We went to Manhattan over the weekend to see a play, explore and eat. We saw And I and Silence by Naomi Wallace at the Signature Theater on 42nd street. Tickets are $25. The Signature theater is an amazing place. They have a new theater designed by Frank Gehry and they have several playwrights in residence each year. Ticket prices are subsidized by contributions. This year they are A R. Gurney and Naomi Wallace. I had never heard of her but she is has an interesting background and is also a poet. The play was absorbing and we enjoyed it.
We ate at Pearl & Ash on the lower east side on Bowery. http://www.pearlandash.com/ The restaurant is sleek and modern and serve small plates and has a fabulous wine list. The wines are mostly French and their are actually reasonably priced wines. We had a Burgundy from Irancy, a small appellation. We had a glass of wine from Irancy in Paris last fall and it was reasonable and very good. Lettie Teague recently mentioned it in an article recently in the WSJ. http://www.samachar.com/a-surprising-source-of-great-inexpensive-summer-reds-oh0dMIjajbe.html Just found this interesting article on Burgundy. http://rockssandfruit.blogspot.com/2014/03/an-offer-that-counters-wall-street.html
The wine we had was a 2011 Benoit Cantin from Irancy. The wine is 100% Pinot Noir and was $55. It was served too cold but we warmed it up and they decanted it which helped the process. The was balanced and subtle with complex flavors and decent fruit.
For dinner we shared a number of small plates. Bread with a mixture of butter, chicken fat and maple syrup. It was really good. We had trout with snap peas, peas shoots, brown butter and dill. We had flat iron steak with broccolini and chickpea tahini. It worked beautifully. We also had cod, coconut, thai basil and lemon grass. Also potatoes, porcini mayo and chorizo. The chunks of potatoes were crisp and delicious although we did not notice the chorizo.
For dessert we had strawberry sorbet with pistachios and graham crackers with a light cheese cake mousse. It was great.We also had pineapple, caramel and pansies. This was the only dish that did not work.We had a glass of a Tokaji, a Hungarian dessert wine.
The staff at the restaurant were great. Friendly and accommodating which was really appreciated in a trendy NYC restaurant. When we told them that it was our 28th anniversary, they wrote it on the dessert. The meal was beautifully paced by the kitchen. The dishes are very small and the recommend 4 dishes per person but we were full with what we ate. We are not big eaters. Try Pearl & Ash for yourself.
Recently had a chance to go to Chicago. We ate at Howells and Hood. http://www.howellsandhood.com/ The food was really good. They also have lots of beer (114) on tap. I had porchetta (boneless pork shoulder) with pulled pork over wild rice, parsnip veggies with some fruit. The dish was fabulous and $24. Wow.
My garden is doing great. We have had broccoli, eggplant , string beans, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers.The eggplant has been great.
Wines
We have been drinking summer friendly wines aka low alcohol, lots of flavor.
Sparkling NV Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Le Mont Benoit Extra BrutChampagne Blend
8/8/2014 - I like this wine: 95 points
Let's face it, this is a very good Champagne and it tastes likes grapes. A big wine with lots of flavor, well balanced, oak and vanilla and a long finish. Complex with lots going on. Bought it in Lyon last year. would drink again. Drank with pork chops. Interesting blend of grapes.
Red 2011 Cave de Roquebrun Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du FrigouletRed Bordeaux Blend more MIght be a case of bottle consistency but this bottle was just OK. Had this wine before and it was better. Grapey with some off taste on the finish.
Red 2011 Benoit Cantin IrancyPinot Noir
8/10/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points (Edit)
Drank at Pearl & Ash in NYC. $55. Started slowly as wine was too cold when presented. It was decanted and opened up slowly. I nice blend of terroir and some fruit; nicely balanced; drank with many small dishes and it was very good. Would drink again but Irancy wines can be hard to find.
White 2013 Valley Vineyards Chenin Blanc The RoyalSwartland
8/5/2014 - I like this wine: 88 points (Edit)
Great value. Good balanced white. Fruity not overly so. Will drink again.
White 2013 Ameztoi Getariako TxakolinaHondarrabi Zuri
8/3/2014 - I like this wine: 89 points (Edit)
Enjoyed this wine. The light fizz is a bonus. Bone dry with clean flavor, light in body and alcohol. Drank with oysters and striped bass from NJ waters. Would drink again.
White 2011 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling KabinettMosel Saar Ruwer
8/3/2014 - I wrote: 85 points (Edit)
Agree with previous comment. Nothin special. Decent Riesling at a not so decent price. Good for a glass and then it got old. Lacking that pizzazz. Probably would not drink again.
White 2012 Cave de Lugny Mâcon-Lugny Les CharmesChardonnay
7/29/2014 - I like this wine: 88 points (Edit)
Good solid white Burgundy. It has not developed like NM has written. Good value. Goes well with fish. Would drink again.
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2011
7/31/2014 - I like this wine: 91 points
Good wine;subtle but good flavor; medium bodied; drank easily; the bottle disappeared; drank with loin lamb chops; love PN with lamb;complex and just an excellent wine in an OK vintage in the Willamette Valley.Will drink again.
