Murray Hill Wines blog

Murray Hill Girl

2011-03-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of December 2010, our store proudly introduced its first brand – Murray Hill Girl. Murray Hill Girl wines are produced in Slovenia, very close to the Italian border. All the grapes that go into these wines are handpicked with maximal attention and to create all natural, light bodied wines. The winemaker’s philosophy is to let the nature do its job, rather than helping it by adding sulfites, additives and other chemicals. They are wines with a strong character, elegant texture, easy to drink, and playful with their aromas – just like a Murray Hill Girl.

Murray Hill Girl Red

This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. All the grapes are organic and are handpicked from a single vineyard in 2006. The wine itself resembles a Burgundy Villages style of Pinot Noir, being light bodied and moderately earthy. However, as it opens up it brings beautiful wild cherry aromas. It is a perfect match for lighter meats and cheeses, or simply a companion on a weeknight. So might as well get it since it has a cute label.

Murray Hill Girl White

Murray Hill girl White is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling (50%-50%). Welschriesling is not to be confused with Riesling, which tends to be fruitier if not sweeter than Welschriesling, or Grasevina as they call it in Slovenia. Just like her older sister, it is made from organic handpicked grapes. It is a wine perfect for hot summer nights, but also sushi or a salad. So might as well get it since it has a cute label.

INTRODUCING JURA

2011-02-23T05:34:00.001-08:00

Jura is one of the smallest wine regions in France--smaller than some personal estates in Chile. It has a winemaking tradition of around five centuries. It is very famous for its white wines, especially Vin Jaune (French for yellow wine) that is aged no less than six years and three months. However, none of the wines produced in the region should be undervalued.

Grape varieties that are found are similar to other cold regions. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, amongst other grapes, were introduced in Jura in the Middle Ages by winemakers from Burgundy. Most common grapes of the region include Chardonnay and Savagnin (grape used in Vin Jaune) for whites, and Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir for reds. The region also offers Cremant du Jura – sparkling whites usually made entirely of Chardonnay, but some red varieties could be included as well; and MacVin – late harvest fortified wine.

Many experienced drinkers would find the whites very similar to Sherry because of the method of aging. Namely the wines are aged in barrels for years under a film of natural yeast, known as voile in France, or flor in Jerez (region in Spain where Sherry is produced). This film allows a slow oxidation. The difference is that the voile is more beneficial for producing low alcohol wines than Spanish flor. Consequently, the main difference between Jura and Jerez is that Jura wines even though crafted in a related manner, are essentially not fortified like Sherry, with an exception of MacVin.

The reds are very similar to those in Burgundy in structure and balance. They are usually very pale, almost pinkish in color. The main reason for this is the Poulsard grape, which develops a distinctly light color. Pinot Noir and Trousseau are also known for their lighter shades of red. The wines are silky in texture, very elegant and need to be opened for about 2-3 hours before consuming. The most important fact of this region is that most of the producers make natural wines, “at the vineyard”, rather than “in the winery”.

CAVES JEAN BOURDY

This domaine has been in the Bourdy family since 1475. Tradition of this family is what makes their wines exceptional in every sense of that word. The Bourdy Family has been making wine the same way at the same vineyards through 15 generations. The only change was made in 2005 when biodynamic methods of production were introduced. In the winery both the white and the red are made using more or less the same process: they are fermented under the native yeasts and aged for 4 to 5 years in large casks that are up to 100 years old. They are topped up over that period and made without the use of flor. This ancient house also produces an extraordinary Vin Jaune and Chateau Chalon as well as a really amazing MacVin.

Weekend Wined Down

2010-10-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight our free wine tasting fits the weather: gorgeous, creamy whites for sunny skies, and full-bodied sumptuous reds for cool, dark nights. Join us from 6 to 9pm to taste a Bordeaux Blanc (at 15% off), Sancerre Blanc, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon and a Ribera del Duero Crianza (the last three bottles at 10% off each). Whether the weather makes you crave a round white or a big, velvety red, Murray Hill Wines has you covered.
Chateau Bertranon Bordeaux Blanc Sec 2008, $16.99 (15% OFF today!)

The Semillon (55%) in this Bordeaux Blanc brings a calming, round touch to the lively and acidulous Sauvignon Blanc (45%) when blended.

Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee C.M. 2008, $19.99 (10% OFF today)

Creamy and well-rounded in the mouth, this Sancerre of full-bodied finesse comes from a small family-run estate in Sancerre within the Loire Valley region of France. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, the bright fruits of citrus and gooseberry are present though more mellow than a typical Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Sancerre region.

PONDER Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley 2004, $14.99 (10% OFF today)

Aged in new and old French oak hogsheads for 20 months, this Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is complex and sweet with hints of violet, spice and black fruits. Sublte notes of cedar and oak make this tannic wine that coats your entire mouth even more divine. The wine is grown on single site vineyards in Barossa Valley. The vintage ranked among most outstanding vintages from Australia in last 15-20 years, so grab one of these limited release bottles (only 2,400 produced).

Montebaco Semele Crianza 2007, $19.99 (10% OFF today)

Smooth, sensuous, medium-to-full bodied and deliciously perfumey and aromatic, this Crianza of Tempranillo (90%) and Merlot (10%) grapes from Ribera Del Duero in Spain is aged for one year in oak casks and one year in bottle -- the required aging period to be designated a "Crianza". At once delicate and yet bursting with dark fruit and oak flavors, this is the wine we'll personally be sipping after work.

Hanging on to Summer

2010-08-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Friday, August 27, from 6 to 9 pm, we’ll remind you why you love summer. Take advantage of the last few weeks by bathing in the sunshine and drinking exceptional, cold, refreshing white wines, like our Albariño and Sancerre.

2009 Granbazán Albariño Verde

Rated 90 points by Wine Spectator, this pale yellow Albariño with greenish tints will keep you hanging on to summer. The perfect balance between fruit – green apple, apricot and grapefruit – and a roll in the hay (herbal fragrances of fennel and straw) define this beautifully balanced Spanish Albariño, completed by a fresh, citric, acidic finish. Stainless steel fermented for just under 8 months, it reaches the ideal maturity and softness.

Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee CM 2008

A Sancerre of undeniable finesse. It tastes natural and floral with minerality from its limestone soil and fermentation with native yeasts. Both floral and fruity, as well as light and fresh, this Sancerre delivers insatiable complexity.

White Cottage Ranch

2010-06-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

White Cottage Ranch wines deliver that perfect touch … from the wine’s full body and balanced flavors to the way the labels are torn around the edges and hand-applied for a beautiful and sophisticated appearance. Taste the White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 and Sauvignon Blanc 2009 tonight, Friday, June 25, from 6-9pm at MHW.

White Cottage Ranch is an organic, biodynamic estate located on the Howell Mountain appellation of Napa Valley with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon.

White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $29.99

Powerful, rich and spicy with a fruit-forward body of ripe berry and black cherry, this is a California Cab lover’s dream. It is exceptionally smooth with a long finish – perfect to pair with a steak on your grill or a nice burger.

White Cottage Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $18.99

The high elevation of 1500 to 2000 feet above sea level and the rugged winters reap rich, full flavors in Sauvignon Blanc with a distinct minerality from the soil, which mingles with light flavors of tropical fruit and green pepper. Crisp and refreshing, this well-rounded Sauvignon Blanc needs to top your list of wines to taste this summer season.

Man O’ War

2010-06-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

On the coastal hillsides and high cliffs of Waiheke Island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, the Man O’ War family-owned estate has grown grapes since 1993, making beautiful wines of excellent flavor components. Today 6-9pm, we will taste the Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Syrah 2008 and Merlot-Cabernet Sauvginon-Cabernet Franc-Malbec 2008.

Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Grown high on the hilltops of the Man O’ War Station, this is a classic cool climate Sauvignon Blanc: very aromatic, juicy and fresh. It undergoes cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks and is topped with a touch of natural sugar to balance the tannins. Experience notes of lemongrass and fresh herbs with tropical guave notes, leading into a palate of vibrant acidity and slight sweetness with a spicy finish.

Man O’ War Syrah 2008
This Syrah is earthy with flavors of wild game, pepper and black olives, meeting a floral nose of blueberry and spice. The finish delivers dark-chocolate and espresso – dark and lingering. Allow the wine to open up in the bottle and in your glass – the complex flavor profile will surprise you.

Man O’ War Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008
The make-up: 42% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. This Bordeaux-style blend from New Zealand’s Waiheke Island combines florals, dark berry fruits, asphalt and tar for an ideal full-bodied red blend. Each grape was hand-harvested and kept separately in the winery to achieve its best qualities like the softness and fragrance of Merlot and Malbec, the savour and cassis of Cabernet Franc and the structure and power of Cabernet Sauvignon. After 11 months of aging on lees, it was blended and bottled for your drinking pleasure.

*Remember you can purchase wines in-store, over the phone or online at MurrayHillWines.com for free delivery within a 15-block radius in NYC or for shipping nationwide! Just follow the above links or search "Man O' War" on MurrayHillWines.com.

Bordeaux in a Box and a Languedoc Cabernet

2010-06-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Thursday, June 10, from 6-9pm, taste two delicious Bordeaux wines straight from the box (one white and one rosé) and also an excellent cabernet sauvignon from South West France.

Wine in a Box: the equivalent of four regular wine bottles fits into a vacuum-sealed bag inside a nice wooden box (the wood is grown in Bordeaux) with a spout – perfect for parties or to keep in your fridge for your daily fix.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). A bright pink hue, this rosé is an easy-drinker with flavors of strawberries and herbs. It’s the perfect drink for a summer night gathering. Or keep a box on hand for yourself – it preserves practically forever with its air-tight seal.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Blanc "Cuvée Soleil d'Or" is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Aromas of pineapple and apricot lead you to a rich, medium-bodied wine with a generous finish.

Domaine La Croix Belle Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Languedoc is fire truck red with intense aromas of black fruits and spices. Well-structured and balanced, it is ready for drinking now but can also be kept for several years.

Craving Bibich Debit

2010-06-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Bibich Debit 2008 from Northern Dalmatia in Croatia never looked so tempting ...
Order your own bottle at: http://www.murrayhillwines.com/searchresults.aspx?mode=2

Argentine Sun

2010-06-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Argentina’s desert-like climate produces tiny grapes packed with intense flavor. Taste three wines: a Chardonnay-Viognier blend, a Malbec-Syrah blend, and a Cabernet Sauvignon tonight from 6 to 9pm at MHW.

XumeK Zonda Chardonnay-Viognier 2009

XumeK means “Sun” in the language of the Huarpe people, which is a fitting name for this consistently hot region. The rich and soft Chardonnay and Viognier grapes grow in the Zonda Valley at the foot of the Andes Mountians in Southern San Juan, Argentina. The valley gets its name from a constant dry wind referred to as the Zonda. This wine is very different and intriguing—an excellent mellow and round blend with florals and soft fruits.

XumeK Reserve Malbec-Syrah 2006

This Malbec-Syrah blend reaps black cherry, dark pepper, chocolate, sweet oak and game. When people request an excellent Argentine Malbec, we always point them in this direction, because the syrah adds just the right touch of deep berry flavor and bold tannins. Steve Tanzer, publisher of Wine Cellar, rated this XumeK at 88 points. Pesticide-free and low in sulfites, it is aged for 12 months in medium-toast French oak barrels, then 12 months in the bottle.

Umbral Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Grown in Mendoza on 33-year-old vines in rich, sandy soil, this vibrantly violet Umbral Cabernet Sauvignon smells like a spice box with dark fruits like black currant and blackberry. In 1973, inspired by Napa Valley, Sigifredo Alonso became the first winemaker in Argentina to plant single varietal vineyards (a total of 130 hectares). Last year, his wines were finally released to the public to the excitement of wine critics and drinkers worldwide.

