Great wines, fair prices, grimy, dark, chalkboard wine list, great staff and mostly attractive women as clientele. What is there to complain about. $1 Oysters from 6 to 7. I could go on. So here’s what I drank.
Started off with a glass of 2008 Michel Tete Julienas “Ten Bells Cuvee” which was a joyful, fresh glass of Beaujolais. Lovely, juicy, pure fruit, simple yet incredibly joyful wine. A great starter. I loved this for its completely stripped away pure expression of Beaujolais. Such a great starter.
Next was the 2008 Houillon/Overnoy Poulsard which is divine juice. Albeit it was a bit young and needed at least an hour in a decanter but I was some thirsty souls and it was slurped down. This wine, indeed, is very slurpable. The nose was light berry fruit, spice, and funky dirty earth. What is not to love? I’ll see this again in five years I hope.
Up next was the 2008 De Moor Aligato-O which was a stinger. Loads of acid, and clean yeasty, bready flavors. Clean and crisp. A perfect foil for the oysters.
Next up was the latest and greatest hot geeky, culty and has the Peter Liem stamp of approval. The wine in question was the Vouette-Sorbee “Blanc d’Argile” One of the only guys making completely natural Champagne and it makes me wonder why more Champagne vignerons don’t go in that direction. Stunning nose that is like wild berries, mostly raspberry on a cloud. Nose kept changing in the glass and at times floral, dominated by berries, and sometimes an insane combination of all those previous aromas. Smelled for at least five minutes before the first sip. The palate had such, finesse and precision I had to recheck if the bottle had those RM letters on it. Surely this was Pommery “Cuvee Louise” in there and not this new wacky stuff I have never heard of. There was cling like I’ve never had before. All these wonderful wild berries and cloud-like formations took over my mouth and it really took me places. A wine that was constantly evolving and changing with every sip and sniff. Profound Champagne and I am very lucky to have tastes it. Thanks Robin!
We went down south, way south for the final wine which was the 2008 Occhipinti “SP 68” which is Arianna’s lovely “drink me now” wine that still needs a gazillion hours to actually show well. But after an hour it got going and had all those dark, licorice flavors of Mt. Etna that I love but with an uncanny freshness due to the absolutely amazing acidity. Such a great wine and a wine I could drink every day, and I don’t say that often. Wish I could have spent more time with it but I will soon.