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