Manoavino Taste!

Capital Grille - Generous Pour 2012 - Paramus, NJ

Capital Grille a high end steakhouse with old world ambiance is offering what it calls the "Generous Pour" again this summer. We enjoyed last year's "Pour" so why not. We sampled the wines along with a pretty fine dinner at their Paramus location.

The idea behind "Generous Pour" is to give you the opportunity to experience several exciting wines for the price you would pay for a single bottle of any one of them. Capital Grille's Master Sommelier, George Miliotes, personally chooses nine wines he feels are world class and pair well with the summer menu. You can enjoy them all.

The wines are in fact world class. The Gary Farrell Sonoma Chardonnay and the Napa Valley Pinot Noir from Villa Mt. Eden were extraordinary, but the two wines we enjoyed the most were a white called Simcic Rebula from Slovinia and a sweet Late Harvest Chenin Blanc dessert wine from Kanu of South Africa.

I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any F&#%ing Merlot! Oh Yes We Are! Bohemian Highway Merlot

Any one who saw the game changing film about wine, Sideways, will never forget that line. They say Merlot took a big hit in sales as a result.

Years later the grape is regaining popularity especially with creative wine marketing efforts like this from Bohemian Highway Wine who bottle and market this delightful wine, Bohemian Highway Merlot.

This very inexpensive Merlot is really a great, bright flavorful, beautifully faceted ruby red wine that is just so pleasing. The wine went great with this simple Asian Chicken salad inspired by a lunch at Yotel, NYC.

Best Hambuger in New Jersey Competition Winner Mystery Revealed - It's Gaslight Brewery and Restaurant in South Orange

A few months ago I heard about a New Jersey Hamburger competition. It was not the Best Burger Showdown by NJ Monthly Magazine, although they do features some of the best hamburgers in New Jersey. Nor was it New Jersey’s Best Burgers found on Jersey Bites, there some good ones there too. Since I love burgers I was very curious.

I heard about this contest from Nell since the restaurant she works with Nicole's Ten had made a special burger for the contest.  But that was the end of it. There was a site for voting www.burgersandzin.com but that is now closed.

The contest turned up again as a part of the 2012 New Jersey Wine and Food Festival at Crystal Springs Resort where the winner was to be announced. The competition was called "The Big Cheese" and was sponsored by the Star Ledger and Terra d'Ora vineyards the makers of some great Zinfandel wines, which happen to go great with burgers. 

So here it is the winner a big beautiful alligator, antelope, and pork burger with napa cabbage, sauteed onions, and special spicy aioli from Gaslight Brewery, Pub and Restaurant in South Orange.

Let me tell you it is very good, but to get it well you need some connections.

Qupe Winery Bien Nacido in northern Santa Barbara County, Makes Some Very Good Wines

I am not a Big California wine buff, but when my friend Carol Berman, Class in a Glass/Travelling Sommelier, Facebook messaged me to come over to Magnolias Wines this past Saturday I could not resist.

I know she has great taste in wine and I like her recommendations. I was out running errands when her message popped upon my smart phone so I headed over.

She was pouring two wines from Bob Lindquist's Qupé Vineyard.

A California Chardonnay I really liked, why? Because it drank like a fine Meursault, Cameron Hughes Chardonnay Lot 273 Monterey County Arroyo Seco

Enjoyed this lovely Chardonnay from California with a nice home cooked dinner out of Dreena Burton's great cookbook "eat,drink & be vegan."

As we tasted this wine Diana's eyes popped wide open with a big smile across her face and I knew why. She did not believe it was California Chardonnay saying, "I don't usually like California Chardonnay." She happens to love French Chardonnay especially when it comes from Meursault in Burgundy, where they make Chardonnay as nature intended. No heavy Oak. We have had Mersault on many special occasions, a lot of cherished memories.

This beauty won 90 points from Wine Spectator and first came on the market in the mid $20's. Wine competition being what it is, a buyers market, you can now find this most excellent wine for close to $12. Best place to try is www.winechateau.com

Two Awesome Sonoma Pinot Noirs We Loved

When I think of Pinot Noir I think of Burgundy, Washington State, and lately South America. These two wines re-opened my eyes, nose, and taste buds to the beautiful Pinots that are produced in Sonoma, California. 

Sonoma Coast Vineyards Freestone Hills 2009 Pinot Noir and Capiaux Chimera 2009 Pinot Noir. The first paired very well with a wonderful Szechuan dinner at NY Times and WS Journal reviewed Cheng Du 23. The second we enjoyed with a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner with family in Minneapolis. 

Thanksgiving Wines 2011, What We're Thinking About - Dinners and Wines from around the World

Mano a Vino started back in November of 2005 with a humble post on our Thanksgiving wines that year. They were all by women in wine, noted female wine makers who have continued to be iconic in the field. Thanksgiving 2005 Wines By Women. The wines we chose for that day are just as good today.

When it comes to T'day our first thought is Champagne or other dry sparkler to start and Pinot Noir. In 2007 we suggested these two. But there are so many other wines to consider.

Riesling, Gruner Veltliner & Cotes du Rhone are some of the wines that come to mind. The style and influence of your Thanksgiving menu should have a lot of influence on your wine selection.

Perhaps you would like to share your favorites in a comment below.

Quivira Fig Tree Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Organic Sauvignon Blanc

This is a wine we have loved for years, we posted about the 2004 vintage back in 2008, the 2009 vintage, available now, is just as good.  I saw a great deal on this wine at Magnolia's in Montclair and decided to repost.

My friend Conrad Fink of Montclair, NJ turned me on to this rich wine that is produced in the  Dry Creek Valley in Northern Sonoma County. The region is home to many renowned wine makers. The history of grape growing and winemaking in Dry Creek Valley is among the longest in California, with its roots beginning more than 130 years ago.

On sale now at Magnolias until August 5th, 2011 for $14.95, other stores, $19.95.