So Is it a Grape or a Place ?

Actually, both is the correct answer when speaking of Montepulciano (mon-teh-pool-chah-noh). This lyrical Italian word is both a wonderful village in Tuscany and a red grape that makes delicious rose and red wines, but from areas other than its namesake village. This separation of grape and place creates constant confusion for some wine lovers.

The village of Montepulciano is in eastern Tuscany in between the Chianti region and the village of Montalcino. Its red wine is called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and is based on the sangiovese grape (called prugnolo there). The regulations allow the wine makers wide latitude which results in a variety of wine styles. But generally, the same Chianti and Brunello characteristics of dried fruit, earth and fairly high acidity can be used to describe these wines.

The grape by this name grows in East-Central Italy, principally in the regions of Marche, Molise and Abruzzo. You will see the grape name on a bottle label when it is a Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo wine and if you also see the word ‘Cerasuolo’ it is the rose version of this wine. The Montepulciano grape produces a wine that is distinctly different from the Vino Nobile wines. The Montepulciano wines contain thick sappy fruit, low acidity and round, soft tannin.

Perhaps the best way to continue the discussion is to get a bottle of each type of wine and try them yourself. The Antinori La Braccesca is an excellent example of a modern Vino Nobile while the Mirante Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo may just have you trying to master the pronunciation. Salud ……..

Francis Mastrangelo
Bottle King Wine Consultant

Fire & Oak @ Wayne Bottle King!

This past Saturday Wayne Bottle King was privileged to have Fire & Oak present during their wine tasting. Manger Joe Rossi was on hand along with his exceptional team sampling a miniature version of the Fire & Oak Burger. These burgers were topped with Vermont cheddar, bacon, tomato, and a pickle on a toasted bun. They were such a crowd pleaser and teaser. The crowd loved the tasty burgers and wanted to know where they can get more.

Fire & Oak has not been open very long (8 months) and many people just don’t know about them. Leave it to BK to expose you to the new eateries in your area, for FREE! Visiting this American Grill will be an amazing experience. The ambiance alone will make you feel like you are in another world and you may not want to leave. This hidden treasure is nestled on the boarder of Little Falls and Wayne NJ. Right on route 23 south, the part of 23 we may not venture to because we usually stop at the mall, but keep going just 100 feet and take a chance on a new experience. Fire and Oak also has decided to join Bottle Kings Club Card program. Have dinner at this American Grill show your club card and receive 10% percent off your meal. Another way that Bottle King Club Members SAVE MORE!

An UN-Conventional Spanish Red

Vinos Sin-Ley “Wines Without Law” in translation. The twofold objective of Vinos Sin-Ley is to create “new wines” that are value oriented. The concept, driven by creative innovation using nonconventional methods of harvesting, fermenting, blending, ageing and labeling, results with wines processing new fresh fruit driven flavors that are different from those achieved in the past. Composed of a group of young winemakers from different regions in Spain, the wines crafted at Vinos Sin-Ley are value oriented, driven by experimentation and innovative insight shared by their philosophy. They meet twice a year to set in place new projects of mutual interest and shared knowledge of the winemaking techniques implemented.

The evolution of Spanish winemaking and cuisine are undergoing great levels of positive change. Unfortunately, different laws regulate making wine in Spain to some extent, whereas cuisine is not regulated. These laws dictate yields per vine at harvest, permitted grape varieties, time aged in oak barrels, etc. These laws interfere with innovative wine making, often quite a limiting factor in preventing winemakers from achieving their best efforts. Once a winery decides to adhere to labeling terms such as “Reserva” for example, it has to comply with certain restrictive ageing requirements by law, considerably affecting methods of winemaking production.

Vinos Sin-Ley simply chooses not to be unnecessarily restricted by these laws — creating a flexible environment, where innovation and creativity result in “new wines” of quality and value.

The 2007 Vinos Sin-Ley M5 Monastrell is now on sale at all 14 Bottle King locations and on the web at TheWineBuyer.com for $13.98 a bottle. Pick up a bottle or a case of this oustanding 91pt Monastrell before its all gone!

Red Wine Rotor Router

Sometimes I make my best effort to clog up every last artery in my body with flavorful grilled foods, cheese, butter, cream sauces and the occasional desert. So I am delighted to read articles that I can help unclog these same arteries with the red wine I drink. Evidently there is a complex chemical in red wine called resveratrol, an antioxidant that breaks up that nasty plaque that can impede blood flow and create other problems. This resveratrol comes from the skin of the grape, so sorry, it’s not that prevalent in white wines.
Last night we completely enjoyed a celebration dinner at Churrasco Grill in Lake Hiawatha, Parsippany. Churrasco is an authentic Argentinian restaurant whose owner Jose, his family and Chef Jorge provide a wonderful experience of intensely favored food and welcoming hospitality. Since we knew there’d be lots of gaucho food and the restaurant is BYO, we loaded up the saddle bags with several bottles of good red wine. It was important to have plenty of resveratrol.
The 03 Longshadow Pirouette was exactly as it sounds, as defined and elegant as a perfectly executed ballet move. The 01 Alban Grenache was the opposite, a brut, a non yielding big black Escalade type of wine with so much power that it just rolled over everything in its path. The clear favorite wine of the evening was the 2006 Sbragia Family Home Ranch Merlot. This is a plush and velvety wine that seduces with sweet round fruit enrobed in chocolate and at under $20 sells for a fraction of what those other wines cost. It’s wonderful to see the surprised expressions on peoples’ faces when they hear their favorite wine is actually affordable, you just know you picked a good one.

Good news for me, I recently had my physical and the overall and bad cholesterol are at the upper end of acceptable. I made some resolutions, but I guess I’ll get away with this kind of behavior for at least one more year. Could I have another glass of red wine please.

Francis Mastrangelo
Bottle King Wine Consultant

Who doesn’t like good BBQ?

Yea I know summers coming to an end but there is a place you can go and get BBQ all year round. Bourbon BBQ, which was named “BEST BARBEQUE” in New Jersey by NJ Monthly has once again this year graced Bottle King with their presence. They not only fed the customers in one or two stores but they fed the masses at Wayne, Ramsey & Glen Rock. Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket smoked 15+ hours was on the menu. Along with homemade coleslaw that was generously placed on top of the meat of your choice and topped off with their very own BBQ sauce which is made at the restaurant.

The customers in all three locations really enjoyed the mouth watering smoked meats. Unfortunately more than half had no idea where the restaurant was located. Bourbon BBQ has been open since June 2007 and there are many Bergen county residences who have not heard of them. They are located on Goffle Road in Wyckoff, across the street from the Hess Station; in the old Clixes for those familiar with the area. In the last two years they have been working hard to get their name out, and have joined forces with Bottle King to do just that. They have generously offered our customers something in return. All Bottle King Club Members have the opportunity to visit Bourbon BBQ show their club card and receive 10% off their meal. This discount works with catering as well.

What can you drink with BBQ other than a beer? Try a Shiraz or Zinfandel. They are a both great accompaniments to these classic smoked meats!