This wine is so f’ing good and it’s all sold out! I’m going to California to get us some…

Thursday Night Tasting

Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for another tasting of some of our new favorites from Italy with our friend Ben from Soilair Selections. Our pals at Eastern District will pair the cheeses and a fun time will be had by all.

La Formica Soave 2011

100% Garganega, hailing from a vineyard founded in the 1800’s at the Eastern-most edge of Valpolicella territory. This enchantingly sunny white is a stellar winter refresher with considerable body and and a soft, lengthy finish…and, just like our good friends Nicky and Johnny, totally suave. Plus, I discovered last weekend that this is a weirdly awesome pairing for nachos. $19

Pietranera Rosso di Montalcino 2010

The name “Pietranera” means “black stone”, and it’s derived from the volcanic soil prevalent in the southern part of Montalcino where the family-run estate is located. This Sangiovese benefits greatly from the mineral rich earth in which the grapes are grown. Unbelievably elegant, with lush violet notes, bright, ruby red fruit and incredible structure. And the gorgeous label is printed with real gold. Baller. $25

Ronchi di Cialla Rosso 2009

This multi-generational, family-run estate specializes in grapes indigenous to Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Their Rosso is made from Ribolla Nera, also known as Schioppettino. The grape became nearly extinct in the late 1800s, and has been nursed back to life over the last fifty years by handful of dedicated growers. This exceptional red is like nothing else- dark, plummy, medium bodied, spicy, and de-licious. $27

STAFF PICKS

Drink these if you know what’s good for you.

xoxo!

OPEN ‘TIL ELEVEN TONIGHT AND AGAIN AT NOON TOMORROW!

NO DELIVERY, SO COME AND VISIT US!

XOXO

JUST IN FROM ITALY!

Villa Rinaldi La Prima Cuvee Brut 2008 

We just cracked a bottle of this sparkling Garganega from the Veneto, and it’s everything we remembered from first taste, and then some: beautiful golden straw color, crisp tropical fruit, and a soft, chalky finish.  Bellisimo! $30

Bibi Graetz Casamatta Toscana Rosso 2010

“Casamatta”, or “Crazy House” is artist-winemaker Bibi Graetz version of the traditional Tuscan “House Wine”.  A consistently refreshing balance of fruit and acidity, we think this insane value will be a fast favorite in all of Greenpoint’s crazy houses.  $13

Cordero di Montezemolo Dolcetto D’Alba 2010 

We give high marks to this perfectly plummy, earthy, softly tannic Dolcetto from a one of the most beautiful vineyard sites in all of Piedmont. From a region rich with the illustrious Nebbiolo grape, Dolcetto is often overlooked or looked down on.  Go out on a limb and give this bottle a chance! $20

Caravaglio Nero du Munti Corinto Nero Salina 2011

A savory red from an unsavory island!  Salina has spent much of history nearly uninhabited because of PIRATES! Cool, right?  The grapes grown here take their unique qualities from the oceanside soil and salty sea air- minerality and really bright, clean, minimalist red fruit.  Great with grilled fish! $28

I Custodi Aetneus Etna Rosso 2007

A full-bodied, concentrated blend of Nerello Mascalese (80%) and Nerello Cappucio (20%) from the unique volcanic soil on the Northern side of Mt. Etna, Aetnus was a wine we didn’t necessarily need but absolutely had to have.  Elegant ripe fruit with rich tobacco and spice notes from one of our favorite vintages in Italian wine history, this is a particularly delicious treat reflecting both skilled winemaking and exceptional terroir.  $40

New Wines! 

Shockingly, it’s not every day that Lily and I get to have lunch with a table full of handsome men in suits and endless bottles of delicious wines.  But, a few weeks ago we had the privilege of lunching with winemaker Jeff Fischer and some awesome Manhattan sommeliers at DBGB.  Over pate, cheese burgers, iceberg wedges, and octopus, we fell in love with a few of the wines from Habit, a small operation in Santa Barbara County, California.  Our new friend Jeff is a jack-of-all trades.  When he’s not playing winemaker, he’s voicing a character by the same name on the hit animated series American Dad. Needless to say, the lunch was incredibly entertaining. AND, bonus- the wines were delicious. We snatched up a case of each of our faves immediately, and are excited to share them with you! 

