<a href="https://balthazarny.com/">Balthazar </a>is an iconic French Brasserie in the heart of Soho, Manhattan, and indeed, it is so very French. The waiting staff, the decor, the clientele and the vibe is reminiscent of a typical French cafe. Elegantly casual, but let&rsquo;s move on to the wine list. The wine list is all French, and as such, most wines are made from French grape varietals, so let&rsquo;s take a look at the nuances and notes of a few varietals that are the foundation of the wine.

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From north to south, the various wine regions have distinct characteristics in climate and soil, and of course, each region grows the varietals that are best suited to thrive, but because the climate and terroir inform the texture, sweetness, age of vine and harvest time of the grape, the flavor of the same varietals differ depending on the location. &nbsp;

There are over 200 indigenous wine varietals, some are well-known and loved, chardonnay, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon. These are the friendly bottles you can call up on a Friday night to kick back with because you know what to expect; but there are others that are lesser-known varietals like persan, prunelard noir, and lival. You might order a bottle of these strangers if you&rsquo;re looking for a little adventure.

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At Balthazar, they offer wines from every region, but let&rsquo;s explore the wines of Bordeaux. Why? Because the popular merlot and cabernet sauvignon originated from Bordeaux and when you think Bordeaux, you automatically think red. In fact, ninety percent of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

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Bordeaux wine country&nbsp;is divided into two main regions: the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The terroir of the Left Bank

Well, one of the biggest differences between the Left and Right banks is what&rsquo;s in the soil. The Left Bank is warmer and the soil has more gravel, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc thrive here. Cabernet Sauvignon needs more heat than merlot to ripen and release the sugars that deliver bold black fruit flavors, high levels of tannin and acid. Additionally, the gravel ensures good drainage and holds heat better than the clay soils of the Right Bank.

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The Right Bank terroir has more clay and limestone, and the climate is cooler and wetter. Merlot ripens in the slightly cooler temperature of this area, and the wetter, cooler clay soil helps nurture smooth tannins and a mix of red and black fruit flavours.

For more tips and recommendations, check out this CorkRules&rsquo; <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/balthazar/episodes/17">wine review podcast</a>&nbsp;episode where certified sommelier Maria Valetta reviews Balthazar&rsquo;s wine list.

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About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine list picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the wine list through sommelier recommendations, suggested food pairings and expert insights

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About CorkRules:&nbsp;CorkRules, the first digital wine app experience, makes it easier for you to navigate the restaurant wine list, and provides you with personalized wine recommendations from your favorite restaurants. Through CorkRules you can find the perfect wine for every occasion based on your preferences. Connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try and learn about wine. CorkRules makes it easier to discover and drink what you love. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Balthazar is an iconic French Brasserie in the heart of Soho, Manhattan, and indeed, it is so very French. The waiting staff, the decor, the clientele and the vibe is reminiscent of a typical French cafe. Elegantly casual, but let’s move on to the wine list. The wine list is all French, and as such, most wines are made from French grape varietals, so let’s take a look at the nuances and notes of a few varietals that are the foundation of the wine.

Bordeaux Wines at Balthazar

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Jasmine, in Bellagio Hotel. 

Wine List Review ofJasmine in the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

Jasmine

Jasmine Bellagio Hotel and Casino

RT:&nbsp; Hi Everyone, welcome back to CorkRules! The wine podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your favorite restaurant wine lists so you can learn to order wine with CONFIDENCE.

I&rsquo;m Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria the Wine Blonde. Welcome back Maria

MV: Hello Robert! I&rsquo;m excited to talk about elevated Chinese cuisine and wine pairings with the list at Jasmine.

RT: Me too Maria, but before we get started, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. CorkRules was created to help you navigate the wine list so you will always love the wine you drink. With CorkRules in hand, you can confidently and easily select wines from wine lists based on your preferences of flavor, style, region, and even price! Plus, you can check out which wines your friends ordered and try them yourself. Want to get started? Then check out our podcast wine list reviews, our Top Sommeliers are here to help you find those hidden gems, value wines, and those special celebration-worthy bottles.

Now Maria, tell us a little about Jasmine Restaurant in Las Vegas.

MV: Surrounded by gardens and beautiful views of the Bellagio Lake and the famous fountain show, Jasmine Restaurant in the Bellagio Hotel and Casino intertwines upscale elegant d&eacute;cor with the flavors and exotic aromas of Cantonese, Szechwan, and Hunan cuisine.&nbsp; Featuring upscale versions of signature eastern dishes such as Peking Duck and Shanghai-Style Sea bass, Jasmine is a must for all lovers of Asian cuisine.

RT: Jasmine sounds incredibly special and I have also heard they have an award-winning wine list!

MV: Yes, you have heard right&hellip; and I was so happy to hear this restaurant finally reopened post-pandemic.

MV: So walk us through the list&hellip;

MV: to start we have a lovely selection of wines by the glass with quite a few standouts such as the Marc Bredif, Vouvray, Loire Valley, 2020&nbsp;[Bin - 3004770] a Chenin Blanc, from the Loire valley France $15 and the Alexana by Revana, Pinot Gris, from Willamette Valley, Oregon&nbsp;2015&nbsp;$14 both great options for dishes that feature exotic spices and would be perfect with the various soups on the menu.