We Are OCD

2010-06-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Sip on some complex wines from Marlborough at tonight’s free wine tasting from 6 to 9pm. Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir pack a medley of flavors from fruits to herbs and minerals, making for an interesting and deliciously fun experience. Read on, and join us tonight …

Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc 2009

New Zealand sauvignon blancs are known for bright tropical fruits. OCD Sauvignon Blanc delivers that and so much more. The nose smells a little grassy and fresh. The palate offers that expected and delightful taste of passion fruit. Surprisingly you can taste a bit of blackcurrant fruits as well, and then OCD tops it off with a definite hint of sage and a lemon zest. This wine is awesome with pan seared fish. When we cook fish at home, we like to pick the best quality fish at our neighborhood Wild Edibles on 3rd Ave. just a half block away from Murray Hill Wines.

Otto’s Constant Dream Pinot Noir 2008

Sautee some chorizo in a pan to eat with this raspberry-cherry-plum-flavored pinot noir with toasty oak. Vegetarians will love it with sautéed mushrooms. The wine’s other interesting flavors like thyme and rosemary come out even more with the right food pairings.

Take home these Marlborough wines tonight and share them with family and friends!

Lambrusco: Sparkling Red Wine

2010-05-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

What: Lambrusco tasting
Where: Murray Hill Wines, 516 3rd Ave., b/w 34th and 35th St.
When: Friday, May 27, 6-9pm

For red wine lovers seeking something lighter or more effervescent for summer, Murray Hill Wines is here to bring you three of the best sparkling Italian red wines you’ll ever taste. Straight from Emilia-Romagna, our wine importer’s homeland and where he sources his lambrusco, we will taste you on Roberto Balugani Lambrusco di Castalvetro, Il Maglio Lambrusco, and Vezzeli Lambrusco di Sorbara.

Lambrusco greatly varies in taste and body. Some lambrusco offer dark berry fruit flavors, similar to a full-bodied cabernet with added carbonation. Others are reminiscent of coca-cola, bubblegum or strawberry. Others provide a deep oak-y or smoky component. Decide for yourself what memories our three lambrusco wines bubble up for you.

From Germany to France and Spain in one tasting

2010-05-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Thursday, May 27 from 6 to 9, we’ll taste a German Riesling, Bordeaux blend and Spanish Macabeo—all three unique and impressive.

Winninger Bruckstuck Riesling 2007
In this semi-sweet Riesling, stony fruit and minerals overpower the palate followed by a touch of ripe melon. This German Rieslings offers the best of both worlds: mineral with hints of sweet fruit.

Pago de San Gabriel Pradomayor de Zubiola Navarra 2007
This Bordeaux blend—from Navarra, specifically—mixes flavors of raspberry, cherry and spices from the oak. Gentle in body, it builds to a slightly spicy, long, sappy finish.

Lo Brujo Macabeo 2009
The most commonly planted white grape in northern Spain, Macabeo grows in the middle of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range by the river Jalón. Crisp and playful, it offers a tropical fruit and citrus medley.

Croatian Craze

2010-05-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

Join us tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 at Murray Hill Wines to taste three Croatian wines and native varietals.

Zdjelarevic Grasevina 2008

This Graševina--a type of Riesling planted more than any other white grape throughout Croatia--comes from Slavonia in the Croatian mainland. Perfected by master vintner Davor Zdjelarević, the golden wine exhibits flavors of apricot, peach, honey and apple.

Toreta Posip 2007

The great-grandson of the founder of the Toreta winery, Frano Banicević, age 25, has relaunched the family-run winery, which began at the turn of the 20th Century and stopped producing wine during Communism. He ages his Posip in Slavonian oak to create a sweet nose of honey, appale and pear with an unusually full body and a lemon finish.

Bibich Riserva 2007

From North Dalmatia, this blend of native grapes Babich, Plavina, Lasin--all related to Zinfandel--is aged one year in American oak. While light and smooth, the flavor is intense with strong dark fruits and berries, spices and black pepper.

živili!

French Friday

2010-04-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Pick up your weekend fix and taste three French wines perfect for this much-welcomed warm weather—tonight at MHW, 6-9 pm.

Domaine de la Grenaudiére, Muscadet 'La Grenouille', Loire, France 2009

The Grenaudiere vineyard has been passed down father to son since the 17th Century. On 10 to 50-year-old vines, the Muscadet gets its distinct mineral taste from the clay and gravel-rich soil. You can also taste ripe nectar and citrus, and a fun mandarin-orange finish.

Saint Lion, Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy, France 2006

This golden chardonnay is citric and nutty with a little sweet pear. The nose is incredible. The palate is more clean and refreshing with a long finish. Drink it alone or with grilled fish or chicken.

Domaine de Chantegut, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France 2007

Vacqueyras is between Gigondas to the east and Beaumes-de-Venise to the south. The wines from here tend to the rustic, concentrated and distinctive.

Domaine de Chantegut is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah. Grenache brings the aromas of dried orange peel, crushed plum, powerful licorice, tobacco and truffle. The Syrah delivers the black pepper, smokiness and leather.

Tasting: Sonoma, Argentina and France

2010-04-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight’s tasting covers the bases: Sonoma pinot noir, Argentine malbec and a Sancerre from the Loire Valley. All three wines will suit your Thursday and weekend night needs, whether you’re in search of something crisp and fresh (Sancerre), something toasty (pinot noir) or something inexpensive yet delicious (malbec). See you tonight, 6-9, for your free tastes at MHW.

Laguna Ridge Pinot Noir 2006, $23.99
This ruby, garnet pinot noir with a violet rim packs more body than your typical pinot with the perfect touch of French oak (aged 16 months in French oak barrels). Sourced from the best vineyards in Sonoma and the Russian River Valley, the wine delivers juicy red and black fruit with spicy cinnamon notes. The toasty oak lingers on the finish.

Alma Mora Malbec 2008, $9.99
Grown in the 10-year-old Alma Mora vineyard in Tulum Valley - San Juan, Argentina, the Malbec grapes thrive in the rocky, mountainous area and its warm, dry climate. The vineyards are drip irrigated with meltwater from the Andes. The grapes are aged in American and French oak barrels for 8 months.

The result: a soft, full-bodied wine with ripe red berries and fleshy plum flavor and an elegant touch of smoke and vanilla from its contact with wood. Great served with roasted red meats and pasta with tomato sauce.

