Monsoon weather in NYC calls for a nice night in with the dog, Haggen-Dazs Dulce de Leche, and a cool bottle of Prosecco.

I was going to tell you guys about the psychotic date I had yesterday but I’m tired, tired from a long day, tired from a long week, and tired of dating bi-sexual and NYC woman with obvious mental disorders and no health insurance.  I may have to program speed dial for 911 before I go on a date again. *sigh*

Name: Gran Resee

Producer: Lisabella

Vintage: n/a

Country: Italy

Region: Vento

Where Purchased: n/a

Price: $9.99

Review:  Lisabella’s Prosecco has a nice green apple and lemon nose, light body and leans more toward the drier side also called secco.  Prosecco is a great wine to sip without food (apertif).  I’m pairing mine with a a red pepper sauce pasta but feel free to drink it alone while watching Season 4 of Ally McBeal…alone *sigh*

Cheers

My Beaujolais wine goblets don’t get enough play so I stopped by my local wine shop to pick up a bottle of Beaujolais wine.  Although there are plenty of producers of Beaujolais I went with the popular Georges Debeuf label.

First off Beaujolais is an area in (center) east France.  There are thousands of vintners in this territory that develop the Gamay grape used for Beaujolais but only a few handfuls of negociants – a French term for a wine buyer that purchases and produces the grapes of smaller winemakers and then sells the wine under their own name/label.  Bouchard Pere et Fils, Louis Jadot, and Georges Duboeuf are three of the more well known negociants.  Beaujolais Nouveau is well-known in the for it’s yearly hyped ad campaign commemorating the vintage’s harvest, and release of Beaujolais Nouveau on November 15th, a successful marking scheme popularized by Georges Duboeuf  pictured below. 

Beaujolais is located just north of Lyon in France:

One other note about Beaujolais.  There are 3 classifications for Beaujolais wines:

1. Beaujolais AOC (must have at least 9% alcohol)
2. Beaujolais-Villages AOC (requires at least 10% alcohol and comes from 40 or so villages)
3. Cru Beaujolais <—the real good stuff (best soil and location)

I may touch more on Beaujolais appellations at a later date.  As for the 2008 I purchased tonight…

Name: Beaujolais Nouveau

Producer: Georges Dubouef

Vintage: 2008

Country: France

Region: Beaujolis-Villages

Where Purchased: n/a

Price: $19.99

The 08 Dubouef Beaujolais Nouveau has a pleasant cherry and citrus nose, and light red fruit palate.  Serve slightly chilled and drink alone or with fowl, or Thanksgiving dinner type staples like pineapple ham, or spicy beef.

There’s a Beaujolais app for Iphone and Android you guys may want to check out as well.  It gives a map of the region, recommends different Beaujolais wines, and events in the area if you’re ever in town.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zevisit.ZeVisitBeaujolais&hl=en

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wines-of-beaujolais/id447070386?mt=8

Cheers!

After a little Google’ing I figured both at sub a $20 price-point and mid 80s point rating(out of 100) general consensus among the wine gods (Decanter, Wine Enthusiasts, and Wine Spectator magazines) the bottles wouldn’t be missed. And, as they say one man’s trash is another man’s booze for the evening.

Name: Rupicolo

Producer: Rivera

Vintage: 2007

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Where Purchased: Ha! That’s funny!

Price: n/a

Name: Pinot Noir

Producer: Murphy-Goode

Vintage: 2008

Country: United States

Region: California

Where Purchased: Ha! That’s still funny!

Price: n/a

Murphy-Goode’s 2007′s Pinot Noir has some age on it and as such I expected softer tannins than whats was present to me. Although i found the blackberry and matchbox aroma quite pleasant it didn’t makeup for this tart and overall unbalanced wine. Maybe Murphy-Goode’s 2007′s Pinot Noir shows more promise paired with a meal but as an aperitif i couldn’t recommend it even if you enjoy dry red wines.

Note, I started of tasting the Pinot Noir. In hindsight this probably wasn’t a great idea because this varietal is quite potent; either that or I’m losing my tolerance. Either way I never got around to the Rupicolo. I’ll have to save that for midweek since I have a 7 miler tomorrow. Until then!

Cheers!

Ciao Amichi!

So Thursday I went in for blepharoplasty.  I’ve actually been planning it for a few months but didn’t know if I wanted to write about it on my blog.  I was still pretty indifferent the week of the surgery so unfortunately I’m writing this post op, but I was scared shitless this week after reading so pretty horrid stories of people on realself.com that ended up with lazy or droopy eyes (which I’m sure isn’t becoming on most people)!  Here’s a before photo:

The surgery went pretty quickly.  All I remember is asking a cute nurse if she’d be willing to wear a pair of 5-inch stilettos during my procedure, and the doctor saying he was going to give me “3 cc’s” of something, and I passed out seconds later.

