bostonzest

Tag: South End

  • Our June 2022 Toast Will Be in Praise of Half Bottles

    Once upon a time, we were known to friends as the couple who always had a half bottle of something sparkling chilling in the refrigerator if they had a reason to celebrate! We bought cases of the very well-made but relatively inexpensive Gruet Blanc de Blanc and Blanc de Noir to pop open when someone landed a new account, received good news, or simply felt like a quick celebration of a lovely day. 

    Memories of these spontaneous toasts sent us out to stock up on more half-bottles of great sparkling wines.

    At the Urban Grape, we chose three selections: NV Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvee Extra Brut 375ml (Champagne, FR) at $40, NV Guy Larmandier Cramant Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs 375ml (Champagne, FR) at $42, and just for fun the Hakutsuru "Awa Yuki" Sparkling Sake (Japan) at $8.

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    We popped open the Bruno Paillard for a quiet anniversary celebration.

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    It was highly recommended by the Urban Grape staff as a Champagne that would fit our taste. It is a fabulous food wine and stood up to the big flavors of our stinky cheese, salumi, and focaccia. It was a spot-on recommendation and we'll pick up a couple more bottles on our next South End walk.

    Here are the labels for a few 375ml bottles of old favorites we'll add to our next Gordon's Wine order!

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     2437-b631b22df1cbd657384924997a808edd-original

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    F0234bf1-8372-4d57-a1f8-561a8ff7b5be-original

    When dining out, we love enjoying great bottles of wine with friends. However, when it's the two of us, we choose from the wines by the glass. We would love to have more half-bottle options on wine lists. That will only happen when more of us order the half-bottles restaurants do offer. We enjoyed this half bottle of Deutz Classic Brut Champagne on the Select Oyster Bar patio!

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    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

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    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2022 Penny & Ed Cherubino ( Labels courtesy of Gordon's Wine)

  • No Fooling, We’ll Toast April 1, 2022 with Gruet Sauvage a Favorite Sparkling Wine from New Mexico

    Yes! Gruet Sauvage is one of our favorite sparkling wines. And, Yes it is from New Mexico. What's more, we discovered this wine through one of our great wine mentors, Chef and restaurateur Michael Serpa. This one is on the menu at Grand Tour. 

    This is one of three Boston restaurants along with Select Oyster and Atlantico Boston where you can enjoy Chef Serpa's outstanding wine lists. 

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    It was also one of the wines we chose for the last gathering we had inside a restaurant with friends on March 1, 2020. Here's what we said about it, then.

    We're long-time fans of the Gruet family of wines. We've been writing about them since at least 2009. This one is an excellent match for Grand Tour's menu, and we highly recommend it for a toast to the outdoor dining season!

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    6a00e54fc42bb88834025d9b3280fc200c-500wi
    6a00e54fc42bb88834025d9b3280fc200c-500wi


    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • No Fooling, We’ll Toast April 1, 2022 with Gruet Sauvage a Favorite Sparkling Wine from New Mexico

    Yes! Gruet Sauvage is one of our favorite sparkling wines. And, Yes it is from New Mexico. What's more, we discovered this wine through one of our great wine mentors, Chef and restaurateur Michael Serpa. This one is on the menu at Grand Tour. 

    This is one of three Boston restaurants along with Select Oyster and Atlantico Boston where you can enjoy Chef Serpa's outstanding wine lists. 

    6a00e54fc42bb888340240a50cb88d200b-800wi

    It was also one of the wines we chose for the last gathering we had inside a restaurant with friends on March 1, 2020. Here's what we said about it, then.

    We're long-time fans of the Gruet family of wines. We've been writing about them since at least 2009. This one is an excellent match for Grand Tour's menu, and we highly recommend it for a toast to the outdoor dining season!

