These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things
by Shebnem Ince
A Grab Bag Of Lovely Remembering From 2011
Unflinchingly and unapologetically old-world, sommelier Jeremy Quinn has put together a list of dazzling obscurities from such unknown ports as the Jura, Lombardia & the Aube, to name a few. In the heart of Logan Square, in a room crafted from re-purposed, Wisconsin barn wood, I keep pinching myself, because it seems like a utopian ideal, yet always feels like home. Drink the COS Pithos Bianco, Sicilia, Italy, at 2 in the morning, until the sun has almost risen, because you can.
and
Henri
18 S.Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
www.henrichicago.com
(312) 578-0763 www.whatwedrank.blogspot.com
1)Lini dal 910 Lambrusco Rosso Secco IGT. If you only know of Lambrusco via Cantine Riunite (on ice, that’s nice, remember??/), you are missing the point. Artisan Lambrusco is Secco (dry) and the secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle (rather than a giant tank). It’s dry, heady, tannic and fizzy all at once. Grab a plate of sausages, some pecorino cheese and you have a party.
2) Domaine Louis Carillon & Fils Puligny-Montrachet 2009. Louis is retiring, and the fils (his sons) will take over, under two new Domaines starting in 2010, but this pitch-perfect example of Cote du Beaune Chardonnay is heartbreakingly correct and impeccably delicious.
3)Failla Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2010. Younger vines from Hirsch & Keefer Ranch vineyards, this little cherry bomb is all pleasure and drinks like a dream.
4)Telegraph Wine Bar.
Unflinchingly and unapologetically old-world, sommelier Jeremy Quinn has put together a list of dazzling obscurities from such unknown ports as the Jura, Lombardia & the Aube, to name a few. In the heart of Logan Square, in a room crafted from re-purposed, Wisconsin barn wood, I keep pinching myself, because it seems like a utopian ideal, yet always feels like home. Drink the COS Pithos Bianco, Sicilia, Italy, at 2 in the morning, until the sun has almost risen, because you can.
5)Ricard Anisette Liquor, with water and ice, in a mason jar. Transport yourself to the sunny, Mediterranean heart of Provence, in the eyes of winter, and lose yourself in the alcoholic, fennel-driven reverie of the planet’s most simple cocktail. see photo
–
Shebnem Ince
Wine Director
The Gage
24 S Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
(312)-372-4243
and
Henri
18 S.Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
www.henrichicago.com
(312) 578-0763 www.whatwedrank.blogspot.com
Food & Wine Magazine Top Sommelier 2011
photo credit: Shebnem Ince
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on January 12, 2012
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/
Vehicle Preview: The 2013 Infiniti JX
New seven-passenger luxury crossover arriving in spring 2012.
(image from motortrend.com)
Infiniti customers have been asking for a three-row crossover utility vehicle, and now they’ll have one. The all-new Infiniti JX arrives this spring with seven-passenger seating, a powerful V6 engine, agile handling and new Infiniti innovations.
Infiniti has offered the QX56, a full-size three-row SUV, and the two-row FX series of performance-oriented luxury crossovers. In the new JX, crossover drivers will enjoy the benefit of Infiniti performance and luxury in what the brand expects to be the roomiest vehicle in its class. Third-row seating for adult passengers, along with unique features that bolster versatility, will make the all-new Infiniti JX a highly compelling entry in the growing luxury crossover category. A choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive JX models will let you choose the kind of traction and performance you want.
Infiniti customers value design, and the all-new JX crossover will certainly live up to expectations. Design elements previewed on the Infiniti Essence concept car will give the Infiniti JX a decidedly sporty flair with bold lines and shapes that draw the eyes from every angle. Interior flexibility and available amenities will make the roomy, family-friendly JX a first-class way to travel, and the vehicle will offer advanced connectivity features and new safety technologies.
As you’d expect from Infiniti, the JX will delight with impressive performance. A powerful V6 engine will come teamed with a new, sport-tuned, continuously variable transmission (CVT) that maximizes fuel efficiency while delivering uncannily smooth performance. A CVT, unlike a conventional automatic transmission, does not shift gears. Instead, it continuously adjusts the “gear” ratio in response to driving needs. That helps keep the engine operating at its most efficient while delivering an ultra-smooth driving experience and quiet running. Select the Sport Mode, though, and the CVT in the Infiniti JX will mimic a gear transmission for a sporty driving feeling when desired.
More luxury crossover buyers are looking for true third-row roominess, not just a pair of seats for children. In fact, many prefer to put children in the second row, so the second-row seat in the JX will tilt and slide forward to make it easy to enter the third row. With 5.5 inches of slide adjustability, you can set the second row exactly where it best meets your needs for legroom in both rows.
More important for those with children traveling in child seats, in the Infiniti JX, you’ll be able to leave a child seat latched to the second row while entering or exiting the third row. That’s the kind of convenient, timesaving detail that family buyers appreciate.