When I woke up the surgery was over and the nurse wasn’t in stilettos.  Anyway, because of said surgery I’ve had to shy away from wine for the past week.  I’m not even sure if I should have it now.  For all I know this glass of Chianti Classico could rupture something or even make me go blind.  But if a something was going to result in life-altering blindness it would be fitting to be a Chianti right?

Here’s a 6 days later postop shot:

…and now for the important stuff

Name: Chianti Classico

Producer: Madrigal

Vintage: 2008

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Where Purchased: Wine Exchange (Lower Manhattan, New York City)

Price: $12.99

Unsurprisingly I enjoyed this Chianti’s strawberry and plum palate. It’s blackberry and oak nose greets pleasantly. Chanti typically pairs well with foods like pizza, Lasagna, Chicken, Veal, or a few pieces of provolone cheese. If you get a chance to try this Chianti drop me a line and let me know what you thought of it.

Cheers! 

Although i live in a city with arguable some of the best restaurants in the world I typically opt to cook at home than to go out to eat; this way I’m guaranteed to be served out the appropriate wine goblet for my varietal, I’m not forced to have a conversation over erroneous dining music, and equally avoiding Hipsters, Wall Streetdouchbags, and bridge and tunnel folks which has the tendency to spoil my appetite..

(rant over)

Some of my favorite grapes of the season are of the lighter-bodieded variety and dare i say sweeeter  Spring is a time to let all of your wine hangups hang out.  Save the the ridged pretentiousness once Daylight-Savings time kicks in again.  Anyways here’s a few of my favorite grapes:

• Lambrusco
• Pinot Grigio
• Pinot Noir
• Zinfandel
• Champagne

Lambrusco

Now, lets breakdown these grape varieties,beginning with Lambrusco.  Lambrusco is a red grape from  Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy in North-east Italy.  Lambrusco, the grape, and wine by the same name is  fermented in a variety of styles from secco (dry), semisecco (off dry, medium sweet) to sweet.  The drier Lambruscos pair well with fatty foods like burgers, catfish, and meatloaf.  The sweeter Lambruscos are enjoyable as an aperitif.

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio also called Pinot Gris is  another Spring/Summer time favorite and great go-to wine for fish and other seafood or if you’re like me and don’t eat animals you’ll find some success pairing Pinot Grigio with brussel sprouts, Greek salad and Naan.. Typical characteristics of a Pinot Grigio include a gold color, dry, crisp , and light-bodied white wine.

Pinot Noir is a crazy looking grape (almost cartoonish) and my go-to wine when im hanging out with my beer friends.  Rather that castigating the bartender, or waiter on the wine list. I’ve found that even the shittiest of NYC dive bars and chain sportsbars carry Pinot Noir and although you won’t find top notch Burgundy, France and  Willamette Valley (Oregon, United States) Pinot Noirs most are light to medium-bodied, and versatile with many different foods.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel has come through for me many times when I’m in a bunch and forgot to pick up wine at a repeatable wine shop.  Zinfandel can be found in even the most questionable grocery stores, Wallmart, Target and drugstores like Rite Aid, and Duane Reade (but don’t ever shop at Walmart I beg of you).  As you’d expect these aren’t top notch Zinfandels but I have yet to find a Zinfandel not palatable.

Zinfandel made its way to the U.S (California) in the early 19th Century by way of  Puglia, Italy and Croatia where the grape originated.  Zinfandel grapes are used to produce reds, and whites wines that are more of a rose in color. Characteristics of Zinfandel vary from robust and dry in the cooler regions to fruity and sweet in the warmer regions.  Red Zinfandel pairs well with typical American dishes like burgers, and steak while White Zinfandel will find successful pairings with fish, pasta, and pork.

Champagne

Champagne, the ultimate celebratory wine whose ceremonious inanity, dates back to 17th century Europe when it was first used to celebrate the anointment of French kings. Champagne is an area in North-east France.  Only sparkling white wine from this region is considered Champagne.  Principal grapes of Champagne are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier (show below). I like Champagne for any occasion but tend to buy it when im hanging out at home or at family and/or friends houses; It’s a great conversation wine.  Now here’s a more facts about about Champagne you can impress your friends with:

I hope this blog post helps guide you further to the relm of wine snobbery.  If you get a chance to try any of the grapes and a particular producer tickles your fancy leave me a message  with the name or photo of the wine label so I can try it out too; I’m always looking for another reason to drink.  Happy Spring!

Today was the perfect storm of a productive day at work, the realization you have an very adorable dog, the perfect Frank Sinatra playlist, a great deal on a gently used kitchen island and a Chianti Classico.

