Good, Inexpensive Summer Whites

Summer is upon us. It's the time of year when I start to look for nice inexpensive wines I can sit on the patio and sip with lunch during a hot afternoon. There are many good buys.  But I want to let you in on some of my favorites.  Eating a lunch of salmon, olives and artichoke hearts is one of my favorite past-times. Adding a wonderfully crisp and succulent white wine is the best accompaniment I can think of. When the wine is inexpensive, all the better.

Gazela Vinho Verde: This is a real favorite of mine.  It is a straw colored, almost transparent white from Portugal.  It is a splendid aperitif for summer.  To enjoy this wine you have to be prepared for the green part.  The green relates to the youth of the wine not it's color.  This wine is meant to be enjoyed very young.  In fact, Gazela has done away with any vintage date at all.  It pours with a froth that comes from added carbonation.  The carbonation is very light with only a few bubbles left behind.  This is a simple, crisp, refreshing, and dry wine that goes with fish or any light summer lunch.  It's nicely acidic with good balance.  If you let the Vinho Verdi be itself you can grow to fully appreciate what it offers.  It's only 9% alcohol but don't be fooled.  The Gazela goes for well under $10.00. 
 

C.M.S 2007: This is a relatively recent find. The wine is produced at White and Hedges in Washington State's Columbia Valley.  As the name implies it is a blend of 35% Chardonnay, 1% Marsanne, and 64% Sauvignon Blanc.  This is a very different and exciting wine.  The nose is exceptional, a strong bouquet of lemon, pineapple and pear, very aromatic. The texture is buttery and oily on the palate reflecting the Chardonnay.  Just below the surface come the elements of a great Sauvignon Blanc with notes of pineapple, gooseberry and pear.  The feeling is full in the mouth with a rich body.  From the Marsanne there is the hint of spice.  This is a well balanced wine with the full body of a Chardonnay, the minerality and flavors of a Sauvignon Blanc and the spicy aroma of a Marisanne. I find it crisp and pleasant.  It can be purchased for under $15.00.   


Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2008: I never seem to tire of this one. The 2008 vintage is especially good. It is made from 40% Grechetto, 20% Procanico (sub-variety of Trebbiano), with the remaining 40% comprised of Verdello and Canaiolo Bianco. It is superbly balanced,crisp and refreshing with a playful give and take between structure, acidity and taste. Apples, lemons, and great fruitiness make this a superb summer drinking wine. The extra long and refreshing finish is especially pleasing. There's no harshness here. Just a smooth, succulent, refreshing and flavorful wine. You can find this wine in most wine stores for under $10.00.

La Linda Torrontes 2009: Just the other day I tried an Argentinian Torrontes, 2009 from Bodega Luigi Bosca.  This was my first Torrontes.  It is very aromatic with citrus notes, lemon and possibly orange, as well.  It's lightly textured, pale in appearance and quite smooth on the palate.  It's a surprisingly 14.5% alcohol so it is quite big for a white. I picked up apple and soft lemon on the palate.  It was nicely crisp with good acidity and minerality.  I did note a bitterness on the finish.  I will try this again and see if it makes it into the Pantheon of summer whites. This wine goes for a tad over $10.00. 

I hope you enjoy these wines during the hot summer months.  They are refreshing, crisp and highly enjoyable.  Let me know your experiences with them.  You can also send me your list of favorite summer whites. 

Wine: Nectar of the Gods

Wine has traditionally been thought of as the Nectar of the Gods.  In ancient Greece and Rome wine was used to celebrate the gods Dionysus and Bacchus.  This would usually result in people filling the streets in unrestrained eroticism, fornication (ah, the good old days) and who knows what else.  Wine has been a central mythic and theological motif in Christianity, if in a milder tone than Dionysian indulgence. Now, as is our want as post-modern Americans, the health benefits of wine are being explored.  Not only is wine fun and a social lubricant, as it were, but it's also healthy.  We can shed the guilt of our temperance fore-bearers and allow ourselves just a little of the joys of Bacchus.

