TN: Syrahs, Chards, and Turkish food in NYC +

This past Thursday, I was in NYC and managed to get some people together for an offline. It was quite the week in NY and there were at least 5 different tastings going on that night. I was thrilled to get the chance to meet some people in person that I had been talking to on the BB's for a decade or more. Also got to see my old Ebob friend George Spencer whom I knew when he went to law school in Cleveland. Special thanks to Lyle for coming over, he could not stay as he was fighting a virus with antibiotics. It was great to meet him after knowing him online for so long as well. Sip Sak was a fun a place with very good food. I think Turkish food and Syrah go very well together but there were other wines as well.

My favorite part of wine BB's is getting to meet other people when I travel (or they visit Cleveland). Instead of dining alone, we had a loud, fun night of lots of great stories and camaraderie. Too much food. And oh yeah, some wine as well. That is what wine is all about. Thanks to all who came out. I know the week has been taxing on your livers.

New Yorkers really have an amazing amount of great wine stores with each having a different personality. I took advantage and visited a few during the day as I had some time to kill and visited some of my favorite wine stores including Chambers Street. This was a good chance to pour our 2010 SonkinCellars Persona while it is still in the current edition of Wine Spectator and get some comments from those who wouldn't necessarily reach for a Cal Syrah or read WS. I will not put my notes on the wine down here other than to say everyone, even those is the AFWE were polite and complimentary, something I didn't expect from NYers. ;-)

Leo brought this and served it blind. A great find as all agreed that this wine drank well above its "pedigree". Good start to the evening.

• NV Bouvet-Ladubay Brut Rosé 89 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur

  (1/25/2013)

  I never saw the label on this. Leo provided it blind. He said this cost around $10 IIRC which is great value. Pink/salmon in color. The nose has some cranberries and strawberries. Also a bit of fresh cut hay. On the palate, this is slightly bitter (not bad) with cherries, and worked better with some food. It has a nice body and carries some weight. Very nice. Great QPR.

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We then moved on to some very different whites although all had at least some Chardonnay in them.

• 2008 Louis Jadot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Abbaye de Morgeot 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  (1/25/2013)

  I really liked this wine. It is a bit on the austere side but that really hit the spot on this evening. Especially with so many other really big wines on the table. Nice minerals on the nose. Also some lemon chiffon. On the palate, there is a very nice acidity. Grapefruit notes. Long finish. Very food friendly. I have given up on white Burgundy, but this is the kind of wine that I used to love.

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• 2010 Sine Qua Non The Monkey 88 Points

  USA, California

  (1/25/2013)

  I need to quit drinking the SQN wines young as I invariably like them better with age. The nose is very nice; waxy with honey and lemons. On the palate, the alcohol is prevalent. It drinks hot and a bit bitter. At the same time, there is a nice depth here. I went back toward the end of the evening and this was much better. I have no doubt that it would be even better today. The bottle was only half drained, so I suspect that others agreed. As I said though, I also think in 3 to 5 years or a lot longer, this will sort itself out and be a much better wine.

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• 2006 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (1/26/2013)

  Yellow golden in color. This is in a really nice place right now. Creamy with some lemon chiffon. Everything is integrated quite nicely. On the palate, there is a nice complexity which developed thru the evening. I would prefer a bit more acid. Not sure how much of that is vintage. In any event, it goes with the food well. My favorite of the whites.

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The red flight was mostly Syrah although there were a couple of others. I really find that Syrah goes great (perhaps unexpectedly) with Turkish food (and Indian food as well). As I said, there was also the bottle of 2010 SonkinCellars that had been open and shared during the day. I wont post my comments on that one here though.

• 2004 Tenute Sella Lessona Omaggio a Quintino Sella 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Lessona

  (1/26/2013)

  Lyle Fass stopped by even though he was under the weather. He brought this. I had no idea what it was, but it is very good. Later I thought he said it was nebbiolo, so I assume Piedmont or maybe Lombardy? The nose has dusty cherries with a bit of anise. On the palate, this is soft showing developed layering. complex but still with plenty of vibrant cherry fruit. Nice acidity. I liked this wine very much and will need to look into it. Thanks.

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• 2007 Salinia Syrah Heintz Ranch 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (1/26/2013)

  My first time trying this wine. Purple in color. The nose is very nice with boysenberries, burnt rosemary, and black pepper. Great texture, slightly lush, slightly slick. While it drinks more cool climate, there is plenty of body and fruit here. A nice streak of acidity. Good boysenberry fruit. Very nice showing and in a good place right now. I will be curious how well this ages.

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• 2002 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (1/26/2013)

  I really liked this wine. Jay asked about drinking an aged one, so I brought this. Caveat, I had flown in that day, and walked around a lot with it in my suitcase before checking in. Pop and pour. This has held up quite well. The nose is black raspberries, white pepper and a bit of bacon fat. Great texture. Lots of alcohol but no heat. Great black raspberry fruit showing tight layering and not a lot of age. Long finish as well. Seemed better later in the evening. A bit smoother.

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• 2005 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (1/26/2013)

  Really cool to try this right after the 02. You could see the shifts in style, etc. I believe this had become a blend and no longer labeled as Syrah. It is a bigger wine in general. Also this was a lot more raucous. As good as it is, I believe a couple more years in the cellar will bring everything into better focus and it will improve. The nose is big with Black raspberries, black cherries, dark chocolate, grilled meats and some oak. On the palate, this is lush and rich. Delicious. Black raspberry fruit with a deft non cumbersome tough despite its size. There is some heat initially on the finish but that seemed to resolve itself with air.

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• 2005 Scholium Project Gardens of Babylon 92 Points

  USA, California

  (1/26/2013)

  Jay brought this. Abe's wine can be a science experiment, but this one was a success. I am told it is Petite Sirah. The nose is deep with black raspberries, chocolate covered raspberries, and some powdered sugar on blueberry pastry notes (if that makes sense). On the palate, this is dense and young. It opened thru the evening. It is a delicious wine that will continue to develop I believe. There is a port like quality to this wine including a bit of heat. On this bitterly cold NYC night, however, it fit in just fine. Really a treat to taste.

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Thanks Leo for the ride home. And to all, hope to do it again real soon.