4th Annual Taste of Hope

This will be my 3rd year sponsoring the wine for a table at the "Taste of Hope" benefiting City of Hope. I've enlisted some help from Joe to help with the French wines because this year's theme is based on the movie "Bottle Shock" which I'm calling:

Paris Wine Tasting– Pt. Deux in NYC

The movie “Bottle Shock” tells the tale of the “Paris Wine Tasting of 1976" with French judges and a blind tasting of Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon from California and France. California wines won the competition! On Wednesday night 3/24 we offered some new battles! California won a lot again!

Opening Toast - Champagne vs. California Sparkling Wine:
NV - L. Aubry Fils Brut Champagne – 91pts WS
NV - Schramsberg Brut Rosé Mirabelle North Coast – 93pts WS

Chardonnay vs. Burgundy (White):
We have 3 of the top 4 from Paris Wine Tasting including the winner!
2007 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa – 90pts WS
2007 Chalone Estate Chardonnay, Napa – 92pts WS Wow!
2005 Girardin Puligny Montrachet – Les Folatieres – 93pts WE
2007 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Meursault Premier Cru – Les Charmes 92pts WS Nice!

Pinot Noir vs. Burgundy (Red): Not in PWT
2002 Cakebread Pinot Noir – Carneros 89pts WS Surprised everyone!
1993 Laurent Nuits St. George – Les Vaucrains 96pts RP

Rhone:
2006 Joseph Phelps Le Mistral – 92pts WS Another Wow!
2003 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape - 94pts WS

Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon:
We have 3 of the top 5 from PWT including the winner!
1996 Stag’s Leap Fay Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa – 92pts WS
1997 Ridge California Monte Bello – 91pts RP Very Nice
1988 Leoville Las Cases – 95pts WS My Fave
1998 Chateau Quinalt - L’Enclos – 94pts RP

Vertical Jump 10 years - Meritage: Joseph Phelps Insignia
2005 Insignia 92pts WS Amazing!
1999 Insignia 91 pts WS
1995 Insignia 94pts WS - Excellent!

Desert!
1983 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port – Portugal – 94pts RP

Discovering Wines on Moving Day

What's funny you can live in Manhattan, pay 3.5% city tax and look at New Jersey or live in New Jersey and look back towards New York.
Spend the last year in Jersey City on Hoboken side of the tracks and I mean right on the track...just moved to Jersey City-Newport area right on the water.
Before and After...

I like trains a lot, but not so much when you live on the tracks...that's just a little too much Cho-Cho.
And my first love is the water, so having the Hudson River in your backyard is hard to beat.

Good news on moving day I found a bunch of wines I didn't even know where there...

• Nice vertical of Whitehall Lane Cabernets 1999, 2001, 01 Reserve and 2002 Reserve.
• Flora Springs Rutherford Hillside 1999, 2001.
• A vertical of Flora Springs Trilogy - 3 years.
• Vertical of Magnificat back to 1999.
• Vertical of Mt. Veeder Cab back to 2001.

And a lot more wine I need to drink now. Everyone should clean out their cellar every so often - bet there are bottles you don't even know you have are in prime years for drinking.

Finally peace and quiet while working in New York - now I wake up to the sounds of Geese. Whew!

-Brian

Fresh Night of Wine for Women at City Winery

CBS Radio invites you to a "Fresh Night of Wine" for working women next Thursday
3/11 at City Winery, 155 Varick Street SoHo Manhattan.

Tastes Amazing Wines from France, Italy and California paired with a tasting menu from c
celebrity chiefs ANNE BURRELL and LEE ANNE WONG.

Celebrate for the all inclusive price of $75 and guys don't worry you're invited too.

It's a Fresh Night of Wine for Working Women, Next Thursday 6PM at CITY WINERY on Varick in SoHO MANHATTAN

PURCHASE TICKETS NOW AT http://www.divinale.com/

Wine Spectator's "GRAND TOUR" in NY 5/4

Wine Spectator puts on two event a year in Manhattan and this is the one you don't want to miss.

WINE SPECTATOR's Grand Tour describes as tasting event you will remember for a long time to come. Read about last years event below where Harlan Estate Cab was my favorite wine of the night.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010Marriott Marquis 1535 Broadway7—10 pm Order Tickets Now

• All wines are Wine Spectator's top-scoring selections
• Meet and mingle with many winery owners and/or winemakers
• Taste wines that are hard to find—discover new favorites
• Includes a light buffet to complement your evening
Tickets are $200 each

You will never have the opportunity to taste so many of the world's finest wines side by side by side. So how does Joseph Phelps Insignia stack up agaist Chateau LaTour go and you'll know...see you there.

-Brian