Bogle Chardonnay 2006 – California
Cost: $10/bottle
Nice light gold in color, with a sweet, oaky nose intermixed with honey, pear, and peach. Consistent flavors pack this full-bodied and chewy chardonnay that should match quite nicely with Read more…
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
This is different… cute.
Please rate the Bar:
Nice, clean, welcoming, comfortable. And pretty. Yup, there definitely aren’t very many bars in NYC that are this pretty… feminine, almost. It’s sweet.
The bartender is a real peach. A decidedly Russian peach— but amiable, friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. In Soviet Russia, peach taste you. (Sorry, just couldn’t resist.)
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Good. Ample offerings here, especially in the "fresh juice" and, of course, vodka. Apparently, their specialty is infused vodkas— numerous (and some unusual) flavors like pomegranate, beet, cherry and seaberry. Tasty! Well-priced at $9 each ("fresh juice" is $12).
Good wine list, eclectic— but definitely skewed more toward the higher end. Fine beer selections and some house recipe cocktails as well.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Odd, but endearing. Like a doll’s house. Somewhat bright, due to the glare through the kitchen doors, but again, pretty. Probably not the most efficient use of space, but in Soviet Russia, space use… Oh, never mind.
Please rate the BOH:
The menu looks good, but not enough to entice me into a full dinner… yet. But, there’s a distinct possibility I’ll be back. The homestyle selections are appealing, plenty of Russian classics here, plus some good ole basics to satisfy even the most anti-Soviet appetite. Intriguing enough to add to my list…
How was the staff?
Fine. Authentic, but friendly.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Osetra, baby— with blinis. Hey, when in Moscow…
And yeah, it was good.
What did you like?
That seaberry vodka’s not bad. And the bathrooms are adorable.
What did you dislike?
Nothing really.
What was your last impression?
There sure are a lot of Russians in here.
Would you come back?
Yes, I think so.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you, it was a pleasure.
Marquis Philips Roogle 2008 – Riesling – Australia
Cost: $13.99/Bottle
Light topaz in color, crisp and grippy on the palate, this Marquis Philips Roogle Riesling is quite a bargain find. Aromas and flavors expose a grapefruit, lime and tangerine dominated essence. It finishes strong with that citrusy lingering aftertaste, quite nice and refreshing. A perfect wine to match your favorite seafood dish.
Rating: 91
Opus One 1997 – Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley
Cost: $125/Bottle (purchased in 2000)
This is a dark ruby wine, full-bodied and velvety in texture, with a weightiness like blood. It’s rich and superb as it hits the front palate and glides through to the mid and back palate. Aromas are a bit funky, initially band-aid like, but yields to some juicy black cherry and currant fruit with plenty of suede and Timberland boot-like scents. The wine required some serious air time but could never eliminate that bandaid and suede nose, even by the end of dinner. Overall a decent wine, with quite a perfect mouthfeel and flavor profile, but the funky nose may not be for everyone.
Rating: 89
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Hmm, nice.
Please rate the Bar:
Small, standing room only— that screams "club" to me; bleah. But, apparently it opens at 6PM so that’s slightly more appealing. It’s about 8:30PM right now and kinda quiet and cozy, just the way I like it. But, reportedly, it gets pretty "pumpin" later on.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Brief but impressive cocktail list— enough to tempt me into a cocktail, and I’m generally a liquor-neat/wine kind of guy. The wine list is (sigh) very hotel-esque; maybe skip it, or save your wine imbibing for ‘Inoteca next door, just like I did.
Please rate the Dining Room:
N/A. But, I think they’re serving goods from ‘Inoteca. Double check, though. I gather it’s a practice they haven’t quite officially implemented.
Please rate the BOH:
N/A; the BOH (for now?) is ‘Inoteca ("upstairs").
How was the staff?
Great. Everyone (including the doorman) was warm, welcoming, amiable, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Kind of a contrast to the the sleek, frosty decor and apellation. They’re nice; I like them.
What did you eat?/ How was the food? No food, but I did try:
High jump? Or ski jump, was it? : The one with the Reykjavik vodka and frozen grapes. Delicious— not too sweet but flavorful. Clean. Very nice.
Terra Nova : With Don Julio, some other stuff, chocolate bitters, vanilla and— smoked salt? Huh. Very interesting flavor with that salt actually. Slightly sweeter (not my style) but pretty damned good overall. There is definitely some expert mixology at work here. $17 each; a little steep, but OK. It’s a hotel after all, and the volume of the drinks is at least somewhat appeasing.
Had to save some room for wine "upstairs," or I would have gladly tried another.
What did you like?
The staff. The drinks.
What did you dislike?
Nothing really. Although the location is sort of eh.
What was your last impression?
This is a rather delightful hotel.
Would you come back?
Probably.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you, it was lovely.
Cakebread – Sauvignon Blanc 2007, California
Cost: $58/bottle at Koi in the Bryant Park Hotel, NYC (Retails for about $35 at your fine wine shop.)
With a cornucopia of sushi, spicy shrimp appetizers and wasabi sauce, you need something cool and refreshing to wash it all down; what better dry white wine than a Sauvignon Blanc by Cakebread Cellars. Its ripe lime, lemon and grapefruit scents with just a touch of minerals, and overall citrus infused flavors certainly do the trick, harnessing the palate enough to still relish the cuisine while savoring the wine. Cakebread’s Sauvignon Blanc is superb with its crisp character, clean and long finish. Perhaps the best sauvignon blanc I’ve had in quite some time.
Rating: 93
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Oh, this is cute.
Please rate the Bar:
It’s a sweet little thing. Small— about a half dozen stools, but well done. Brief but carefully crafted wine list. Just enough food to keep the munchies at bay.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
N/A on the cocktails. The wine list has some nice choices. Reasonably priced. N/A on the stemware, too (sigh) except if you purchase a bottle. But even that stemware is crap, anyway. Oh well— just roll with it. If that garbage is good enough for Cipriani and Keith McNally, then in a place like this, it feels like Riedel.
Please rate the Dining Room:
N/A. There are a few tables and a nice quiet room in the back. It’s the "dining" they’re short on.
Please rate the BOH:
No BOH; there’s barely even an FOH. The bartender does a great job with what little food they have, though.
How was the staff?
She was fantastic. Welcoming, amiable, sweet, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, conscientious, diligent— absolutely perfect; she didn’t miss a beat. A place like this really needs a person like that to make it work well; they’re pretty lucky to have her.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Landjäger : Delicious. Good bar food. Nice presentation with the mustard and horseradish.
Pickled Vegetables : I’m a sucker for pickled okra anywhere. I’m sold. The string beans, cucumber and red peppers were good, too.
Apple Strudel :Mit schlag! Ohh boy. Mmmmit schlaaag…
What did you like?
All of it.
What did you dislike?
Uggh— fine, I can live with the glassware.
What was your last impression?
What a great little jewel…
Would you come back?
Absolutely.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you, it was a pleasure.
Laurel Cellars – Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 – Alexander Valley, California
Cost: $12.99/bottle (on sale)
This wine is dark plum in color, medium-bodied and silky. The aromas are one dimensional, with notes of toasted oak, herbs, green leaves, vanilla extract and some berry fruit. In the mouth, simple and rather oaky fruit through and through, with some green spices. For $12.99, I couldn’t expect that it would be great, but it’s decent. A repeat purchase for me… probably… maybe… not sure yet.. I bought this because some great fruit and wine come from Alexander Valley, but it is quite oaky (I do have a good tolerance for oak, however).
