WINES TO BE THANKFUL FOR: FREE TASTING TONIGHT

WINE & VINYL WEDNESDAY AT BARRAMUNDI

Drink a glass tonight, pick up a bottle for the feast tomorrow..

Two wines for Thanksgiving Dinner: California Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc from France..

It's the day before the Holiday Season gets going, and what is on my mind? Wine. Of course. As in what will we drink with our turkey, ham, buttery root vegetables, gravy and cranberry sauce? I think these two wines will fit very well with the vast array of rich goodies waiting to be consumed tomorrow.

California Chardonnay
Why? Well, most people know it, like it, and it's easy to pick up at the local liquor store, to say the least. Ask for a full bodied version with some acidity. This will stand up to those buttered biscuits, gravy, and the different textures and flavors we will (happily) be facing. Other good white choices are Riesling,  a rich Pinot Gris, or even Gewurztraminer..

Cabernet Franc
This wine will be light to medium bodied, with less tannin than many red wines, making it a good choice for turkey. Cabernet Franc will show flavors of cherry, even cranberry, with hints of leather or tobacco. There's often a good balance of fruit and fleshiness, smoke or spice. A wonderful Autumn wine, and one of my favorites.

Don't show up for dinner tomorrow empty handed- let Wine & Vinyl help... Taste both for free tonight at Barramundi! Ridiculously under-priced at $8 a glass.


DJ Ilmo spins eclectic vinyl to get you in the spirit, Cheese is from our friends at Saxelby's in the Essex Market.




at Barramundi
67 Clinton St

NYC

Cabernets Collide: California vs Chile

WINE & VINYL WEDNESDAYS AT BARRAMUNDI

Walk, Run, or Take a  Cab..

California Cabernet vs Chilean Cabernet

The venerable Cabernet Sauvignon grape is known, and now grown, throughout the world. The French almost always blend it with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or  Malbec to create Bordeaux, some of the finest wines in the world. In California, Bordeaux style wines are sometimes called Meritage. 

Cabernet Sauvignon's popularity may be due to the fact that the wine retains some combination of its varietal characteristics, while also showing the influence of where the grapes were grown: cool, windy Monterey often yields Cabs with a stronger vegetal  flavor, while wines from Margeaux have violet aromas. And let's not forget Cabernet Sauvignon's best friend- oak!

Tonight, taste what's alike and what's fabulously different between these new world wines. 

With the vinyl stylings of DJ Ilmo, and Saxelby's brings the cheese!

At Barramundi

67 Clinton St

NYC

Lovely Loire Valley Whites

Barramundays Wine & Vinyl
The Garden of France..

White Wines of the Loire Valley, France
MUSCADET vs SANCERRE vs VOUVRAY

The Loire Valley wine region comprises 310 square miles, starting just West of the Atlantic Ocean, and stretching along the banks of the Loire River. A great abundance of crops are grown within its boundaries, including cherries, asparagus, and artichokes, as well as grapes, of course! An area full of gorgeous chateaux, cathedrals, and ancient villages, part of the central Loire River Valley has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Within this verdant region, a huge variety of wines are produced, 75% of them white. The reds are pretty great as well, but tonight we will taste three of the main white varieties, all very different from each other, but all with certain similarities as well: a crisp fruitiness and great balance.

Muscadet:
100% Melon de Bourgogne, grown in vineyards not far from the Atlantic Ocean, this wine is bone dry and refreshing, occasionally with a touch of salinity and minerality to complement the apple and citrus aromas. Often aged "on its lees" to enhance flavor and mouthfeel. (Lees are the solid particles left after fermentation). Perfectly paired with fruits de mer.

Sancerre:
Wines have been made in this part of France since at least the 6th century. This Sauvignon Blanc has more restrained fruit than its New World counterparts. What sets these vineyards apart is arguable the soil: whether chalk, gravel & limestone, or flint, it has a big influence on a Sancerre's aromas, and creates a counterpoint to the typical citrus and especially grapefruit flavors. Delicious with goat cheese.

Vouvray:
This versatile grape (Chenin Blanc) is capable of making very dry still and sparkling wines, as well as excellent off dry or sweet desert wines, the latter incorporating "noble rot", in the style of Sauternes. The most remarkable characteristic of this wine lies in the balance between residual sugar and its natural high acidity. These two factors result in "percieved" sweetness: a sweeter Vouvray may not seem so, due to the highly acidic counterpoint of the wine. This makes for a fascinating, if a tad confusing, tasting experience. In addition, this high acidity can create wines that are extremely age-worthy- although Vouvray is often bottled early and aged in the bottle, hardly ever oaked. Pair with rich dishes and flavorful sauces. Common aromas of apple, fig, ginger and flowers.

Free tasting, and truly a steal at only $8 a glass. With the eclectic vinyl stylings of DJ Ilmo. Cheese pairing by Saxelby's in the Essex Market.

Tonight
at Barramundi
67 Clinton St
NYC

SAUVIGNON BLANC BATTLE: 

France vs New Zealand

 BARRAMUNDAYS WINE & VINYL

For many people, the long hot days and balmy nights of early Summer demand a cool glass of Sauvignon Blanc. In the U.S., this often means New World choices such as wines from New Zealand or California. However, a wine consisting of 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes and a vastly different flavor profile can be found in France: Sancerre.

Sancerre hails from the Loire Valley, and is characterized by aromas and flavors of gunflint, herbs, grass and chalk (from calcium in the limestone soils). High in acidity, and crisp, this is a perfect wine for food, with some citrus and gooseberry flavors.

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc rose to rock-stardom in the 1980's- one critic likened tasting your first New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to having sex for the first time. Certain regions of the country, like Marlborough, are considered to be among the best places in the world to grow Sauvignon Blanc, creating wines that marry the acidity of the Old World with the exotic fruit flavors of the New World. Typical aromas include passionfruit, grapefruit, and even cat pee!

Celebrate Summer tonight at Barramundi. Free tasting, and by the glass for only $8. 

DJ Ilmo spins the tunes, Saxelby's brings the cheese!

Tonight

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

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/