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    6a00e54fc42bb88834025d9b3280fc200c-500wi
    6a00e54fc42bb88834025d9b3280fc200c-500wi


    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Our Pick to Toast October 2021 Is Camille Saves N.V. Brut Rose Grand Cru Champagne

    We have a few things to celebrate in October so we'll begin with a glass of Camille Saves N.V. Brut Rose Grand Cru Champagne. Camille Saves and her brothers are the current generation of stewards on land their family has had since 1894.  

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    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!     

    IMG_1111

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    Here's what we learned:

    One of the great wine descriptions of all time was the one from WineCountry.com about this selection,

    "Hands down one of the sexiest Brut Roses we have. Made from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir and a wine I have always called, 'A librarian in fishnet stockings, smart and sexy as hell' and it is doing its thing like crazy right now. Black fruit, pie dough, citrus, sweet cured ham and all with perfect bone structure and curves."

    We purchase our bottle at Urban Grape for $72. Another great recommendation from Tray!   

    Related Posts:   

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Our Pick to Toast October 2021 Is Camille Saves N.V. Brut Rose Grand Cru Champagne

    We have a few things to celebrate in October so we'll begin with a glass of Camille Saves N.V. Brut Rose Grand Cru Champagne. Camille Saves and her brothers are the current generation of stewards on land their family has had since 1894.  

    IMG_1114

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!     

    IMG_1111

    IMG_1112

    Here's what we learned:

    One of the great wine descriptions of all time was the one from WineCountry.com about this selection,

    "Hands down one of the sexiest Brut Roses we have. Made from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir and a wine I have always called, 'A librarian in fishnet stockings, smart and sexy as hell' and it is doing its thing like crazy right now. Black fruit, pie dough, citrus, sweet cured ham and all with perfect bone structure and curves."

    We purchase our bottle at Urban Grape for $72. Another great recommendation from Tray!   

    Related Posts:   

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Our August 2021 Toast Will Be Fizzante with Gönc Winery “Canvas” Pet-Nat Pinot Blanc

    For August 2021 we will take our handy bottle opener and remove the cap from a bottle of Gönc Winery "Canvas" Pet-Nat Pinot Blanc.

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    When Penny popped into Urban Grape during a recent Zipcar trip, she described our monthly toast with a sparkling or frizzante wine, our search for wines from new places, grapes, or vineyards, and a bit about our taste preferences. Their staff person, Tray, was knowledgeable and helpful. She recommended three exciting prospects including this one.

    Today's wine is from a new vineyard for us Gönc, and a new country Slovenia! What's more neither of us can remember a fizzante pinot blanc and this is one of Penny's favorite varietals. 

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    It is also a naturally sparkling "Pet-Nat" or, as the French say, “pétillant naturel” wine. In the photo above, you can see the yeast that collected as the wine rested in our wine rack. Food and Wine in an article on Pet-nat explains, "Many are also unfined and unfiltered, and may include some leftover yeast cells, which can lead to a slightly cloudy or hazy appearance. (All this is fine to drink.)"

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    You may also notice the special crown cap. This is one made with, "…special liners compatible with the vinification and fermentation process…" 

    Here's one description of the wine that has us looking forward to our toasting time. "These effervescent, refreshing bubbles with smells of fresh lemon and minerals, crisp pear and almonds springing from the bottle."

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

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    We purchased our bottle at Urban Grape for $25.00.

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2021 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • We’ll Toast July 2021 with Our First Rose Prosecco! La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé

    La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé sounds like a perfect wine to toast July 2021. La Gioiosa means “The Joyous” and, as we slowly get out and about, that's how we feel. Rosé proseccos are also a new thing! And, we love trying new wines. 

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    This one is made up of Glera, the traditional prosecco grape and Pinot Noir, one of our favorite wine grapes! It's a slim 11% Alcohol by Volume making it a great wine to sip on a hot summer evening. 

