Anybody wanna play 'What would you order?'

J

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
Going to a steakhouse tomorrow. Here is the wine list (pdf, 8 pp.): click

Three couples at the table. Need both sparkling-white-rose and red. Try to limit the damages. Go.

(I already have some ideas but I might have missed things.)
 
****!

Interesting to learn that Léoville-las-Cases packed it in in St-Julien back in 1985 and made a St-Estèphe instead. And that Pierre Morey made a German Burgund.

I could find a few things to drink, but not a lot. Have fun!
 
That is one tough list with some ridiculous mark ups. I don't have any direct experience with these wines just guesses based on producers and the selection available.

White - 2008 Stony Hill or 2011 Philipp Kuhn "Alte Reben"

Reds are much tougher

Red - 1998 Cerretto "Bernadot"

Sparkling - The only steal on the list is the 99 Vilmart Cuvee Creation

Whoever put that list together was spending too much time on their flashcards and drinking unicorns instead of working on their wine program.
 
Not an easy list at all, and I don't know whether your companions will care too much about the wine, so:

bubbly - Billecart-Salmon Rosé is dependable, but the Vilmart would be a good splurge

white - The Stony Hill Chardonnay, or Livio Felluga Tocai Friulano or the Corison Gewurztraminer (nice, dry example) or even the Huia Pinot Gris (NZ examples were surprisingly spicy and aromatic in my experience)

red - Avignonesi Vino Nobile, Dom. Drouhin Pinot Noir or Drouhin Pommard, or if a splurge is in order the '91 Corison Cabernet.

I'd steer well clear of the Bdx and Cabernets otherwise.

Mark Lipton
 
Yeah, it is a wretched, wretched list.

I'm sure I can please the crowd of non-winos with Schramsberg Demi-Sec, Domaine Serene "R", or Corison Corazon.

But for reds, sheesh, maybe the 99 Lanessan? 08 Fontanafredda? Give up and drink Cahors?

Sigh.
 
Thank you, Robert, Mark, Claude, and Suzanne. I'll reconsider the Billecart-Salmon and the Stony Hill.

I was wondering about the Drouhin Pommard but not sure I'll enjoy it any more than anything else.
 
originally posted by Robert Dentice:

Corkage is $35 with a two bottle limit according to the nycorkedwiki.
Click to expand...
I just sent them that question via their website. If nycorkedwiki is correct, that's not a bad price to pay. I've got wines that go with steak and fancy appetizers.
 
The key question is - what are the tastes of the other people at the table? Do they care about wine? How do their palates fall dry vs. sweet, tannic vs. not, big vs. restrained, etc. Eclectic? If you don't know, it's hard to say what to order until you get there and find out their tastes.

That said, from my experience, sticking to moderately priced wines on the list:
--Monsanto Riservas are usually a good thing in a hearty, slightly rustic way, although 2009 is a little young.
--I've been happy with Tinto Pesqueras in the past, but haven't had any for a few years.
--Artezin Zins are very well-balanced, claret style Zins, no fruit bombs they, probably a good choice in a carnivorous ambience.
--the Domaine Carneros Pinots are pretty good.
--Cathy Corison's Corazon Gewurz has been tasty in past vintages.
--the recent releases of Ste. Michelle/Loosen's Eroica Riesling have been delicious.
--I like most of the Veramonte wines I've had.
 
Wow. What an annoying list. One useless factoid about each wine.

I suppose it's too late to bail to Rouge Tomate?
 
I have no suggestions here, but just wanted to take a moment to remark on the wine geek/non wine geek divide here. It seems perfectly intuitive to scout out restaurants for food and wine before showing up. But the other week I was out with some people who were amazed and astounded that I had already chosen the wine at home.

A great world this internet!
 
Since 100$ is on the cheap side there....I had my only bottle of Limerick Lane Zinfandel recently and it was really wonderful. We finished a magnum in no time. It was not jammy at all. Nice fruit, some structure, almost elegant. Different vintage though...
 
Also, I cannot comprehend the headings at all. "Reds" and "More Interesting Reds"? Shit, if you order from the regular reds you risk boring your dining companions. "Special vintages"? Of what?
 
Who is paying?

Champagne:
Vilmart Création 1999 (!!! Unicorn alert !!!)
Lanson 2002

White:
Montelena 2010
Stony Hill 2008

I really like sangiovese with steak, so:

Avignonese 2010
Tignanello 2010

Other reds:
Corison, any.
Dalla Valle 1995
Hanzell, any (could be really good, although not sure why you would drink pinot noir).
Spottswoode 2006

Look, any asshole can pick wines at Pearl and Ash, I like the challenge of a list like this.
 
I didn't notice that 1999 Vilmart, good catch! That would be my first choice as it's very reasonbly priced. The Corison seems marked up quite a bit.

Other than that, how's their cocktail list?
 
Thanks, Christian, Georg, and VLM. I've cherry-picked a few of your suggestions for my short list.

As to who's paying, it is dutch treat.

As to switching to Rouge Tomate, it can't be done at this time.

As to the tastes of the diners:
- Couple 1... She prefers sparkling above all else, he is a wino of the bigger-is-better school.
- Couple 2... My brother prefers red but will drink what I tell him to drink, his wife prefers off-dry whites and roses.
- Couple 3... My partner prefers off-dry whites and roses.

What we really need is a bottle of FRV100 and a good Barolo.
 
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