Certified sommelier Maria Valetta explores the <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/smith-&amp;-wollensky/episodes/6">wine list of Smith and Wollensky</a>&nbsp;on the upper east side of New York City. Top wine varietals under the spotlight include a 2020 Louis Jadot Macon Village, the PAX 2019 Gamay, the 2018 Aperture Cabernet from Sonoma showcased on their Captain&rsquo;s Pocket List Page or the 2018 Hourglass Blueline Estate Cabernet from Napa.

When it comes to defining wine, you can categorize them by region, varietal, or style, but to really get to grips with understanding the world of wine, it makes sense to go to the source. The grape.

The type of grape is known as the varietal, and whereas once upon a time the varietals were specific to a region, in contemporary vineyards, varietals are planted, crossbred, and potentially, genetically modified. Additionally, the flavors, skins, and chemical compounds of each varietal will change depending on the terroir, temperature, and weather.

There are over a thousand different varietals of wine grapes but the following eight are the most commonly known grape household names. chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, &nbsp;pinot gris, and riesling, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, zinfandel, and pinot noir.

However, beyond these eight common varietals there exists a large and adventurous world of wine varietals to explore, each with its own unique characteristics based on environment, age, and production method.

At <a href="https://www.smithandwollenskynyc.com/">Smith &amp; Wollensky</a>, prime, dry-aged steaks are the cornerstone of their menu, but if fish, lobster or oysters are on your mind, you won&rsquo;t be disappointed with the Cold Water Lobster Tails or the Scottish Salmon Waldorf. Pair the salmon with the Benton Lane Pinot Noir from the

Willamette Valley to experience how a light tannin red works well with the meaty fish. Pinot noir is a lighter-bodied wine with notes of cherry, cranberry, and rose. It&rsquo;s drier and has a higher acidity with smooth tannins. The higher acidity and tannins pairs well with oily, meaty fish dishes. The tannins help bring out flavor that is carried in the fat, and in symbiosis, the fat tempers the tannins&rsquo; astringency, which allows the other characteristics in the wine to rise on the palate.

And with the Lobster, &nbsp;try a bottle of the Louis Jadot, Macon-Villages Chardonnay

Burgundy, and see how the chardonnay&rsquo;s notes of yellow citrus, pear, green apple pairs well with the rich seafood. Chardonnay is a full-bodied white that won&rsquo;t be overpowered by the richness of the lobster. When pairing wine with food, just like every good match, it&rsquo;s all about bringing out the best in each other.

On CorkRules podcast episode five, Maria identifies a few value wines on the list that should not be missed, she points out a few outliers that are well worth trying, and she shines a light on the meaning of verticals to help demystify the world of wine.

Cheers.

At Smith & Wollensky, prime, dry-aged steaks are the cornerstone of their menu, but if fish, lobster or oysters are on your mind, you won’t be disappointed with the Cold Water Lobster Tails or the Scottish Salmon Waldorf. Pair the salmon with the Benton Lane Pinot Noir from the

Top Wine Varietals at Smith & Wollensky

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

Bar à Vin 1855

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the French bistro Bar-a-Vin in Boston. 

Wine List Review of Bar a Vin, Boston

Michaela Quinlan

Bar a Vin 1855

Bar-a-Vin

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 lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that&nbsp; 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 Bar-a-vin 1855. Located on Newbury St in Boston, MA, this wine-focused, French bistro is a must-visit. Stop in for Brunch, shareable plates, or a full-course dinner.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what you think of their wine list?

MQ: With over 250 French wine selections, there is certainly something for everyone. They even feature a number of premium wines served via Coravin. This is a device used to pour wine samples by inserting a hollow needle through the cork without removing the cork. We are featuring a number of favorites and new selections for you today.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: One of my favorite French, white grape varietals is Viognier. The first wine that caught my eye was the 2020 Domaine St. Amant, Viognier. This wine is produced in the Southern Rhone Valley, and is dry, medium-bodied, and fragrant. You will certainly identify the white flowers and honeysuckle aromas as soon as you lift your glass. Additional aromas and flavors of ripe peach and apricot make this white wine a perfect pairing for charcuterie, and lightly sauced proteins.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: My next selection is certainly unique. It is the 2019 Domaine la Colombiere &ldquo;Frontons Flingueurs from Fronton. Fronton is an appellation located in the Languedoc. The grape in this biodynamic red wine is Negrette. Negrette is generally grown in Southwestern France, near Toulouse. This is another equally floral and fruit-driven wine. Here the aromas of violets and roses take center stage with a finish of plumb and herbs. Pair this wine with herbed dishes and hard cheeses.

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: Always a classic, a must-try is the 2018 Chateau du Seuil, Graves, from Bordeaux. Graves is a sub-region of Bordeaux that is famous for producing dry red and white wine, along with sweet wine. It is also famous for its gravelly soil, which produces wines of beautiful minerality. This white wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion. Semillion is the grape used to produce their famed sweet wines. However, this white is dry, crisp, and features aromas and flavors of ripe green apple, and lemon zest, with a slight creamy finish, as this wine is lightly oaked. This is a wonderful pairing with smoked dishes, and seafood.

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: Since Bar-a-vin&rsquo;s menu features many classic French herbed and seafood dishes, we must try the 2020 Chateau Sainte Marguerite Grand Cru Clesse Rose from Provence. The Grenache and Syrah grapes used for this rose are estate grown, organic, and from one of the few Grand Cru designated Chateau in Provence. This rose showcases raspberries, strawberries, and fresh watermelon with a crisp, dry, mineral finish. A classic wine to pair with classic dishes.

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: Believe it or not, this menu features a standout white Burgundy of excellent value. The 2020 La Chablisienne Petit Chablis is a must try. Petit Chablis is an appellation in Chablis, located within Burgundy, that also produces Chardonnay. The main difference between Chablis and Petit Chablis is that the Chardonnay of Chablis is a bit fuller bodied in comparison to the Chardonnay of Petit Chablis which is lighter with brighter acidity and citrus. Do pair this wine with tuna, salmon, and light proteins.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Another standout value wine for our red wine drinkers is the 2017 Henri Bourgeois &ldquo;Les Baronnes&rdquo; from Sancerre. Yes, the Sancerre region, Located in the Loire Valley, not only produces high end Sauvignon Blanc, but also this spectacular Pinot Noir. This organic, highly-rated wine features everything you are looking for in a quality Pinot Noir from aromas and flavors of cranberries, raspberries, to spice, earth and notes of violets. A perfect pairing for grilled proteins, and herbed dishes.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: You may certainly explore many notches within this wine list, however, a classic to consider would be the 1988 Labegorce from Margaux. Located on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, this historically highly rated wine consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. With aromas and flavors of ripe black berries, plumb, fig, cassis, smoke, with notes of vanilla on the finish. The soft tannins are thanks in part to the aging in French oak, followed by aging in bottle. A classic wine to be shared during any special occasion.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Bar-a-vin 1855&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.

&nbsp;

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.

End

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