We've mentioned the cuvinet system at 116 Crown before. It is said a cuvinet keeps wines served by-the-glass impeccably "fresh" for up to two weeks. It dispenses a layer of nitrogen into the bottle, to prevent oxygen contact with the wine.
I have a hard time drinking wine the day after it's been opened, let alone two weeks, so I just had to perform a little experiment.
We went down to 116 to try out the system. We had mustachioed bartender Drew pour us two glasses of wine from the cuvinet, and two glasses from a freshly opened bottle. We were not to see which was which, but Drew was to keep track. We chose Clio ($$$), because we'd had it before.
It was impossible for either of us to tell any difference from the nose of the wine. There was a difference in taste, but it was so subtle, we had to discuss it for a while before either of us would conclude there actually was a difference.
We guessed the cuvinet glasses correctly. Mo found the cuvinet glass to show less black pepper notes, a Clio "trademark".
With each glass held up to a white board under decent light, we could see that the wine from the freshly opened bottle was a bit clearer. The from-the-bottle and cuvinet wines both had the deep oxblood color.
I can't recommend by-the-glass wines from the cuvinet enough. If you're not out to finish off an entire bottle, this is a great alternative that still gives you a taste akin to a newly opened bottle.
The 2004 Clio normally retails for around $45 per bottle. On 116's cuvinet, it's fetching $9 per glass. This could very well be the steal of the century for a wine Wine Advocate gave 97 points.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
2004 Lorca Malbec Opalo Vistaflores
Carlos at Firehouse 12 has a fever, and the only prescription is not more cowbell, but rather, Malbec. Just about every time I visit Firehouse, 'Los whips out some new Malbec that he is completely in love with. I can honestly say I've yet to have the same Malbec twice -- and none of his suggestions have been bad.
Thursday night, he pulled out 2004 Lorca Malbec Opalo Vistaflores ($-$$). And, as usual, there was no disappointment. Another Argentinian wine from Mendoza, this red hails from the Vistaflores vineyard. This vineyard is actually the site where Clos de los Siete is bottled, and the Lorca Malbec has not escaped the influence of Michel Rolland (insert sound of angels' trumpets).
The Vistaflores vineyard sits high in the Andes, where the vines are vertically trained, rather than set upon trellises. The "bushes" are trimmed often to minimize yield, but maximize quality.
The wine itself is lively, without being overbearing or too fruity. It hints at blueberry and apple. The tannins are smooth. The wine has a very Old World feel. It is unfiltered, and aged in concrete and stainless steel, as opposed to oak.
Buy this wine as an alternative to higher priced items such as Clos de los Siete or Cuvelier los Andes (mentioned before). They've got a full case, and per the norm, will probably not replace it, so you'll need to get down there ASAP.
Firehouse is also serving up the Tannat Reserva from Bodegas Carrau by the glass (previous review).
Thursday night, he pulled out 2004 Lorca Malbec Opalo Vistaflores ($-$$). And, as usual, there was no disappointment. Another Argentinian wine from Mendoza, this red hails from the Vistaflores vineyard. This vineyard is actually the site where Clos de los Siete is bottled, and the Lorca Malbec has not escaped the influence of Michel Rolland (insert sound of angels' trumpets).
The Vistaflores vineyard sits high in the Andes, where the vines are vertically trained, rather than set upon trellises. The "bushes" are trimmed often to minimize yield, but maximize quality.
The wine itself is lively, without being overbearing or too fruity. It hints at blueberry and apple. The tannins are smooth. The wine has a very Old World feel. It is unfiltered, and aged in concrete and stainless steel, as opposed to oak.
Buy this wine as an alternative to higher priced items such as Clos de los Siete or Cuvelier los Andes (mentioned before). They've got a full case, and per the norm, will probably not replace it, so you'll need to get down there ASAP.
Firehouse is also serving up the Tannat Reserva from Bodegas Carrau by the glass (previous review).
Monday, September 10, 2007
Edumacational Videos...
I was contacted a while back by a fellow wino from Edmonton, Alberta named Sorin Mihailovici. Sorin is currently taking classes at Grant MacEwan College in television production. One of his classes required some educational videos.