    Prosecco-Rose-Front-scaled  

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    The winemaker's tasting notes say:

    "Delicate rose in color with hints of pomegranate, the wine is extremely fresh and aromatic with notes of rose and pomegranate on the nose. On the palate, it’s silky and full-bodied with gorgeous balance between its fruit and floral notes."

    IMG_8712

    We purchased our bottle at Urban Grape for $18.00.

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2021 Penny Cherubino and La Gioiosa

  • We’ll Toast July 2021 with Our First Rose Prosecco! La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé

    La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé sounds like a perfect wine to toast July 2021. La Gioiosa means “The Joyous” and, as we slowly get out and about, that's how we feel. Rosé proseccos are also a new thing! And, we love trying new wines. 

    IMG_8711

    This one is made up of Glera, the traditional prosecco grape and Pinot Noir, one of our favorite wine grapes! It's a slim 11% Alcohol by Volume making it a great wine to sip on a hot summer evening. 

    Prosecco-Rose-Front-scaled  

    IMG_8710

    The winemaker's tasting notes say:

    "Delicate rose in color with hints of pomegranate, the wine is extremely fresh and aromatic with notes of rose and pomegranate on the nose. On the palate, it’s silky and full-bodied with gorgeous balance between its fruit and floral notes."

    IMG_8712

    We purchased our bottle at Urban Grape for $18.00.

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2021 Penny Cherubino and La Gioiosa

  • We’ll Celebrate April 1st with a Bottle of Bollinger Champagne

    We think this April 1st monthly toast is a reason to celebrate and raise a glass from a splurge favorite Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne. Today is the first milestone on our way to immunity from our vaccinations. We have a ways to go before our level of immunity is high enough to make us begin to feel safe. We also realize that we'll still be wearing masks and keeping our distance from others, because we still could be asymptomatic carriers who could spread the virus.

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    The big decision of the day is where shall we pick up a take-out order to go with our bottle. Michael Serpa is scheduled to open all three of his restaurants today, Select Oyster, Grand Tour, and Atlantico. We've missed the great food and most of all we've missed the people from these places. While we have not experienced Atlantico yet, we plan to pick up an order this week.

    Finally, we'll celebrate in the hope that the warmer weather continues, the local positive case numbers begin to level off or fall, and that the number of our friends who are vaccinated rises quickly. We're starting to make a list of the things we'd like to do when we feel safer going places and doing more than our one walk a day for exercise.

    A trip to Provincetown where these photos were taken is high on that list!

    6a00e54fc42bb888340264e2eae729200d-800wi

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    DSC_8312

    DSC_8314

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's on sale: $54.99 last year, when they went out of their way to gather and deliver an order of favorite wines for us. 

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • We’ll Celebrate April 1st with a Bottle of Bollinger Champagne

    We think this April 1st monthly toast is a reason to celebrate and raise a glass from a splurge favorite Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne. Today is the first milestone on our way to immunity from our vaccinations. We have a ways to go before our level of immunity is high enough to make us begin to feel safe. We also realize that we'll still be wearing masks and keeping our distance from others, because we still could be asymptomatic carriers who could spread the virus.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340263e958b3f2200b-800wi

    The big decision of the day is where shall we pick up a take-out order to go with our bottle. Michael Serpa is scheduled to open all three of his restaurants today, Select Oyster, Grand Tour, and Atlantico. We've missed the great food and most of all we've missed the people from these places. While we have not experienced Atlantico yet, we plan to pick up an order this week.

    Finally, we'll celebrate in the hope that the warmer weather continues, the local positive case numbers begin to level off or fall, and that the number of our friends who are vaccinated rises quickly. We're starting to make a list of the things we'd like to do when we feel safer going places and doing more than our one walk a day for exercise.

    A trip to Provincetown where these photos were taken is high on that list!

    6a00e54fc42bb888340264e2eae729200d-800wi

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    DSC_8312

    DSC_8314

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's on sale: $54.99 last year, when they went out of their way to gather and deliver an order of favorite wines for us. 

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino