Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
My wine is now stored with MWC. Their warehouse is in Clifton, NJ. I know Clifton, NJ only insofar as my mother's family is buried in King Solomon Cemetery, which happens to be in Clifton (near Nutley). Some have opined that this is reasonably indicative of New Jersey as a whole.
Be that as it may, the nice folks at MWC announced a road trip: meet at the NYC shop at noon, have some bubbles, get on a private bus, visit the warehouse and meet a few more of the local crew, then have lunch at Rutt's Hut.
(I'd never heard of them but Rutt's is something of a local legend... founded in 1928 and still going strong, mostly on the strength of deep-fried hot dogs and the secret house relish. amusing NYTimes review)
I was curious to see where the bottles sleep now, and, of course, I knew Disorderly Marc Hanes would be there. So, I hie myself to the far western reaches of Manhattan and let 'er rip:
At the Store
Suenen NV Champagne Extra-Brut, Blanc de Blancs GC, "Oiry" - 2014 base; 3g rs, bright, salty, minerally, "Oyster wine!" -Matt, the "C + C" bottling is said to be more obviously chard, cru bottlings on the 2013 base are sitting on their lees right now and should come soon
Pierre Peters NV Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs "Cuvee de Reserve" - 2015 base; also good cut but not so chalky (which makes the acid seem harsh against the yellow fruit)
On the Bus
Dom. de Marquiliani 2017 Vin de Corse Rose "Gris de Marquiliani" - extremely pale, this is a blend (sciaccarellu and grenache?), assertive but not excessively flowery, a little dull but OK in plastic cups
At the Warehouse
MWC has 20,000 sq ft of storage spread over two floors. Ceilings vary from about 12' to 18' so there are boxes piled high. All in all, about 35,000 cases. It is managed like warehouses typically are these days: bar codes on the boxes, bar codes on the shelf, and a database to retain what is sitting where.
Foillard 2016 Beaujolais "Cote du Py" - magnum; vivid, young (duh), juicy black fruits, delicious
O. Horiot 2012 Rose des Riceys "En Barmont" - minerally, crisp, pale, strawberry, very tight; Day 2: opening up, somewhat fruity but rather vinous, dry, medium-weight
With Hot Dogs, French Fries, Onion Rings, and Roast Ducks
Suburban chic of maybe 50 years ago... dark panelling, mica dust sparkling from the stucco ceiling, heavy wooden chairs. If you go to the website's gallery we actually had the room with the big carved wooden eagle watching over us.
Dom Perignon 2000 Champagne Brut Rose - fine and minerally, juicy, late arriving funk is very attractive
Bereche NV Champagne Brut "Cotes" - 2013 base, this is their negociant project; toasty, not overly leesy, assertive ripe chard profile (vaguely peach-mango), good at the table
Arkenstone 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Howell Mountain - grassy, assertive, leathery phenolics, more mango!, I like it but this is definitely not everybody's cup of tea
Dom. Caroline Morey 2014 Chassagne-Montrachet "La Chene" - typique village white burg
Catherine et Pierre Breton 2010 Bourgueil "Les Perrieres" - magnum; typique, modest acidity
Desvignes 2002 Morgon, Cotes du Py - this is amazing, silky texture, full of life, great depth of flavor (comparable to a 1er Cru Burgundy)
Clos Rougeard 2004 Saumur-Champigny "Les Poyeux" - great match with duck, full-bodied but still very tight
Yann Bertrand 2014 Fleurie "VVV" - transparent (meaning, pale and lightweight), carbonic on very old vines, pretty wine
Ayoub 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette - not sure if this was the Estate bottling or bought-in fruit; lots of red fruit, old lady handkerchief, a touch of wood and a touch dense but nicely done
Chapoutier 1997 Cote Rotie - nice wine, tapenade (meaning olives and herbs) and mild acidity, no longer oaky but a lot of sandalwood and wood tannins present in the palate
Bod. Nekeas 2011 Navarra "El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa" - garnacha, eh
One Dessert Wine
Selbach Oster 2005 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese*** - sweet but suave, not cloying, yellow and red fruit, thank you!, yum
Great field trip. Thank you, Matt and everyone at MWC.