Rating: 84
Justin – Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 – Paso Robles, California
Cost: $28.99/bottle
Justin vineyards in Paso Robles, located midway between Monterey and LA, certainly had one of their finest vintages in 2006. After getting overwhelmed by the 2006 Isosceles (their flagship wine), and then an impressive Justin Orphan (their leftover grapes wine), this cabernet is in no way middle of the road in quality. This one is just a touch under the Isosceles in the yum factor of yumminess. Beautiful notes of black cherry, blueberry, toasted oak, coconut and bittersweet chocolate are enjoyable to sniff and taste. It’s moderately full bodied and with firm tannins, but it comes across as harmonious with the levels of alcohol, fruit and sweetness. It’s a dry wine, make no mistake about it— but it’s quite flavorful and delicious. I’m picking up a case of this stuff, it tastes a lot better than most cabernet costing twice or three times this. Great value.
Rating: 93
Bishop by Ben Glaetzer – Barossa Valley Shiraz 2007, Australia
Cost: $24.99/bottle
This wine was genuinely rich and thick in texture, with a complex nose of crushed blackcherries, blueberry pie, and vanilla milkshake, with hints of smoked meat, cedar, and toasty oak. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, with a creamy viscosity similar to ‘half and half,’ gobs of fruit, good supple tannins, and a gorgeous finish. Quite impressive. It’s a well-restrained shiraz offering just the right fruit ripeness while maintaining its consistent complex flavor (with a nose to match). I like this a lot and it’s surely worth picking up a few more bottles at a price of a penny under $25. Well bought.
Rating: 91
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Hmm, would I like a table? Umm, no, the bar is fine for now, thanks.
Please rate the Bar:
Is it smaller than before (as Craftsteak)? Did they move it? I can’t seem to remember…
Anyway, it’s nice. Clean, very spacious. And professional.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
The beer and wine list is very impressive in its abundance (daunting, almost). The cocktail list, by contrast, is brief and simple— mostly just classics here. Wow, I must have died and gone to… Vegas?
Please rate the Dining Room:
It’s big! Slightly cozier than before. The trees are new, right?
Please rate the BOH:
Get serious, it’s Craft. Even if I were to "rate" it, would anyone care what my opinion is?
How was the staff?
They’re very… well-trained? Yeah, let’s say that.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Octopus salad (bar menu) : Pretty good. Generally, I prefer baby octopus, but this one was decently tender for such an old creature. Nice twist on the classic italian octopus/potato dish. Tasty.
Squid salad (bar menu): Very cold. Comes off a little too "pre-made and refrigerated." Light and refreshing— but that’s probably also why I’m thinking, "Isn’t this more of a summer dish?" Plus, it’s way more garbanzo than squid. Maybe it should be called "Garbanzo bean salad… with some squid…" instead.
Pork belly pizzette (bar menu) : Waaay more mushroom than pork belly; maybe it should be called "Mushroom pizzette… with a little pork belly." That’s probably why it’s also a bit too dry— not enough delicious pork belly fat. Also, $16.00? Wow, for this little thing, that’s a bit expensive.
Would have loved more food but there’s not much else on the bar menu : And I didn’t want another pizzette.
What did you like?
The wood-burning open counter thing is kind of nice to look at.
What did you dislike?
Well, everything I disliked is probably due more to personal preferences and predilections, so perhaps I’ll just refrain.
What was your last impression?
Would I come to try a full dinner? Sorry, I don’t think so.
Would you come back?
For a drink if I’m in the area? Sure.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you and good night.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Vast improvement over Ono, that’s for sure.
Please rate the Bar:
Spacious, warm, inviting (except for the bar stools, which look like they’re made strictly for tiny Japanese asses). And a flatscreen, no less.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Great sake and beer list; good price points, too. The wine list is a little pedestrian (typically hotel-esque) but not terribly, especially for a Japanese restaurant. The cocktails list looks somewhat nauseating, but that’s probably only because I don’t generally go for syrupy sweet drinks. Again, for a Japanese joint, though— fine.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Cute, comfortable. Maybe a little "corporate" (the faux-candle "chandeliers" are a laugh riot) but nice enough. Again, sure beats Ono (which always made you feel like, "Oh no. I am not going there").
Please rate the BOH:
A little gimmicky. But that’s probably just the "corporate" coming out again. Overall, I’d say: OK.
How was the staff?
