Art of the Table

What: Wine Wednesday
When: March 8, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Louis Benton Steakhouse
Cost: $25 per person
RSVP: (616) 301-1885 or askus@artofthetable.com

March 8 already!?

A bit of spring today reminds me of the beauty and blue skies of northeast Italy! How I long to go to the Veneto again someday! So Wednesday we will “travel” to taste The Very Best of Northeast Italy!

Mike says, “At this tasting we’ll be exploring some of the so-called ‘lesser’ wine regions of Italy. I think the Italians would beg to differ on that count, and the wines will prove that Barolo and Brunello aren’t the only big-shot wines in Italy.

We’ll look at regions such as the Veneto, Alto Adige, Friuli and Custoza. This will be a really exciting tasting because of the unusual varietals, flavors and the really affordable prices!!” (Remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive to be great!)

There is still room for you and friends so let us know if you would like to join us!

New Wines In-Stock

With hints of sunshine and weather slightly warming, we’re thinking Spring at the store and I’m on the lookout for new and exciting wines for the season. Here are a few of the twenty or so wines we’ve brought in over the last two weeks:

Trevor Jones ‘04 “Virgin” Chardonnay, South Australia, $19.50
Year in and year out this is one of the best drinking Chardonnays out there bar-none. Rich, creamy and totally yummy, this un-oaked Chard is fresh and ripe with seductive aromas of nectarine, mandarin orange, melon and spicy pear. On the palate it sports tangy grapefruit, pineapple and peach notes, with silky textured hints of yellow melon. Pair this seductive wine with grilled swordfish with charmoula (but we’re not limiting you to that choice).

Marquis Phillips ‘04 “Holly’s Blend”, South Australia, $11.00
Well-made Aussie Verdelho with a smattering of Semillon, this is super round and expressive with generous aromas of green melon, nectarine, passion fruit and spice. Rich and juicy on the palate, its flavors echo the aromas with additional notes of peach and sassafras. Try with Moroccan chicken with apricot couscous and green olive sauce.

Citizen ‘02 Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, $15.50
A new winery making awesome wine at attractive prices, this vibrant red sports racy aromatics of red cherry, wild berry, sage and spicy cedar. On the palate it’s silky smooth with notes of juicy black plum, blackberry and zesty brambleberry. Pair with crispy stuffed poblano chilis smothered with bandera sauce. (Editor Amy’s note: I paired it with our new Maya Kaimal Vindaloo sauce with jasmine rice and it was all that!)

Patricia Green ‘04 “Shea” Pinot Noir, Yamhill Valley, $34.00
This limited production Oregon Pinot boasts sweet and smoky aromatics of blackberry, raspberry, tar, tobacco and exotic spice. On the palate it has firm, fine-grained tannins underneath of plush flavors of black cherry, black plum and smoky spice. Pair with grilled Wagyu flank steak over wild porcini ragout.

Cheers,
Amy and Mike

What: Wine Wednesday
When: March 15, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Louis Benton Steakhouse
Cost: $25
RSVP: (616) 301-1885 or askus@artofthetable.com

The encouragement (from Amy)

As is customary at Art of the Table, we try to come up with creative topics for wine tastings each week and we think we have blown creative out of the water (as far as wine tastings go!) We are itching for this tasting.

Disclaimer: Yes, it’s a blind tasting and I think when some of us read “blind tasting”, we hit the panic button. What you need to know is - there is no need to panic!

We’re an easy going group. It will not be like a stuffy class in which you analyze, get called on for the answer and become red faced because you got it wrong. It will be all fun. Really. Now that you know that, sign up for next Wednesday as you’re sure to have fun and learn a lot!

The official word (from Mike, the wine guy)

It was great to see so many new faces along with familiar faces at the Northeast Italy tasting on Wednesday! We had a blast and are really looking forward to next weeks tasting,

“Cosentino…or not!?” It’s a blind tasting pitting Mitch Cosentino’s wines against similar wines, hint, they’re almost all Napa Valley.

Mitch Cosentino employs a distinctive style which gives his wines intense extraction and concentration of fruit. We’re going to go through three flights of two and for each flight you will identify which wine is Cosentino and then for additional points you will identify varietal.

A special quiz will be given during the tasting with which you can accrue points (and of course effort does count!). At the end of the night the taster with the most points will win a $40 bottle of a Cosentino red wine. Additionally, correct answers will also allow tasters additional discounts on their wine purchases this evening. This will be fun, interactive and the wines will be awesome. I can’t think of a better first date or fun night out. Make a special effort to attend this unique and unpredictable event!

And wouldn’t you like to know…we have some new wines on the shelves at Art of the Table…

New Wines In-Stock

Patricia Green 2004 Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, $22.75
Just in the door this morning, we got one of the five cases of this gem that made it to Michigan this year. Patty notes that the fruit was picked especially late this vintage and displays unusual intense richness while maintaining piercing acidity and zip. She used 100% neutral oak barrels so as not to overpower the fruit, which she says has “nice aromatics of lemon candy and sliced apples.” I haven’t tried it yet but our friend Leslie tried it at the winery recently and said it’s gorgeous and yes, super hard to find. Get it while you can!

Carchelo 2004 Monastrell - Jumilla, $10.25
On the shelf for a day now, this is one of those overachievers that drinks twice its price. Suzanne and I tried this about a month ago and were both blown away at its quality and purity of fruit. Blackberry and more blackberry, smoked meat and tar with whiffs of black rose petals eeking through. You get the picture, this one’s for real and not to be taken lightly. Buy it by the case and fool your friends.

Cheers!
Amy and Mike

Amy Ruis (and husband Steve) wants to thank everyone who contributed to making this dream come true. Do you have killer tips or keen insights? Share it with us!

Mike Dombrowski (a.k.a. The Wine Guy) gives YOU kudos for sharing your ideas and awesome wine-food pairings. Afterall, wine is food the soul.

Talk to us via Table Talk or contact us:

616.301.1885
616.301.1889 FAX
askus@artofthetable.com

You can always visit us in person, too!

Art of the Table
606 Wealthy SE
Grand Rapids, MI
49503 USA

What: Wine Wednesday
When: March 8, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Louis Benton Steakhouse
Cost: $25 per person
RSVP: (616) 301-1885 or askus@artofthetable.com

Yes, it’s Wednesday again! How quickly “early week” becomes the middle of the week!

If you’re craving the French countryside, come join us tonight. It’s not too late!

Mike says, come on by because “It’s been a while since we’ve ventured down South into the Rhone Valley of France. Rhone wines were the very first I learned about because they offer the best value of any French wines. Dominated by Syrah and Grenache, we’ll be looking at some top producers like Cuilleron, Rostaing, Montpertuis and Delubac. Certain to bring the “funk” this is not to be missed.”

So if you have time, call us and sign up to join us for tonight’s Rhone Round-Up!

Cheers,
Amy and the staff