Florian Mollet Sancerre 2008, $18.99
Planted on the southwest hillsides of the Loire River, these sauvignon blanc grapes grow on vines between 30 and 35 years old. Aged in stainless steel vats, the wine results in a crisp and citric Sancerre, ideal for sipping in summer. Pair with oysters, seafood, asparagus or any light antipasti for a delicious combination.

Greek Goddess and South African Beauty

2010-04-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

From Santorini, a small group of volcanic Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, come two dry white wines you’ll be craving all summer. Next, a South African red blend will shock your taste buds.

Nykteri
The white-blend Nykteri means "stay up all night,” because the winemaker practices the ancient vinification process of harvesting during the early part of the day and staying up all night to make the wine. It combines 75 percent assyrtico, 15 percent athiri and 10 percent aidani. After the all-night winemaking marathon, it is aged 3 months in oak. Only 400 cases of Nykteri were produced.

Ageri
Ageri, meaning "light wind,” contains the same exact grape-make-up (all indigenous to Greece and all hand-harvested), yet it goes through stainless steel fermentation. It’s fashioned in more of a semi-dry style. Similarly, just 400 cases were produced.

Audacia Coeur de Rouge
Moving on to South Africa, Coeur de Rouge, meaning "red heart," combines hand-harvested cabernet sauvignon (90 percent) with a touch of malbec (10 percent) on vines that have been growing since

Toreta Posip tastes like the Adriatic Sea

2010-04-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Toreta Posip 2007 is a teaser. It smells like your typical sauvignon blanc: a little grassy with some green apple, pear and lychee. Yummy... but typical. Take a sip and you can taste what you smell. Then suddenly, the wine evolves into something salty, mineral and dry. It's like you're swimming in the Adriatic Sea off the island of Korcula in Croatia, basking in the sun and tasting the salty water on your lips. A little olives mix with this undeniable ocean flavor. Every sip repeats the same experience: sweet fruits, leading to fresh seawater and a final sun-parched dryness.

The experience creates a craving for more and more of this chameleon wine.

Now available at Murray Hill Wines. Inquire within.

Collision Point

2010-04-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Taste these Collision Point wines tonight at MHW, 6-9pm, because a) it's a cool name, b) they're good wines at awesome values, and c) Lake County Red Hills is an up-and-coming region you'll be drinking more and more of, so get familiarized.

Collision Point Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Cabernet sauvignon vines weave through the volcanic and gravel soil in Lake County Red Hills, CA, creating a blackberry, blueberry-dominant flavorful wine with fresh acidity. High elevation and cool night temperatures give it that nice minerality.

The total production is 2,500 cases for 2007, so snatch a bottle before they disappear.

Collision Point Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This sauvignon blanc comes from Lake County in Northern California. Due to the elevation of 1,400 feet above sea level with volcanic soils, you get a clean, crisp, acidic white. The soil contributes to the soft mouth feel and texture. Flavors of citrus and tropical fruits on the palate make this wine perfect to pair with seafood.

The total production is only 385 cases for 2008 ... so, get ya one.

Otto's Constant Dream

2010-04-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Taste OTC (Otto's Constant Dream) Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir tonight for FREE at MHW, 6-9pm.

From Australia and New Zealand, Otto’s Constant Dream brings you fun, unpretentious wines bursting with flavor—just what we need in the heat of spring and summer.

OTC Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough delivers crisp apple, citrus notes and lemongrass. The packaging catches your eye just like the lively taste.

The ruby red Pinot Noir brings cherry and plum flavors followed by some toasty oak and a little raspberry and rosemary. It's a deep yet easy to drink Pinot we'll be savoring tonight.

Croatia & Hungary wine class today!

2010-04-08T13:10:00.001-07:00

Wines of Croatia & Hungary (April 8)
Date: Thursday, April 8
Location: 167 West 23rd Street
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Price: $90
Special Guest Appearance!

Here’s your chance to discover Croatia and Hungary. These countries have been making wine for centuries and are finally getting noticed by more and more wine drinkers.

We at Murray Hill Wines will be attending the Wines of Croatia & Hungary class tonight at 167 West 23rd Street, hosted by NYC Wine Class with guest Cliff Rames of the PR firm Wines of Croatia (also the Sommelier at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the Plaza as well as a 'Certified Specialist of Wine', CSW). On a recent trip to his Croatian homeland, Cliff sourced the distinct bottles we’ll taste today.

Wines from the Mediterranean Sea, the Dinaric Alps and the Adriatic Sea offer such unique diversity. The exploration of wines from the coast versus the mountains reveals how much of a role climate and soil play in wine. Take word from Robert Parker, Oz Clarke and Jancis Robinson, who have all applauded these Eastern European varieties. You’ll also learn about the link between Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Croatia, amongst entertaining tidbits of Croatia’s winemaking history.

Andrew Harwood, founder of NYC Wine Company, will discuss Hungarian wines. A former winemaker in Tokaj, Andrew can reveal stories of the fabled zone, while sharing his favorite grapes and regions (Bull’s Blood, Furmint, Hárslevelű, Kékfrankos, Kadarka and more).

French Friday

2010-03-26T14:13:00.001-07:00

Tonight we’re offering the perfect solution to New York’s fickle weather. One minute it’s sunny and we want a crisp white, the next it’s cold and dreary, and we’re ready for a Malbec. These three wines, served at our tasting tonight from 6 to 9pm, will match your weekend weather forecast woes and cheers.

Domaine Jean Ginglinger Gewurztraminer 2008

Floral and bursting with wild litchi fruits, this sweet Gewurztraminer from Alsace in northeastern France pairs well with light appetizers or dessert.

Domaine La Croix Belle Le Champ du Coq 2007

Ranked 87 points by Wine Spectator, this blend of Syrah and Grenache from the Languedoc region of southern France first delivers a complex nose of blackberries and spice, then brings you to notes of thyme and rosemary on the palate. Interesting and rewarding.

Chateau du Cedre “Cedrus” Malbec 2007

Round and soft with intense berry fruits, this Malbec from southwestern France offers jammy fruits while young, and will continue to age and improve over the next five years.

