Saint Cosme
A long time favorite of Dean's and now a critically acclaimed estate, Saint Cosme, the most ancient estate in the region just north of Gigondas, has been hot! Following the 2009 Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone red (one of "Wine Spectators" Top 100 Wine of 2010), their 2009 "Valbelle" placed #10 on the 2011 Top 100 list. Dean shared the Cotes du Rhone white, at September's Savor Your Senses music concert and wine tasting, an audience favorite as it paired with grand, intense classical piano piece!
Local Spirits
With the 2009 micro-distilleries act, craft distillers have been cropping up all over NY. In 2011, we were introduced to Brooklyn Republic's Brooklyn Vodka distilled in Clinton Hill, came to love the full line of Port Chester's COMB offering all distilled from honey blossom wine, and reintroduced to Vintology the Hudson line including a 100% corn Baby Bourbon and a Single Malt! Outside of New York, we found bourbon from the Berkshires, a vodka and bourbon from Breckenridge, Whistle Pig Rye from West Virginia, and delightful domestic single malts like Triple Smoke and Brimstone!
Sake
With sake emerging as a world beverage, we thought it time to reintroduce sake to Vintology. While sake has been culturally significant in Japan for centuries, breweries are popping up on most continents, and many are returning to traditional production methods and increased quality. We brought in several premium sakes, including Tozai Snow Maiden, which scored 91 by the Beverage Tasting Institute, and Tozai Living Jewel, a great sipping sake whose name is inspired by shimmering koi.
Grower Wines
As opposed to heavily marketed wines, with familiar names due to expensive and aggressive marketing efforts, we continued in 2011 to seek out wine grown by individuals or families own estates that they own and control. Bottles like Mondavi's Continuum, Antonio Argiolas' Sardinian wines and the Benzigers' offerings contribute to Vintology's selection, a selection that caters to a more savvy customer, interested in how a wine was produced just as much as how it tastes!
High Roller
Sitting on our shelves, in a custom crafted Imperiale bottle, inlaid with a real poker chip, the High Roller caught a lot of attention at Vintology this year. Produced by JAQK Cellars, their flagship wine, with 100% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, pleased many customers, on the outside and on the inside. We understand this was one bottle that did not go into the recycling bucket!
Rose Wine
Shaking off it's undeserved reputation as sweet and simple, rose made the summer of 2011 the summer of Rose. You all, some cautious and some adventurous, tasted through our rose selection, a global flight including multiple continents and multiple varietals. From Provence's Triennes and Pink Floyd, to Spain's Muga, to Long Island's Wolffer Estate rose, many of you fell in love with rose and learned it's complexity and delight!
Pol Roger Champagne
A long time favorite of ours and a wine industry professional's champagne 'go-to', Pol Roger received global attention when it was selected as the official Champagne at the royal wedding in the spring. A champagne long associated with British aristocracy and a well known favorite of Sir Winston Churchill, it's one of our recommendations for this New Year's Eve!
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