BATTLE OF THE BUBBLIES: NEW YEAR'S WINNER!

BARRAMUNDAYS, WINE & VINYL

La la la la Lambrusco..

This past Monday we had a tasting frenzy. Apparently, bubblies are big. Our last Battle of the Bubblies winner, Cava, didn't stand a chance. Prosecco had a strong showing, but our winner by a landslide was Lambrusco. Refreshing, fruity and surprising, this quaffer won the hearts of a huge majority of our lovely guests, and I think one of the key points of this victory had to do with the fact that it was.. RED.

Yes, it was a huge boon for our red wine drinkers to find a fizzy party drink that lined up perfectly with their preferences. Lambrusco, I think, is coming back in a big way.

Stay tuned for Monday night's Battle of the Kir Royales-  a first for Wine & Vinyl!

at Barramundi

67 Clinton St

NYC

BATTLE OF THE BUBBLIES, NEW YEAR'S EDITION

BARRAMUNDAYS, WINE & VINYL
BATTLE OF THE BUBBLIES:
NEW YEAR'S EDITION
LAMBRUSCO vs PROSECCO vs CAVA

It's Christmas Day, and Happy Holidays to all our friends. The holiday season is not over yet! Which bubbly are you celebrating with this New Year's Eve? Champagne is the classic choice, but tomorrow night Barramundays makes your life a little bit easier (and a lot more fun) by offering three other scrumptious bubblies to sample in time for your New Year's celebrations. Two whites and one sexy red.

The combatants are:

Cava
Only Spanish wines produced in the traditional methode champenoise are permitted to be called Cava. Our selection was the winner of our last Battle of the Bubblies, just before Thanksgiving.

Prosecco
Unlike Cava and Champagne, Prosecco is an Italian wine produced using the Charmat method, in which secondary fermation takes place in steel tanks. Since this is a less expensive process than bottle fermentation, the savings are passed along to the consumer- lower cost, yes, but also a very respectable and delicious choice for your celebration.

Lambrusco
Fruity/floral, refreshing, and making a serious comeback in the US, Lambrusco is a lightly sparkling red Italian wine. It's been around since the Romans, and was the most imported wine in the US in the 70's & 80's, (who knew?!). From the wine talk I've been hearing lately, Lambrusco is a favorite, (almost trendy).

Christmas dinner awaits, but the celebration continues tomorrow night, with DJ Ilmo spinning groovy beats.



See you there!

at Barramundi
67 Clinton St.
NYC

RED WINE BATTLE- THREE FRENCH BLENDS

BARRAMUNDAYS, WINE & VINYL 

BATTLE OF THE FRENCH REDS: TERRIOR EDITION

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Three Rich Reds + DJ Ilmo's Groovy Beats= Holiday Bliss

Tonight we will be looking at these three reds, all prior contenders, in a different light. This battle is about terrior: the concept that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that region . All three of these wines are blends, from different regions of France, and all three contain the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. How does soil, climate, and geography effect the finished wines, and can we taste the differences?

Chateau Billerond 2009, Saint Emillion, Bordeaux - 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 

A classic Bordeaux blend from the right bank of the Gironde, which means that Merlot is the dominant grape, making it a younger drinking wine than many of its Cabernet-heavy cousins across the river on the Left bank. 2009 was a great year for Bordeaux- will this factor in?

Chateau de Pennautier Cabardes 2009, Languedoc-Roussillon- 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

A non-traditional blend of both Bordeaux and Rhone varieties, this wine was very popular early last month when pitted against another blend from the region. Can the oddball trounce our tried and true Bordeaux blends?

Baron D'Ardeuil 2008, Buzet, Southwest France- 25% Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot and Cabernet Franc round out this Bordeaux-style blend. Ripe with great balance and spiced dark fruit, how will the terrior of Southwest France manifest in this winning wine?

DJ Ilmo all night

All wines discounted every Monday

Cheese pairing by Saxelby's 

Hot spiced wine for the holidays!

Tonight

at Barramundi

67 Clinton St

NYC

7pm- Close

SURPRISE UPSET: WHO WON THE BATTLE OF ALSACE?