It's been 18 years since Morley Safer did his piece on the French Paradox on CBS's 60 Minutes. Some of you may recall that the French Paradox attempted to explain how the French who smoke prodigiously, eat a high fat diet of cheese and saturated fat actually live longer than Americans and have less cardiovascular disease. Some concluded that it was the high consumption of red wine that made the difference. This led to a slew of scientific studies that continue to this day. Many of these studies, including the British Medical Journal's 1996 review of 25 studies indicated that those indulging in the consumption of wine experienced a 20% - 40% decrease in cardiovascular disease as well as other age related problems.

A recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in 2009 indicated a five year greater life expectancy in men who drink wine moderately.

What Makes Wine So Healthy?

Wine consists of many compounds that could be the answer to its apparent healing and efficacious affect on human health. It may not be a mistake that wine has been consumed for thousands of years. The compound that many scientists have focused on, however, is resveratrol. The Linus Pauling Institute defines resveratrol as "a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, red wine, purple grape juice, peanuts, and some berries." Interest is running so high in the possibility of reservatrol becoming a veritable "fountain of youth" that the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline recently bought the cutting edge company Sirtris. Sirtis was founded by Drs. Christoph Westphal and David Sinclair in their attempt to research the use of resveratrol in extending life and treating disease.

Caloric Restriction: The Path to Health?

Sinclair is exploring how resveratrol mimics caloric restriction's anti-aging properties. Most promising is its ability to do this while by-passing the sacrifices imposed on those that drastically cut caloric intake. It has been known for many years that low caloric diets inhibit the aging process in yeast, worms, fruit flies, higher animals and humans.

The Life Extension Foundation has explored the use of caloric restriction and its limitations:

"Although caloric restriction may be effective in promoting longevity, the problem is that most adults find this stringent lifestyle strategy to be impractical. As a result, scientists have sought to uncover the precise mechanisms by which caloric restriction promotes longevity, in order to help people capture its life-extending benefits through more practical means."

Is Resveratrol the Key?

The question is if resveratrol is the sought after alternative. The Life Extension Foundation is highly optimistic. In the August 2009 issue of it's monthly magazine, Life Extension, numerous research findings are listed and explored. The article "Extending Life and Fighting Disease with Resveratrol" discuses specifically how resveratrol activates proteins called sirtuins similarly to what occurs in caloric restricted diets. These proteins put the brakes on aging by stabilizing DNA, protecting it from damage, and regulating genetic functions. All of this adds up to a slowing down of the aging process.

Resveratrol has even become the darling of the wine drinking set. The May 31st, 2009 issue of Wine Spectator gave extensive space to the growing research and promise of this touted miracle compound. The article lists numerous areas in which promising research is being performed: 20% - 40% lower rates of CVD, significant delay in the onset of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, 50% cut in the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, 58% lower risk of developing diabetes, a 56% lower risk of developing esophageal cancer, and half the risk of catching the common cold. The preliminary research is very promising.

Morley Safer recently revisited the French Paradox on the May 24th, 2009 edition of 60 Minutes. Drs. Christoph Westphal and David Sinclair were highly enthusiastic and optimistic that a resveratrol drug would be in the offing within five to ten years. You can view the video here:



Not Quite There Yet

Although much of the news about resveratrol seems heartening, the current state of the research is not yet compelling. First, current research needs to be duplcated, especially in long-term human studies, second, the issue of reseratrol's bioavailability needs to be determined and dosage questions settled, third, there are many that believe it is not resveratrol alone that is the source of wine's salubrious effect but other compounds found in wine. Some research indicates that white wine, beer and other spirits are also beneficial. The prestigious Mayo Clinic offers a well balanced appraisal of the state of wine research.

It is important to note that the healthful impact of wine consumption is based on moderate and controlled daily consumption defined as two glasses a day for men and one glass a day for women. Over consumption can lead to detrimental health results such as high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease, heart arrhythmia, addiction, as well as serious social, occupational and psychological problems.

