Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting <a href="https://www.67pallmall.com/the-london-club/">67 Pall Mall,</a> an elite private members&#39; club in London that caters exclusively to wine enthusiasts. Nestled in a grandiose building steeped in history and charm, this establishment offers a rich gastronomic experience for all its patrons.

The Food:

Dining at 67 Pall Mall is akin to indulging your senses in an array of culinary delights. The menu was thoughtfully curated with dishes designed not just for their standalone merit but also how they pair beautifully with wines. From delicate canap&eacute;s to hearty mains and decadent desserts, each dish was crafted exquisitely using high-quality ingredients sourced locally.

The Wine Program:

The heart and soul of 67 Pall Mall lie undoubtedly within its extensive wine program &ndash; one that boasts over four thousand different labels from around the globe. Their highly trained sommeliers guide you through this labyrinthine list with grace and knowledge. Whether you&#39;re a novice or seasoned connoisseur, there&rsquo;s something incredibly satisfying about discovering new vineyards or vintages under their expert guidance.

What sets them apart is not only the diversity of their collection but also their impressive storage capabilities which allow them to house these thousands of bottles under optimal conditions ensuring perfect preservation.

Service &amp; Vibe:

Atmosphere plays a crucial role when it comes down to enjoying fine dining paired with exquisite wines; thankfully, this aspect has been mastered by 67 Pall Mall as well. With impeccable service that strikes the right balance between attentiveness without being intrusive along with an ambiance reminiscent of old-world sophistication mixed subtly with modern chicness - it&rsquo;s hard not be enamored by it all!

Global Presence:

Beyond London&#39;s historic St James district where it first opened doors back in December 2015 lies its international presence across Bordeaux, Beaune, Singapore, and Melbourne. Each location maintains the same high standards of service while reflecting the unique cultural nuances of their respective regions.

Comparison with Soho Franchise:

While both 67 Pall Mall and Soho franchise cater to an elite clientele seeking a refined experience, there are notable differences. Where Soho clubs tend to lean towards a broader spectrum of interests including arts, film and media; 67 Pall Mall is unabashedly dedicated to wine enthusiasts providing them with an unparalleled selection along with educational events hosted by industry experts.

The Need for Private Wine Clubs in New York:

Given New York&#39;s vibrant culture and its plethora of enophiles, it&#39;s surprising that private wine clubs like 67 Pall Mall aren&#39;t more prevalent here. Establishments such as Wing-Tip in San Francisco have demonstrated how these venues can become social hubs for those passionate about wines - combining education, appreciation and camaraderie under one roof.

Being part of a community like this not only expands your understanding but also refines your palate over time &ndash; making every sip you take thereafter a testament to your evolving sophistication. As I left the hallowed halls of 67 Pall Mall that evening - satiated yet yearning for more - I couldn&rsquo;t help but feel grateful for having been part of such an enriching experience. Here&rsquo;s raising my glass hoping many more will get to enjoy this oenophile&rsquo;s paradise!

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting 67 Pall Mall, an elite private members' club in London that caters exclusively to wine enthusiasts. Nestled in a grandiose building steeped in history and charm, this establishment offers a rich gastronomic experience for all its patrons.

A Connoisseur's Sojourn to 67 Pall Mall - An Exquisite Oenophile's Paradise

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

Osteria Delbianco

Maria Valetta, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Osteria Delbianco. 

Wine Review of Osteria Delbianco, 

Maria Valetta

Osteria Delbianco NYC

RT: Hello and welcome back to CorkRules! The wine podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your FAVORITE restaurant wine lists!

I&rsquo;m, Robert Tas along with Maria Valetta, Certified Sommelier and Wine educator also known as Maria the Wine Blonde

Hello Maria

MV: Buongiorno Robert I love a good Osteria&hellip;

RT: Yes me too Maria&hellip; and today we are reviewing the wine list from the midtown Manhattan gem, Osteria Delbianco.&nbsp; Chef Diego Bigucci honed his culinary passion in his homeland of Italy specifically in the region he was born, Emilia-Romagna, which is often referred to as the FOOD capital of Italy. His love of cooking all things flavorful, came from the influence of his Nonna, Maria Delbianco so it makes perfect sense that when he opened his own restaurant in NY in 2020, he named it after his grandmother. You will find traditional refined northern Italian fare featuring his family&rsquo;s time-tested recipes at this warm and inviting, elegant upscale eatery.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

RT: Maria tell us what you think of Osteria Delbianco&rsquo;s wine list.

