that nature renders to their chosen land.

I recall what one very famous French winemaker told me when I asked their secret to success, he said "we just try and get out of nature's way." This may be true in some idyllic plots in Burgundy, but in many other fertile yet less perfect wine places of the world it takes a bit more effort.

Creating a extrodinary wine can take generations as many second or third generation vintners will tell you. But what if you bring 30 generations to the table, or should I say the vineyard. That is what the Frescobaldi family brings, decades of experience and a passionate love for producing wine with natural balance that is true to their lands. These qualities are richly present in this wine that really makes me smile.

Fattori Vecchie Scuole - Sauvignon delle Venezie IGT at a Super Bowl Party One

Friends who know me well would not be surprised by this story, I do love people and enjoy socializing a lot. I also delight in spending time alone. So when I had the chance to have a dinner sans guests, on the most partied night of the year second only to New Years Eve, I was happy.

I had this great bottle of wine to enjoy from a great vineyard called Fattori in Delle Venezie near Verona. A beautiful Italian Sauvignon. I made a delicious dinner to accompany it. And fast forwarded through the big game.