If fine French dining is your raison d&rsquo;etre, <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/le-coucou/episodes/21">Le Coucou</a>&nbsp;is the place for you. Internationally acclaimed chef Daniel Rose made his name in Paris with his flair for French cuisine, and he brought his culinary creativity to New York where he established an elegant restaurant and exceptional dining experience.

And what better way to complement French fare than with a spectacular French wine? Bring on the Cru and let the fun begin.

But wait, should you splurge and opt for a grand Cru or will a simple cru do, and what&rsquo;s the difference anyway?

Let&rsquo;s demystify the terminology and move on to enjoyability.

Quite simply, the term &lsquo;cru&rsquo; is used within classifications of French wine to indicate a high-quality vineyard or group of vineyards. Cru literally means growth, and this term has been adopted in classification as a nod to the importance of the terroir.

Grand Cru is the recognized designation of higher quality wine. Grand Cru refers to the quality of a particular vineyard and the terroir in which the grapes grow. The terroir of the region that gains this accreditation is known to produce consistently high-quality vintages. Grand cru literally means great growth. The term is first found to be used in the region of Burgundy in the middle ages when the Cistercian monks and the Catholic Church classified each vineyard according to quality. In Burgundy, grand cru wines must be made with only grapes from villages that fall under a grand cru region.

Fast forward and move over to Bordeaux in 1855 when the term is officially recognized as a classification of the Left Bank Bordeaux (thanks to Napolean). The classification in Burgundy is all about the vineyards and terroir, but in Bordeaux, the classification of grand cru can be given to a winery that holds the status.

Premier cru wines are a step down from grand cru, however, since a premier cru vineyard could be literally next door to a grand cru vineyard, the difference in the quality of the wine may be negligible. Premier cru or 1er cru accounts for no more than 5% of the total Burgundian production, and grand cru makes up a tiny and exclusive 1% of production in Burgundy.

But if these high-status wines are outside of the budget, consider opting for village wines. These wines are from the same classified regions, but the yield allowed per hectare is more, allowing more of the grapes to grow, the vines themselves may be younger (old vines add complexity to wine). There are plenty of quality village wines on the market, and this is a great place for finding delicious wine at a good price.

If a white Burgundy is on your mind or you are looking for a grand cru wine, click over to the CorkRules <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/le-coucou/episodes/21">wine review podcast</a>&nbsp;with certified sommelier Grace Hood. She&rsquo;s identified a few good bottles on the wine list at Le Coucou.

Cheers!

&nbsp;

About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine list&rsquo; picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the wine list through sommelier recommendations, suggested food pairings and expert insights

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;

If fine French dining is your raison d’etre, Le Coucou is the place for you. Internationally acclaimed chef Daniel Rose made his name in Paris with his flair for French cuisine, and he brought his culinary creativity to New York where he established an elegant restaurant and exceptional dining experience.

Premier Cru & Grand Cru at Le Coucou

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

Il Capriccio

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list of Il Capriccio in Whippany, New Jersey 

Wine List Review of Il Capriccio

Michaela Quinlan

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<a href="https://ilcapriccio.com/pdf/Winelist.pdf">https://ilcapriccio.com/pdf/Winelist.pdf</a>

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Music Intro:

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.

&nbsp;

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

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RT: Today we are talking about Il Capriccio in Whippany, NJ. Authentic Italian cuisine featuring local seafood, meats, and vegetables from their local 180 acre organic farm.

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Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

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MQ: Il Capriccio features an exquisite wine list of over 15,000 bottles. An Award of Excellence winner by Wine Spectator, this list offers Old and New World favorites, half bottles, and special selections.

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RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

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MQ: The first white wine that caught my eye was the 2020 Case Paolin, Coste Degli Angeli, Manzoni Bianco from the Veneto of Italy. This Northern Italian white wine is a cross of Riesling and Pinot Bianco, resulting in a full bodied, aromatic wine featuring tangerine, lime zest, and ripe pear, with notes of minerality and white flowers. Pair this unique white wine with richly sauced seafood with pasta and savory dishes.