The bartenders were great— enthusiastic, amiable, conscientious and considerate. I would go so far as to say they "made" the entire experience. Granted, I opted for a bottle of sake, so I can’t judge their mixology skills, but in terms of service: an A. The host at the desk gets a C- or maybe a D; he couldn’t even be bothered to get out of his chair. Later, a maitre d’/manager type arrived, and he had it a little bit better together. He greeted us and asked if all was well, and he recognized immediately upon his arrival what needed to be done to make the ambience better.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Shisito peppers (bar menu) : Disappointing. Mainly because they’re flame-grilled (?) and not sauteed. The charred bits aren’t that appealing, and the flavor and presentation suffers for it. That’s what I mean by "gimmicky." Does everything on the menu get either flame-grilled or deep-fried? Is that their "thing" around here? Kind of silly if you ask me.
Deep-fried bok choy (bar menu): Odd. Doesn’t quite live up to the bartender’s eager sales pitch, but then again, I’m not quite sure what I was expecting. Tastes like dried seaweed. But blander.
Mushroom tempura (bar menu) : Not bad. Like all tempura, though— eat it as fast as possible.
Chicken wings (bar menu): Pretty good. Satisfactory.
What did you like?
The bartenders’ demeanors.
What did you dislike?
To a shisito pepper lover like me, theirs was something of a travesty.
What was your last impression?
Would I come to try a full dinner? Probably not.
Would you come back?
For a drink and light nibble, sure. Good location.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you and good night.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
how adorable is this street?
Please rate the Bar:
nice! upscale and elegant but cozy and inviting. love the "hidden gem" vibe and ambience. beautiful, really.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
very extensive and eclectic, a real aficionados’ domicile. the wine list leans heavily toward the more reputable labels, though— lacks adventure and imagination and consequently, the averaged price point is skewed toward the higher end. overall, impressive. oh but, does anybody ever really order the 2oz "tasting" size? that’s so 1980’s.
Please rate the Dining Room:
n/a. but there’s a fair amount of "communal" table seating, particularly given the spare square footage.
Please rate the BOH:
better than i expected— pretty creative, even. a definite step above most bar/lounge fare.
How was the staff?
friendly and considerate, yet polished and professional. quite accommodating, refreshingly comfortable, and confident.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
"the egg" : great presentation, completely unexpected. $4/egg seems highly priced on the menu, but when it arrives, you "get it." in a more pretentious/pompous place, this would probably be a $6 or $8 egg.
knishes with smoked salmon, creme fraiche, and caviar : not bad. the knish is maybe a weeee doughy, but points on style and flair. i don’t know why i’m so into cute little bite-sized food these days.
veal meatblalls : okay. pretty generous portion. a little on the bland side, though. the sauce seems fine (but could use more punch) so i guess it’s the balls themselves. seasoning would help. plus, are they nuked? why are they so hot on the inside? that’s slightly disappointing.
mozarella and basil panini : good. love the bread. and the sprouts are a nice touch. tasty. and again, i dunno— somehow i could really get into everybody pre-cutting my food all up for me like i’m a toddler.
lobster stuffed mushrooms : points on ambition and beauty, but negative points on substance and personality. maybe a littlle too ambitious. but A for effort!
What did you like?
the crowd and ambience. this area is so much cuter than i ever imagined. i love it. there are no foodies, poseurs, or hipsters here! just well-dressed well-groomed peoples with jobs and nice apartments. and bankers are supposed to be like the dregs of humanity now, no? why is it so pleasant to be around them? maybe these are just low-level clock punching bankers.
What did you dislike?
that it’s so far from where i live. oh but i guess if it were closer, the foodies, poseurs, and hipsters would totally ruin it.
What was your last impression?
could i live down here, i wonder… ?
Would you come back?
if i moved down here, definitely.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
thank you, it was lovely.
