What I Drank Last Night – a super daiquiri at The Bar Downstairs in the Hotel Andaz NYC where the friendly, hyper-efficient bartenders mix traditional cocktails with a creative flair without straying too far from traditional roots.

Eight years old and it still took 24 hours to open up and reveal its Bordeaux-like sous-bois gravitas. A reminder of how great Napa winemaking could be if only it were to  shake its addiction to cola wines.

Clos du Val Cab and Boeuf Bourgignon

Catch my new article on Oregon Pinot Noir in the December issue of US Airways Magazine.

Elk Cove Pinot Noir, Windhill 2004 from Oregon, perfect with cold turkey and cranberry sauce in a sandwich of crunchy seven grain bread. About as good as it gets in New World PN, rivals all but the very best Burgundy.

What I Drank Last Night – A sumptuous Alsatian Riesling, the Vielles Vignes 2010 from Domaine Ehrhart. A luscious fruitiness combines with bright acidity and the focused concentration of old vines for a mind-blowing wine at an everyday price.

What I Drank Last Night – The best martinis in NY, or at least the most generous.

At the Bemelman’s Bar, the venerable Upper East Side institution at the Carlyle Hotel, martinis are effectively two-for-one – the second half comes in a mini-carafe nestled in a larger glass of crushed ice so your next see-through is ready and waiting, fresh, chilled and undiluted just when you need it. Such thoughtfulness when it comes the supply of martinis is not unappreciated by the neighborhood’s WASP regulars.

What I Drank Last Night – the best American fizz I’ve ever tasted, the fabulous J. Schram 1999 from Schramsberg. Perfectly aged, the bright Chardonnay citrus and green apple flavors are beautifully integrated into the Pinot red-fruit elements, the fine, yeasty hints of brioche and hazelnuts for a mellow, deep and perfectly harmonious fizz.

Tasted through Bollinger’s four current cuvees – the Special Cuvée NV, Rose NV, the Grand Année 2002 and the Grand Année Rosé 2002 – with Jerome Philipon, the company’s President, and they were all impeccable, the crème of Champagne from this stylish house. The Special Cuvée had a wonderful musty, yeasty nose, quite closed at first but kept growing and growing in the glass – huge potential. The Rosé was one year older, rich and better integrated, seductive hints of rose petals and again was far better after half an hour.

At first I was disappointed with the La Grand Année 2002 but as it opened up it began to reveal its huge potential. This will be a magnificent wine. The Rosé 2002 was delicate and charming, not a hint of that ponderous weight often encountered in rosé fizz, and a richness will make it a great food Champagne. Another wine with a glorious future.

Bravo Bollinger!

Enjoying the bounty of Bolly

What I Drank Last Night – Thierry Redde’s astounding Majorum Pouilly-Fumé 2005 from his family’s estate, Michel Redde et Fils, in the Loire.

Made only in good vintages, this is one of those Ahh-moment wines, wines about which I let out a deep sigh and go “Yes, this is what wine’s all about!”

Eighty year old vines produce yields at half the normal level but bring forth a wine of such glorious, passionate intensity I can’t contemplate drinking anything else after it.