The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what&rsquo;s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Certified sommelier, Michaela Quinlan, reviewed the wine list to find the perfect pairings with sweetness and spice, the unique value wines, and the extraordinary bottles on their list. In addition to spotting the best bottles, Michaela also shared her knowledge of the Kabinett classification in German wines.

The term Kabinett originally implied a wine of superior quality, set aside for later sale. It is essentially the German version of the wine term Reserve. Kabinett wines are generally non-chapatilized which means they have not had sugar added to the unfermented grape must, which means that Kabinett wines are usually lower in alcohol content. The term originated from the Cistercian monks at Eberbach Abbey in Rheingau, where they deemed the wine too good to sell and set it aside for their own cabinet.

A wise choice. So let&rsquo;s see what&rsquo;s in the cabinet at The Lobster Club.

The <a href="https://hub.binwise.com/restaurant/375-park-ave/list/wine-list.html">wine list is extensive</a>, and it&rsquo;s also online so you can review the list before you hit the restaurant.

At the top of the list, you will find half bottles of sparkling, white, and red from a wide range of regions in France, Italy, and the United States. This offers an excellent opportunity to try a wine without committing to a full bottle. For half bottle white, consider the 2017, Selbach-Oster, Riesling Kabinett from the Mosel region is reasonably priced and offers the opportunity to try a Kabinett wine.

They also offer a full range of champagnes that range from a very reasonable Mouss&eacute; L&#39;Or d&#39;Eugene, Perpetuelle at $85 to a 1996, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne priced at $1250. They also offer a large variety of French Burgundy wines, and red Burgundy wines. While this extensive list offers wines from Europe and the States, it definitely favors French wines followed closely by Californian wines.

They also offer a large selection of magnums and large format, three-litre bottles, so if a celebration with friends, family, and/or coworkers is the goal, they have the selection, the size, and the substance to let you and your party celebrate in style.

For more info on the <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/the-lobster-club/episodes/5">Lobster Club wine list</a>, visit CorkRules.com and check out episode 4 of the podcast where Robert and Michaela identify a few stellar wines to try.

Cheers.

###

The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what’s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Fine Wines at The Lobster Club

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

Carisma

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore a fabulous selection of Italian wines at Carisma. Known as one of Toronto’s best Italian restaurants, Carisma offers an extensive wines by-the-glass list. 

Wine List Review of Carisma, Toronto

Michaela Quinlan

Carisma:

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!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s 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 Carisma. Carisma offers authentic Italian cuisine located in the heart of Toronto. Their new location, is able to accommodate a larger dining area, two private dining rooms, and separate bar area.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: I love a wine list that features an extensive wines by-the-glass list and half bottle selections, as well as full bottle selections. Carisma&rsquo;s wine list is, of course, Italian dominant, along with some New World favorites. Today we will focus on a series of unique Italian varietals.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin with a highly rated, organic white wine. Consider the 2020 Ceretto Arneis Blange from the Piedmont of Italy. This fresh, medium bodied white wine showcases aromas of white flowers, citrus, green apple, and pear with bright acidity and a mineral finish. The extra body of this wine makes it a perfect pairing for lightly sauced seafood and dense fish such as tuna and salmon. 

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: A full-bodied red to consider would be the 2011 Tenuta Cavelier Pepe Opera from Taurasi in Campania, Italy. The grape is Aglianico which features aromas and flavors of ripe plumb, fig, ripe black cherries, with notes of white pepper and tobacco on the finish. This is the bold red wine to explore when pairing with richly sauced 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;?

MQ: A must try is the 2019 Feudi di San Gregorio, &nbsp;Fiano Di Avellino&nbsp;in Campania. This dry, medium-bodied white wine consisting of the Fiano grape is fragrant and fresh with aromas of lemon zest, tangerine, honeysuckle, and a mineral finish. Fiano makes an excellent companion to shellfish and lightly sauced pasta. &nbsp;

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: Let&rsquo;s head to Umbria for a beautiful bottle for the table. Consider the 2013 Lungarotti Rubesco Riserva, Vigna Monticchio. This rich, Sangiovese features ripe black cherries and blackberries, notes of sage, earth, and cocoa, with smooth tannins. Consider this to pair with richly sauced proteins and pasta. 

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 favorite Italian white grape of excellent quality and value is Garganega. Consider the 2019 Tedeschi Capital Tenda Soave Classico in the Veneto. This is a beautiful wine to enjoy as an aperitif or to pair with shellfish and fried seafood. The bright acidity with notes of lime zest, ripe peach and a mineral finish make this white a crowd pleaser. 

&nbsp;

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

&nbsp;

MQ: For fans of bold, savory reds, consider the 2016 Vigneti del Salento &ldquo;I Muri&rdquo; Primitivo from Puglia. The primitivo grape from Southern Italy is similar in style to Zinfandel, with ripe black cherries, black berries, plumb, fig, and notes of vanilla on the finish. This is an excellent pairing with savory dishes and olives, 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: What better way to celebrate with classic Italian cuisine, than with a classic, Italian wine. &nbsp;Consider the 2013 Ornellaia from Bolgheri Superiore in Tuscany. Ornellaia is known as one of Italy&rsquo;s top Bordeaux style wines. First produced in 1985, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot is rich, bold, and showcases aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, and cassis, notes of lavender, smoke, and leather with a mineral finish due to the varied soil composition of the region. Enjoy this classic with all richly sauced dishes and special events. 

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Carisma&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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