Be that as it may, the nice folks at MWC announced a road trip: meet at the NYC shop at noon, have some bubbles, get on a private bus, visit the warehouse and meet a few more of the local crew, then have lunch at Rutt's Hut.
(I'd never heard of them but Rutt's is something of a local legend... founded in 1928 and still going strong, mostly on the strength of deep-fried hot dogs and the secret house relish. amusing NYTimes review)
I was curious to see where the bottles sleep now, and, of course, I knew Disorderly Marc Hanes would be there. So, I hie myself to the far western reaches of Manhattan and let 'er rip:
At the Store
Suenen NV Champagne Extra-Brut, Blanc de Blancs GC, "Oiry" - 2014 base; 3g rs, bright, salty, minerally, "Oyster wine!" -Matt, the "C + C" bottling is said to be more obviously chard, cru bottlings on the 2013 base are sitting on their lees right now and should come soon
Pierre Peters NV Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs "Cuvee de Reserve" - 2015 base; also good cut but not so chalky (which makes the acid seem harsh against the yellow fruit)
On the Bus
Dom. de Marquiliani 2017 Vin de Corse Rose "Gris de Marquiliani" - extremely pale, this is a blend (sciaccarellu and grenache?), assertive but not excessively flowery, a little dull but OK in plastic cups
At the Warehouse
MWC has 20,000 sq ft of storage spread over two floors. Ceilings vary from about 12' to 18' so there are boxes piled high. All in all, about 35,000 cases. It is managed like warehouses typically are these days: bar codes on the boxes, bar codes on the shelf, and a database to retain what is sitting where.
Foillard 2016 Beaujolais "Cote du Py" - magnum; vivid, young (duh), juicy black fruits, delicious
O. Horiot 2012 Rose des Riceys "En Barmont" - minerally, crisp, pale, strawberry, very tight; Day 2: opening up, somewhat fruity but rather vinous, dry, medium-weight
With Hot Dogs, French Fries, Onion Rings, and Roast Ducks
Suburban chic of maybe 50 years ago... dark panelling, mica dust sparkling from the stucco ceiling, heavy wooden chairs. If you go to the website's gallery we actually had the room with the big carved wooden eagle watching over us.
Dom Perignon 2000 Champagne Brut Rose - fine and minerally, juicy, late arriving funk is very attractive
Bereche NV Champagne Brut "Cotes" - 2013 base, this is their negociant project; toasty, not overly leesy, assertive ripe chard profile (vaguely peach-mango), good at the table
Arkenstone 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Howell Mountain - grassy, assertive, leathery phenolics, more mango!, I like it but this is definitely not everybody's cup of tea
Dom. Caroline Morey 2014 Chassagne-Montrachet "La Chene" - typique village white burg
Catherine et Pierre Breton 2010 Bourgueil "Les Perrieres" - magnum; typique, modest acidity
Desvignes 2002 Morgon, Cotes du Py - this is amazing, silky texture, full of life, great depth of flavor (comparable to a 1er Cru Burgundy)
Clos Rougeard 2004 Saumur-Champigny "Les Poyeux" - great match with duck, full-bodied but still very tight
Yann Bertrand 2014 Fleurie "VVV" - transparent (meaning, pale and lightweight), carbonic on very old vines, pretty wine
Ayoub 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette - not sure if this was the Estate bottling or bought-in fruit; lots of red fruit, old lady handkerchief, a touch of wood and a touch dense but nicely done
Chapoutier 1997 Cote Rotie - nice wine, tapenade (meaning olives and herbs) and mild acidity, no longer oaky but a lot of sandalwood and wood tannins present in the palate
Bod. Nekeas 2011 Navarra "El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa" - garnacha, eh
One Dessert Wine
Selbach Oster 2005 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese*** - sweet but suave, not cloying, yellow and red fruit, thank you!, yum
Great field trip. Thank you, Matt and everyone at MWC.
