NYC Tastes

Winter is an amazing time for Italian wine in NYC.  January always kicks off with incredible Benvenuto Brunello event at Gotham Hall.  This year marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Brunello di Montalcino DOC and the 2011 vintage was unveiled from over 40 different wineries along with the 2010 Riserva, Rosso and Moscadello. Of course coming after arguably the greatest vintage of Brunello ever the 2011 falls a little short. It doesn't have that rich powerful complexity of 2010; rather a softer, fruitier wine that actually makes it accessible for just about any palate. On the heels of Benvenuto came Italian Wine week with Vinitaly International and Tre Biccieri events. I was really surprised by the intensity of the Mirabella Saten made from 100% Chardonnay and the Demetra which had a strange yeasty aroma that I've never had in a Prosecco before... ...and the gorgeous Severus (no affiliation with Harry Potter) from Podere Marcampo made from 100% Sangiovese aged ...

It was all about Italy inside the Metropolitan Pavilion during the annual Vinitaly International/ Slow Wine 2014. The main room was filled with the best in Italian wine but first I was off to the Prosecco Wine School for a class on sparkling wine and food pairings. I was so surprised when I walked into the room and saw Lou from Di Palo's down in Little Italy.  This guy knows a thing or two about meats and cheese so it was fun to see him out from behind the regular store counter and hear some of his thoughts on food pairing. Then it was onto the floor for the walk around tasting where I saw quite a few of my old favorites being poured... ...and found a brand new favorite Papale made from 100% Primitivo Grapes. The color of this wine was absolutely gorgeous; ruby red with a strong aroma of cherries, tobacco and licorice with a soft flavor of berries and quite possibly the most incredible mouthfeel I've ever experienced in a wine..thick on the tongue b...

It was a drab and rainy Tuesday but you wouldn't know it from the mood resonating atop Three Sixty Tribeca.  Dozens of Italian winemakers were showcasing their very best along with the release of the next Slow Wine Guide edition and Slow Wine app.  The book reviews 400 different cellars throughout Italy, focusing on wine quality and value, adherence to terroir and sustainable practices.  It really helps users navigate the incredible amount of information available regarding Italian wines. The list of exhibitors at Vinitaly was astounding.  There was so much talent in the room it was difficult to know where to begin.  I made a long stop at Banfi, one of the first Italian wineries I ever had the pleasure of visiting.  Their Chianti Classico Riserva is always a solid favorite while the velvety, soft Brunello di Montalcino can make any meal an elegant affair. I tried out some...