Barramundays, Wine & Vinyl

We had 3 standout Alsatian white wines this past Monday night, all by Louis Sipp: Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer. The Pinot Gris took a strong early lead, with soft fruit, honey, almond and mineral notes, (also my favorite). Our Riesling, which you may remember as the victor when matched against the German Contender a couple weeks ago, had a few big fans, with aromas of crisp apple, petrol, and great acidity (bring on the food)! However, it was no match for what (I wrongly believed) was the dark horse of the competition:

Louis Sipp Gewurztraminer (2008).
The most widely grown in Alsace, and least known in the U.S., Gewurztraminer is a noble grape originating in Germany; but the best of these wines are made in France. Full bodied, with lovely aromas of lychee and spice, this luscious off-dry wine outsold both the others by a large margin. Interesting, when you consider that the only other off-dry wine in Wine Battles this Fall, (Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken Saarburger Riesling 2009 from Mosel, Germany), far outsold its competition as well. Hmm.

Stay tuned for the next Battle (every Monday night). 
at Barramundi
67 Clinton St

NYC

White Wine Three Way- The Alsace Accord

BARRAMUNDAYS WINE & VINYL
The Alsace Accord

DJ Ilmo spins LIVE every Monday, while we drink ridiculously good wine at bargain basement prices. 


Yay Monday!

Our battlefield lies in the French region of Alsace, between the Vosges Moutains to the West, and the Rhine River in the East. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Alsace changed hands between France and Germany four times in 75 years, and this history is reflected in these noble, aromatic varietals and the wine making style of the region. Three combatants will vie for Victory,

Riesling
The Winner of last week's Battle, Riesling as found in Alsace tends to be dry, with high acidity, with peach, floral and mineral flavors, often with a great ability to age. This wine pairs extremely well with food, and is commonly imbued with the nuances of the place it was grown, (terroir).

Pinot Gris
Not your Mama's Pinot Grigio, although it is the same grape. Pinot Gris from Alsace is perfumed and elegant, softer and fuller bodied, with more color.

Gewurztraminer
One of the most aromatic varieties, Gewurztraminer is also know for its spiciness, and can be dry, off-dry, or sweet. With pronounced aromas of lychee and crisp acidity, it's delicious paired with spicy foods.


With artisanal cheese from our friends at Saxelby's Cheesemongers.

at Barramundi 

67 Clinton St

NYC

THE WINNER: WAR OF THE LOIRE REDS

BARRAMUNDAYS, WINE & VINYL

BATTLE OF THE LOIRE: REDS

The Loire Valley is home to some of the world's best white wines, but on Monday we discovered that the region produces some fabulous reds as well, primarily Cabernet Franc, as well as Cot (Malbec), Gamay, and a bit of Pinot Noir, (red Sancerre). Wines from the Loire, both red and white, are known for their freshness and acidity, and are rarely aged in oak. The reds are a great value, if you can find them. (But of course you can- this is New York City)!

Clos de la Briderie Touraine Mesland Vieilles Vignes

 This blend was a hit at Wine & Vinyl, with the Cabernet Franc lending an earthiness, while the Malbec and Gamay rounding out the wine with soft fruit.

The Winner:

2008 Domaine du Colombier Chinon Cuvee Vieilles Vignes

Medium bodied and fresh, with a bit of earth and spice, this Cabernet Franc won many fans who praised its unique qualities, (in a world full of more common varietals). 

Monday night's Battle will take place in Alsace, France, (so you know, it's all about the white wine)!

RED WINE BATTLE- WAR IN THE LOIRE

Barramundays Wine & Vinyl 

Tonight 7pm-?

Red Wine Battle (War in the Loire) + DJ Ilmo + Good Cheese from Saxelby's.

France's Loire Valley has a wine-making history which goes back to the 1st century. During the High Middle Ages, (the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries), wines from this region were more highly esteemed than even the Bordeaux Region. 

Today, the Loire Valley is known for some of the best white wines in the world, such as Pouilly Fume, Sancerre, and Vouvray. Lesser known are the reds produced there, but of these diverse varieties, Cabernet Franc is king. 

Tonight, we put a Chinon (Cabernet Franc) against a blend  from Touraine (Cabernet Franc, Cot/Malbec, Gamay).

Clos de la Briderie Touraine Mesland Vieilles Vignes
Founded by monks in the 10th century, and one of the most prestigious vineyards of the Touraine-Mesland AOC, Clos de la Briderie has a diverse array of plantings, which is typical of the region, (40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cot, 20% Gamay). Supple and fruity, let's see how it holds up against..

2008 Domaine du Colombier Chinon Cuvee Vieilles Vignes

The town of Chinon is home to many of the finest red wines in the entire region, and the wines made here are known to be particularly expressive of the land in which the grapes are grown. (100% Cabernet Franc).

