Archive for the ‘Wineries’ Category

It could happen to you. A nice bottle of wine and no cork screw… Have no fear the Wine Studs will save the day. 

Cheers,

Gumba Denny

So we were at the Friars Club in NYC having lunch with Gianni Russo and you guessed it, enjoying one of his own wine's, the Gianni Russo Prosecco. You see Gianni has a line of wine called, El Padrino wines. There is a Prosecco, Merlot, Chianti and a Montepulciano D'Abruzzo and a few Super Tuscans. Gianni is telling us about his travels with the Rat Pack, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. One of the best was a story about a Candy Store on Rodeo Dr. that was really a full blown club. You would walk through the store where there were girls dressed in red and white skirts just like an ol time candy store but through the special door it opened into a blazing night club. Just what the story was about will be in Gianni's movie that should be out by 2011 by producer Brett Ratner, Jeffrey Dash, and director George Gallo. Gianni is a full of life character and so is his Prosecco. For $16 this prosecco makes a regular event into a special one. If you want a signed bottle when you are checking out let us know under special instructions and we'll try to get it signed for you! Gianni also told us about enjoying the Prosecco with Al Pacino at La Cerc, where they pour it by the glass, and discussing the new movie where Al Pacino will play Carlo Gambino. This should be some movie. You can hear more about the adventures of Gianni at the Station Plaza Tasting Bar on Friday Dec. 3rd from 5-9pm. He'll be presenting his wines and signing bottles or any Godfather memorabila you may want signed. I'm sure you know Gianni played Carlo Rizzi in the Godfather… Here is a photo of a couple of Wine Studs, Gianni and Miguel at the Friars Club in NYC: Salute, Kevin

Another WIne Stud stopped in to The Station Plaza Tasting Bar. Jason Moore the founder, owner and winemaker of Modus Operandi Wine. Not only was his wine poured at our tasting bar, his Sauvignon Blanc was poured in the White House in the first course for Obama's first State Dinner (check out the menu Here) hosting the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh. Jason's success is a motivating story about a young Texan who sells everything and moves to California to follow his passion. But just wait until you taste his wine!

A few fun tidbits: He will not tell anyone what his Proprietary Red Wine Blend. (we got it out of him though) He also has a smart chip that sends a text to the new generation smart phones to verify authenticity.

Modus Operandi Wines available at Station Plaza Wines.

Here is another cool video about Jason and the Wines:

Cheers,

Kevin

This Blog is called The Wine Studs and at our Tasting Bar the Winemakers and Vineyard Owners are the STUDS! These guys work their ass off all year and put it all on the line with every vintage. They take all the risk. They roll the dice each year, worrying about the weather. Rain, heat, cold, insects, drought, you name it their are so many variables that go into their finished product that no one really knows or thinks about. When things go their way, and the wine rocks, and makes hundreds of wine drinkers happy the sense of accomplishment is phenomenal. That's when we like to capture these STUDS on our blog!

Here is Justin Hunnicutt Stephens of DR Stephens Estates talking about his wines -- and rolling with the punches. We had a power outage, but he kept on going. His buddy Sean Larkin walkes into the shop to make a video next but Justin keeps on rolling! Thats the spirit that goes into the wines!

Hunnicutt Wines:

Cheers,

Kevin

At the Station Plaza Tasting Bar we are fortunate to be visited by many different winemakers when they are in NY. Last week Sami Ghosn the Chairman of Massaya Wines stopped in for a tasting and we were very impressed with the wines and the Lebanese Ark, an anis liquor!  He also shared some interesting stories about what happened over the last few years in Lebanon and with the vineyard and how it was a fight to keep control. We can tell you about those in person though.

The Massaya Arak is smooth and if you add a drop of water or an ice cube to the Anis Liquor it turns a bit white like magic. It's the preferred cocktail while the sun is setting over the Mediterranean.

