Last week, at Island Creek Oyster Bar, we enjoyed a great rosé wine by the glass. Frankly, we didn’t think we liked Cabernet Franc. Then, the 2010 Chateau Soucherie Cuvee L’Astrée Rosé de Loire opened our eyes, our noses, our palates.
This wine, a selection of Neal Rosenthal, one of our favorite importers, was a great partner for our oysters, lobster roe noodles with Brussels sprout leaves, braised short ribs, grilled lobster, trumpet mushrooms and pecorino. And, Virginia Striped Bass with pearl pasta, shiitake mushrooms, sweet and sour peppers, spring onion cream, and grilled ramps.
This pretty, pink glass of luscious had the backbone to face this line up of flavors and stand up to all of them. It's going be added to our next wine order. We have a feeling it will be one of our roof deck wines of the year.
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We’re welcoming March with a bottle of prosecco– always a safe bet, but with Rosenthal on the label it’s nearly a sure thing! We once advised a friend, who was uneasy about the thought of ordering wine at an upcoming business dinner, to just ask the restaurant for a Neal Rosenthal wine. She got a Standing O!
The terms, “artisan, traditional, and natural” are more than words on a label, they’re part of this wine merchant’s philosophy. When Rosenthal talks about Enoteca Bisson and Pierluigi Lugano’s care and passion as a grower and producer of distinctive wines, you can begin to appreciate the vision and effort that goes into his prosecco.
Bisson Prosecco uses a Crown Cap (also called a “Spark Cap”)
Yes, it was dry but not in an overwhelming way. We both could taste the fruit– concentrated pear? Penny compared the wine’s body to that of a Bollinger Champagne!
When we returned to buy another bottle from Howie Rubin at Bauer Wine & Spirits, he wasn’t surprised, “I find it’s got a little more chalkiness, more like real Champagne.” Rubin pointed to, “…the yeast in the nose. It could be the limestone in the soil, it could be more Champagne-like soil.”
Whatever it is, we’ve added our applause and another bottle to our wine rack. There’s a lot of prosecco out there. “Leave it to Neal Rosenthal to give us something that’s a little drier, a little more complex, a little deeper in flavor,” said Rubin. “It sets it apart from all the rest.”
Links:
Vino Frizzante Prosecco 2010 Bisson, Rosenthal Wine Merchant, NY at Bauer Wine & Spirits
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Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on New Year's Day and the MBTA schedules for New Year's Eve December 31, 2011, and New Year's Day January 1, 2012, and Monday January 2, 2012 when the holiday is officially celebrated under state law. This year we have a three day weekend!
Some businesses close early on New Year's Eve but with the crowds expected for First Night, others (especially those in the hospitality business) stay open. Call before you leave if you plan to visit a business on the 31st.
Here's what we've learned about January 1st, 2012 New Year's Day and Monday the 2nd.
Restaurants, bars: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Convenience stores:Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Supermarkets: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Liquor stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed:This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.
More after this message…
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Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.
Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.
Boston Trash Collection: The announcement from Public Works from the Recycling & Trash Holiday Collection Schedule for Monday, January 2 – Saturday, January 7, 2012 says: "Delay trash and recycling pickup 1 day only if you live in Allston, Brighton, Dorcheser, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain***, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury.
***If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."
MBTA Service Schedule for New Year’s Weekend. The MBTA says…
"Saturday, December 31, 2011 – New Year’s Eve
FREE SERVICE AFTER 8 PM COMPLETE SCHEDULE AVAILABLE BELOW
The MBTA is providing extra transit services throughout the First Night festivities and will be offering FREE service after 8:00 p.m. Extra MBTA Police will patrol the system to assist with crowd control and safety.
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. Additional trains will operate and provide rush-hour levels of service throughout the evening from 3:00 p.m. until approximately 2:00 a.m. • Buses, Silver Line, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule. • Commuter Rail Service on New Year’s Eve will operate on a Saturday schedule with extended extra service provided.
THESE ARE THE LAST COMMUTER RAIL TRAINS TO OPERATE. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY ALTERNATIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS MUST ARRIVE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TIME.
OUTBOUND FROM NORTH STATION
Fitchburg Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Fitchburg
Haverhill Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Haverhill
Lowell Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Lowell
Rockport Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Rockport*
Newburyport:
12:45 a.m. Departure to Newburyport
*There will be a Newburyport connection at Beverly for the 2:00 a.m. Rockport train.
OUTBOUND FROM SOUTH STATION
Providence Line:
12:45 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. Departure to Providence
Franklin Line:
12:45 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. Departure to Forge Park
Greenbush Line:
1:00 a.m. Departure to Greenbush
Middleboro/Lakeville Line:
1:10 a.m. Departute to Middleboro
Needham Line:
1:00 a.m. Departure to Kingston
Kingston Line:
1:05 a.m. Departure to Kingston
Worcester/Framingham Line:
1:00 a.m. to Worcester
Commuter Boat and Ferry • Inner Harbor Ferry will operate a normal Weekend schedule. • Rowes Wharf/ Hingham Shipyard and Logan Airport (Hull) will not operate. • Quincy Fore River Shipyard to Long Wharf will operate on normal Saturday schedule.
THE RIDE will operate extended hours until 2:30 a.m.
Parking As a way to manage traffic volume, customers are urged to pay upon entering the parking garages.
Sunday, January 1, 2012 – New Year’s Day
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Buses, Silver Line, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Commuter rail trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Inner Harbor Ferry and Commuter Boat services will not operate. • THE RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Monday, January 2, 2012 – New Year’s Day Observed
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Buses, Silver Line, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Commuter rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. • Rowes Wharf/ Hingham Shipyard and Logan Airport (Hull) will not operate. • Quincy Fore River Shipyard to Long Wharf will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Inner Harbor Ferry will operate on Weekend schedule. • THE RIDE Service will not offer subscription service. Customers should contact their contractors for service information.
For additional information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the MBTA Customer Communications Department at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.
Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: istockphoto.com
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.
the latest addition to our wine reference wish list. We heard a