RT: Any reds by the glass that you feel would work well with the starters on the menu?

MV: The starters showcase interesting pork dishes such as BBQ style pork, potstickers and pork ribs with garlic and so here I would select the Pinot Noir, Sokol Blosser, Dundee Hills, Oregon&nbsp;2019, and also with Peking DUCK!

RT: I Love Peking duck! What about some standout bottles here.. anything interesting or special?

MV: They have a nice selection of German Riesling listed in graduating order of grape ripeness&hellip; Kabinett, Spatlase, Auslese,&nbsp; and then under the dessert list they have few in the Beerenauslese , Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese category.&nbsp; I don&rsquo;t usually see menus break it down into those specific categories,&nbsp; I like that they do that. Also the Ashes &amp; Diamonds, Blanc, a Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend from California&nbsp;2018 caught my eye for this type of cuisine oh and &hellip;check this out, a wine from China&hellip; something I am sure we will see more of in the future. It is not INexpensive, but the Cabernet Sauvignon, Ao Yun, Yunnan Province&nbsp;2013 from the foothills of the Himalayas has quickly become China&rsquo;s best wine, so if you&#39;re up for trying something you&rsquo;ve never had, this is the place to go for it and remember it has had a nice bit of cellaring and is ready to drink now!

$750

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RT: Wow that&rsquo;s super cool and I have to say I have not come across Chinese wines on many wine lists and I see a lot of wine lists! I love it! So that one you said is a bit on the pricey side, what about some wallet-friendly finds?

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MV: Sure thing, Let me see, well for sure one of the German Rieslings, Dr. Loosen, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Known as the famous sundial vineyard in the Mosel&nbsp;region of Germany with blue slate soils, 2021&nbsp;$80 is going to pretty clutch with Chinese cuisine.

But also they have one of my fav Gruner Veltliner producers, the Nigl, (*eagle)Gruner Veltliner, Freiheit, Kremstal&nbsp;2018 both of these wines will shine with soy sauce, oyster sauce, ginger, garlic, all the spices and flavors on the menu.

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RT: I could see how they would complement Chinese cuisine really well which can be a little harder to pair wine with, could we also pull off a red selection with this food.

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MV: Absolutely we can, especially since Jasmine has all the Chinese favs such as Mongolian beef , beef broccoli and Black pepper garlic beef tenderloin. So for a great value in red we head down under to Australia , the Torbreck, Woodcutter&#39;s, Barossa Valley&nbsp;2017&nbsp;Shiraz&hellip; Aussie shiraz tends to be less tannic and so that will make this red more friendly to those spicy flavors. You get both Complexity and richness in this wine which is rarely found at this price!

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RT: So Shiraz and Cantonese that&rsquo;s a good tip!

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MV: Well I really really love Chinese food with Beaujolais but we don&rsquo;t have that option here.. that would be a good addition honestly.

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RT:&nbsp; But overall they have quite a selection.. I mean look at all the first growth Bordeaux!

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MV: oh yes, remember they get a ton of VIPs in the casino restaurants, so that said,

&nbsp;if you&rsquo;re looking to take it up a couple notches, and throw all your winnings at a 100 pointer here, then the Continuum, Napa Valley, California&nbsp;2018&nbsp;$575 is the way to go.. this wine will continue to change in your glass all night long and although it&rsquo;s still young, because it&rsquo;s new world you get lots of fruit, all of it, red, black and blue&hellip; and the 2018s are showing more supple tannins making it still a winner with most of our menu options, I would just opt for the less spicy meat-based options.

RT: What would we find you drinking at Jasmine Maria?

MV: My choice? Hmmm, that&rsquo;s tough, who&rsquo;s buying? haha

MV: If someone else is buying, the Salon, Le Mesnil, Blanc de Blancs, Mesnil-sur-Oger&nbsp;1997 because Salon is my favorite champagne b/c it is one of the last released champagnes in the world, because they are one of the pickiest houses when it comes to declaring a vintage, and it&rsquo;s very hard to find plus bubbles can cut the richness of fried and salty foods. If it&rsquo;s my tab you&rsquo;ll find me geeking out on the M&uuml;ller Catoir, Burgergarten Im Breumel, German Auslese Pfalz&nbsp;2016&nbsp;[Bin - 3002647] $145 a little sweetness and acidity with Asian Cuisine is what I love!

RT: Haha! Awesome well thank you Maria for helping us navigate the wine list at Jasmine in Las Vegas. Be sure to check out Maria on Instagram @Mariathewineblonde and Thank you everyone for joining us today, remember the only rule in wine is &ldquo;drink what you LOVE&rdquo;.

MV: Have a favorite wine List? Let us review it here. Send us your requests at <a href="mailto:info@corkrules.com">info@CorkRules.com</a> You can find previous episodes on your favorite podcast platform and on The CorkRules website. Be sure to follow @CorkRules on Instagram for episode and app updates. Prices and selections are subject to change, please drink responsibly.

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CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

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