Buy Massaya Wines at www.StationPlazaWines.com

Fisehatak,

Kevin

Alexander Skoff, nephew of Richard Zahel came to say PROST! and Zum Wohl (Cheers! and Bottoms Up) at the Station Plaza Wine Bar. In a land where Gruner Veltliner and Riesling are the choice of the masses, Richard  Zahel was the pioneer marketing the Gemisschter Satz (White field blend). Today Zahel’s "Gemischter Satz" is offering some of the different wine produce around Vienna:

-Weingut Zahel Wiener Gemischter Satz Nussberg Grande Reserve 2007

-Weingut Zahel Wiener Gemischter Satz Scloss Schonbrunn 2008

-Weingut Christ Wiener Gemischter Satz 2008

-Weingut Zahel Wiener Komposition Red 2008

I can’t imagine any other place but Vienna where I would rather like to be a winemaker. It is very exciting to work with the different soils and climate conditions in the different wine growing areas in Vienna, and crate wines with character and personality. The character develops in the wineyard and I want to pass on the essence of the wine, just like a good mother who guides and supports her child."

Vienna is the only capital in the world that has vineyards within its frontiers. The traditional wine from Vienna is the "Wiener Gemischte Satz" a field blend of traditional Austrian Varieties. Longtime, this wine was only sold in the Viennese Wine Bistros (Heuriger). In 2003 Richard Zahel was the first to market the "Wiener Gemischter Satz" Today Zahel’s "Gemischter Satz" is offered in 4 different styles. The Premium Wine "Nussberg Grande Reserve" consists of 9 old Austrian Varieties like Grüner Veltliner, Rotgipfler, Zierfandler, Traminer and others.

The "Gemischter Satz Nussberg" consists of the Burgundy Varieties Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay The "Wiener Gemischter Satz" with the green Label is our fresh and fruity summer wine. It comes from a Vineyard in the South of Vienna where we planted Riesling, Grüner Veltliner and Chardonnay. In 2007, we were the first to produce Gemischter Satz Sekt. This is Champagne Style sparkling Wine produced à la Mèthode Traditionelle.

Zahel is the only Winery in Vienna which produces Wine in all Viennes Wine Areas. Therefore we are able to use the characteristics of the different soils. Not only in Gemischter Satz but also in Riesling, we produce wines from Crus like Nussberg in the North or Reisberg in the south of Vienna.

With 40% of our production, red wine is very important for us. Our flagship Antares was the first Viennese Red Wine to get more than 90 points in Falstaff, Austrian leading Wine Guide. Schloss Schönbrunn, in English Schönbrunn Castle is the former Residence of the Habsburgs, the Austrian Emperors In the old Monarchy.

I brought a bottle of stepping stone to a party and people couldn't believe the great taste of this wine !! This wine is one of my favorites !! and is definitely a crowd pleaser !!

The 2007 Cabernet Franc Stepping Stone Vineyard exhibits subtle tobacco leaf notes intermixed with blue and red fruits along with medium body, rich fruit, good acidity, and a hint of white chocolate. The wood component is much more restrained than in some of its siblings.

For eighteen vintages Cornerstone Cellars has been crafting classic, collectable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We produce two distinctive Cabernets, our signature single vineyard Howell Mountain and our Napa Valley, which is created by intertwining the personalities of four outstanding vineyards. More than two thirds of our cabernet sauvignon vineyards are certified organic. Both of our Cabernets reflect the character of our vineyards and will age beautifully. Our Cornerstone Cabernet is complimented by our Cornerstone Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, from dry-farmed old vines in St. Helena.

Focus on the Vines

It can not be overstated that great wine is made in the vineyard. That’s why you’re just as likely to find our winemaker Jeff Keene, and consulting winemaker Peter Franus, among the vines as among the barrels. In each vineyard we work with master viticulturists, each with decades (even generations) of Napa Valley experience, to produce the finest fruit possible every vintage. It is then our goal to bring the pure character of each vineyard to life in our wines.

