<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

&nbsp;

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

Whitney Grant

Cafe Champagne

Caf&eacute; Champagne

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a Wine List from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Whitney Grant, wine educator, and certified sommelier.

Hello Whitney, it&rsquo;s great to have you back on with CorkRules.

WG: Hi Robert! Thanks for having me! I&rsquo;m excited to share these wine selections with you and the CorkRules listeners.

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Cafe Champagne. Established in 1994, A classic Parisian cafe in the heart of Pike Place Market, Caf&eacute; Campagne has been cultivating regulars and pleasing out-of-town guests since its doors opened. Located on the charming Post Alley, it is the perfect spot to watch the world go by. We offer a dining experience that is exceptional in traditional food &amp; wine, and comfortable in ambiance and service.

Whitney I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what you think of their vast wine list.

WG: Well, Robert with a name like Cafe Champagne we might as well start with the namesake and chat about bubbles.

RT: Sounds like a great place to start!

&nbsp;I would recommend a bottle of the Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs La-lee-eh(Lallier). This wine is made from 100% chardonnay and is a beautiful pale lemon color. On the nose, you&rsquo;ll get lovely floral aromas of acacia with the signature secondary notes of pastry and butter. On the palate, the freshness and acidity of chardonnay will dominate with a vibrant citrus finish.

RT: Is there anything you&rsquo;d recommend if you are only looking to enjoy a glass?&nbsp;

WG: I would suggest the NV CR&Eacute;MANT DE SAVOIE. This wine is a blend and is 30% Chardonnay along with 50% Jacquere and 20% Altesse. It has bright acidity and packed with flavors of lemon, apple, and minerals.

RT: Cr&eacute;mant is another form of sparkling wine, could you explain to our listeners what the difference is between Cr&eacute;mant and Champagne?

WG: As you know to be considered Champagne the wine must be made in the Champagne region of France. Cr&eacute;mant is a great alternative to Champagne and in sort, it is wine made in the same style as Champagne but in a different region. You can see the Cr&eacute;mant de Savoie is a Champagne-style wine made in the Savoie region, the Cr&eacute;mant d&rsquo;Alsace is a champagne-style wine made in Alsace.

RT: You can certainly save some money without sacrificing quality by drinking this style of sparkling wine. Taking a look at the rest of the by-the-glass menu, what would you suggest?

WG: 2019 SANCERRE - Sancerre AOC is located in the Lorie valley of France, and Sauvignon Blanc is the only white wine variety permitted in this region. This cool climate region produces dry wine with high acidity.

This wine is delicious, with flavors of citrus, chalky minerality, and subtle floral notes.

RT: Ok, how about a glass for the red wine drinkers?

2018 BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR - Wines labeled as such are a great choice for inexpensive French wines. With the Bordeaux Superieur designation, you&rsquo;ll typically get wines that are early drinking, medium-bodied with bright red and black fruit flavors.

This wine has aromas of coffee and toffee, while the palate bursts with fresh currant and blueberry flavors.

RT: Wow, sounds delicious. What about something to impress my guests?

WG: The wine that really caught my eye when I first looked at the list is the 2003 CONDRIEU.

RT: That&#39;s a great choice, what drew you to this wine?

WG: Viognier is one of my favorite white wines and Condrieu is the region located in the Northern Rhone Valley of France,&nbsp; producing some of the absolute best of the best of this varietal. This region produces 100% Viognier and the best wines come from low-yielding old vines giving the wines super concentrated flavors.&nbsp;

With this being a 2003 vintage the wine has really developed those lovely tertiary characteristics of toast and almonds with dried fruit notes.

RT: You can&rsquo;t go wrong with Condrieu, that region is certainly known for excellent wines. How about you tell us about a red that will impress as well.

WG: I would suggest the 2011 SAINT-JULIEN Ch&acirc;teau Gloria. Saint-Julien is a region located on the left bank of Bordeaux so a cabernet sauvignon-driven blend.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

2011 was an excellent vintage so this wine really caught my eye. This wine has a beautiful dense ruby color with flavors of tobacco and subtle oak influence with fruit flavors of plum, juicy blackberries, and blueberries. Medium plus body with velvety tannins and a nice long finish.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

RT: We&rsquo;ve talked a lot about French wine today, before we go are there any domestic wines worth mentioning?

WG: Yes, there are some fantastic domestic wines offered here as well.

2016 Conner Lee Vineyard red blend is 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Franc. It has rich flavors of dark red currant, herbs, and blueberry with cherry jam on the finish. Conner Lee is a well-respected producer here in Washington state establishing their Columbia Valley vineyard way back in 1980.

And you know I love my Williamette Valley wines!

RT:&nbsp; Yes you do! What would you recommend for an Oregon wine?

WG: The 2015&nbsp; Big Table Farm Chardonnay. This wine was aged in French oak (10% new) on the lees. Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of butter, cream, and lemony custard, with subtle oak influences of sandalwood and spice. That richness is nicely balanced by acid leaving you with a mouthwatering finish.

RT: Whitney Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Champagne Cafe&rsquo;s wine List. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself.

WG: Thanks for having me Robert, this was an exciting list to review and I hope you get the chance to enjoy some of these wines!

RT: To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End

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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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