Josh Ardizzoni, certified sommelier and cellar consultant, reviews the wine list of <a href="https://thegrillnewyork.com/">The Grill</a>, &nbsp;a mid-century American Steakhouse inside the iconic Seagram Building in Midtown East. It&rsquo;s expensive, glitzy, and definitely smacks of mid-20th-century fat-cat dining, but it&rsquo;s well worth dining here. Whether you are in the mood for land, sky, or sea, the menu offers a delicious array of dishes, and the extensive wine list offers an impressive selection of champagnes, an impressive Premier Cru selection, and many exciting wines from Europe and beyond.

If celebration is on your mind, and you&rsquo;re in the mood for a little decadent indulgence, The Grill offers a classy, classic New York experience.

They offer several vintages of Louis Roederer, Cristal, ranging from 1997 to 2013, Moet Chandon, Dom Perignon, and more, and you can choose a three-litre bottle, six litres, or a magnum.

Champagne engages all the senses, from the first pop of the cork to the fizz when pouring, and the light pop of the bubbles in the glass. Then there is the delicate color, aroma, and texture on the tongue. It&rsquo;s light, delightful, and a downright joyous way to kick off an evening with friends.

Identifying the delicate tasting notes of champagne is no easy task, it takes dedication, focus, and the arduous task of drinking lots and lots of different types and styles of champagne.

The tasting notes in Champagne wines are subtle but every bottle has unique characteristics that have developed over time, and of course, are derived from the grape, age, producing and bottling. All elements converge and merge and mature into their own, unique bottle with notes that can range from fruity to floral, wood or spice.

At The Grill, consider kicking off the evening with a bottle of Dom P&eacute;rignon, Lady Gaga, 2010, the floral aromas, nuttiness, toast and a tight salinity, this wine is full-bodied and dry, and wonderfully fresh.

A champagne that offers value in addition to sparkle is the Mouss&eacute; L&#39;Or d&#39;Eugene, Perpetuelle, it&rsquo;s a blend of 80% pinot meunier and 20% pinot noir. This wine has a deep and complex bouquet of golden orchard fruit, honeycomb, and candied peel. It&#39;s medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, and would complement many of the appetizers on the menu.

To learn more about the wine list at The Grill, <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/the-grill/episodes/7">check out the CorkRules podcast</a>&nbsp;with Josh Ardizonni.

Josh, a CorkRules&rsquo; sommelier, talks about where the exciting side of where champagne is going, and he identifies those exclusive and beautifully-aged bottles as well as the extraordinary value wines on the list such as Les Beaux Regards from B&eacute;reche &amp; Fils, the 2015 Volnay-Champans from Marquis d&rsquo;Angerville, and the 1986 Ch&acirc;teau Rauzan-S&eacute;gla from Margaux.

The tasting notes in Champagne wines are subtle but every bottle has unique characteristics that have developed over time, and of course, are derived from the grape, age, producing and bottling. All elements converge and merge and mature into their own, unique bottle with notes that can range from fruity to floral, wood or spice.

Tasting Notes in Champagne at The Grill

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

The Red Dory

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at The Red Dory where the views of the Sakonnet River offer a clue to the Mediterranean-inspired menu featuring fresh ingredients from local farms and docks.

Wine List Review of The Red Dory in Rhode Island

Michaela Quinlan

Red Dory

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi Robert!

&nbsp;

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:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about The Red Dory. Located in Tiverton, RI, overlooking the Sakonnet River, The Red Dory is a Mediterranean inspired restaurant featuring fresh ingredients from local farms and docks.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: I was excited to see what gems are on their wine list to pair with the incredible Mediterranean spices on their menu. We have some true stunners for you today.

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RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: A wonderful place to start would be the 2021 Ostatu Viura from Rioja in Spain. I am a fan of this white Rioja. This medium bodied wine is light enough for our Sauvignon Blanc fans, but rich enough to stand up to seafood and spice. The aromas and flavors of cantaloupe, green apple, lime zest, with a mineral finish make this a must try.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: If you are looking for a bold, red wine, look no further. Consider the 2017 Cantina del Taburno Aglianico from Campania, Italy. The dark fruit, such as blackberries and cassis, along with firm tannins, smoke, black pepper, and oak, make this an excellent wine to pair with herbed proteins.

RT: So Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo; ?

MQ: A must-try would be the 2021 Movia Sauvignon Blanc from Slovenia. This organic, medium-bodied sauvignon blanc is quite unique with its aromas and flavors of apricot, melon, tangerine, citrus, and a mineral finish. The extra body will certainly compliment any herbed dish.

RT: These are some great calls.

So, you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: Another unique wine to pair with any of amazing dishes from The Red Dory&rsquo;s menu is the 2021 Platinetti Guido, Vespolina from the Piedmont of Italy. The Vespolina grape is indigenous to the Piedmont and is similar in style to Nebbiolo. This red wine features rip red cherries and cranberries, along with a variety of herbs and spices such as black pepper, violets, licorice, and round tannins.

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; Any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: A stand-out quality and value wine is the 2020 Domaine Julie Benau, Picpoul de Pinet from the Languedoc of France. The Picpoul Blanc grape shines with its light to medium body, bright acidity, minerality, citrus, green apple, and a note of saline on the finish. This is an incredibly versatile wine for pairing, as it makes a great companion to spice and seafood.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Do consider the 2020 Franz/Netzl Christina Zweigelt from Austria. Zweigelt is an Austrian grape that is a cross between St. Laurent and Blaufrankish. Think of this grape as similar to Pinot Noir. This is a light and fresh red wine that features cranberries, sour cherries, spice, and smooth tannins. This red makes a perfect pairing with the spice of Mediterranean food and can also be served chilled. All for an excellent price.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: The Red Dory features a number of options to take your wine selections up a notch. One that caught my eye, always the Old-World fan, was the 2016 Chateau Banaire-Ducru, Grand Cru Clesse, Saint Julien in Bordeaux. This 96 point rated Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a splash each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, showcases cassis, ripe blackberries, and plum, spectacular on its own, but truly a standout &nbsp;with the exceptional menu of The Red Dory. The smoke, earth, and round tannins make this wine an excellent consideration to add to any event.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate The Red Dory&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself. &nbsp;

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: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> 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.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

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Matteo's

Walt is a family-owned winery in California that specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They are dedicated to crafting wines that tell the stories of the vineyards where they are grown, and the people who tend them. Founded in 2010 by Kathryn Walt Hall, a former US ambassador to Austria, Walt has quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the finest wines in California.

Frenchette

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La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

Charlie Bird

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Buddha Bar

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Frank's

Maison

Maison Premiere

Pastis

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Aldo Sohm

homepage

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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