Croatian whites for your rooftop sipping pleasures

2010-03-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

You’ve been caged in that office all day … Now it’s time to grab a chilled bottle of white wine at Murray Hill Wines and enjoy it on your balcony, roof top, or at home with the windows wide open after an evening of gallivanting around the city this gorgeous spring night.

Pick up the bottle on your way home from work between 7 and 10pm, so you can taste our Croatian favorites at our free tasting…

Bibich Debit 2008 ($16.99, plus 10% off)
A dry white from the coast of Croatia (Northern Dalmatia, if you want to know the specifics) made from the native Debit grape. Fermented in stainless steel, it’s incredible paired with white fish, lobster, or spicy chicken. Or simply drink it alone on a warm night, like tonight of course.

Toljanic Zlahtina 2008 ($16.99, plus 10% off)
This zesty and citric Žlahtina (that’s the grape) grows on the island of Krk off the Croatian mainland. It’s comparable to a sauvignon blanc, with more racy lemon and spicy orange hints.

Bibich Riserva 2006 ($19.99, plus 10% off)
Here’s a light, smooth red for those of you not ready to jump on the white wine bandwagon. A blend of Babich, Plavina and Lasin grapes, it is aged for one year in American Oak. Dark fruits, spices and black pepper make this red the perfect wine pairing with cold cuts and cheeses.

See you guys soon … Let us know where the rooftop party’s at.

2010-03-13T20:48:00.000-08:00

Just love this photo.
Photo borrowed from the entertaining blogger Dale Cruse from drinksareonme.net.

Sip of Slovenia

2010-03-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

What: Slovenian and Croatian wine tasting
Where: Murray Hill Wines, 516 3rd Ave, between 34th and 35th St.
When: Friday, March 12, 6 to 9pm

Slovenian wines are gaining worldwide recognition, especially after taking home dozens of medals at last year’s Decanter World Awards. And most of our customers know about our ardent efforts to encourage the heavy drinking of Croatian wine, which is hugely successful in Eastern Europe and being imported to the United States from small-production vineyards more and more. Please swing by MHW on your trek home from work to taste a Slovenian pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon and a Croatian riesling.

Sanctum Pinot Noir, $17.99 (plus 10% discount tonight)

Now is your chance to taste a Slovenian pinot noir, grown in a cool climate like Burgundy and French-oak-aged. What does that get you? A supple, fruity pinot with a touch of smokiness.

Mansus Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $19.99 (plus 10% discount tonight)

Another Slovenian wine of a traditional grape variety, Mansus Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in the Vipava Valley, an area known for unique terroir. Raisin and black currant scents come together with soft, sweet tannins.

Enjingi Grasevina 2006, $24.99 (plus 10% discount tonight)

You might have tasted this wine reaping of autumn fruit flavors last Friday. We’re bringing this 100% Welschriesling from Slavonia, Croatia, back for a second-taste tonight. A late-harvest white, this full-bodied Riesling is silky-smooth, dry—and a white wine of warm apple, blueberry, fig, pear and plum notes hits the spot on a rainy Friday like tonight.

Italian Trio

2010-03-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

What: Italian wine tasting
Where: Murray Hill Wines, 516 3rd Ave, between 34th and 35th St.
When: Thursday, March 11, 6 to 9pm

If you’re like us, you’re ready to switch out the dry, full-bodied reds for a zestier and lighter red and some gulp-able whites. This Italian trio is just what you need for the onset of spring—something softer and easier to drink down. Just imagine, soon you’ll be baring skin and toes and craving warm weather treats like fresh seafood, fruits and chilled wines like this elderberry-flavored Soave for just $14.99! Read on…

Stefanini II Selese Soave 2008, $14.99

Clean and refreshing, this chilled white of 90% Garganega and 10% Chardonnay goes well with many lighter dishes or as an aperitif. Fermented in stainless steel, notice the delicate violets, hawthorn and elderberry. It is dry, medium-bodied and smooth with almond notes at the finish.

Angelarosa Greco di Tufo 2007, $19.99

A racy and addictive Greco di Tufo with the complex taste of hazlenut, almond and grape with a very long finish. The aroma and flavors make this golden wine with a small touch of Coda di Volpe for a spicy bite dangerously good.

Mustilli Piedirosso Agata dei Goti 2008, $19.99

A zesty, light-bodied red with a clean, refreshing finish, this 100% Piedirosso is ideal with pizza and spaghetti or bolognese. Red-fruit mingles with lavender and thyme, and the finish turns bright red fruits into dried, earthy berries.

Around the Mediterranean

2010-03-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

Join us tonight 6 to 9pm to taste three new additions to our shelves: a new Montepulciano, Tempranillo and Grasevina (kind of like a Riesling, but from Croatia) from three beautiful countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Italo Pietrantonj Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2006 -$14.99 (plus 10% off)

Earthy with flavors of black berry and grape fruits and florals, this rustic Montepulciano comes from one of the oldest wineries in Abruzzo—300 years old! The winery uses 80-year-old oak barrels and concrete tanks for fermentation.

Pago Senda Misa Tempranillo 2003 -$19.99 (plus 10% off)

This Tempranillo is grown on very old, bush-trained vines in the Ribera del Duero region. Unfiltered, rustic and a little smokey with excellent fruits and hints of chocolate, it is aged six months in mature oak and fermented with native yeasts.

Enjingi Grasevina -$24.99 (plus 10% off)

From Slavonia in Northeastern Croatia, a Riesling-like grape called Grasevina grows, creating elegant, dry, full-bodied wines with the taste of warm autumn fruit. Don’t be fooled by the name—it’s a mouthful. This wine is truly rewarding and pairs well with a variety of foods, especially poultry and pork.

Tasting Train to Spain

2010-02-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

Join us tonight from 6 to 9pm, and we'll start you with an effervescent and refreshing sauvignon blanc from Navarra, Spain: Inurrietta Orchidea 2009. The name appropriately translates to north orchid, which reminds us of flowers and spring, when we'll definitely be gulping down this wine. It's refreshing and tropical with hints of lime and pineapple. This chilled white may be ideal for warmer weather, but sometimes we just get tired of the heavy reds and could really go for something pleasantly light, even in mid-February. This Sauvignon Blanc rings in at just $11.99.