From the time I walked in the door of my apartment I was in this euphoric state.  Chanti (Classico) does this on it’s own, but a look at my lovely little island just brought a wide warm smile on my face.

It’s best to take advantage of moments like this and do something creative and I fished a few ingredientc from my fridge and threw together a nice little meal to go with my treasure Chianti Classico:

And as for our featured wine:

Excuse the Instragrammed photo. I’m having a love affair with this Iphone 5 camera (the phone itself not so much)

Name: Chianti Classico

Producer: Tomaiolo

Vintage: 2006

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Where Purchased: Wine Exchange (Lower Manhattan, New York City)

Price: $17.99

My Chianti bias has been well documented in this blog, with that said I very much enjoyed this wine.  According to Wine Spectator’s Wine Ratings Tuscany’s Chianti and Chianti Classico wines had a overall rank of 93 – which makes it the 4th best wine growing season in the past decade.  1997, 1999, and 2007 are 1 ,2, and 3 respectively.  Tomaiolo’s Chianti Classico sports a deep purple hue, pepper, oregano, strawberry, and pum, nose.  Blackberry, and oak jumps out on your palate (which makes sense, this wine was aged 24 months in oak.)  The vintner suggest a heavy meal with this wine like steak, pork, or a stinky cheese. 

Here’s some more outtakes from my dinner including one of Papi confused at my slurping wine out of the glass:

Topped Naan Dinner VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Cheers!

Ciao Amichi,

Winter is definitely taking its toll on me.  I’ve been trudging away with work, marathon training, volunteering, and downgrading into my new studio apartment.  I hate how running leaves very little time for wine drinking.  And when I do decide to squeeze in a glass of wine it’s that darn Carlos Rossi Burgundy that I’m recently become obsessed with.  …I don’t know who I am anymore   

So yesterday I ran my first marathon.  Yep, the whole 26.2 miles.  5 boring loops around Central Park – which I’ve forgotten can be quite lovely when it’s not below 50 degrees and/or buried under inches of snow which probably hasn’t happened as many times as it seems this NYC winter.  Anyway, I managed to finish the race in 4 hours and 34 minutes and even though it was my first marathon I was quite disappointed with my time.

Last night was the first opportunity I had to sit still for a few hours and have a couple of drinks.  I popped over to a new local wine and spirits store.  Little did I know they were heavy on the liquor and light on the wine selection….unless you like Moscato

I held my nose and picked up these babies:

In hindsight it’s pretty fitting that the Rouge was in the middle because that’s the only one really worth mentioning.  But before we get to that a quick note on the Oscars…How delicious did Anne Hathaway, Halle Berry, and Kerry Washington look?  Oh, and Kerry despite what my cousin says you’re not an oreo.  You’re the embodiment of perfection.

		My Favorite Oscars Ladies VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Anyway, let’s get to this incognito red blend.

Name: Rouge

Producer: Clos Du Bois

Vintage: 2010

Country: California

Region: N/A

Where Purchased: Wine Shop

Price: $14.99

Most wineries wine making processes that I’m familiar with will either age their wine in stainless steel or oak, but Rouge was fermented in both for a total of 24 months before the wine is released.  So this 2010 is pretty much fresh off the presses.  I think the wine is delightful and not overpowering, medium-bodied with a licorice, chocolate and dark berry fruit palate.  On the nose I get dark chocolate, coffee, and steel. Clos Du Bois recommends you pair this wine with the likes of steak, ribs and hamburgers; none of which I eat so we’ll have to take their word for it.  As for myself I enjoyed it as an aperitif while listening to Amel Larrieux newest album “Lovely Standards” and writing this blog post.

I’ve always known I’d be a better partner to a nascent 30-something Hello Kitty obsessed woman.  My differentiating for high-end baby strollers, well-dressed dogs, high arches on a woman, and exaggerated pinkies disallows me to date someone normal.

Last night I was out on a date and I fear I struck out with this lovely lady because I’m just not aggressive enough.  It was that part of the date where things get quiet (and maybe awkward), you’re close to each other, and Cupid tells you “Make your move, stupid!”   In hindsight should’ve just snuck a kiss!  

Meh.  Maybe I just prefer to let things come to me naturally.    Or maybe I just like how things play out in my head – where we say hello and then it fades to black to the next scene where we’re spending our Sunday mornings in Starbucks reading the New York Times, mocking it’s pretentiousness and staring lovingly into each other’s eyes over  Tall Blonde Roasts.

NYC dating is the kind of thing that drives you to a shitty dive bar at 1am  (just in time for  Hipster Karaoke) to discuss your dating life with a random white woman from African and not remembering a word of it the next day because you were on your 4 glass of Jameson when the conversation started.  ….Ok, maybe that’s just me. 