Dionysus was known to bring an end to worry and the woes of life and promote relaxation.  So, perhaps we can allow ourselves just a little of the joy Dionysus imparted to his followers.

Salute!

IL Bambino Restaurant Review

I am very excited to write this entry for Wine Tasters! My name is David, my wife is Angela and we live in Astoria, NY. Today I will be reviewing Il Bambino in Astoria, Queens, NY. Il Bambino is a Spanish/Italian trendy restaurant.I hope to be reviewing restaurants in Astoria and other New York neighborhoods in the coming months. 

My wife and I arrived at Il Bambino around 7:45 PM. The temperature was 75 degrees and humid. Il Bambino has a backyard where you can eat. Because of the humidity we decided to stay indoors. When we walked in, the lights were dim but the staff attended to us immediately. The walls were covered with mirrors and wooden pigs, which is the Il Bambino theme. We were glad we decided to stay inside. The ambiance in the restaurant was fantastic. The restaurant was not crowded so we had our choice of seats. The menu was very simple to read and very descriptive. 1980’s and alternative music played in the background. We were now ready to order.

We first ordered the Cheese Plate – three cheeses for $10.00. Our choices were Manchego, Pecorino, and Gorgonzola Dolce.

The second round consisted of Red Pepper w/ Bacon spread with Stillman cheese crostini $6, Chick Pea Panzanella Salad w/ Feta Cheese - $8 and Fontina with Mozzarella, Pecorino, and Truffle Oil Panini - $9

Our choice of wine was a Jelu, San Juan, Argentina 2009 glass $8 | bottle $27, 100% Torrontes. The wine showed Honeysuckle and flowers with some minerality on the palate which was perfectly balanced by its level of acidity.

Source: http://ilbambinonyc.com

We first had the cheese plate and crostini.

Cheese Plate – Three Cheeses
The menu offers a choice of about 10 cheeses. The variety was good so the next time we head to Il Bambino, we can choose different cheeses to taste. The cheese plate was excellent. We also received Panini bread in small squares to put the cheese on top. The Manchego went well with the fig jam but disappointingly not the other cheeses. The Pecorino was sharp and tasty; very nice. I never had Gorgonzola Dolce cheese. I found the taste to be unique. The texture was creamy with hints of sweetness. However, you don’t get much for $10.

Next up was Stillman Cheese on top of Red Pepper w/Bacon spread Crostini
The crostini was spicy, a strong red pepper taste with a hint of bacon flavor. The color of the spread was orange. There was more spread then cheese which I was unhappy about because the cheese was awesome! I never had Stillman cheese before which was on top of the spread with a drop of balsamic vinegar on the cheese. Stillman cheese is a blue cheese but it is softer and less crumby than regular blue cheese. The combination with the crostini was great! The price of the crostini was $6. A little expensive but the quality of the crostini was excellent.

Now on to the Chick Pea Panzanella Salad w/Feta Cheeese
The salad came out with the dinner. My wife ordered the salad and she said it was very refreshing. The salad was a good size, not too big and not too small. The best part of the salad was the dressing. The dressing had a lemon taste which gave it that nice, refreshing sense. The combination of Chick Pea and Feta gave the salad a unique taste. Along with the fruit accents of the jello, it was an amazing combination. The two make an incredibly light and refreshing meal just on its own for a summer night. As with the other prices, $8 is a little expensive but was definitely worth it especially on a warm humid day.

And finally the Fontina with Mozzarella, Pecorino, and Truffle Oil Panini

This Panini was nearly perfect! The Fontina, Mozzarella, and Pecorino are a great combo. The cheeses are melted together and the truffle oil gives the Panini a special taste. The Panini is a good size and the amount of cheese in the sandwich is equally balanced. You can taste every cheese once you take a bite. The bread is toasted perfectly. The bread is toasted where it’s not too hard or burnt and compliments the texture of the melted cheese just right. The price is $9 which is not bad considering the size of the sandwich, which is quite generous.