We are Drinking the Wine

Tonight at Barramundi 

67 Clinton St

NYC

FRANCE OR GERMANY? RIESLING BATTLE RESULTS..

Everyone knows that Americans don't like sweeter white wine. In the  battle between our German and Alsatian Rieslings, the results were a foregone conclusion.

Or were they?

Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken Saarburger Riesling 2009 from Mosel, Germany
Bright and balanced with aromas of stone fruit, apples and herbs, this combatant was semi-sweet, with crisp acidity.

Louis Sipp Riesling 2008 from Alsace, France
Drier with good balance, grapefruit/tropical fruit flavors, this Riesling had a lengthier finish.

Of all who tasted both wines, the Alsatian was the favorite. Vive la France!

Not so fast. Those who DRANK the special wines, ordered the German. Outsold France 2 to 1. What conclusion can we draw from this? I'll let you decide. Both wines were delectable, easy to drink, and great with our cheese from Saxelby's.

Check back here later for info on Monday's the Battle of the Loire- The Reds!

Riesling Battle! France vs Germany

Barramundays, Wine & Vinyl Presents:
War of the Rieslings, France vs Germany!
Paired with Saxelby's Cheese!


Considered by many top wine critics to be the finest white wine variety on earth, Riesling finds two of its finest expressions in Germany and the Alsace region of France. 




The most popular misconception about Riesling is that the wines it produces are sticky-sweet. In fact, although some of the finest Rieslings are sweet, the majority are dry or off-dry, with a crisp, refreshing acidity that makes them perfect with food- a German Riesling with full flavored or spicy food (Thai), or an Alsace version with foie gras or crab cakes, for example.


Riesling is know for its terrior-expressiveness, each wine's character being clearly influenced by its place of origin. This battle will also be about style. Which will carry the day?


Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken Saarburger Riesling 2009 from Mosel, Germany
Lighter and lower in alcohol, with crisp minerality and floral notes, German Rieslings tend to be more restrained in style than Alsatian Rieslings.


Louis Sipp Riesling 2008 from Alsace, France
Alsatian Rieslings tend to have a richer character, and this is no exception, with plenty of fruit and a medium body. 


Tonight at Barramundi. 
We Are Drinking the Wine..
with DJ Ilmo Spinning Groovy Lounge.
67 Clinton St.
(between Stanton & Rivington)
NYC

Who Won the Battle of the Bubbly?

Barramundays Wine & Vinyl
Battle of the Bubblies: France vs Italy vs Spain
Vouvray Brut Chateau Moncontour
vs
Ruffino Procecco DOC
vs
German Gilabert Cava Reserva

Each of our contenders were the front-runner at some point, as they were all delectable. But..


Cava Won the Battle.
GERMAN GILABERT CAVA RESERVA
Light, delicate and fresh, this sparkler rose to the top later in the evening. Any one of these would be perfect for your Thanksgiving table. 


I suspect we will soon have a Holiday Rematch.


Check back here for Monday's Battle!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Barramundays, Wine & Vinyl Presents

BATTLE OF THE BUBBLIES!


FRANCE vs ITALY vs SPAIN!


This Monday is a first, and a must. Not only are we showcasing 3 wines, but they have bubbles! Get ready for Thanksgiving Dinner and start celebrating early with juicy tunes by DJ Ilmo and bubbly whites from Europe's three heavyweights.

FRANCE:
VOUVRAY BRUT CHATEAU MONCONTOUR
100% chenin blanc, sparkling wine from the Loire Valley, created in the "methode traditionnelle". This light, fruity and elegant bubbly undergoes second fermentation in the bottle for 12 months in 10th century caves. 


ITALY:
RUFFINO PROSECCO DOC
100% prosecco (grape), grown in the Northeastern regions of Italy, and produced under the Prosecco DOC code of production. Intense fruit bouquet, crisp and delicate.


SPAIN:
GERMAN GILABERT CAVA RESERVA
 A blend of 3 Spanish grapes, macabeo, xarel-lo, and parellada, and made in the "methode chanpenoise", this is a classic cava, with apple and floral notes.



The Holidays kick off this Monday, November 21st!


at Barramundi
67 Clinton St
(between Stanton & Rivington)
NYC

Pinot Noir Smackdown! France vs America. The Victor!

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this past week's competition was so close, I almost feel guilty announcing a winner. I think more than any previous contest, this one truly boiled down to personal preference, old world vs new world style. Both wines were delicious with great character.


