Dr. Vino got a few dozen of us together last evening at Varietal, a fancy new restaurant and wine bar in Chelsea. It was great to meet Dr. V (aka Tyler Colman) in person, who was a skillful and affable host. Most of the people who showed up were students of his NYU wine classes, so this was something of a busman's holiday for everyone.
I also met a young guy named Jason, whose family has been farming on the North Fork of Long Island for generations. In the past several years they have been growing grapes and making their own wine. Very interesting conversation. Jason brought up the recent NY Times article by Lisa Granik. Lisa, an MW, took the region to task for, among other things, pushing too hard on its "we're just like Bordeaux" shtik, along with its overemphasis on Merlot. The quality/price ratios of the region's wines were another problem. While the article raised an outcry in some circles, Jason thought its argument had a lot of merit: "we're still finding our way" was his summary.
Finally, I spent a good hour talking, often passionately and hilariously, with the East Village Wine Geek -- a young guy who is, by night, a sommelier at a cool Alphabet City wine bar. Our topic: Italian wine in all its glorious variety and confusion. And it turned out we had a mutual friend, Gabrio Tosti of De Vino. Salute!
So, what about the wines I tasted or drank?
A mixed bag. I had a flight of Greek reds ($15) that were pretty inferior. One had a foul chemical odor that only got worse with air. $15 in undrunk wine -- pity.
I resorted next to an Inama Soave 2004 -- round, slightly sweet, fruity and wholesome-tasting.
Then a wonderfully honeyed Pinot Gris from Alsace. I was deeply engaged in conversation by this time and chose it pretty much at random, so I don't remember the name. Too bad -- it was to most Pinot Gris as Inama is to most Soave.
Last night we had a Sauvignon Vulcaia by Inama too at home in Venice (Venezia) with friends! It's always a good bottle, whan served very chilled it keeps a good "tomato skin" aroma...
Other bottles we drank yesterday: Weissburgunder Cornell 2003 (but too much barrique!), Champagne Charles de Cazanove Brut 1995 (lovely pinot full taste), Champagne Jean Josselin Brut (a good vigneron independent my friends met during a recent trip there)...
Lunch was based on fish and vegetables (Rialto market is great for but fish!!!)
Ciao!
Posted by: Fede | January 15, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Terry,
So glad you could make it! It was great to meet you--we'll have to do another meetup again soon. And let's get Gabrio to come this time!
Cheers,
Tyler
Posted by: Dr. Vino | January 16, 2007 at 10:30 AM