Truly a summer Experience

Saturday night a small group of friends (17 all) venture out in town for a night of fun. Reservations were made at ‘Mousiki Kivotos” (Music Arc) in Lemesos.

With outside temperatures over 100, the Greek live music, the Greek Meze coming out of “Kivotos” kitchen non-stop I don’t believe anything else would have been more enjoyable than the suggested xinisteri from Kamanterena.

This 2008 bright full of flavor white wine was able to accompany the various meze of the night.

Too bad that is not exported to the US yet.

Something to look forward too.

Cheers

Costas

August 2010; Lemesos, Cyprus

Hold the Citrus please!

MOMO Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Marlborough New Zealand

If you are tired of what became the ‘typical’ style for a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc then it’s time for you to taste the MOMO.

This light colored Sauvignon Blanc from Wairau Valley starts out with aromas of stone fruit, followed by floral and mineral hints.

On the palate is clean and round followed by flavors of tropical fruit and a hint of grapefruit. Nice long grassy, herbal finish

A great refreshing glass of wine!

****/5

Cheers

Costas Mouzouras

Wine Director

GothamWines

Can you say Yamolicious?

Substance Cabernet Franc 2008

Walla Walla WA

Tonight’s dinner was a rib steak, with sauté onions and peppers, served with sweet potato fries and grilled zucchini with a chimichurri sauce on the side just in case.

To accompany this perfectly cooked steak I open a bottle of the Substance Cabernet Franc. Beautiful rich purple color, with aromas of cassis, plum, herbs and hints of vegetal notes. Give your glass some air and notes of toast and currants will come around; followed once more by vegetal notes. On the palate the wine is BIG and firm showcasing the fruit hints of pepper and herbs with firm acidity. A long long spicy finish makes it a perfect wine in my book.

Can’t think of a better wine to do my dinner justice.

*****/5

Cheers

Costas Mouzouras

Wine Director

GothamWines

Feudi di San Gregorio

Lacryma Christi Bianco 2009

This blend of Coda di Volpe and Falaghina from Mount Vesuvius is a brand new arrival for New York.

Earthy and Mineral aromas, followed by citrus, floral notes and a hint of sage.

Soft and round on the palate, showing mineral notes, stone fruit and hints of citrus.

Long finish, with herbal aftertaste.

Great Wine ****/5

Costas Mouzouras

Gotham Wines

Wine Director

Motherland & Homeland

With two weeks left till vacation I wanted something summery and Greek for dinner tonight. So I made SHRIMP WITH FETA, PASTA AND BASIL; a recipe from John Sarich’s new cook book, Chef in the Vineyards.

Can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a shrimp dish that much, and yes I did eat the pasta as well. As for the wine of choice tonight it came from Paumanok Vineyards; marrying the flavors of my motherland with flavors from my homeland was unintentional but a total success. The Festival Chardonnay 2009 was an excellent choice that married beautifully with the freshness of the dish.

This recipe is a keeper!!

As for the wine, I m still enjoying the last glass. This stainless steel chardonnay screams freshness, clean and crisp on the palate with notes of apples and melon.

Another must try white to celebrate summer.

Costas Mouzouras

Gotham Wines

Wine Director

One thing led to another!

It all started with the left over zucchini Carpaccio with mint and lemon vinaigrette. I decide to pair that with an arugula salad (I make my own dressing) and chicken piccata. I use wine in my piccata sauce which it let me to open a long over due chardonnay sample that I had sitting at home.

The Jean de Rose Chardonnay 2008, imported by Gabriella Imports and soon to be available at Gotham, was a superb pairing. The notes of butter and the rich balanced palate made this wine a perfect pairing with my meal!

What a wonderful dinner!!!

Costas Mouzouras

Wine Director

Gotham Wines

Heitz Cellars Grignolino 2006, Napa Valley

Tired of white and rose? This lighter body red is the perfect wine for the dog days of summer. The perfect wine to end a hot steamy day in New York City.

Lamb chops, perfectly cooked if I may say, and a glass of Grignolino (well more than a glass) along with made tonight’s dinner perfect.

Floral aromas and red berries will tinkle your nose, the beautifully balance body of this light dry red will make you unwilling to share the rest of the bottle.

Cheers

Costas

Gotham Wines

Wine Director

2517 Broadway

New York, NY 10025

(212) 932-0990

July 24, 2010

Wine Tasting March 3, 2010 - Part II

Benziger Family Wines

 

Signaterra Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Russian River

 

Peaches, lime,

Citrus, herbs.

Great balance, mineral, acidity.