But a battle it was, and there can only be one victor.


Jigsaw Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2009.
To be honest, I really thought this was going to win. Contrary to my usual tastes, I found all of that big fruit and spice to be really attractive. But just when I thought I made my decision, I changed my mind, and voted for..


THE WINNER:


Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Domaine Parent 2008
This was silky smooth, lighter bodied with more mineral notes and subtle fruit. Although I have a feeling, I could have been swayed once more, depending on my mood, or food!


Speaking of which, these two reds were paired with Saxelby's Cheeses: Frere Fumant, a slightly smoked hard sheep's milk cheese, and a lovely hard cow's milk cheese we've had before, the Ouray.


A great time was had by all. 


Battle of the Bubblies this Monday! Just in time for Thanksgiving.

Barramundays, Wine & Vinyl Presents

Red Wine Battles: 

America vs France, The Battle of Pinot Noir

An evening of fine, deeply discounted wine and artisanal cheese, with groovy, eclectic lounge by DJ Ilmo.

With tonight's selections, we have two strong, balanced, yet very different expressions of the Pinot Noir grape. In very general terms, American Pinot Noir, -which arguably finds its best articulation in Oregon's Willamette Valley- tends to have a juicier fruit-forward character while French Burgundies favor an earthier note. Both of these wines have fine structure and balance, but what will our tasters prefer? 

Jigsaw Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2009. The second label of Ransom Wines, Jigsaw is described by the winemaker as "Pinot for the People", and "cerebral punk", aiming for aggressive aromas of fruit, flowers and spice. Hmm..

Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Domaine Parent 2008. This Burgundy slugged it out with our Red Sancerre a while back and only lost by 1 vote! Let's see how it fares against a totally different style. Our French Contender has been described as having aromas of strawberry and rose petal, with hints of earth. 




Truly, an exciting tasting of this most noble of grapes! 
Half-price at $8 a glass.


Paired with Saxelby's Cheese.

at Barramundi
6pm-Midnight
67 Clinton St.
(between Stanton & Rivington)
NYC

The Victor: Battle of the Blends, Languedoc-Roussillon

Barramundays, Wine & Vinyl
Last Monday's Vicor!


We have the results of November 7th's Wine Battle, where our red blend in the traditional Languedoc-Roussillon style challenged a non-traditional blend using not only Rhone style varieties, as is typical, but some Bordeaux grapes as well.
If there's one trend we notice, looking back over the Battle outcomes of the past few months, it's that there IS no trend. On any given Monday, our wine-drinkers seem to be solidly behind one wine, only to tip the scales in the other direction. Never predictable!


St Chinian Jougla 2009, a traditional blend, Mourvedre (40%), Grenache (30%), Syrah (30%)

This would be my personal favorite, though it was very close. 
Both of these wines were strong, and delicious with our Saxelby's cheese, (the Rupert, a hard cow's milk cheese from Vermont, aged 12 months).


In the end, our winner was..


Chateau de Pennautier Cabardes 2009, a non-traditional blend, Cabernet Franc (20 %), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Merlot (20 %), Grenache (20%), Cot (10%), Syrah (10%)

Our tasters were won over by the bigger fruit and spicier complexity. Both were fabulous!


Check right back here for tomorrow's wines!

Barramundays, Wine & Vinyl Presents:

Red Wine Battles: Languedoc-Roussillon

Battle of the Blends

An evening of fine, deeply discounted wine and artisanal cheese, with groovy, eclectic lounge by DJ Ilmo.

About Languedoc-Roussillon:

The largest wine producing region in the world is an area which spans the Mediterranean coastline from the French border with Spain to the region of Provence, and whose first vineyards were planted by the Greeks in the fifth century BC.

An area with a long and tumultuous winemaking history, during the Middle Ages the Languedoc was known for its high quality wines, only to shift focus in latter years to high yields and prolific, lower grape varieties. The remaining quality vines were decimated by the phylloxera epidemic in the 19^th century. In modern times, the Languedoc wine industry has reinvented itself, refocusing on quality winemaking.

This should be a fascinating battle. The combatants:

St Chinian Jougla 2009, a traditional blend, Mourvedre (40%), Grenache (30%), Syrah (30%), food friendly and benefiting from excellent soil, (schist, clay and limestone), and close to the Mediterranean Sea.

Chateau de Pennautier Cabardes 2009, a non-traditional blend, Cabernet Franc (20 %), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Merlot (20 %), Grenache (20%), Cot (10%), Syrah (10%). Cabardes is the only formal appellation which permits this many classic varieties in the same wine.

