<a href="https://www.benoitny.com/">Benoit</a>&nbsp;is a Parisian-style bistro in midtown Manhattan where they provide an exceptional dining experience and a 28-page wine list with a stellar selection of bottles from every region in France.

So let&rsquo;s start with a region that has a long and rich history in winemaking and has produced some of the most expensive wines in the world: Burgundy.

Burgundy is a wine region&nbsp;that is renowned for producing quality wine, and it is the best-growing region for pinot noir and chardonnay. So it&rsquo;s no surprise that most Burgundy whites are produced with chardonnay and the reds from pinot noir. Burgundy or La Bourgogne to the locals, &nbsp;is in east-central France. This temperate region has dry summers and autumns and soil rich in clay and Jurassic limestone. It is these conditions that help chardonnay and pinot noir varietals thrive.

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Burgundy also has a highest number of appellations d&#39;origine contr&ocirc;l&eacute;e (AOCs). The vineyards in Burgundy are classified into four levels, which are rated on the quality of the terroir and climate. These designations are clearly labeled on the bottle and reflected in the price point.

Grand Cru tops the list and is reserved for only the best vineyards in Burgundy. These labels are highly coveted by wine collectors as only around two percent receive this classification. In fact, there are only 34 Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy.

One step down is Premier Cru which is awarded to around 12 percent, or 345, vineyards. Now you understand why Grand Cru wines are so expensive.

If you are looking for a wine from Burgundy&nbsp;that doesn&rsquo;t break the budget, a Village Wine offers value without compromising quality. These vineyards may be positioned next to Premier or Grand Cru vineyards but are one step away from the top classification. &nbsp;And finally, Regional wines receive the lowest classification and are often created from a combination of vineyards instead of a single village. Often these wines will be labeled as a wine of Bourgogne instead of Burgundy.

While pinot noir and chardonnay are the two main varietals in Burgundy wine production, aligot&eacute;, pinot gris, gamay, and sauvignon blanc are also used. Aligot&eacute; is a white grape used to make dry white wines. Gamay is a cousin of pinot noir and is more well-known as a varietal grown in Beaujolais, which is south of Burgundy. It&rsquo;s a light-bodied wine, similar to pinot noir. Sauvignon blanc originates from Bordeaux but it grows well pretty much everywhere. However, in Burgundy, there is only one appellation that allows Sauvignon in the wines: Saint Bris. &nbsp;

But let&rsquo;s head back to Benoit&rsquo;s wine list, and if a 28-page list is too much to navigate, head on over to the CorkRules&rsquo; <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/benoit/episodes/18">podcast with certified Sommelier Grace Hood</a>&nbsp;shares her quick recommendations on delicious bottles from the list.

Salut!

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About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine lists 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;

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Benoit is a Parisian-style bistro in midtown Manhattan where they provide an exceptional dining experience and a 28-page wine list with a stellar selection of bottles from every region in France.

Wines from Burgundy at Benoit

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 Lobster Club

Michaela Quinlan

Lobster Club

Music Intro:

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where&nbsp;(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 have you join us

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 The Lobster Club here in NYC. The Lobster Club is designed by acclaimed architect Peter Marino in the Seagram Building in the location once inhabited by The Brasserie.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their extensive wine list?

MQ: It certainly is extensive Robert! The menu at The Lobster Club features unique interpretations of traditional Japanese cuisine in sharable portions. There are stand-out white wines, along with classic red favorites.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: I love to begin with a classic &ndash; sparkling wine. They have a beautiful Prosecco on the by-the-glass list. The melon aromas and flavors in Prosecco are perfect when pairing with tempura and all things spicy.

Another stand-out on the by-the-glass list is the Trebbiano d&rsquo;Abruzzo. Trebbiano is the name of the grape, from Abruzzo, which is located in the calf of the boot of Italy. The aromas of this white wine feature lemon and apricot. You will also pick up a hint of salinity on the palate. This is a result of the ocean breezes and Mediterranean climate in Abruzzo, making it a perfect pairing for seafood.

RT: Sounds delicious and a great way to kick things off.

So Michaela, in looking at their list there seems to some good variety, was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: Of course, staying with the wines by the glass, the &nbsp;Kruger-Rumpf, Riesling Kabinett 2017 from Nahe, Germany. The most important term in this wine description is &ldquo;Kabinett.&rdquo; This means it is the least sweet in German Riesling classifications. However, the freshness and faintest hint of sweetness is a wonderful consideration to pair with the wasabi lobster or spicy chicken yakitori. The opposite pairing of flavors, in this case sweetness and spice, balance flavors beautifully.

For our red wine drinkers, I would begin with a glass of Saint-Joseph, Chave Selection&nbsp;Offerus, 2017, from the&nbsp;Rh&ocirc;ne Valley of France. The grapes are sourced from two parcels within St. Joseph, a renowned appellation in Northern Rhone. The silky tannins and spice of this syrah would pair well with their beef skewer or pork gyoza appetizers.

RT: These are some great calls. What if I&rsquo;m looking for a bottle with dinner?

MQ: Such an amazing selection. I would begin with a unique white wine for the table. The Benjamin Leroux 2019 Aligote. Aligote is a white grape from Burgundy. Aligote, the sister to Chardonnay, is unoaked and exudes bright acidity &ndash; perfect for crab, scallops, and avocado &ndash; along with mineral and herbal notes. Definitely a crowd-pleaser at an excellent price.

RT: I&rsquo;m a big fan of the aligotes myself. &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;

MQ: Of course. Back to our red wine selection, I would recommend the Domaine les Pallieres&nbsp;Les Racines, 2015 from Gigondas, France. We are all familiar with the importance of location, location, location. Gigondas is the neighbor to Chateauneuf du Pape in France&rsquo;s Southern Rhone. While you share climate, soil composition, and spectacular grenache/syrah production, you only spend a fraction of their pricier neighbor.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: Of course. Among the many stand-out selections, I am a fan of the Ch&acirc;teau d&#39;Issan 2001 from Margaux, France. Margaux is located on the Left Bank of the Garonne River in Bordeaux, where red blends are Cabernet Sauvignon dominate. The Right Bank of Bordeaux features blend that are Merlot dominant. Ch&acirc;teau d&#39;Issan is one of the oldest wine-producing properties in Bordeaux. The blackcurrant and soft tannin will win over even the toughest client!

RT: I do like my wine with some age.

MQ: Absolutely!

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate The Lobster Club&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 list reviews.&nbsp;

And finally, please drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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End

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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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Wade Cellars

Three by Wade Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, USA

Wade Cellars

Three by Wade Blanc 2020

Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, USA

Scarpetta

Frico Rosato NV

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La Belle France

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Longheri Pinot Grigio NV

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M. Chapoutier

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France

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White Roditis Moscofilero, Peloponnese NV

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Peloponnese, Greece

Villa Sparina

Gavi NV

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Yakima Valley Red, Washington NV

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Tabali, Micas Carmenere, Cachapoal Valley NV

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Giusti, Extra Dry, Asolo Prosecco NV

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Patient Cottat Sauvignon Blanc Le Grand Caillou, France, Loire NV

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