2011 HABIT CHENIN BLANC

Jeff says: “Stone fruit, guava, quince, chervil, juicy fruit gum, green plums”

We say- Absolutely, totally delightful! Tropical fruit and vibrancy quench your thirst and wet your palate. Bright and clean. A tremendous way to kick off a special meal.  $33

2010 HABIT RED

Bordeaux Blend- 60% Cabernet Franc, the rest is Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot

Jeff says: “A mix of berries and dark fruits, soft supple tannins, a beautiful woman cloaked in red velvet. Super food friendly…approachable now but great aging potential… finesse, depth, and balance.”

We say: Warm baking spices like clove and cinnamon liven up the lush, concentrated fruit.  Great with fancy cheeseburgers.

MEG’S SUPERBOWL WINE GUIDE FROM GREENPOINTERS

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the booziest, most gluttonous American holidays. And we know the first instinct may be to reach for an ice cold brew, but I highly recommend considering wine! It’s less filling, so you can drink more of it! And we’ve got something for every minute of the game. Dandelion Wine delivers from 5-9 pm, so you won’t have to miss a single touchdown!

WINE FOR JUNK FOOD:
If you’re indulging in pizza, wings, and nachos, you’ll need some wine with a bit of acidity to balance out all that cheese and fat. With spicier foods, my go-to red is the Buchegger Zweigelt, a fresh, peppery Austrian red with a screw cap for easy access. The liter bottle of dry and zesty Gruner Veltliner from Mayr, from Austria, is a no-brainer for a party white. For something a little different, I recommend a lightly sparkling Italian red like the fruity Gragnano (made popular by our friend Paulie Gee) or the drier, earthier Lini “Labrusca” Lambrusco.

Buchegger Zweigelt 2010, $15
Mayr Gruner Veltliner 2011, $14
Federiciane Monteleone Gragnano, $18
Lini Labrusca Rosso, $18

DRINK WITH BEYONCE
“What type of wine pairs with the greatest superstar in the universe?” That’s a question I’ve probably spent an excessive amount of time thinking about. And for me, a hesitant football fan from every city but the ones competing, she’s really what this Sunday is all about. Beyond being incredibly entertaining, half-time is a good time for you to cleanse your palate and take a dance break, and for that I suggest pink bubbles, like my good friend “Frankie Mo” (Francois Montand), a dry, pink, unserious sparkling blend of the serious grapes Grenache Noire and Cinsault from Gascogne in France, or the fuller-bodied, slightly fruitier staff favorite Le Colture Prosecco. Or, for the beer lover, try an all-natural, fruity, sour candied, and yeasty pink bubbly like the sparkling Monastrell from Spanish producer Vina Enebro.

Francois Montand Brut Rose, $13
Le Colture Prosecco Rose, $18
Vina Enebro Monastrell, $23

THE HOME STRETCH
Perhaps the drawn out final quarter of the game will have you on the edge of your seat, or maybe the winner will already be clear. Either way, you’re probably full and a let’s be honest, a little drunk at this point. Responsibly unwind with something a little bit lower in alcohol, like one of our Spanish Ciders. Totally thirst quenching and fried-food friendly, our hard apple ciders from each hover right around 6% and are a great alternative to beer and wine. Or choose the tiny little bubbles in the Tintero Grangia, a fun, dry, prickly white from Piedmont to refresh your palate and maintain your buzz without ruining your Monday back at work.

Isastegi Cider, Basque, $13
Val d’Ornon Cider, Asturias, $10
Tintero Grangia, $14

VICTORY CELEBRATION
Champagne baby, because you, and your team, are totally worth it. I’m all about the bubbles from the exceptional Champagne producer Marie-Noelle Ledru. We have her Brut, Rose, and a Vintage from 2002. They’re all delicious, classic expressions of one of the best wines in the world and the very best way to celebrate such a momentous occasion!

Marie-Noelle Ledru Brut, $61
Marie-Noelle Ledru Rose, $74
Marie Noelle Ledru 2002, $91

MOURNING YOUR LOSS
Your team lost, and you are sad. Sorry! At this point, you just need to get more intoxicated to forget it all happened and go to sleep. For this, I recommend a bold, full-bodied, high-alcohol red like the Quatros Primos from Argentina. Amazing with any left-over meat dishes, and boasting both enough character and alcohol to distract you from your worst nightmare! Or knock back some comforting Tawny Port- it will help to soothe your broken heart.

Famillia Mayol Cuatro Primos, $26
Infantado Tawny Port, $18

Blind tasting #tom (at Dandelion Wine)