Red 2005 Guido Porro Barolo Vigna LazzairascoNebbiolo
8/1/2014 - I like this wine: 89 points (Edit)
The wine was not singing tonight. Drank with fresh raviolis. It took a while to open up but still the alcohol predominated. Lots of sediment; probably would help to decanter; OK fruit but not completely balanced; I think that the wine is at its end; I would drink up!
Red 2012 Campogrande Cinque Terre RossoRed Blend
7/27/2014 - I like this wine: 89 points (Edit)
Good fruit but lots of tannin, enjoyed with pizza; low alcohol 12.5%; drank easily on a summer's eve; will drink again. The type of wine we like but that is not that easy to find.
Rosé - Sparkling NV Philippe Prié Champagne Brut RoséChampagne Blend
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7/11/2014 - I like this wine: 92 points (Edit)
VG flavor, big wine for a rose Champagne, good structure, nice balance, will drink again.
White - Sparkling NV Scharffenberger Brut ExcellenceMendocino County Champagne Blend
7/25/2014 - I like this wine: 88 points
Decent sparkling wine with good flavor, nice fruit and acid, medium body. Some complexity but missing something. Would drink again.
Red 2011 Château Grange Cochard Morgon Côte du PyGamay
7/18/2014 - I like this wine: 92 point
VG good bottle; balanced and complex with great finish; fruit and terroir work well together; medium bodied with nice mouthfeel; enjoyed with raviolis and vegetables; will drink again; great flavor with relativley low alcohol!
Rosé 2013 Zenato Bardolino ChiarettoCorvina Blend, Corvina
7/21/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points
Medium bodied rose with good balance and nice fruit. Alcohol of 12.5% which is great. Packs lots of flavor. Paid $29 at Fornaletto at the Borgata AC. Cheapest wine on the big list. Drank with pasta with seafood in red sauce. Would drink again.
Red 2009 Ambra Carmignano Santa Cristina in PilliSangiovese Blend, Sangiovese
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7/7/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points (Edit)
Good Sangiovese; fruit and acid, good balance, medium bodied., would drink again. Drank with pizza at Arturos.
Red 2011 Stephane Aviron Côte de Brouilly Vieilles VignesGamay
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7/13/2014 - I like this wine: 89 points (Edit)
Very nice Beaujolais; fruity and light, balance with nice finish; drank with scallops and risotto; would drink again;
Red 2012 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
7/12/2014 - I like this wine: 88 points (Edit)
Best 2012 inexpensive Ore PN that I have tasted so far. Interesting fruit, tannins are balanced, medium bodied representative of the 2012 vintage, my only quibble is the finish; slightly sour and not the taste that you want to remember; will try again; the price is compelling.
White 2013 Valley Vineyards Chenin Blanc The RoyalSwartland
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7/9/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points (Edit)
Great value. Good fruit and balanced acidity.
Rosé 2012 Château Montaud Côtes de Provence RoséRosé Blend
7/6/2014 - I wrote: 84 points (Edit)
Decent French rose, nothing special, clean taste, dry, low alcohol, Drank at the Borgata'a Italian restaurant for $28, cheapest on a good wine list. We enjoyed the bottle but their arer much better rose's out there.
White 2013 Ameztoi Getariako TxakolinaHondarrabi Zuri
7/7/2014 - I like this wine: 91 points (Edit)
Light, refreshing and some fizz; just enough fruit; a really good white wine; drank with grilled shrimp and paprika potatoes. Will drink again although not a cheap wine.
Red 2009 Barbet Saint-Amour Domaine des Billards Cuvée RéserveGamay
7/3/2014 - I like this wine: 92 points (Edit)
Medium bodied, still quite tannic but it opened up as we drank it; complex and subtle; an excellent Beaujolais, a serious wine, drank with grilled chicken; will drink again.
White - Sparkling NV Gruet Winery BrutNew Mexico Champagne Blend
7/5/2014 - I don't like this wine: 82 points (Edit)
Sweet finish, not much going on. I always wonder how to keep track of NV sparklers, when is there a new batch. Have had this wine before and this bottle was not very good.
Red 2012 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot NoirWillamette Valley
6/29/2014 - I like this wine: 93 points (Edit)
Excellent wine; medium bodied with 14% alcohol but drinks easily; good fruit, complexity; an Oregon wine with a bit more fruit and body than usual; while 2012 vintage in Oregon has been highly touted, I have not been impressed with the inexpensive wines from that vintage; this wine while pricey is just a really good pinot noir that should develop over time. Drank with swordfish and scallops. Will drink again.
White - Sparkling NV Cave de L'aurance Crémant de BourgogneChampagne Blend
6/29/2014 - I like this wine: 90 points
Full bodied sparkling wine from France. Enjoyed the bottle as an apertif with some snacks. Fruity but real structure. Good value.
These wines are really good. See if you can find them locally. Cellartracker can help find them for you. WTSO is a really good site for Champagne. For some reason Champagne has gotten very expensive these days. Actually all wine prices are going up. It is tough to find a good bottle under $10 these days. I am spending $10 to $20 for most bottles these days. Anyway WTSO has very good prices when they list a Champagne. I bought the Philippe Prie Rose Champagne for $29 per bottle and their regular bottling for $23 per bottle.
For a real treat the NV Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Le Mont Benoit Extra Brut Champagne was fabulous. I bought it in Lyon last fall but it is available in NYC for about $60.
Enjoy!
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