As any good wino will tell you, anything can become an excuse to open a bottle of wine -- Sorin naturally chose to do his educational videos on wine.
This one shows you an ingenious way to open a bottle of wine without a traditional corkscrew...
Open A Bottle Of Wine Without Corkscrew - Sorin Mihailovici
I found it pretty interesting, although technically there is a cork and a screw.
He also has a video showing how to remove red wine stains with milk (sorry, vegans) or white wine.
Sorin has a MySpace page, so give him a shout.
As any good wino will tell you, anything can become an excuse to open a bottle of wine -- Sorin naturally chose to do his educational videos on wine.
This one shows you an ingenious way to open a bottle of wine without a traditional corkscrew...
Open A Bottle Of Wine Without Corkscrew - Sorin Mihailovici
I found it pretty interesting, although technically there is a cork and a screw.
He also has a video showing how to remove red wine stains with milk (sorry, vegans) or white wine.
Sorin has a MySpace page, so give him a shout.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Clio
I had been hearing good things about Clio ($$-$$$) for a few years now. Robert Parker gave the 2002 vintage 93 points; he gave 96 points to the 2003. I'm not sure why it took me until the 2004 vintage to get around to trying it, but it seems there is a consistency in its quality. The wine is a blend of 60 year old Monastrell (Mouvedre) vines and 25 year old Cabernet grown in the Jumilla region of Spain.
This wine is brought together by Australian Chris Ringland, who started his own label, Three Rivers, in 1989. Since, he has traveled the world, bringing his knowledge to several top producers.
The wine itself was reminiscent of dark red fruits, coffee, and black pepper. The black pepper overpowers the taste at first, so allow this one to breathe. It's mouthfeel and long, smooth finish made me think of Silver Oak, a much higher priced California cult-wine.
The wine is currently being sold by the glass at 116 Crown (Crown St., New Haven) through their fancy shmancy super duper nitrous system (actual technical term), that keeps by-the-glass wine at by-the-bottle quality for up to 2 weeks.
Also running through the nitrous system are Chateau Villerambert Julien and Chateau Pontac Monplaisir.
Check out a video review of Clio on Winelibrary.com.
Chateau de Fifteen Bucks
French wine labels, while carrying all the necessary information, tend to be misleading. A $200 Bordeaux will carry a very similar label to a $5 bottle, and it's possible neither are very good. Some foodie friends of ours from Wallingford had us over tonight and offered Chateau Chantemerle Medoc 2005 ($). At $15, this bottle is a steal. The wine is a blend of merlot, cabernet, and malbec from vines that would be described in the U.S. as ancient. In Europe, obviously, they're still considerably young at 20. It was well balanced, flavorful, and structured. This is a very drinkable Bordeaux at an easily digestible price.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Revisiting Firehouse 12
I ran into Carlos from Firehouse 12 (45 Crown St., New Haven) at a wedding recently, and realized it had been a while since I had stopped in for a visit.
Carlos has been busy researching new wines and bringing in some new by the glass items. They almost always have a few specialties hidden away somewhere, so it's a good idea to ask your server before selecting something off the wine list.
I found Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano ($) off list. The wine is a blend of sangiovese, cabernet, and canaiolo, and was rated 90 points by Wine Advocate. This is a super value for a Tuscan wine. Earthy cherry and tobacco give way to a medium body and fine tannins. It will pair well with spicier dishes or stand tall on its own.
I was glad to see this wine at Firehouse and I hope it becomes a regular item.
They were also offering the Carrau Tannat Reserva ($) by the glass. For a previous write-up, check here.
One of the Caymus Belle Glos pinot noirs will be available soon by the bottle, although I couldn't figure out which one.
Firehouse also has a fairly progressive beer list.
Carlos has been busy researching new wines and bringing in some new by the glass items. They almost always have a few specialties hidden away somewhere, so it's a good idea to ask your server before selecting something off the wine list.
I found Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano ($) off list. The wine is a blend of sangiovese, cabernet, and canaiolo, and was rated 90 points by Wine Advocate. This is a super value for a Tuscan wine. Earthy cherry and tobacco give way to a medium body and fine tannins. It will pair well with spicier dishes or stand tall on its own.