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RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

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MQ: Let&rsquo;s head to Southern Italy for another unique, full bodied wine. Consider the 2014 Odoardi, Giovan Battista, Gaglioppo from Calabria. The Gaglioppo grape features ripe plumb, fig, blackberries, with notes of licorice, tobacco, and firm tannins. Another stand out red that pairs well with tomato based sauces and all proteins and pasta.

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;?

&nbsp;

MQ: We know I enjoy something sparkling for any and all occasions. A must try is the 2013 Bellavista Franciacorta Brut. Franciacorta is located in Northern Italy. This fresh, dry sparker consists of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero. Classic aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, ripe pear, dried apricot, and toasty brioche. A wonderful way to begin your dining experience or to pair with shellfish, charcuterie, or fried appetizers.

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RT: These are some great calls.

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So you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

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MQ: If you are considering rich, meat sauces and pasta, then the 2007 Taurino Patriglione, from Puglia is for you. This Southern Italian red blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera is rich in color and body. Featuring red cherries, ripe blueberries, sage, lavender, with smoke, and tobacco on the lingering finish. Another unique and crowd pleasing red wine to consider.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

&nbsp;

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind..&nbsp; any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

MQ:&nbsp; I have thoroughly enjoyed reviewing Il Capriccio&rsquo;s wine list. The next unique white wine of excellent quality and value that I discovered is the 2018 Arnaldo Caprai, Grecante Grechetto from Umbria. Grown in Central Italy, this 100% Grechetto is light to medium bodied with bright acidity, minerality, ripe peach, tangerine, lemon zest, with a dry, lingering finish. Grechetto is an excellent companion to lightly sauced pasta, light fish, and proteins.

&nbsp;

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

&nbsp;

MQ: Another standout red wine consideration would be the 2017 Assuli Furioso Perricone from Sicily. The Perricone grape is native to Southern Italy and features ripe blackberries, black cherries, and prune, with notes of baking spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon from its time in French oak, and firm, round tannins. This wine of excellent quality and value pairs beautifully with hearty proteins, and tomato based sauces.

&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

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&nbsp;MQ: The following wine is truly spectacular. Consider the 2010 Emidio Pepe, Montepulciano d&rsquo;Abruzzo in Central Italy. Emidio Pepe founded his winery 1964, however, the Pepe family winery dates back to 1889, originated by Emidio&rsquo;s father and grandfather. Emidio strives for perfection in his wines, which is made quite obvious with each sip of his Trebbiano and Montepulciano d&rsquo;Abruzzo. This 2010 Montepulciano is rich, full bodied, and aromatic. Showcasing aromas and flavors of blackberries, cassis, mushroom, smoke, and leather, with violets and licorice on the lingering mineral finish, this wine is truly a winner. Enjoy with all richly sauced and savory dishes, along with any special event.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Il Capriccio&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

To our audience, Thank you all for Joining us here on CorkRules.

&nbsp;

If you would like Sam 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.

&nbsp;

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website and download the CorkRules app for ios. It makes personalized wine recommendations at over 40K restaurants, allows you to connect with friends and has price transparency. Order wine with confidence.

&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Valdo is a family-owned winery that has been producing high-quality wines since 1926. The winery is known for its dedication to excellence in winemaking, promotion of local grape varieties, and sustainable practices. Their vineyards are located in the heart of the Veneto region, where the unique climate and soil conditions produce grapes with exceptional flavor and aroma. Valdo's commitment to quality has earned them several awards and recognition in the wine industry.

Buzzy, family-owned fixture with gourmet burgers & rotating microbrews on tap, plus outdoor seating.

Grape the Wine Co.

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

Haywire Burger Bar

Available Wines
Total Wines - 8

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Dry Riesling NV

Riesling

Washington, USA

Castello del Poggio

Moscato d'Asti NV

Moscato

Delle Venezie, Italy

14 Hands

Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Cabernet Sauvignon

Columbia Valley, USA

Matua

Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

South Island, New Zealand

Catena

Malbec NV

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

19 Crimes

Red Blend 2019

Shiraz/Syrah

Victoria, Australia

NV Kendall-jackson Chardonnay California NV

California, USA

Sterling Vineyards

Vintner's Collection Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

Central Coast, USA