Next, we'll pour you a taste of the Conde de Jauregui Rioja, Vendimic Selecionada 2008. Comprised of 75% Tempranillo and 25% Garnacha, this ripe Rioja offers an incredible fruity and robust nose. Enjoy the ripe berries and plum flavors with a hint of oak from American oak aging. At $9.99, there's no reason to pass this beauty up.

For something more aged and intense, try the Conde de Jauregui Rioja Riserva 2004 of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo. American oak aging and time in the bottle rounded out the ripe tannins for a smoother and heavier Rioja. Bring home the Riserva for $17.99.

See you tonight.... Jump on our tasting train like a holiday in Spain.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-22T19:18:00.000-08:00

Dear valued customers,

The staff at Murray Hill Wines would sincerely like to wish you happy holidays, good health and a prosperous New Year. We hope you spend quality time with family and friends, and return to work rejuvenated and optimistic. Throughout this past year, nearly everyone has felt strain from the economy. We would like to thank all of our customers for choosing Murray Hill Wines. We are very appreciative of our returning customers, many of whom we’ve enjoyed getting to know while recommending wines. We hope you’ll visit us over the holidays for wine as gifts or for holiday parties. For those leaving town, we wish you safe travels and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

We at Murray Hill Wines anticipate continuously improving our customer service and expanding online with the launch of our new ecommerce site MurrayHillWines.com and our new Mediterranean Wines Club mediterraneanwinesclub.com (both coming soon).

Happy Holidays,

MHW

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Please bring in this coupon to receive 15% off your entire wine purchase.*

*Applies to regularly priced wines only. Coupon expires January 1, 2010.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL!

Please enjoy

15% OFF

Your total

Wine purchase.

Top 5 Reasons to Taste Croatia

2009-12-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

Croatian wine is Old World wine, lesser-known in the U.S. since winemakers of the small-production vineyards rarely import their wines overseas. A few importers and others (like Cliff Rames of winesofcroatia.com) are working hard to change that. So why not be ahead of the curve and enjoy wines from the gorgeous coastal and mainland regions of Croatia before everyone else catches on?

Tonight we'll taste Lirica Plavac Mali 2005, Katunar Riserva Anton 2005, and Kozlovic Malvasia. We realize those hard-to-pronounce names probably mean nothing to you right now. But let your senses decide tonight from 6 to 9pm. Here are 5 reasons to taste Croatia....

1. Geography. You’ll never learn what you love until you taste wines from around the globe. Many people shy away from wines not produced by mass labels or made in popular wine countries. But it’s fascinating that Croatia, located just across a thin strip of the Adriatic Sea from Italy, can produce such astoundingly different wines with great depth and complexity.

2. Experience. You could keep coming back to the same thing time and time again, or you could dare to try something new. Wine is meant to be enjoyed and discussed, whether you’re a connoisseur or a newcomer to drinking wine. Tasting new grapes and wines from different regions gives you something to chat about—maybe you taste a new flavor like a hint of cinnamon you’ve never experienced in wine before. Lirica Plavac Mali 2005, grown in the valleys of the Peljesac Peninsula, smells of cherries, cloves and cinnamon. Plavac Mali is a small blue grape indigenous to Croatia, and it’s the cousin of Zinfandel.

3. Food. Say you’re enjoying a burger for dinner tonight. Katunar Riserva Anton 2005—a red blend of Syrah, Sansigot and Debejan grown on the windswept Croatian island of Krk—pairs perfectly with a hearty burger. Aromas of red cherries, plums, sweet vanilla and spice compliment a juicy piece of red meat like nothing else.

4. Knowledge. Every wine has a story and a winemaker behind it. The most important Istrian grape is the white Malvasia. Gianfranco Kozlovic is the largest private producer of Malvasia in Istria, and a vocal crusader for quality. His vineyards dot the hillsides of northern Istria, where his modern winery is located. Kozlovic Malvasia is a lemon-colored dry wine offering notes of hay, white peach, apple and almond on the nose. It is medium-bodied, unoaked, with fresh acidity and a slight minerality and herb-y-ness on the palate.

5. Enjoyment. Croatians love their wine, and they make it with detailed attention and care. While most of their wines are consumed in their homeland, they’ve released their wines to the U.S. market not because they couldn’t sell them at home, but because they want us to enjoy Croatia too. Zivjeli! — As they cheers in Croatia, which literally translates to, “May you live.”

Croatian Education

2009-12-04T17:07:00.000-08:00

We're going to go out on a limb and say when picking out a wine, you don't generally throw Croatian wine into the mix of options. We're hoping to change that. Taste three Croatian wines with us tonight from 6 to 9pm, and hopefully you'll realize that a $16.99 bottle of Debit (plus 10% off today) is one hundred times better than that bland bottle of Yellowtail you like to pick up because you recognize the little kangaroo label and are too hesitant to purchase anything but a mass label. How's that for a challenge?

Debit 2007 - $16.99 (10% promo discount offered)

A dry white wine made from the Debit grape varietal native to the sun-drenched Northern Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, the name Debit relays an interesting story. The grape was used as a form of currency for barter trade, dating back to feudal times. Legend has it, Croatians used Debit grapes as a form of payment to French merchants, and the debit grapes were used as a base in French wines. Hence, the origins of the American use of the word “debit.”

Fermented in stainless steel, Debit is crisp and refreshing with aromas of apple, citrus and almonds, complemented by a full and well-rounded body.

Another plus, this wine has a very low sulfite content and farming methods are organic.

Plavac Hvar (1L) - $16.99 (10% promo discount offered)

Made from the indigenous Croatian Plavac Mali grape—a cousin of the Zinfandel grape—this wine of strong and balanced flavor is zesty with berries and raisins. Plavac Hvar beautifully complements dark meat dishes, game, medium cheeses, and even fish or crab. It comes in a one-liter bottle with a screw top as it’s a wildly popular and everyday wine in Croatia.

Postup 2005 - $34.99 (15% promo discount offered)

If you ever see our Facebook posts, you know Postup, made from the indigeneous Croatian grape Plavac Mali, is an all-time favorite that borders on obsession. We’re known to enjoy a bottle on a chill, weekend night and at major holiday gatherings—Thanksgving and Christmas included. A full-bodied red with a raisin-like flavor complimented by a perfume-y nose of lilac and lavender that carries through the palate. We enjoy it both alone and paired with cold cuts and hard to medium cheeses.

