Sunday, February 28, 2010

Spanish Simplicity


Scott dropped by for tea late Friday afternoon, and later we turned to something a bit stronger: the 2008 Abrazo del Toro Tinto (80 percent garnacha and 20 percent tempranillo). It was overly bright at first, with a strong aroma of cherries; it definitely tasted young but not in an unpleasant way.
This was a bottle left behind by Laura, who said she stocked up at Trader Joe's, during last week's marathon of assembling wedding invitations. I think she said she paid $5.99 for it -- a great price for a nice, versatile wine. I haven't worked up the nerve to venture into the TJ's in Union Square because I've heard the crowds are epic. Also, everywhere else the store sells its famous Two Buck Chuck, which here is naturally Three Buck Chuck. As Cindy Adams says, "Only in New York."

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Pair of Reds

Monday was Taco Night at the Armstrongs' and naturally I wanted something with a little spice. (I know "Mexican wine" exists although I have not had it -- yet; the phrase always makes me think of the great Fountains of Wayne song. Anyway, it seems to me that most of Mexico would be too hot to produce good wine.) The 2007 Faustino VII Rioja was a delicious match for our vegetarian tacos, and it is such a great deal at $10 from Union Square Wines & Spirits. A cozy winter night at home with our visitors, Jude and Betsy, and the Olympics and the Westminster Dog Show to flip between...

And on Wednesday, I met up with friends for dinner at one of my favorite Ninth Avenue spots, the Market Cafe. (The photo above is from their Web site.) The sea scallop appetizer is still a must-have for me, and I decided to keep it relatively light with a Caesar salad and a shared side of their addictive spiced fries. The wine list was a little funky -- they did not have several of their selections, and after I ordered a pinot noir (bottles are all $29), it was not the one on the menu. The 2008 Casa del Sole from Puglia had a mossy aroma, and was smooth and light on the palate (13 percent alcohol). I've always had good luck at the Market, but I wish they'd sort out the confusion in the wine department.