&nbsp;

MV:&nbsp; I think it&rsquo;s a fairly easy wine list to navigate. There&rsquo;s new world California and old-world selections from Italy which makes sense given the menu&hellip; eeeehhh lacking in selections of other regions but I do love that there are lots of options in the $50-$60 dollar range

RT: That&rsquo;s a really great price point to be in &hellip;So would you start us with an old world or new world wine Maria:

MV: well, I don&rsquo;t have a by-the-glass list here to choose from (That&rsquo;s why we all need some CorkRules in our life so we can find all of the wine options online)

RT: Comment and throw.. (so true. Good plug maria!&nbsp; Lol)

MV: Given that, I would start out with the old world, something a little lighter like one of the pinot grigios listed&hellip; not all PG is equally interesting. in fact some can taste like watered-down wine&hellip; but here they have a producer that I just love: The JERMANN (yher Mahn) Pinot Grigio $65, This is from the Friuli region of Italy, up in the northeast corner it has a lot more flavor than probably any pinot grigio you have EVER tasted. a rounded palate with ripe orchard fruit, pears and peaches, and a little honeydew and a tangy bright finish. a lovely compliment to the fritto misto or the Prosciutto di parma and Burrata. Fun fact the famous salty-sweet aged ham Proscuitto di parma hails from Chef Diego&rsquo;s hometown region of Emilia-Romagna.

RT: That&rsquo;s great what vintage is that?

MV: actually, Robert they don&rsquo;t have the vintages for white wines only the reds. often that is because they change so quickly&hellip;

RT: That&rsquo;s unusual. maybe it&rsquo;s just the online version?

MV: you live close by you&rsquo;ll just have to make a night of it for dinner and let us know!

RT: I can do that&hellip;challenge accepted! Haha! So As you peruse the wine list anything else that is a must-try? Something fun? Or funky?

MV: a fun wine that&rsquo;s different and worth checking out is this reasonably priced Sella e Mosca Cannonau Rsv , a wine from the island of Sardinia, here they call the grenache grape cannonau.&nbsp; it&rsquo;s a fresh lighter bodied ruby red that&rsquo;s really delicious. Cherries and plums, medium tannins, salted herbs and earthy notes surrounded by spices, I even like this wine with a little chill on it so don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask them to cool it down a notch&hellip;try it with the cured meat plate, or the mushroom risotto. I love risotto!

RT: me too .&nbsp; so that wine is a good value. as I see it&rsquo;s under $60 any other tips for us for value wines to try?

MV: Yes here&rsquo;s another option under the $60 mark: The Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2015 $58 Ripasso in Italian literally means &ldquo;repassed&rdquo; and that describes the winemaking process here perfectly. This wine develops its rich concentrated flavors and softer profile by going through a second fermentation on the warm grape skins used to make their Amarone. Therefore, we will often refer to a Ripasso Valpolicella Classico as a &ldquo;baby Amarone&rdquo; because you get a lot of the complexity and depth with a tad less alcohol and a much better everyday drinking price point than an Amarone, Try it with one of Strozzapreti sausage and mushroom pasta plate which should bring out the bing cherry, candied dried figs and leathery flavors.&nbsp;

RT: You know where we are heading next. we want to get to entrees and are ready for something special to go with them, what do you suggest Maria?

Tommasi &quot;Ripasso&quot; is the unique result of refermenting Valpolicella Classico Superiore on the warm grape skins from which Amarone has been fermented. This process, used only in rare vintage years, imparts the richness of character and personality of a great wine to an already superior wine.

MV: There&rsquo;s a really intriguing wine worth seeking out and spending a little extra money on. the Tenuta San Leonardo San Leonardo 2014. This is a family-run estate in the Trentino-Alto Adige region in Italy ALL the way up north, protected by the Alps. Their winemaking is Steeped in tradition and this is their flagship wine, a Bordeaux blend, 60% Cab Sauv, 30% Carmenere &amp; 10% merlot. This wine has layers of wild berries, mountain-top herbs, vanilla-coated cassis, and green pepper. (most likely that last note from the Carmenere grape) This bottle is for the wine drinker that likes to THOUGHTFULLY drink their wine. it is incredibly complex and there&rsquo;s so much to discover in the glass.

RT: Is there a new world option you like worth spending the money on?

MV: I would steer you to the Groth Cabernet Sauvignon 2016. I love the Groth estate wines. Groth is based in napa valley in the Oakville AVA they always get rave reviews, everyone is going to love this wine it is a real palate-pleaser. Think ripe mulberry fruit, blackberries and juicy plums plus those integrated oak tannins that give it standout structure, you are going to love this wine! Try it with the spicy roasted chicken entr&eacute;e or the roasted Porchetta (the pork chop).

RT: That&rsquo;s a great wine and food pairing for our listeners to try as we wrap up today&rsquo;s episode. Maria, thank you for ALL of your helpful wine information and suggestions from Osteria Delbianco&rsquo;s wine list. You can find Maria on instagram @Mariathewineblonde.

Thank you EVERYONE for joining us on CorkRules, 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> and be sure to Check out all of our episodes on CorkRules.com; Please drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

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Slate Bleu Restaurant

Available Wines
Total Wines - 1

Gruet

Gruet Cuvee 89 Brut NV

Blend

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