Jelu, San Juan, Argentina 2009

I am not a wine drinker but my wife is. As previously stated, the wine partnered the Panzanella salad to a tee. Each element brought out the flavors of the other. The wine also complimented each one of the cheeses. This wine is all in all refreshing and compatible with quite a number of the meals on the menu! The price of $8 per glass is average for a trendy restaurant.

Overall the experience was great! We will definitely go again. I recommend it.

Scale 1-10 (1 is gross and 10 is stupendous)

Location: 8
Décor: 8
Food: 9
Service: 9
Price: 7
Overall: 8.5

Il Bambino Menu
Restaurant Location:
3408 31st Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11106-1433
(718) 626-0087


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Tuscan Wine Tasting

I had the pleasure of working with Bill Tramontano on the 14th annual Brooklyn College Wine Tasting this past April. Bill, the provost at the college, is a fabulously knowledgeable wine enthusiast and oenophile.  He provided a very enjoyable and edifying time for all of us. Phil Gallagher, a professor at the college, worked with me to make sure the wine tasting was all that it could be. I've reprinted here the article I wrote in the Faculty Circle Newsletter describing the event.

A Taste of Tuscany: 14th Annual Brooklyn College Wine Tasting

Over 24 ebullient Faculty Circle members and guests were treated to a superb Tuscan wine tasting hosted by our own provost Bill Tramontano on Thursday, April 29th.  Bill, a life long wine enthusiast and oenophile brought the enraptured crowd through a guided tour of the Tuscan wine country through a sampling of some of its outstanding wines.  Aided by a map of Tuscany, we were whisked away to the magical land of the Tuscan sun.  At Bill's request the wine was complemented with a superb Pecorino Tuscano Stagionato as well as a exciting Tuscan chestnut honey.  The tradition is to serve wine with honey drizzled over the cheese.

The tasting consisted of one white and six reds.  Reds heavily predominate in the Tuscan region.  I've included my personal tasting notes. The seven fights were, in order of tasting: 

Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimingnano 2008 - This Vernaccia is a dry, crisp, lively white that I found refreshing and pleasing to the palate.  This is a perfect wine to drink on a long, hot summer's day; which I did when in Italy two years ago.

Le Fonti Chianti Classicao 2007 - Chianti is made from the Sangiovese grape, which is the main grape of central Italy.  This Chianti seemed a tad rough and unbalanced at first but later softened and pleasant.  It has a medium color, a short nose and an adequate finish.

Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006 - The Vino Nobile had some real depth and complexity, and paired well with the Precorino. I picked up cherry and perhaps even blueberry notes with a nice finish.  It was not as big as I thought it would be but had good structure and sufficient body.

Mocali Rosso di Montalcino 2008 - A baby Brunello, as it is sometimes called, possessed a fine minerality, a softness and balance that was very enjoyable.  I picked up modest cherry notes and smooth tannins.  This is a delicious Sangiovese wine.

San Filippo Brunello 2004 - I very much enjoyed this wine. It is softly elegant, well stgructured with a long luscious finish.  I picked up deep berry flavors and even some hint of citrus; stupendous with the Tuscano Stagionato and chestnut honey.

Soffocone di Vincigliata Toscann IGT ("Super Tuscan")_ 2007 - A ruby red color, cherries and  spices, mid to full-bodied, nice acidity, fine tannins. Super Tuscans are wines that do not follow the traditional blending laws of the region and can be blends of other grapes, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.  I found this wine to be very enjoyable and perhaps the least "Italian."

Travignoli Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina Riserva 1999 - Very appealing, relaxed yet with lively sweetness. The iconic Tuscan dessert wine.

We are looking forward to Bill's next wine tasting which may take us to the northeastern area of Friuli, the home of many outstanding Italian wines.  In contrast to Tuscany, Friuli is known for its outstanding whites.

Many thanks to Bill for his excellent and exciting presentations of some of Tuscany's finest wines.