Two thirds of the fruit we harvest is from organically certified vineyards, and we are working to increase that percentage. This is not only out of a commitment to the environment, but because we believe it ultimately produces better grapes. Harvesting is done by hand on a block-by-block basis, and our harvest can stretch out over two months as each block ripens at its own pace. Each year our wines reflect the character of the vintage and so every year makes a one-of-a-kind wine, never to be exactly repeated. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is produced exclusively from Napa Valley vineyards.

About This Wine:

I have always loved the high-strung, aromatic Cabernet Franc wines of the Loire Valley like Chinon and felt the cool Carneros climate perfect for echoing some of those traits. Winemaker Jeff Keene has long experience working with Carneros fruit and his light touch shows in the blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot that he selected for this wine.

We had the privilege to have Luca D'Attoma at the tasting bar of Station Plaza,Luca is a famous Italian enologist with 2 wines that score 100 Points (Perfect Wines). 

We tasted the latest Vintages from his own winery:

-Altrovino 2006.-A blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot 50/50, only produced 40 barrels an small production wine, very aromatic, rich and powerful with a great balance of tannins and fruit.

-Duemani 2005.-An straight Cabernet Franc with a powerful aromas of licorice, Vanilla and Coffee that makes you feel you are drinking Merlot, very complex and concentrate, just 26 barrels produced.

-Suisassi 2005.- 100% Syrah only 10 barrels produced (3,000 bottles) a tiny production. Full bodied and aromatic wine that really shows a wonderful wine making, you can enjoy it now or for the next 5 years.

Certified 100% Organic and Biodynamic from Demeter

Trailblazing oenologist Luca d’Attoma is probably most well-known to readers for the wines he made at Tua Rita and the wines he continues to make at Le Macchiole, two of Bolgheri’s leading estates. In 2001 D’Attoma and his partner Elena Celli purchased several hectares of land in Riparbella, located in the northern reaches of Maremma. The seven hectares of hillside vineyards, which lie adjacent to Castello del Terriccio on their eastern border, are densely planted and farmed biodynamically. I have been following Duemani for several vintages and these are the first wines where the age of the vines and the winemaking philosophy have begun to yield significant results.

Salute,

Miguel

Margaux, the owner of Tropling Mandot and winemakers daughter is the oldest of 5 sisters and handles the tour for her father. She jokingly assures us that her and her sisters treat her father like a prince. The Chateau, the vineyards and the estate are beautifully situated on top of a hill overlooking Chateau Pavie and the ancient city of Saint Emilion.

Troplong Mandot was elevated to a Premier Grand Cru Classe B in the 2006 reclassification of St. Emilion from a Grand Cru Class. The one wine we tasted was nice, I believe ti was the 2007. I did not rush back and take it into the shop though, however I was impressed enough to taste the other vintages when I have the chance and hopefully find one we will take in.

                  They are just completing a bed and breakfast where you can dine with the family and enjoy the vineyard life. If you want you can work on the vines for a day or so. When it's harvest time they bring in Gypsies. Interestingly some of the same families for over 50 years. They feed them well and claim the food and wine keeps them coming back year after year. I'll tell you that the meals we had at the different Chateaus were very enjoyable and something we will not soon forget. Winemakers and Chateau owners take eating and drinking very serious. Just think it's their life. I would highly recommend it!

Chin Chin!

Kevin

One of the most impressive visits in Bordeaux was Chateau Clinet in Pomerol. Ronan Laborde the CEO had passion and charisma as he described the wine making process. This 3 video post brings you from the vineyard where Ronan talks about the grape growing process and the blend. Then we move into the crushing room with the steel tanks. And just before we taste through a flight from 2001-2007 we visit the wood barrel aging room. PS the 2009 Chateau Clinet scored 97 -- 100 points by robert parker. The bottle cost is less than $160, contact us if interested. The wine is available at Station Plaza