Wine For Your 20s

I'm alive, and still drinking plenty of wine.

Whoo hoo! I'm actually updating this blog! Boy, I nearly hit the one-year anniversary of NOT blogging. That's sad. 

For the three people who actually followed this blog, you were probably wondering: what the hell happened? Well, around the time of my last post, I got promoted to a director position at my job, which significantly increased my travel. I'm now on the road every month for about a week, some months even more. It's insanity, and sometimes I wake up not knowing where the hell I am (Scranton?), but I love it.

I'm getting back in gear, especially since now that I travel so much I'm actually getting loads of opportunities to drink wine all over the country. But the real reasoning behind this update was to mark a significant milestone in my 5+ years of drinking wine: I bought my first case.

This is a big deal for me. I've never bought twelve bottles of a single wine. Sure, I bought a few mixed cases here and there, but I'd freak out like any confirmed bachelor at the thought of committing to just one.

But when I visited the charming Martin Ray Winery (whose wines I've featured on this blog before) during a work trip to Sonoma County last weekend, I fell in love with their 2005 Angeline Mendocino County Riesling. Here's what Martin Ray had to say about it:

ANGELINE 2005 MENDOCINO COUNTY RIESLING is made from grapes carefully selected from Nelson Family Vineyards in Sanel Valley north of Hopland in the cool Mendocino County wine region. The Riesling fruit from this region is rich with concentrated fruit flavors and strong varietal characteristics. 

Our “dry” style Riesling is a light, crisp wine perfect for warm weather sipping and outdoor entertaining. Bright aromas of fresh peach are touched with a whisper of rose. Cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks preserves and enhances the floral aromatics of the wine. Crisp flavors of green apple and luscious peaches overflow into a light, dry finish that leaves you wanting more. 

Check out more stats: 89 points and a "Best Buy" listing from Wine Enthusiast, and Martin Ray was featured as a "Winery of the Year" from Wine & Spirits. But the best part? A case of this deliciously crisp wine is only $60. That comes out to $5 a bottle. FIVE DOLLARS. Put down that Three-Buck Chuck right now and buy this wine.

Personally, I'm happy to discover a not-at-all-sweet riesling to drink with chicken or light pasta dishes. With twelve of these bottles, I'll be drinking it again and again. In the meantime, I'll look forward to my next milestone: visiting my 100th winery. I'm at 38, so I still have a long way to go.

Review: 2006 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Santa Barbara

I was majorly bummed to miss dinner at Charlie Palmer Steak last night for Restaurant Week. I got way behind in my reading for my upcoming graduate class in New York and needed the extra couple of hours that would finally help me finish this 700+ page text on the history of Eastern religions. Exciting stuff, I know.

The Boyfriend, sensing my disappointment, decided to play the hero. So, he brought Charlie Palmer Steak to us in the form of a homemade dinner, complete with two beautiful New York strip steaks, steamed asparagus with a perfect green color, and, of course, a bottle of wine.

Now, everyone knows you’re supposed to drink Cabernet Sauvignon with steak, right? Cabernet Sauvignon has a dark, earthy flavor that stands on its own next to any thick, juicy slab of cow goodness.

But I hate following the rules. No one will judge you for drinking almost any red with steak, but be sure to pick something more full-bodied, such as Syrah or Zinfandel. You might also be surprised to hear that Pinot Noir, known for being more of a light red, can also fall in this category, just as long as it’s one from California or Oregon; the colder climate brings forth more acidity and darker fruit. Besides, I’ve been dying to try the Martin Ray Pinot Noir that’s been sitting in my wine refrigerator for months after it ranked #1 on Corridor’s Top 20 Wines list earlier this year.

The 2006 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County ($19.99) is exactly the kind of smooth, fruity red that could be paired with any dish—steak, fish, pasta, you name it. I know my “white wines only, please” friends will love its lightness and absolutely no bitter or alcoholic aftertaste. Red wine fans will love the berry flavors and overall balance. Not bad for a wine which received 87 points from Wine Spectator and the Silver Medal at the 2008 Orange County Fair.

Then again, what else can you expect from a winery named 2007 Winery of the Year by Wine and Spirits Magazine? Martin Ray wines, many under $20, are a fabulous deal—and they’re not hard to find at your local wine and liquor store. So remember the name. Martin Ray, Martin Ray, Martin Ray.

Photo from Martin Ray Winery

Top Ten Wine Lists in DC

I'm a big fan of Top Ten lists. I anxiously await any issue of the Washingtonian that features the best fine dining or "cheap eats" restaurant. Heck, I still tune in to Letterman's Top Ten list in the hopes that Number #1 will actually be funny. What better way to know what's best from the standpoint of people in the know?

Now Gayot.com has put out a Top Ten list of their own, and it's all about the wine. Here's how they determine which restaurants make the cut:

People love freedom of choice, and that's exactly what a top wine list provides. Some restaurants offer weighty tomes of their offerings which span the globe, include verticals, and make for interesting reading even for teetotalers. Others focus specifically on one country or region.

