Wine Spectator August 2015

3 Romanian restaurants received Awards of Excellence from the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine from the US for their impressive wine lists and I am involved with one of them. All of them listed in the print copy magazine.

photo credit Catalin Paduraru

Cateva vinuri portugheze din Real,-wine boutique

Am descoperit in sortimentatia din cadrul Real,-wine boutique cateva vinuri portugheze foarte interesante si noi pe piata din Romania. Ultimul Top 100 al Wine Spectator din 2014 contine in primele 10 cele mai bune vinuri ale anului nu mai putin de 3 vinuri portugheze, ele ocupand locurile 4 – Quinta do Vale Meão Reserva 2011, 3 – 2011 Chryseia si probabil cea mai mare surpriza, locul 1 – Dow’s Porto Vintage 2011.

Am descoperit cu mare bucurie ca exact producatorul de pe locul 4 – Quinta do Vale Meão este listat cu 2 vinuri dintre care unul chiar cel aclamat de Wine Spectator, dar provenind din noul an de recolta 2012. Chiar si acest nou vin are 94 pct de la Robert Parker si 94 pct de la Wine Spectator. Am incercat Quinta do Vale Meão Reserva 2012 intr-o degustare comparativa cu nume celebre de producatori din Bordeaux, Burgundia si Valea Ronului, si vinul sta fara probleme pe aceeasi linie de calitate. Este un vin dens, opac la culoare si extrem de concentrat, pe care nu-l uiti prea repede. De la acelasi producator mai este listat si Quinta do Vale Meão – Meandro 2012, un cupaj de 38% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz si 12% alti struguri.

In aceeasi categorie a vinurilor portugheze de la Real,-wine boutique am mai descoperit un alt vin pe care l-am apreciat foarte mult inca de la prima degustare: Principal Reserva 2010 ce provine din Bairrada DOC, un cupaj foarte interesant de Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon si Merlot, care combina armonios bogatia si intensitatea aromelor de fructe negre cu aciditatea proaspata si taninul rotund si dulce, fiind un vin cu corpolenta plina si extractivitate buna. Este un vin care necesita aerare si care poate evolua frumos la sticla in urmatorii 10 ani.

Dom Bella 2010 sau 2012 de la Quinta de Bella din regiunea DÃO este un Touriga National pur ce provine dintr-un micro-climat situat la 380 m altitudine pe soluri de granit. Altitudinea si conditiile date de sol si pozitionarea viilor ii dau un caracter elegant si proaspat, in timp ce in gust este intens aromat si dens. Este un vin de descoperit.

Pe langa cei trei producatori de mai sus, am mai regasit vinuri de la Quinta do Popa, Quinta da Casa Amarela si Martha’s Porto din DOC Duoro, Colinas de São Lourenço si Marques de Marialva din DOC Bairrada, Quinta da Lapa din DOC Tejo, Herdade dos Grous din DOC Alentejo, Luis Duarte Vinhos din DOC Vinho Verde.

Sparkling only tasting – July 16th

There are several ways to fight the hot summer: fly to New Zealand or other cool areas, take several cold showers or brace the air conditioning unit like it’s your ultimate lover. But there is hope in a more enjoyable and easily reachable alternative: enjoy some glasses of a perfectly cold sparkling on a cool terrace. We propose the best solution: join us for an evening of sparks and discover the differences between different styles of bubbles: Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and brilliant Methode Traditionnelle made Cremants. You could read about these differences here with excellent infographic, but practice is everything. Take our word on this. So, here is what you’ll have, 10 wines:

• Prosecco Foss Marai Strada di Guia Brut
• Prince Stirbey Spumant Cramposie 2010 (Methode Champenois)
• Jane Ventura Reserva de la Musica Brut Nature Cava
• Charles Wantz Cremant d’Alsace Carte Noire (Methode Traditionnelle)
• Antech Cuvee Eugenie Brut 2013 Cremant de Limoux  (Methode Traditionnelle)
• Jean-Louis Denois Tradition Extra-Brut NV (Methode Traditionnelle)
• Jean-Louis Denois ‘Vins Rares’ Pinot Noir Brut 2006 (Methode Traditionnelle)
• Champagne Delamotte NV
• Champagne Laurent Gabriel Grand Reserve Premier Cru NV
• Champagne Demiere-Ansiot Blanc de Blancs Brut Vintage 2008 Grand Cru

The wine tasting takes place on the lovely terrace of: Restaurant Dada, 94 bis Matei Voievod street,

When: THU July 16th, starting at 19:30.

There are 12 tickets available and each costs 175 lei and includes the wines, small tapas, water and our enjoyable presence. Advance payment is required.

Please confirm your reservation by phone to Nicusor: +40 722 141 879, nicusor.cazan@gmail.com or to Cosmin +40 723 240 102, cosmin.grozea@gmail.com.

3 whites from Greece

old port of Rethymno

Just recently returned from vacation from Greece, a few days prior to the historic referendum, I can say that there was a huge discrepancy between what the media was broadcasting with Shocking and Breaking news and what life looked on the streets. Perhaps now it might be a different story but 1 week ago life in Crete was perfectly normal and if you would not have read the news you could swear nothing out of ordinary is happening. I am actually considering a second vacation this summer in Greece in light of the evolving headlines. We’ll see.

There were 3 wines I purchased from a local specialized wine store, all having a price range of 14-18 Eur. I drank each bottle over 2 days so there was a proper way to see how the wines tasted.

2013 Estate Argyros Assyrtiko from Santorini comes from a 150 years old winery, it was fermented and matured for 6 months in French Oak. It is 100% Assyrtiko from volcanic and sandy soil from yields of 3 tones per ha. Pale yellow color. First day opens up with sweet tropical fruits, mango, grapefruit, toast and vanilla from a smart use of oak. Quite sharp acidity that mellows in the glass as the wines gets warmer, it has a pronounced mineral character on the palate next to its citrus fruit. Medium finish, refreshing. Second day the oak flavors get more discreet, while the wine maintains the same intensity on the palate. A wine that can age 4-5 years easily. (88-89/100)

2014 Alpha Estate Sauvignon Blanc has a pale yellow color. Nose is less exuberant but you can feel it comes from a warm climate due to its sweet aromas of honeysuckle, passion fruit, elder and grapefruit. Vibrant acidity and plenty of citrus fruit in the mouth, with a medium refreshing finish. It is a well made Sauvignon Blanc, but it does not have a particular personality. (88/100)

2014 Ovilos Biblia Chora is the best white I drank from Greece. A blend of 50% Semillon and 50% Assyrtiko that was matured for 8 months in oak barrels, it is a wine of great personality. Color is yellow-green. The nose is just amazing, and it reminds very well of a high quality white Bordeaux from Pessac-Leognan. Complex and intense aromas of smoked vanilla, pineapple, honey, apricots and lime are just the most obvious tones from a larger specter of its aromatic profile. Fat, yet vibrant acidity on the palate, the wine has lavish flavors of stone fruits, citrus and dry nuts, with small hints of vanilla, just enough to make it complex and appealing. Medium to long finish, rich and refreshing the same time. A really great wine and a steal at its price of under 20 Eur. (92-93/100)

I am still discovering Greece in a glass. As food is concerned I dinned several nights at the same restaurant Zefyros Family Fish Taverna where the food is amazingly tasty with a romantic view over the old Venetian port, nicer especially in the evening. Found it on Tripadvisor and I endorse every positive review that this restaurant received.