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About this Episode

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at Sorrel, a restaurant that delivers a fabulous experience in both taste and aesthetics. The menu is focused on local Californian-inspired cuisine with Italian influences, and fresh, seasonal produce. The wine list is curated to represent a variety of regions and an eclectic array of varietals.

Wines reviewed include:

  • 2018 Arnot Roberts CS “Clajeaux Vineyard”
  • 2016 Jamet Côte Rôtie, Rhone
  • Piemaggio Le Fioraie Chianti Classico
Transcript: Sorrel

Sorrel

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules! 

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier

Hello Grant, great to have you back for another great wine list.

GW: Hello Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Sorrel is an Italian contemporary restaurant located in Pac Heights that has earned a Michelin star thanks to Chef Alexander Hong who trained at Quince in SF. They are best known for making revelations via pasta and I’m excited to see what’s on their wine list. Let’s start as we usually do with their wines by the glass. Right away I like the Cruse Wine Co. ‘Tradition’ sparkling chard/Pinot noir coming from great vineyards across California and you know I can resist starting with bubbles.

If you’re looking for something white and fresh, then I love the 21’ Ryme “hers” Vermentino from Carneros. I love this wine and is one of my go-to everyday wines that my girlfriend and I drink all the time and love what husband and wife team Ryan and Megan are doing in Sonoma.

A great red by the glass is the 2020 G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba which is a perfect pairing for all things pasta.

Let’s move on to bubbles on the bottle list. A great value Champagne on their list is the Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ extra brut from the grand cru village of Bouzy but a good splurge would be the Jerome Prevost, Meunier extra brut ‘La Closerie’ from the Montagne de Reims.

Moving forward with whites, I like the 19’ Idlewild Arneis from the Lost Hills Ranch which is fun California take on the Italian Piemontese white which is a perfect wine to go with this California take on Italian cuisine.

A fun wine to get a little wild with is the Pax, Skin-fermented Trousseau Gris from the Russian River but if you want to go a bit more traditional Italian then try the 2012 Malvasia by Kante in Venezia-Giulia.

Changing gears to reds, I always love the 2018 COS, Nero D’Avola/Frappato from Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico in Sicilia which is really light and fresh and easy to match with food. Stepping things up a bit is the Tuscan classic, Piemaggio ‘Le Fioraie’ Chianti Classico.

Climbing the latter in body and power we have the 16’ Nada Fiorenzo ‘Manzola’ from Barbaresco which is great but Robert, I know you like wines with age so for you I’d order the 02’ Arpepe ‘Sassella Rocce Rocce’ Valtellina Superiore Riserva to really get things bumpin’.

A few local wines to take your dining experience to the next level I’d go for the 2018 Arnot Roberts CS “Clajeux Vineyard” from Chalk Hill which is amazing. Another fun one is the 2016 Jonata Syrah blend “Todos” from Ballard Canyon, I just visited this estate that is part of The Hilt down in the Central Coast but if you a more classic iteration of syrah then look no further than the 2016 Jamet Côte Rôtie, Rhone

Overall, this is another great list coming from a very exciting restaurant in SF.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

Grant, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Sorrel’s wine list. I can’t wait to go try your great suggestions.   

 

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: Info@CorkRules.com 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. 

 

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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