So there you have it. Here's the Top Ten Best Wine Lists in Washington DC (listed alphabetically):

1. Brasserie Beck
2. Central Michel Richard
3. Charlie Palmer Steak
4. CityZen
5. Equinox
6. Hank's Oyster Bar
7. Oceanaire
8. Poste
9. 701 Restaurant
10. The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Considering these restaurants' consistently good reviews from local food and wine critics from the Washington Post and Washingtonian, I'm confident they got this list down right. It's surprising to note, however, that wine bars such as Proof and Cork are left out of this list. Did your favorite restaurant make the cut? Do you think any of these restaurants don't belong?

New Wine Bar Coming to Columbia Heights

Prince of Petworth reported this week that the old deli on 11th and Lamont Streets in the Columbia Heights neighborhood is being transformed into a new wine bar, slated for an opening of October 1. Hooray!

DCist revealed more information this morning: the yet unnamed bar will house 15 seats indoors and 28 outdoors and serve desserts, cheese, charcuterie and, of course, wine:

Along with co-owners Dan Searing (Looking Glass Lounge manager), Ben Gilligan and Nick Pimental (Toolbox Design), [Paul] Ruppert envisions the space to complement, rather than compete with, surrounding businesses such as RedRocks, Wonderland Ballroom, and Columbia Heights Coffee. Aussie chef Ben Gilligan will be in charge of savory foods and wine selection, while desserts will come from Lizzy Evelyn and Nichole Ferrigno at Paisley Fig. Wine prices are likely to run between $8 and $14 a glass.

Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. Having just visited Cork last night (a positive and lengthy review to come), I am thrilled to see the wine bar movement staking its claim in DC.

Photo by Mr. T in DC's Flickr

DC Restaurant Week August 11-17

Damn! DC's Restaurant Week is being held from August 11-17, and I'll be in New York for most of it. I suppose I can't complain, being that NY far surpasses DC in the culinary race, but I hate missing the amazing deals you can get during Restaurant Week at ultra-elegant, only-for-very-special-anniversaries restaurants.

That said, I'll be dining at Charlie Palmer Steak on the 11th, the only free night I'll have that week. After a wonderful experience at Las Vegas' Aureole, of which is also owned by the chef of the same name, I'm very excited to see the wine list here. Maybe they'll give it to me in a PC tablet like last time.

For a list of participating restaurants, see www.washington.org/restaurantwk. Hopefully, you'll score seats to a Top 10 restaurant; already, the announcement has made the rounds of DC blogs and reservations fill up quickly. Hey, for just $35.08 for dinner and $20.08 for lunch, it's really worth it.

Review: Livingston Chablis Blanc

My last review got me thinking about more go-to wines. Last weekend, two friends of mine who, for the purposes of this blog, will be referred to as Rico and Lola, brought over a bottle of Livington Cellars Chablis Blanc, a wine of which they keep several bottles on hand and serve at large parties. But this was no ordinary bottle. It was huge ... at 1.5 liters!

Such a ginormous bottle has to cost over $20, right? On the contrary, Rico and Lola find that it varies in cost between $5 and $8.

Outrageous, you say! How could such a thing exist?

Well, it's easy to produce jumbo-sized wines with E. & J. Gallo, which owns the Livingston label, being one of the largest wineries in California. You've probably heard of them; you can't walk into a wine store without seeing a bottle of Gallo.

Something you might not know, however, is that they also produce wines under such recognized labels as Mirassou, Rancho Zabaco, Ecco Domani, Turning Leaf and, yes, even Boone's Farm. This is mass marketing at its finest. Good thing a few of these wines are good and affordable.

Back to the Chablis. Interestingly enough, the wine starts off crisp and dry in the beginning, but becomes a little too sweet, almost tart, at the end. However, I know more people tend to lean toward fruitier or sweeter wines, so this is another great find for the first-time wine drinker to bring to summer backyard parties.

As for me, I drank four glasses. As Rico best described, it's certainly "chuggable."

The Washingtonian's Best Of Party

After five love notes and a beautiful bouquet of lilies delivered to my office with a cryptic message: "Meet me at the Gallery Place South Station at 6:30pm," I was standing in the middle of the National Building Museum surrounded by chefs, cooks, bartenders, and even a few local celebrities at the Washingtonian's Best Of Party.

Over 50 of DC's best restaurants served everything from crab cake sandwiches to red velvet cupcakes (Georgetown Cupcake, of course). But while most of the food scored a perfect ten---I grabbed two of Tackle Box's succulent lobster rolls and slurped up all of CityZen's mushroom cream soup---a few fell short. The Boyfriend made a horrifying face after eating the Oval Room's pork custard, and if I saw yet another variation on gazpacho or steak tartare, I was going to scream.

This was Central's chocolate-lemon "pops." Absolutely divine. I even inadvertently complimented famed chef Michel Richard without realizing it was him! He laughed and jokingly said, "Don't thank me; thank the chef!"