I guess there’s some benefits to being single in NYC, for one your bar tab is 50% less.  …I can’t think of any others at the moment but I’m sure there are more.. 

Anyway, I’m downgrading to a new flat in a few days, and I picked up a nice Italian red to toast goodbye to my current space and the lovely social-economic class I’ll be departing.

Name: Sangiovese Di Toacana

Producer: Gaetano D’Aquino

Vintage: 2010

Country: Italy

Region: N/A

Where Purchased: Trader Joes

Price: $4.99

Recommendations:

This wine is referred to as a Super Tuscan wine which is a wine defined by Italy’s IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) classification. Italy’s other wine classifications include VdT (Vino Da Tavola or Table Wine),  and it’s more stricter DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata or Denomination of Origin Controlled), and DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita or Denomination of Origin Controlled and Guaranteed) classes.  Simply put these classifications define the mixture or amount of grapes used in a wine, as wine can be mixed with a few types of grapes.

Gaetano D’Aquino’s Sangiovese Di Toacana is a dry red.  The primary grape is Sangiovese.  The wine has a blackberry, and cola aroma.  Palate-wise I get a little plum, tobacco, and flat cola.  Gaetano D’Aquino’s Sangiovese Di Toacana is not a great wine, but for it’s price, and with a bowl of cheesy ravioli it works!

I think I found a wine for all you Moscato drinkers.  It’s semi-dry bright red wine from Armenia.

I’ve never had wine made of fermented pomegranate juice, but it’s quite good!  It reminds me of ice wine. Mardik has a ripe cherry palate with a touch of spice, and a very pleasant strawberry syrup nose.

Name: Pomegranate Wine

Producer: Markik

Vintage: n/a

Country: Armenia

Region: N/A

Where Purchased: “Liquor Store”

Price: $9.99

Recommendations:

Chill this wine to at least 55 Celsius, pair with a bland cracker like Carr’s Table Water Crackers or a mild cheese like Emmental, or Bel Paese.  Or try your own pairing and leave a comment and let me know what you paired this Pomegranate wine by Mardik with.

Cheers!

I’ve been drinking a ton of jug wine lately; mostly reds.  Which is either a testament to my holiday season wine consumption, or the economic feasibility of feeding my wine cravings and still having money to holiday shop. 

Jug wine tends to be a relatively inexpensive table wine, and cosmetics aside some are quite palatable.  Two that I want to have a little chat about today are both by Carlo Rossi and if you live in a questionable neighborhood in Brooklyn (and probably the Bronx…actually any borough other than Manhattan) can be easily found.  …not that I live in a questionable neighborhood so if one of my neighbors happens to read this post CALM DOWN!

Anywhoo, the first is a Sangria by Carlo Rossi that I purchase often when my friend and her child (for the sake of this blog when I refer to children I mean dogs) stop by for takeout, Netflix, and a doggie play date.  It comes in two sizes a 1.5 Liter, and a 4 Liter jug-which I tend to purchase because…well, just to be sure there’s enough. 

And no, we don’t give the dogs any!  They don’t like red wine. 

Name: Sangria

Producer: Carlo Rossi

Vintage: n/a

Country: United States

Region: California

Where Purchased: “Liquor Store”

Price: $17.00 (4 Liters) $9.95 (1.5 Liter)

Recommendations:

Carlo Rossi’s Sangria is a fun little wine, great for having a few friends over to shoot the breeze and/or watch a movie.  Like Sangria it’s fruity, easy drinking, with some pleasant baby bubbles.  This is a wine even your non-wine drinking friends should enjoy.  Serve cold!

The next wine; Carlo Rossi Burgundy is my go-to cheap but palatable red wine easily had around my neighborhood.  Burgundy is a wine hailed from the Burgundy region of France and made from the Pinot Noir grape, although Carlo Rossi’s hails wine is from California.  I’m not terribly well versed on Burgundies (mostly because my incessant bias to Italian (red) wines, so I couldn’t really say how true to characteristics of French Burgundy it is but I find it delightful nonetheless:

Name: Burgundy

Producer: Carlo Rossi

Vintage: n/a

Country: United States

Region: California

Where Purchased: “Liquor Store”

Price: $17.00 (4 Liters) $9.95 (1.5 Liter)

Recommendations:

I wouldn’t consider this wine as much as an aperitif as the Sangria and it’s best to have at least a mild cheese like Brie and crackers but preferably a meal with this wine.   Expect a red berry nose, and same on your palate, with maybe a bit of chocolate.  I’d pair with a red sauce pasta, but I think spicy Indian food could work as well.  If you get a chance to try this wine let me know in the comments and what you paired it with.

Happy sipping!