True to my word, we felt no pain by the end of last evening. Friend Julie came all the way uptown from the West Village at 7 and left at 12. Time flew as we yakked, ate and drank:
1. The Abymes from Savoie that I wrote about the other day. Excellent with light nibblies before dinner on an awfully oppressive, humid evening. The crisp acidity and low amount of residual sugar made the wine highly effective as a way to chill out.
2. Grillo Parlante Fondo Antico 2006, the delicious Sicilian wine from the local grillo grape. We had it with a good spaghetti with clam sauce. The label shows a drawing of a cricket, since grillo means cricket in Italian. (Grillo parlante = the cricket that talks). Sharon and Warren joined us for dessert and she liked it very much too.
3. The new wine of the evening for me was the La Croix Belle from SW France in the Faugeres appellation. Another top-notch wine at a very good price from Astor -- $11.99 on sale. (Note to self: order more and soon.) How could you not like this 13.5% alcohol blend of Grenache Noir (50%), Syrah (35%), Mourvedre (10%) and Carignan (5%)? To me it seemed to occupy a most agreeable position between the Old and New Worlds. Enticing, fruity nose and first attack on the palate. The back label tells us that each variety is aged in oak for 12 months, separately.
As dinner went on, it became a little sterner and more demanding and I think the underlying grit of the Mourvedre had a lot to do with this. For the price, an unusually deep and nuanced wine.
It went a treat, as they say Back Home, with our huge antipasto of bruschetta, salumi, artichokes, olives and God knows what else.
The bottle in question is not the wine in question. We had a simpler blend, the base wine of the domaine. All the more pleasing for its modest price.
This delicious wine is imported by Wineberry America of Orangeburg, NY.
sounds like a fine occasion. I mean, how often does Julie rise above 14th Street? Good wines and food. I've had the Abymes; it's lovely. We're looking forward to being in NYC in two weeks (from last night).
Posted by: Fredric Koeppel | August 27, 2007 at 03:12 PM
I met Alberto of Falai on Madison Ave a few minutes ago and I told him we were coming on 9-11. "The wine writer Fredric Koeppel will be there." His eyes danced.
Well, no, but they did register recognition. He won't be there that week but he enjoined me to call tomorrow for res. Will do!
Posted by: Terry Hughes | August 27, 2007 at 05:34 PM
Ha, I liked the eyes dancing thing but I'll settle for recognition.
Posted by: Fredric Koeppel | August 28, 2007 at 02:50 PM