Tasting: Rioja, Sangiovese and Verdejo/Viura

2009-12-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

You can study wine, but the best way to learn is by tasting. Tonight from 5 to 8pm, we'll taste and learn about a Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain; a Sangiovese from Tuscany; and a Verdejo-Viura blend from Rueda, Spain. We’re offering a 10% discount on all three wines tonight!

Marques de Vitoria Rioja Crianza 2004, $17.99

Enjoy this Spanish Rioja slowly and you’ll appreciate each new flavor as the bottle breathes. Flavors of wood, tar, bright berries and cherry create this smooth Tempranillo. The grapes grow on vines between 15 and 20 years old, and then it ages in American oak casks. Medium- to full-bodied, the wine will continue to improve with age. It’s the perfect accompaniment to medium cured cheeses and a variety of meats.

Cignozza Peregrinus Toscana IGT 2003, $36.99

Cignozza was founded in 1997 when Roberto del Buono, then only 34, took over his father’s estate. Truly a small production wine at 3000 bottles, Roberto puts the corks and labels on himself. This is an intense 100 percent Sangiovese wine aged one year in small French oak barrels. Ideally served with grilled meats, game and aged cheeses.

Palacio de Vivero Verdejo/Viura 2008, $10.99 (750 ml), $16.99 (1.5 L)

The Rueda region of Spain is known for its exceptional dry white wines. Palacio de Vivero is a blend of Verdejo and Viura—the Verdejo grape allowing for the soft texture and flavors of honey, citrus and apple. This dry and refreshingly acidic white Spanish blend comes at an excellent value—especially in the magnum size!

Critic Picks

2009-11-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

You can't go wrong with a classic.

We're all about pushing you to try new grapes, wines from new regions, and anything other than Yellowtail and Cavit. But we still love a solid cab, sauvignon blanc and merlot. Try these California tried and true wines tonight at MHW from 6 to 9pm.

Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
This widely loved Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon—regularly $44.99 on our shelves—is currently marked down to $34.99. As Robert Parker describes it: "The elegant 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc) reveals notions of lead pencil shavings intermixed with black cherries, black currants, toast, and damp earth. It is a mid-weight, flavorful red with good acidity as well as a moderately long finish.”

Girard Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Another critically acclaimed wine rated 90 Points by Wine Enthusiast and named one of Robert Parker's "Fifty Super Domestic Wine Values” (just $18.99 at MHW) this sauvignon blanc grows on an estate vineyard in Napa Valley. It feels crisp and clean on the palate. Smell the luscious pineapple, guava and banana, and taste the fresh grapefruit and tangy lemon. This pairs perfectly with lighter white fish, green salads and goat cheese.

Lot 205 Merlot 2006
Made from two lots on the southern side of Mendocino County, this flavor-rich and densely ruby merlot packs aromas of cassis and blackberry, graphite and cocoa. Cola and toffee frame the bright fruit on the palate leading to a surprisingly robust finish compared to most merlots. This merlot is available at an excellent $13.99 value.

Vampires love Vino

2009-10-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

This Hallow’s Eve, we recommend saving the heavy liquor consumption for Saturday night’s official Halloween bashes and cozying up to a bottle of vino. It’s a nice way to unwind from a tough week, and your body will be thanking you tomorrow for those all-night-long festivities.

Tonight from 6 to 9pm at MHW, we’re tasting: Kozlovic Othello (a Croatian blend of Teran, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot), Pullus Sauvignon Blanc from Slovenia and Pullus Zweigelt, a zesty red grape indigenous to Austria and grown in Slovenia.

If you’re dawning your costumes tonight, we hope you’ll still stop by our tasting when you pick up the pre-party goods.

Kozlovic Othello
Gianfranco Kozlovic’s modern winery in northern Istria, Croatia is known for quality. He grows the red Teran, a subvariety of Refosco that produces a “wild,” high-acidity wine, which he blends with Merlot and Cabernet in Kozlovic Othello for the perfect inky purple color, and flavors of intense plums, ripe black cherries with soft oak and a slight herb note.

Pullus Sauvignon Blanc
Pullus is the oldest winery in Slovenia - its cellars dating to 1239 lie labyrinthine beneath the streets of the city of Ptuj. A dry, delightfully rounded sauvignon blanc with grapefruit, guava and pineapple on the nose and hints of paprika on the palate, it’s a nice refresher with asparagus dishes and seafood.

Pullus Zweigelt
The most notable grape in Austria and Slovenia these days is arguably zweigelt (pronounced TSVYE-gelt). A relatively new grape—it was developed in 1922 when Austrian scientist, Fritz Zweigelt, crossed blaufränkisch with St. Laurent. It’s growing in popularity in the United States, even when Americans prefer grapes more easy to pronounce like Chardonnay. The berry-full red, tangy and dry, is delicious and unusual, making us want to consume it more and more.

Happy Halloween!

Wino Weekend

2009-10-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

We at Murray Hill Wines are here to meet your post-work-week needs.

You're craving a Rioja... cherry and tarry. We'll even recommend the perfect pairing snacks.

For our fruitier friends, meaning those who like a fruit-gushing wine, may we suggest the Montellori Moro, mellowed out with some earthiness.

Last but not least, those of you craving the crisp and tropical, we've got you covered with the Dolomites Pinot Grigio.

Marques de Vitoria Rioja Crianza 2004

We sat down and enjoyed this endlessly impressive Rioja from Spain after a long day of work this week. It’s a bottle to enjoy slowly, concentrating on the medley of flavors with every sip because it’s just that delicious and the flavors keep mounting as the wine breathes. A beautiful dark cherry-garnet color, the scent is intoxicating with wood and tar against bright berries and cherry. Enitrely Tempranillo, the grapes grow on vines between 15 and 20 years old, and then it ages in American oak casks. Smooth and medium- to full-bodied, the wine will continue to improve with age. It’s the perfect accompaniment to medium cheeses and whatever cold cuts make your mouth water. Personally, we snacked on some sopressata from the fridge that really uncovered the wine's layers.