J J J J

 

 

Signaterra Pinot Noir 2007

Russian River

 

Intense garnet color,

Bright fruit

Firm on the palate, nice acidity,

Lingering finish.

J J J J J

 

Signaterra 3 Blocks 2006

‘Bordeuax Blend’

 

64% Cabernet Sauvignon – 36% Merlot

WOW!

Cocoa, tobacco,

Plum, cassis, coffee

Big intense flavor on the palate, great tannins.

J J J J J

 

Costas

Wine Tasting morning of March 3, 2010

Colli di Lapio

Romano Clelia

DOC 2008

Fiano di Avelino

High altitude vineyards

Appple, pear, lemon, herbs

Clean, citrus, fresh acidity. Great balance superb wine.

Long mineral finish.

At $24.00 it might seem like a big investment for a Fiano but it disserves every single penny as well as every one of the Tre Bicchieri that was awarded.

 

 

Casamatta

Toscana IGT 2008

Rosso, by Bibi Graetz

 

100% Sangiovese,

Dark purple intense color

Plum, Cassis, Black Currant

Darker notes, forest brush.

Medium body, bright fruit on the palate, cherries, unripe plum, noticeable wood tannins.

Well made, great bargain for $10.00

 

 

Masserie Pisari

Salento Rosso IGT 2007

Negroamaro

 

Dark intense garnet color

Mature fruit on the nose,

Black cherries

Medium body, soft round typical negroamoro.

Ok for the price, nothing impressive. Under $12.00

Very sure will develop and open up more with time.

 

 

Hansom

Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley 2007

 

Only made on better vintages with a total production of less than 500 cases.

Dark purple intense color

Dark berry (cassis, black berries), coffee, vanilla,

Full body, great fruit on the palate, soft tannins,

Great, Great, Great!!!

Around $35.00 or less.

 

 

 

Costas Mouzouras

Wine Director

 

St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1998

What a pleasant surprise this wine was last night! I simply wanted a glass of red wine to accompany my pork chops, with roasted smashed potatoes and roasted fennel. I pulled the bottle of St. Supery 1998 with little hope and no expectations. The cork was a bit dry but then again my storage my fault. I must have had this Cabernet since its original release day. So far it has traveled with me to four apartments and was not always stored under the best conditions.

 

 

This 1998 Cabernet has a deep garnet color, with flecks of orange hues, showing its maturity. On the palate the wine is elegant:  with dry currants, plum and forest berries; then, a hint of leather, licorice and coffee. Nice acidity and yes, still firm tannins on the finish.

 

Lesson learned today: Never underestimate the power of a well-made wine.

 

Cheers

Costas

 

Tasted: January 12, 2010

 

Wine Tasting: Northern Italian Wines February 1, 2010

· Crispy Goat Cheese Ravioli with Caramelized Fennel, Roasted Pears, & Balsamic-Honey Splash

· Stuffed & Rolled Mediterranean Sea Bass with Sweet Peppers & Three-Herb Pesto

· Roasted Broccoli with Garlic & Chili

· Lemon & Chive Risotto

· Molten Chocolate Cake with Warm Strawberry Sauce & Vanilla Whipped Cream

Here's a unique evening of hands-on cooking and in-depth wine tasting! First, you'll enjoy a brief hands-on cooking classduring which you'll learn to prepare five fabulous Italian dishes. We'll make crispy goat cheese ravioli laced with basil and lemon zest, served with sweet roasted pears and caramelized fennel; we'll stuff delicate Mediterranean sea bass filets with colorful peppers and scallions, and serve our fish with a side of garlicky broccoli and creamy chive-scented risotto; and for dessert, we'll bake perfect, rich molten chocolate cakes, the ideal indulgence on a cold winter night. As for the wine tasting, our charismatic Wine Director Costas Mouzouras has a secret treat in store for you: Not only will you taste 8 or more classic and innovative Northern Italian wines... Costas will reveal the secrets of professional wine tasting by providing the essential tools that will enhance your tasting ability. You will learn basic aspects of sensory evaluation, appearance, aroma, and flavor. Moreover, Costas will reveal the origins of desirable and undesirable flavors in wine, and discuss stylistic contributions of winemaking techniques. Dinner will be paired with a tasting of 8 or more wines!

Course price includes...

· hands-on cooking lesson

· four-course dinner

· 8 or more wines presented by RUSTICO's Wine Director Costas Mouzouras

· a free apron

 

$150 pp | Wine Tasting: Northern Italian Wines | Monday February 1 at 6PM