VIDEO EPISODE 5 - TASTING WHITE WINES (& WHITE ZINFANDEL!)
In this episode I take you into the world of tasting white wines. I also taste and discuss White Zinfandel!
Hope you enjoy it:
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NEW MENU
Come and check out our new menu at Mezzanotte. I have selected several items that have been very well received. Of course I left alone most of the dishes we are known for (like the Pumpkin Ravioli, our Ossobuco, etc.)
Cheers! |
After shooting this week's video on white wine tasting I thought it was appropriate to start building up our white wine menu as well. So this week I am bringing four new fantastic Italian white wines:
Roero Arneis DOC - Cascina Chicco, Piedmont, Italy
Arneis, meaning 'little rascal' in the Piemontese dialect, is a delicate white variety that thrives in the chalky and sandy soil of this region. Robert Parker describes it as one of his 'favorite wines to drink as an aperitivo' and one of the 'Best wines values in the world'.
Pale straw colored. Dry and crisp; very fragrant with notes of apricot, apple, chamomile and a hint of spice. Has a very long clean finish and is ideal for drinking as an aperitif or with white fish and seafood.
Grillo IGT - Altavilla Bianco Firriato, Sicily, Italy
A variety with an extraordinary, universal appeal: 100% Grillo. First of all it entices with its brilliant golden color; then seduces with its intoxicating and complex aromas of almonds, apples, white flowers with hints of sage, thyme and rosemary. The palate shows Grillo's noble breed with a full, yet caressing structure. Finally, the perfect balance of fruit, texture and acidity crowns this grillo's natural birthright as a wine of unique character.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG - Mormoraia, Tuscany, Italy
According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a clean, crisp white to enjoy in its youth. This delicious value-priced wine is an excellent choice." Straw yellow; presents intense fresh fruity aromas, with hints of apples.Harmonious, balanced and persistent with a pleasantly sour finish. Best with antipasti, seafood, white meat and fresh cheeses.
Grecanico IGT - Branciforti Inzolia Bianco, Sicily, Italy
The fresh, inviting aromas of this wine leads to a full-flavored and rounded palate. Made from Grecanico grapes used to convey the sunny slopes where the grapes ripen. |
OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS
Last Thursday we ended up at CRU WINE BAR in the Woodlands. For this occasion we met with a couple that is very special to us. Our friend Alexis was the reason Adriana and I met several years ago - but, I won't bore you with all the details.
CRU is (as its name says) a wine bar, so I wasn't expecting great or elaborate food. I was expecting great wines, however. So my expectations were met: the food was good considering they probably have a tiny kitchen. We ordered tapas type dishes and they all worked real well - nobody left hungry.
Now, on the wines I made the mistake of ordering my first flight of Pinot Noirs. Of all 3 Pinot Noirs on the flight I didn't like any! This is not because they were bad - it is very possible because I don't particularly enjoy pinot noirs. So I didn't even finish my flight. Having learned my lesson I proceeded to order my next 2 flights of bigger, more robust wines. I am happy to report that I liked them all; I am even considering one of them (a Napa Valley blend) for our wine list. Adriana ordered another flight that included an Italian Barolo. I tasted it and it was pretty good so I stuck with it for the rest of the night.
I liked very much that CRU has quite a list of wines by the glass so I could try different things in one sitting. Now, the bad news is that it was pretty expensive. Our tab came right under $400 for 4 people!! and everything we had were a few (small) flights of wine, a couple of glasses of wine per person (no bottles purchased) and 5 tapas to share.
All in all I would visit again but not too soon as I need to recover from the bill!
CRU is a wine bar chain and just opened a new location in River Oaks. Here is the link to their web site: CRU WINE BAR
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