Chateau Clinet 1994, Pomerol, France
Cost: $40/bottle (purchased in 1998)
Dark ruby red, medium-bodied, and with an open nose of black cassis, black cherry, licorice, and a touch of prunes. There is also a haunting nose of cedar wood and something that reminds me of black shoe polish. In the mouth, smooth with a somewhat lean texture but yet holding plenty of those mature cassis and black cherry flavors that unfold nicely through mid and back palate. This wine is predominantly merlot from the right bank of Bordeaux, and it strikes me how amazingly graceful it has evolved, a true testament to the age-worthiness of the Bordeaux region.
Rating: 90
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
It’s very dark. But elegant!
Please rate the Bar:
Smaller than I imagined, for some reason. But comfortable; beautiful chairs. The bartender’s a nice enough
chap, pretty much what you’d expect. Oh, but they’re out of olives— and for any bar, much less a bar of this caliber, that’s surprising and disappointing.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
The wine by the glass list is brief but eclectic, although I think they could have done better. The cocktails list is for true aficionados; impressive… but a good martini is out the window? Hmm.
Please rate the Dining Room:
N/A. There’s a rather spacious lounge with tables in the back, though. Cozy, pretty.
Please rate the BOH:
Bar Pleiades only offers a limited snacks menu; canapés, charcuterie, cheese. A few more selections could really enhance its appeal.
How was the staff?
Adept, professional, friendly.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Canapé selection for 2 (risotto croquette with truffle, goat chees and beet salad on baby endive, hamachi "roll") : Not bad, and not badly priced ($16). It’s better than nothing, I suppose.
What did you like?
The furniture. The bathroom.
What did you dislike?
All the wasted potential?
What was your last impression?
I wish there were a few more places built like this downtown.
Would you come back?
If I were in the area and had a special meeting or something, then yes.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you and all the best…
Cancilla Cellars Pinot Noir Reserve 2007 – Williamette Valley, Oregon
Cost: $34.99
This is a medium-bodied but dark, ruby red colored pinot noir showcasing a perfumed nose of strawberry, cassis, cherry-pie, clove spice, and Dr. Pepper soda. It has a crisp mouthfeel, with grippy acids and tannins that dry the upper innards of your mouth, but the flavors are potent and laser-like, showcasing an array of red and black fruits that grapples with the mid-palate. Finishes long and dry, but the acidity and tannins linger on the back palate. Overall, a nice pinot noir that you can enjoy with pasta, grilled seafood, and lighter meat dishes.
Rating: 88
Domaine Paul Blanck – Pinot Blanc D’Alsace 2007, France
Cost: $11.99/Bottle
Often overlooked at wine stores amongst a sea of chardonnays, white Burgundies, or pinot grigios are wines from Alsace, and their pinot blancs are extraordinarily good for the hard earned dollar. For about $12, Paul Blanck makes a fantastic dry white wine loaded with nice citrus, lime, and sour gummy bears flavors. While dry, it’s fruity with excellent grip on the palate. Refreshing and hits the spot.
Rating: 87
Ironstone Cabernet Franc 2004 – California
Cost: $5.99/half-bottle (Full bottle at about $10)
I’m still dealing with a mild head cold and sinus congestion— taking the day off to rest and load up on the Sudafed; it helps clear the nasal passages. I know I shouldn’t be drinking, but a balanced meal always includes a glass of wine. I’ve been going to the local wine shops and pretty much snapping up their half bottle selections— I enjoy venturing into new wine territories and finding a decent value is always great. This one is a cabernet franc, commonly used as a blending grape in small percentages to add complexity (most often to a wine made of cabernet sauvignon), so it’s nice to see a small handful of producers making wine of the adjunct grape. Cabernet franc, if done right, reveals a subtle vegetal/green spice, and it can be quite difficult to harness that on its own— but the Kautz family, who produce the Ironstone Cab Franc, seems to have gotten the recipe quite right. Notes of roasted cherry and red berries are promising and with just a touch of sage and green leaf to make the wine interesting. It’s silky and slightly watery in texture, perhaps its only fault, as the mid-palate is quite light and lackluster. But for the price, it’s a pretty good value and certainly has enough in it to capture your attention. And then you sip again… Sweet!
Rating: 86
= "personne extraordinaire"