I am just back from a tasting in Brooklyn and it is Friday night, what’s happen? Friday night used to be for my famiy and I: The food discovery. We used to make food from all over the world. The funny part, I just had my parents on the phone today and they were still doing it. They were having their Japanese night with many rough fishes and I can tell you they love that!!! Of course with a glass of Sauvignon blanc

For me it will be more simple and so delicious…… let me give you a description:

A Pâté made by my parents: porc meat a bit spicy; with a peace of bread it is unbelievable. You should come over haha

On my way back home I stopped by my grocery store and bought some cheeses:

• 4 Years Old Gouda: bit creamy and salty in the same time with beautiful flavors in the finish
• Blue cheese: not too strong; the non moderation is recommended :p
• Saint Albrey if you like strong cheese you should go for that. Creamy with its own character, strong!!!! Sensible palet it is not for you

Sometimes the advantage to come back from an In-store tasting is that you can have few samples. I had a successful tasting in Brooklyn with my Rhone Valley wines from France and also with my St Supery wines from Napa Valley, CA. I brought back the St Supery Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. Let me tell you something: The wine by itself is already super good, but with cheeses and a pâté from home arhhhhhhh I do not want anything else. Well let’s have some old school rock music…. Dire Strait, Police, Journey “don’t stop beleive in” (love this song).

Rock, wine & cheeses. We sometimes try to make complicate dinner to impress friends; but this one is the best ever!!!!! A least it makes a French guy SUPER happy in NYC tonight :-)

Ho by the way DO NOT LEAVE your Saint Albrey alone in the fridge: Wrap it well!!! It could avoid you some funny surprise when you will open the fridge hehehe bad smell!!!!!!!!!

As my dear friend Georges would say: “What else?”

Cheers my friends

Happy Bastille Day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday all the French people celebrated the French Independence Day. We call it Bastille Day: do you know why? In 1789 we had a big revolution in France. At this time we were under a Monarchy and the King was Louis XVI. One of the symbol of the French Monarchy was “La Bastille”; famous prison located in Paris.

During the French revolution, the people took “La Bastille” to the King and it was the end of the Monarchy.  The revolution gave the power to the people and the 1st Republic has been created!! In July 14th 1789 is borned the French Republic and we celebrate since this Bastille Day.

This year I wanted to make something original for Bastille Day. In collaboration with the restaurant Le Bateau Ivre, located on 51st Street between 2nd & 3rd in NYC, we decided to celebrate Bastille Day under the Corsican specialities!!! Where is Corsica? Small Island in the South of France located in the Mediterranean Sea. The most famous person from Corsica is…….. Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Skalli family owns a Vineyard , 550 acres, in the North East of the Island.  Robert Skalli and his family developed the vineyard year after year since the 60′ in repecting their environment (biodiveristy & land). It is such a beautiful island.

25 acres of the vineyard is reserved for the production of one of the finest Corsican wines: “Clos Poggiale” white and red. I poured these 2 wines yesterday at Le Bateau Ivre and it was a great success.

The Clos Poggiale white is a 100% Vermentino, elegant, well balanced with a nice acidity and minerality. It goes perfectly with all kind of sea food…. excellent we had Oysters yesterday

The Clos Poggiale red is a blend of Syrah and Niellucio; 50/50. Niellucio is known in Italie as Sangiovese. We actually can find some similarities between my Clos Poggiale red and some famous red Italian wine as Chianti: nice fruits and spice, supple and elegant. The Syrah gives a very nice colour to the wine and a beautiful spiceness. A great pairing would be lamb or some prosciutto ;)

I had the chance yesterday to share my Clos Poggiale white and red with friends, coworker, clients o the restaurant, managers and sales people from my NY distributor. We had such a great time for Bastille Day! To continue on the Corsican specialities we shared some cheeses and charcuterie, Mhmmmmm delicious. We also had the chance to taste few beers from Corsica and it was a great surprise. The Colombar and Pietra were very yumi: nice flavors, refreshing. I recommend them.

Bastille Day at Le Bateau Ivre was excellent!!! Another great event in NYC. When is the next one?

Join me for the “Bastille Day” tasting at Red White & Bubbly in Brooklyn!!! I know Bastille Day is July 14th, but we make it earlier in Brooklyn

Location: RWB is located in the heart of Park Slope on 5th Avenue just off Union Street

211-213 5th avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

718-636-WINE (9463)

Hours: 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Topic: French wines tasting. 5 or 6 different producers will let you taste their wines.

I will be part of it, ready to let you discover my wines from the South of France. Sounds like a great Saturday afternoon!!! See you tomorrow ;-) 

Stay around as another event is coming in Manhattan on July 14th…

Being honest I am not a big fan of dessert. However I stopped for lunch at Capsouto Freres restaurant this week and I changed my mind. Well at least for this dessert specifically: the “Souffle”

As soon as I arrived in the restaurant I could enjoy the warm and classy atmosphere. I had first a look at the wine list…. and it looks pretty good: St Supery Cab, also some of the Skalli wines (Maison Bouachon Tavel, Cotes du Rhone and Robert Skalli Pinot Noir) and many other nice wines.

I was even more excited when I saw the menu. Everything seemed so Yumi. As I was there for lunch, Luc, the waiter, recommended me the Smoked grilled chicken Salad: fresh and tasty. The pairing with my glass of Tavel rose was fantabulous.

The time for the dessert arrives and Luc told me the “Souffle” is excellent. I usually go directly for a coffee or some cheeses. He convinced me and I had a try… OMG sooo good. I may be not a big fan of dessert but as you can see below I had not too much rest on my plate The hot souffle with the raspberry coulis just added in the middle: ahrrrrr, fantastique!!!!

You have to stop by Capsouto Freres resrautant. The restaurant is there for 28 years!!! The food, the wines, the atmosphere; everything is super good. I even had the chance to discuss with Jacques Capsouto, one of the owner; what a great and nice person.

I recommend this place without moderation

My apologize: long time no talk!!!!  I am back “sur la toile”‘ as we say in French. And I have many things to talk about.

What do I do right now? I am still discovering America And you know what? It will be soon an important date… 2 years in the US, but let’s talk about that next time.

I had a nice experience few nights ago in NYC. I participated at a beautiful event. What??? I did not tell you I was living in NYC? OMG it seems I have been away for too long and it means I have even more stories to tell you…

What’s happen at this event? Shooting with my bottles of St Supery Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and Maison Bouachon Tavel 2008 made by a professional: Rock star baby ;) It was host by LaSeven and Hampton Sheet magazine. OMG what a great event. People were talking about real estate or design. I added “a wine touch” to all these discusions. lol

Of course wine is an art: modern, post modern, contemporain or old school. Winemakers create and design. I really think winenakers should be considered as artists. What do you think?

Cheers,

Nico