I was glad to see this wine at Firehouse and I hope it becomes a regular item.
They were also offering the Carrau Tannat Reserva ($) by the glass. For a previous write-up, check here.
One of the Caymus Belle Glos pinot noirs will be available soon by the bottle, although I couldn't figure out which one.
Firehouse also has a fairly progressive beer list.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
It's Red. It's Cheap. It Works.
The original concept behind the ElmCityWino project was to offer a sort of Wine For Dummies-type reference, while keeping the bottles affordable. I have never thought much of spending $30 for a bottle of wine, as wine tends to be consumed for a special dinner or occasion. I had never considered a $30 bottle as anything but affordable for such an occasion. It turns out many of my friends are more deserving of the title, Wino, than maybe even I, and I have been getting requests for a decent wine closer to the two-buck-chuck set.
Not one to run out and grab every "flavor" of Boone's Farm (Grandma Joyce warned me of that), this proved to be a daunting task. Various $10 and under bottles were purchased, consumed, and dumped.
One ecWino fan suggested I try hitting up South Shore Wine & Spirit (10 Coe Ave. East Haven, 203.466.9463), as they have a nice $10 section. Even there, I ran into the Aussie hurdle. It's not that an Aussie wine can't be good, it's just that there is definitely a marketing research survey behind every cuddly critter emblazoned on a wine bottle. The French don't put animals on their bottles, now do they?
So I looked into France. Unfortunately, most French wines require at least some knowledge of the wine other than what is printed on the bottle. A $200 Bordeaux and a $7 Burgundy will have deceptively similar looking labels. I tried a few of the cheapies, and with the exception of Chateau Cazenove, most were simply terrible. I decided to head further South.
As I perused the Spanish sections of several local shops, I kept leaning towards Rioja, when it came to me. I know of a certain wino stuck in the CT "heartland" (read: Marlborough) who buys Eguren Protocolo by the case.
Dominio de Eguren Protocolo ($) is a Tempranillo grown in the oft-overlooked appellation of Tierra de Castilla, located in Don Quixote's Central Spain. Jorge Ordonez's name is on the back of the bottle, so I knew I was on the right track.
The wine is surprisingly big, with tastes of chocolate and cherries. The tannins are grainy and dissectable (not a word?) with a spicy aftertaste (ole!).
This wine will not change your life in the ways that many of the wines of Montsant will, but it works. It exceeds any expectations I would have had regarding an $8 bottle, and will probably end up in the rack often.
Not one to run out and grab every "flavor" of Boone's Farm (Grandma Joyce warned me of that), this proved to be a daunting task. Various $10 and under bottles were purchased, consumed, and dumped.
One ecWino fan suggested I try hitting up South Shore Wine & Spirit (10 Coe Ave. East Haven, 203.466.9463), as they have a nice $10 section. Even there, I ran into the Aussie hurdle. It's not that an Aussie wine can't be good, it's just that there is definitely a marketing research survey behind every cuddly critter emblazoned on a wine bottle. The French don't put animals on their bottles, now do they?
So I looked into France. Unfortunately, most French wines require at least some knowledge of the wine other than what is printed on the bottle. A $200 Bordeaux and a $7 Burgundy will have deceptively similar looking labels. I tried a few of the cheapies, and with the exception of Chateau Cazenove, most were simply terrible. I decided to head further South.
As I perused the Spanish sections of several local shops, I kept leaning towards Rioja, when it came to me. I know of a certain wino stuck in the CT "heartland" (read: Marlborough) who buys Eguren Protocolo by the case.
Dominio de Eguren Protocolo ($) is a Tempranillo grown in the oft-overlooked appellation of Tierra de Castilla, located in Don Quixote's Central Spain. Jorge Ordonez's name is on the back of the bottle, so I knew I was on the right track.
The wine is surprisingly big, with tastes of chocolate and cherries. The tannins are grainy and dissectable (not a word?) with a spicy aftertaste (ole!).
This wine will not change your life in the ways that many of the wines of Montsant will, but it works. It exceeds any expectations I would have had regarding an $8 bottle, and will probably end up in the rack often.
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