Shopping is tough. After a whirlwind tour through the Men’s Department, and then a more leisurely visit to the Women’s Department at Macy’s, a drink seemed in order. Dragging our bags through the city, we ended up at a small hole in the wall in Greenwich Village, Gottino.
Braving the threat of rain, we grabbed a table under a tree in the back courtyard. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, so we had a chance to chat with our server about the wine menu. Tina asked several questions and then chose a rosé--the 2010 Rosato de Conventino from Il Conventino, which was popular with the other patrons. I, on the other hand, took a random stab at the wine menu, and selected the 2010 Soave Classico from Pra-Veneto. Tina’s social efforts proved a boon, as she ended up with a robust rosé--heavy in fruit and leather flavors--to start off the afternoon. My Soave was decent, with fruity green apple cider flavors that was just a little too warm for the afternoon. It may have been better served to be chilled over ice for a more refreshing aperitif. We then switched to the 2010 Sillery Pinot Nero from Frecciarossa. This was a perfect palate cleanser, a super crisp wine with strong lemony acidity and just a hint of sweetness on the finish.
After a couple of casual drinks, we decided it was time for a small meal. In addition to their fairly substantial wine list, Gottino offers a delightful selection of small plates. We decided to share a handful of different dishes NS selected a plate of cheeses, a hearty boar liver paté, a dish of fresh boar and cauliflower, and some shaved brussel sprouts.
The boar’s strong, rustic flavor contrasted the mild and sweet cheeses, and the brussel sprouts were fairly light and fresh. I chose a hearty 2007 Negroamaro from Rosa de Golfo, a medium bodied red with strong fruit notes, berry on the nose, and a balance of fruit and a punch of leather on the tongue. This held up well to the boar, but overpowered the rest of the flavors. Which isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it immensely. Tina was pleased with her choice as well. She ended up with a 2010 Ansonica from Firriato--a crisp white wine with a balance of lime and honey on the nose, with a hit of acidity and lingering notes on honey and sweet stone fruit on the tongue. The hints of minerality paired well with the paté, the acidity went well with the veggies, and the sweet notes balanced well with the sweet cheeses.
The afternoon was fun and relaxing, a light drizzle drove the other patrons indoors as we sheltered under a tree that canopied our table, enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet in the Biig City. Tina enjoyed chatting with our waiter to help select her wines, while I had fun experimenting. We also learned that with a complicated meal, vastly different wines can work well; there is no right wine. And finally, the best drink is always the third--although our judgement may have been a bit questionable by that point. Luckily, we’re just here to share our enjoyment of the wines, not present a scientific study.
Braving the threat of rain, we grabbed a table under a tree in the back courtyard. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, so we had a chance to chat with our server about the wine menu. Tina asked several questions and then chose a rosé--the 2010 Rosato de Conventino from Il Conventino, which was popular with the other patrons. I, on the other hand, took a random stab at the wine menu, and selected the 2010 Soave Classico from Pra-Veneto. Tina’s social efforts proved a boon, as she ended up with a robust rosé--heavy in fruit and leather flavors--to start off the afternoon. My Soave was decent, with fruity green apple cider flavors that was just a little too warm for the afternoon. It may have been better served to be chilled over ice for a more refreshing aperitif. We then switched to the 2010 Sillery Pinot Nero from Frecciarossa. This was a perfect palate cleanser, a super crisp wine with strong lemony acidity and just a hint of sweetness on the finish.
After a couple of casual drinks, we decided it was time for a small meal. In addition to their fairly substantial wine list, Gottino offers a delightful selection of small plates. We decided to share a handful of different dishes NS selected a plate of cheeses, a hearty boar liver paté, a dish of fresh boar and cauliflower, and some shaved brussel sprouts.
The boar’s strong, rustic flavor contrasted the mild and sweet cheeses, and the brussel sprouts were fairly light and fresh. I chose a hearty 2007 Negroamaro from Rosa de Golfo, a medium bodied red with strong fruit notes, berry on the nose, and a balance of fruit and a punch of leather on the tongue. This held up well to the boar, but overpowered the rest of the flavors. Which isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it immensely. Tina was pleased with her choice as well. She ended up with a 2010 Ansonica from Firriato--a crisp white wine with a balance of lime and honey on the nose, with a hit of acidity and lingering notes on honey and sweet stone fruit on the tongue. The hints of minerality paired well with the paté, the acidity went well with the veggies, and the sweet notes balanced well with the sweet cheeses.
The afternoon was fun and relaxing, a light drizzle drove the other patrons indoors as we sheltered under a tree that canopied our table, enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet in the Biig City. Tina enjoyed chatting with our waiter to help select her wines, while I had fun experimenting. We also learned that with a complicated meal, vastly different wines can work well; there is no right wine. And finally, the best drink is always the third--although our judgement may have been a bit questionable by that point. Luckily, we’re just here to share our enjoyment of the wines, not present a scientific study.
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