Of course, I have to comment on the wine; after all, it was an open bar. I skipped on Clos du Bois, of which I've tried numerous times and is available at any corner beer and wine shop. Instead, I headed toward the bars for Napa Valley's Franciscan and Hogue Cellars' Genesis series.

 

I'm disappointed to report that both were complete disasters. The 2006 Franciscan Chardonnay was too heavy, too alcoholic, and with too little flavor; the 2005 Merlot was even worse: bitter and tannic, I felt like I was drinking wood chips. Even The Boyfriend made the same face he made after eating that bizarre pork custard.

The 2006 Genesis Riesling fared slightly better---your typical goes-down-easy white---but its weak and watery taste made it difficult to distinguish any fruit flavor.

Sure, I wasn't expecting high-quality wines; it was a party for over a thousand people, after all. But with only three wine brands represented---and far more beers and liquors---I felt quite limited. But the overall ticket cost---just $75 for samples of the best food in the city---was more than worth it. You'll find me at next year's event, but I'll cross my fingers for better wine.

The Weekend Update (June 11-13)

Well, The Boyfriend's surprise actually did turn out to be eating at Citronelle, but not quite like I had imagined. It was even better---he presented me tickets to the Washingtonian's Best Of Party!

Not only did I taste food from Citronelle (a delicious mushroom strudel with this amazing garlic cheese sauce), but I got to try CityZen, the Oval Room, Central, Sushi-Ko, 1789, Charlie Palmer Steak, The Source, Hook ... the list goes on and on. It was food heaven. (Too bad I can't say the same about the wine, but I'll explain further in tomorrow's blog entry.)

For now, the weekend is looking pretty good if your jonesing for wine and have cash to burn:

July 12: StellarOne Horse and Hound Festival. Wine tastings, live entertainment, and, I'm assuming, horses and hounds galore. Sounds a little too frou-frou for me, but if you're into that sorta thing, why not? 11am-6pm at Johnson's Orchards in Bedford, Virginia. $15 at the gate. www.bedfordwine.com

July 13: Loire Valley Wine Tasting. Wait, wasn't there another Loire Valley tasting a few weeks ago? Well, if you missed that one---and you still can't wrap your head around French wines---attend this free tasting hosted by Cork Wine Bar. 3-5pm. Free, but RSVPs recommended by July 11 to info@corkdc.com. 

July 13: Baltimore Chefs and Wine Experience. Now, this sounds fun. For only $55 for a general admission ticket that includes unlimited food and wine sampling, plus access to all cooking and wine seminars, you'll probably come out ahead. And if Food Network stars make your heart flutter, be sure to say hi to Queer Eye's Ted Allen, Food Finds' Sandra Pinckney, and cupcake king Warren Brown while you're there. 12-6pm at the Tremont Grand Hotel (225 North Charles St.) in Baltimore, Maryland. www.chefsandwine.org

DC's Proof Celebrates Its First Anniversary

The good folks over at Proof in DC's Penn Quarter district are celebrating their one-year anniversary on Sunday, July 6. And they want to celebrate with you!

Proof sends the following message via email:

In celebration of its first anniversary on July 6th, Proof will offer a complimentary glass of sparkling wine to each and every guest in its dining room that evening. The bubbly will be selected by Wine Director Sebastian Zutant, and delivered to each table by the restaurant's Champagne trolley, which customarily offers patrons up to eight different sparkling selections by the glass. In addition to the regular a la carte menu, Chef Haidar Karoum will offer a celebratory tasting menu outfitted for the occasion with specialties such as caviar, foie gras, and lobster, which will be complemented by Sebastian's special wine pairings that evening.

Proof has further cause for celebration this summer after being recognized by Food & Wine Magazine for having one of the Best New Wine Lists of 2008. The July issue of the magazine praises the restaurant's 1100-plus wine collection, and also gives kudos to Zutant for stocking the cellar with collectible and cult wines, as well a few "historic icons," such as the 1947 Cheval Blanc.

Free sparkling wine and an opportunity to dine at one of the hippest restaurants in DC? Where do I sign up, you say? Call 202-737-7663 and reserve your spot right away. This is definitely an event that will fill up quickly. And though I've only been to Proof once, it's quite an experience. Just seeing a Screaming Eagle on their wine list made me drool (and the price, upwards of about $3,000, made me cry).

Angelee at Vinoteca Tonight

Looking for some good wine and music? Vinoteca, located in the U Street Corridor neighborhood, will be hosting a special acoustic performance by local musician and good friend of the Vinoteca owners, Angelee. The event starts at 8:00pm tonight; reservations are suggested but not required.

On a related note, I will be posting a review of Vinoteca in the coming days. I've got to say, they host one of the most affordable and enjoyable happy hours in all of DC. If you can't come to tonight's event, be sure to stop by between 5pm-7pm Tuesday through Sunday and take advantage of their excellent wine list for an even more incredible price of $5 a glass.