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Archive for November, 2009

Imbibe New York Wine Club–Malbec, Cot, & Cahors

Posted in Imbibe Wine Club, Wine Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

I cannot believe that it’s been one year since Kelleigh last hosted our pre-Thanksgiving Imbibe New York Wine Club meet–-complete with sit down dinner and wine.  This year, Malbec was the guest of honor; and so in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we decided to extend the invite to the entire family, including Cot or Auxerrois from Loire Valley and Cahors in southwestern France.  And while the evening went sans familial breakdown, tears, or fight, we were quite surprised by the differences in personality, which included a wine likened to the thighs of a speed skater; and another reminiscent of a hot iron’s heat. (more…)

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Wine in NYC–Where to Take Your Guests

Posted in New York Wine Bars, tagged , on November 24, 2009 | 2 Comments »

We’ve all been hit with the dilemma of where to bring out-of-town guests.  Your favorite spot if often the obvious choice, but there are occasions when the coolest joint isn’t the right fit.  Perhaps you’re with folks who aren’t into wine–who might better appreciate a certain atmosphere or “gimmick”.  Or maybe you want to impart a message, one that suggests to your guests your relationship with New York.   Considering a few possible traits, occasions, or types, I’ve compiled here a list of ten wine bars in the city–some of which have been reviewed on Imbibe New York, others which have not. (more…)

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The Garden Wine Bar

Posted in New York Wine Bars, wine events, tagged , , , on November 20, 2009 | 3 Comments »

As we entered The Garden Wine Bar at NYC’s Four Seasons Hotel, Caitlin and I chuckled, wondering how she managed to score an invite to this inaugural event.  Grabbing a glass of bubbly and a few nibbles of cheese, we stood at a table where I was happy to be her date.  It’s a lovely space, as one might expect–with four towering Acacia trees, windows to the ceiling, a 15-foot tall wine display, and many plays on light.  With 200 bottles of wine to choose from and approximately 150 by the glass, one glimpse at the menu is all it takes to realize that I (sans expense account) am most likely not their quintessential guest. (more…)

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Around the World in 80 Sips

Posted in wine events, Wine Reviews, tagged , , , , , on November 16, 2009 | 3 Comments »

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On Friday, Jenn–producer extraordinaire– and I arrived at 583 Park Avenue, an awesome space for which I–in my DM’s and black skinny jeans–felt awkwardly underdressed.  Opening the doors for a press tasting at 5:30, for which we were there on the dot, Bottlenotes launched Around the World in 80 Sips, an event that hits NYC, Chicago, and in 2010, San Francisco.  Showcasing wines from 14 countries, Bottlenotes (an online wine community) managed to pack the house with the most colorful crowd I’ve ever witnessed at a tasting; one that actually represented the demographics of New York City.  Wow.  Why are tastings often such a white-wash?  To address this question, I could write a book, so for sake of this short post I will simply applaud Bottlenotes for their fresh approach, their outreach, and their interpretation of the word community.   (more…)

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Spit & Twit at City Winery

Posted in wine events, Wine Reviews, tagged , , , on November 12, 2009 | 1 Comment »

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At City Winery on Sunday, Wine Twits co-sponsored an experiment in social media and wine called Spit & Twit, to bring users of Twitter together to taste and tweet at the same time.  In case you’re not in the know, as I was not until recently, Wine Twits is an online networking site for those who tweet about wine.  By addressing @WineTwits before every tweet, one contributes to the database/online community at at Wine Twits, which could potentially help generate a following, voice, and/or cyber-friends.  It’s an interesting concept, that brought together a host of imbibers, some tweeting amongst many who seemed quite happy to sip and social network the old fashioned way–face-to-face. (more…)

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Blue Angel Wines

Posted in wine boutiques, Wine Reviews, tagged , , , , on November 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

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Friday night, I rode the L to meet Caitlin and Alex at Blue Angel Wines.  It’s my second time to this boutique shop in Greenpoint, and I almost enjoy the journey as much as the destination itself.  Turning left from Lorimer onto Ainslie, I pass by my first apartment in the city, but have a hard time remembering the building…On Grand Street we enter a small shop with shelves made of reclaimed wood from the Central Park Stables, that are lined with carefully selected wines, 70% of which are organic or biodynamically produced. (more…)

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Hospices de Beaune Tasting at Christie’s

Posted in wine events, Wine Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

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Last Wednesday, Christie’s opened their their Board Room doors for a tasting of 17 wines from the Hospices de Beaune, preceding the official auction that Christie’s has officiated since 2005. Taking place on the third Sunday of each November, since 1859, the Hospices de Beaune hosts this auction to benefit the charities of Hôtel Dieu.  For Burgundy aficionados it is the first glimpse of each vintage, and though the cost at the auction is inflated, it sets the framework and tone for the year to come.   (more…)

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