Cheese by Saxelby’s Cheesemongers, our neighbors in the Essex Market.

6pm - Midnight

Monday, Nov 7^th

Barramundi

67 Clinton Street

(between Santon & Rivington)
NYC

HALLOWEEN PARTY, Monday October 31st

BARRAMUNDAYS: WINE & VINYL 

THE HALLOWEEN PARTY!

What could be better than ludicrously great, ridiculously priced wine, paired with artisanal cheese?

What more could you possibly ask for?

Free Candy, and..  

DJ ILmo

Every Monday, Spinning Eclectic 6o's Lounge on the Fireplace, with Surprise Guest DJs.

It all kicks off on the most important Holiday of the year, HALLOWEEN!

Monday, October 31st, 2011

8pm

Barramundi

67 Clinton St. (between Stanton & Rivington)

NYC 

 http://www.barramundiny.com/

Red Wine Battles at Barramundi: Southwest France- Cahors vs Buzet

Explore two fabulous reds of France's "Sud Ouest," a region of great variety, often overshadowed by its neighbor, (last weeks' region), Bordeaux. 


The Southwest of France is characterized by its complex history, high quality under-the-radar wines, and lesser known varietals, such as Tannat, and Fer Servadou. 

For this battle:

Chateau de Haute Serre - Cahors 2006, 100% Malbec (known locally as Auxerrois), inky dark and rugged, will challenge..

Baron D'Ardeuil Buzet 2008, a Bordeaux-style blend, (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon), velvety and ripe. 


How will our combatant from Cahors, a great Chateau abandoned in the 19th century and brought back to life in the 1970's, fare against our Buzet's rareness and high quality oak maturation? 

I can hardly wait to find out. Luckily, I won't have to wait long, and neither will you! 


Deeply discounted at $8 a glass, paired with Saxelby's cheese.

At Barramundi tonight.

6pm - Midnight.
67 Clinton St.
NYC

Battle of Bordeaux: THE VICTOR

This past Monday was a lively one, with the early lead trading off between the two banks of Bordeaux. In the end, there was a surprise upset when a volley of votes secured the lead for our Right Bank Contender:

Chateau Billeron Saint Emilion 2009

Most of our winner's supporters praised its light, smooth drinkability. 

In a shocking repetition of last week's numbers, our vanquished Left Bank Contender was defeated by only one vote:

Chateau de Haute Selve Graves 2006

Team Left's supporters cited its complexity, richness, and long finish. 

All in all, a fascinating night which demonstrated how richly varied wines from the same region can be from the influence of terroir and vintage. Our cheeses were a huge hit, with the Pipe Dreams Bouche (Goat) from Saxelby's being the favorite pairing with both wines.

Stay tuned for our next post: Red Wine Battles at Barramundi- South West France!

The Battle of Bordeaux: Right Bank vs Left Bank

Tonight is a particularly exciting battle- that most revered of wines, Red Bordeaux.

How does 'terroir' effect these grapes from each side of the Gironde?  Is the Merlot right banker going to beat the punches of the heavier Cabernet Sauvignon left hander?



 In the Right Bank Corner: Chateau Billerond Saint Emillion 2009
In the Left Bank Corner: Chateau de Haute Selve - Graves 2008


Will Saint Emillion's great year (2009) have the stuff to triumph over Graves' key player, Chateau de Haute Selve? A burning question..

These worthy opponents will be paired with rich and creamy Dorset raw cow's milk cheese (Consider Bardwell Farm, VT) and Pipe Dreams Bouche, an elegant goat cheese (PA), both from our friends, Saxelby Cheesemongers in the Essex Market.

Both Wines Deeply Discounted at $8 a glass - as always your Monday host and referee Lisa will be there to lead the fray!

See you tonight at Barramundi
67 Clinton St.
NYC

6-Midnight

Pinot Noir Battle Tonight: Sancerre Red vs Bourgogne

How will the lesser known and lighter Red Sancerre from the Loire Valley perform against the more prolific Bourgogne? Let's find out.

Berry's Sancerre, Domaine J. Sautereau, Crézancy-en-Sancerre 2009

Bourgogne, Domaine Parent 2008

Join us tonight, Monday, October 3, as we savor these worthy contenders. Battle of the Reds, Part 2 at Barramundi!

Deeply discounted at $8 a glass, and paired with cheese from Saxelby's in the Essex Market!