I just updated the Dinner Menu and the Drinks List. The current wine selection is a little more interesting than some have been, IMO. I'm not a real wine expert; I cannot talk the talk; I cannot hang out with the Big Dogs. But I can do my homework and try to find some lesser known wines that I hope our customers will like at a price that we all can afford. Sometimes I am able to purchase a wine that has been discounted by the distributor and I can pass that savings on. Our mark-up, as most of you know, is very low, which I hope encourages people to enjoy a glass or a bottle with their meal.
One of the additions to the list is Spain's Julian Chivite Rose, made from 100% Grenache. Dick O'Neil, a past owner and host of the Hotel Imperial's dining room, suggested this to me earlier this summer when I mentioned that I was looking for a rose for the summer list. Soon after that, he was vindicated by an article in the Washington Post regarding Pink Wines - the Chivite got a nice mention and I ordered a few cases from Republic National Distributing Company. In addition, I ordered the Van Duzer Pinot Noir rose, carried by F.P. Winner, which the article had also touted- especially since the Etude Pinot Noir rose, which Dick had included on his list of favorites, was sold out by Bacchus. The Van Duzer arrived as the 2005, rather than the 2007 I wanted. It was past it's prime - rose wine needs to be drunk young and fresh, for the most part - and it is going back. (The worst thing is, when I called my salesman to tell him I really wanted the 2007, he informed me that the company first had to sell the 2005 they still had in stock, then they start on the 2006 inventory, before they'd begin unloading the 2007: which by the time they get to it will probably be 2010, and it too will be dusty and too weary to be drinkable. That is certainly some strange logic for selling wine, eh?)
Another option I am pleased to be able to offer is the Marc Kreydenweiss Kritt Pinot Blanc from Alsace. The 2005 - which is what was delivered to BT, thank goodness - was mentioned in Food and Wine's August issue as a "naturally" good wine. (The issue is focused on the buy Local/Green bandwagon.) The renowned wine guru, Robert Parker, concurs, giving it a 90. I quote: "In its fascinating nose of pear, lemon, apple blossom, tangerine rind, nut oils, and white truffle, the 2005 Pinot Blanc Kritt reflects it's generous component of ripe Auxerrois... Impossibly creamy in texture and palpably dense, this clings with juicy pear fruit, rich nuttiness, pungent citrus zest, and subtly salty, stony, mineral suggestions." Wow! (No wonder Parker is "the man", if he can taste all of that in a wine!!)
Since I am a sucker for Alsatian wines, I was excited to be able to find this choice. The other Alsatian wine I purchased recently is a Gewurtztraminer from Domaine Sipp-Mack, their 2005 Tradition. This is an absolutely delicious wine, but it will be a hard sell - I think partly because people are afraid they cannot pronounce it! and partly because they think it will be too sweet. Oh well, at least I know it won't go to waste...
And I suppose that is the main thing about our wine list which is a little skewed - it is a very subjective list, in that it includes primarily wines that Kevin and I favor. After all, if something is a poor seller, someone has to step up to the plate and move the inventory, no?
One of the additions to the list is Spain's Julian Chivite Rose, made from 100% Grenache. Dick O'Neil, a past owner and host of the Hotel Imperial's dining room, suggested this to me earlier this summer when I mentioned that I was looking for a rose for the summer list. Soon after that, he was vindicated by an article in the Washington Post regarding Pink Wines - the Chivite got a nice mention and I ordered a few cases from Republic National Distributing Company. In addition, I ordered the Van Duzer Pinot Noir rose, carried by F.P. Winner, which the article had also touted- especially since the Etude Pinot Noir rose, which Dick had included on his list of favorites, was sold out by Bacchus. The Van Duzer arrived as the 2005, rather than the 2007 I wanted. It was past it's prime - rose wine needs to be drunk young and fresh, for the most part - and it is going back. (The worst thing is, when I called my salesman to tell him I really wanted the 2007, he informed me that the company first had to sell the 2005 they still had in stock, then they start on the 2006 inventory, before they'd begin unloading the 2007: which by the time they get to it will probably be 2010, and it too will be dusty and too weary to be drinkable. That is certainly some strange logic for selling wine, eh?)
Another option I am pleased to be able to offer is the Marc Kreydenweiss Kritt Pinot Blanc from Alsace. The 2005 - which is what was delivered to BT, thank goodness - was mentioned in Food and Wine's August issue as a "naturally" good wine. (The issue is focused on the buy Local/Green bandwagon.) The renowned wine guru, Robert Parker, concurs, giving it a 90. I quote: "In its fascinating nose of pear, lemon, apple blossom, tangerine rind, nut oils, and white truffle, the 2005 Pinot Blanc Kritt reflects it's generous component of ripe Auxerrois... Impossibly creamy in texture and palpably dense, this clings with juicy pear fruit, rich nuttiness, pungent citrus zest, and subtly salty, stony, mineral suggestions." Wow! (No wonder Parker is "the man", if he can taste all of that in a wine!!)
Since I am a sucker for Alsatian wines, I was excited to be able to find this choice. The other Alsatian wine I purchased recently is a Gewurtztraminer from Domaine Sipp-Mack, their 2005 Tradition. This is an absolutely delicious wine, but it will be a hard sell - I think partly because people are afraid they cannot pronounce it! and partly because they think it will be too sweet. Oh well, at least I know it won't go to waste...
And I suppose that is the main thing about our wine list which is a little skewed - it is a very subjective list, in that it includes primarily wines that Kevin and I favor. After all, if something is a poor seller, someone has to step up to the plate and move the inventory, no?
No comments:
Post a Comment