Montellori Moro 2005

This Tuscan red blend of 90% Sangiovese and just a little Cabernet and Malvasia Nera (10%) gushes black fruits, tart cherry and a smidgen of cranberry. Sangiovese is an indigenous grape to Italy known as the grape of Chianti. Favorably acidic, the scents of dampen earth and smoky tar intertwined with herbal tones level out the fruit-loud wine.

Dolomites Pinot Grigio 2008

Grown in the rugged alpine environment of Trento in the north of Italy on 12-year-old vines, this crisp Pinot Grigio of straw-yellow color is dry, harmonious and full-bodied. A small production vintage, only 12,000 bottles were made—even more reason to pick up this unique bottle. The bouquet is elegant: flowers, green fruits and tropical notes. Crisp and refreshing, it pairs well with crustaceans, pasta and risotto.

Wine to Boot

2009-10-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

Everything Italian is fine. Fine Italian leather... fine Italian food... and, of course, Italian fine wine. Taste our three faves from the wine category tonight at MHW, 6 to 9:30pm. Special: 10% OFF the Barolo and Brunello tonight and tonight only.

Giovanni Sordo Barolo 2005, reg. $24.99, today 10% OFF

This flavorful Barolo of Nebbiolo grapes from Piedmont in northwestern Italy is fleshy with the taste of and smell of the leather interior of a new car, the fresh minerality of rocks and the deliciousness of bright passion fruits and red currant. Don’t let the color fool you: light garnet red with orange highlights, this Barolo offers the same medium-body of a typical Barolo and provides superior intense, rounded flavors and lingering aromas. It pairs well with meat dishes, hard cheeses and heavy pastas as the tannins react favorably with proteins.

Molino del Piano Brunello, reg. $34.99, today 10% OFF

Aromas and flavors of roasted chestnuts and plum, spice, hints of perfumey iris and a significant earthiness like tobacco and roasted coffee make this Brunello a mouthful of Heaven. Every sip is a rush of pleasure. Brunello is a red Italian wine produced in the vineyards of Montalcino in the Tuscany wine region. It is the clone of Sangiovese, and in wine judging competitions it often ranks among the world’s best wines.

Tutela Prosecco, $9.99

A dry sparkling wine from Veneto, Italy, this lively and fun prosecco brings orangey scents to the nose with a creaminess on the palate along with citrus notes. It’s extremely easy to drink and at a very nice price.

Go Greek

2009-09-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

Murray Hill Wines is recruiting you to Go Greek.

Greek wines offer liveliness and unusual flavor components such as the taste of salty black olives. Greek Rush is tonight: Friday, September 17 from 6 to 9pm. Don't miss out on our new inductees: Mythic River White and Nemea Red.

Mythic River White – Sauvignon Blanc Roditis

This Greek white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc 50% and Roditis 50% (a pink colored grape indigenous to countries along the eastern Mediterranean that produces elegant, light white wines). A gold-green color releasing summery aromas of peaches and lemons, this wine is balanced, rich and fresh. See how well it compliments seafood like clams, mussels and white fish.

Gofas Nemea Agiorgitiko Red

Grown in the Nemea region of the Peloponnese, this indigenous grape: Agiorgitiko is known to range from soft to highly tannic depending on the growing and winemaking process. This wine develops intense yet gentle tannins from 12 months of aging in oak casks followed by four to six months in the bottle. This somewhat dry wine of deep brick red color smells of dried cranberries and forest fruits with warm chocolate notes on the long aftertaste. Pairs perfectly with hard cheese and grilled meat.

Opa!

We drink wine from a box

2009-08-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

Tonight’s tasting will put your former perceptions of box wine to shame. Join us tonight from 6 to 9pm to taste a white Burgundy and red Bordeaux. Don't forget to tap the bag. Kidding... these bags are stored inside trendy wooden boxes.

Aside from the aesthetic appeal--it's sure to start a convo at your next party, box wine really does make sense. It's economical, ecological, and it preserves. The bag holds three liters—the equivalent of four bottles of wine, at a much lower price. The wood is made of out of recycled wood. We hope you'll continue the cycle. Also, the wine stays fresh longer because it's a tighter seal--oxygen can't seep in and ruin the bold Bordeaux.

The white Burgundy “Bourgogne Blanc” by Château du Chatelard, “Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes” screams to be sipped in the summer—a crisp, detailed wine with lime, green plum and herbal notes and good length.

The red Bordeaux Côtes de Francs, Château Moulin de Rouquille, “Cuvée L’Esperance” will definitely extend well through the cool fall season. Tarry and rich with lots of fruit, it’s a full-bodied Côtes de Francs with chewy tannins and a medium finish.

Start the trend. Drink wine from a box.

Mambo Italiano, Samba De Janeiro, and Argentine Tango!

2009-08-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

Nothing like wine or an authentic Caipirinha to put you in the dancing mood—especially on a steamy night like tonight. Enjoy the tail end of summer with these Italian and Argentine wines or a traditional Brazilian beverage.

Alberto Longo Negroamaro Rosé “Donnadele” 2008

A pale salmon color, the rosé smells rich and floral. 100% Negroamaro, it is fermented in stainless steel tanks after short contact with the must and skins. Try it with light fish--squeeze a little lemon on top. Pick up one of only 6,500 bottles made.

Terre Gaie Prosecco

Made by a family operation on a 50-acres estate located in northern Italy, this Prosecco is dry, crisp and fruity. Everything tastes better from small, family-run vineyards. Give it a try.

Baqueano Cabernet/Malbec 2008

A 60-40% Cab-Malbec blend from southern Argentina with flavors of cassis, blackberry, violets and tobacco. It's complex and sexy, like women ;-).

Try My Caipirinha

We're don't usually drink Caipirinhas from a bottle. We like the way the Barbossa staff grinds the lime with the sugar. That said, this Caipirinha changed the way we think about pre-made drinks. All natural ingredients: fresh limes, special Cachaça Guapiara, sugar cane and pure mineral water go into this bottle. Simple and sweet for a hot summer night.