Infiniti has set benchmarks for innovative technologies such as the currently available Blind Spot Intervention system. The new JX will continue this trend, adding a new feature, Backup Collision Intervention. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, this feature will help detect objects crossing behind and, if necessary, automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. That’s added peace of mind when exiting a blind driveway or parking slot.You can also count on the Infiniti JX to deliver memorable luxury and comfort for all aboard. A 14-speaker Bose® Studio Surround®-Sound system will use new Waveguide bass technology to deliver powerful sound throughout the vehicle. An advanced Infiniti Connection Telematics system will automatically synchronize the owner’s calendar and provide navigation guidance. And, you can expect impressive rear-seat entertainment capability for the five people riding in the second and third rows.
Naturally, the all-new JX crossover will also come with the Infiniti Personal Assistant. This new, 24-hour personal concierge service comes on all 2012 Infiniti models at no extra cost and connects you to a team of professional assistants.
Check back in the coming months for more details on the 2013 JX three-row crossover, and plan to come in and see it this spring.
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on December 7, 2011
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/vehicle-preview-the-2013-infiniti-jx/
December Wine Blog : Like Pinot? Choose Grenache.
I taste a lot of wine. Its part of the job; sifting through countless bottles, looking for the real stand-outs, the ones that make me pause, consider, maybe even smile. Wine is one of life’s little pleasures; to that even I am not immune.
Pinot Noir, everyone’s darling grape, happens to have one of the worst track records, in my estimation. I worry every time a sales rep pulls one from their bag- it might be great, I hope that it will be, but ultimately, the odds of it being uninspiring are pretty high.
Pinot is a fickle grape, a thin-skinned, high-maintenance thing, prone to all sorts of problems, particularly mildew. It is difficult to grow, and commands the kinds of climatic consistencies that mother nature is unable to provide. It is widely planted because of consumer demand, yet not suited to grow in many of the places in which it is planted.
I am not advocating the cessation of Pinot drinking. But, there is another thin-skinned grape, capable of fruity, silky, generosity that happens to be a little less picky about where it grows. Meet your new best friend, Grenache.
Grenache is an ancient grape that most likely began its existence on the Italian island of Sardegna, where it is called Cannonau. The vine then made its way through Spain starting in the early 1300s.
Grenache thrives in warm, Mediterranean climates like the Southern Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon & most of Spain. It is allowed in the D.O.C.a of both Priorato and Rioja.
In the under $20 range, I would almost always prefer a high quality Cotes du Rhone (which will almost always contain a big chunk of Grenache) over any Pinot Noir at that price. Good producers include Domaine Roche Audran (their ‘Cesar’ bottling is 100 % old vines Grenache) and Domaine Beaurenard, who work organically. 2009 is a beautiful vintage for both producers.
Spanish Grenache (it is called Garnacha there) I love include Joan D’Anguera’s Garnaxta Monsant, and Acustic Celllers Broa (50% Garnacha, 50% Samsao, or Carignan), also from Monsant.
Lastly, Jaffurs Winery produces an incredible, chock-full-of-raspberry-pie beauty of a Grenache in Santa Barbara County, CA.
All these wines are available upon request from Craig Perman at Perman Wines, 802 W. Washington (at Halsted), Chicago, IL 60607. 312-666-4417
–
Shebnem Ince
Wine DirectorThe Gage
24 S Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
(312)-372-4243
www.thegagechicago.com
and
Henri
18 S.Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
www.henrichicago.com
(312) 578-0763
Shebnem Ince
Wine DirectorThe Gage
24 S Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
(312)-372-4243
www.thegagechicago.com
and
Henri
18 S.Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
www.henrichicago.com
(312) 578-0763
Food & Wine Magazine Top Sommelier 2011
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on December 7, 2011
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/december-wine-blog-like-pinot-choose-grenache/
November Wine Blog
Pig Obsession, Winter Vegetables & The Darkening of Days: What to Drink Now
photo credit: ethanol76
You must have, this morning, sensed it too: somewhere in the morning ritual, between the rousing of the children, the making of the peanut butter sandwiches and frantic search for size 11 sneakers; somewhere inside this chaotic minutiae, a certain fragile, icy scent crept in, and a shivery, dark submission took hold. Winter is here. It made me want to turn on the oven, this realization.
The time for roasting & braising has returned. There is something innately comforting and satisfying about slow cooking, to coax the inherent sweetness out of a well-marbled protein or hearty root vegetable, to heighten their flavors with aromatic herbs, and to fill your home with this complex tangle of scents.
Chefs know this too. Look on any seasonally driven menu in Chicago right now, you are bound to find something porcine (belly, ribs, cheeks) braised until completely tender, and served with some sort of root-y puree. The wine pairing assumption for this rich and calorie-dense cuisine is usually some sort of rich, bombastic red. But there is another route, a slightly different path you could take, one that is completely unexpected and wonderful.
When considering wine pairings, there are many variables, but I often start with geography. Where on earth do people traditionally eat like this? And what wines do they drink there? Two places that spring immediately to mind are Alsace (NE France at the German border) & Alto Adige (NE Italy at the Slovenian border). The wines they produce? Aromatic, clean white wines with good acidic structure, the kind that will cut through richness and bring levity as well as a sense of balance to earthy, winter dinners.
Alsace
Alsatian cuisine is all about bacon, fat & braising, with some cold weather vegetables (think cabbage, turnips, potatoes & onions) thrown in for health. The four ‘noble’ white wines of Alsace are: Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer & Muscat. Muscat and Gewurztraminer can be extremely floral and aromatic. Pinot Blanc is often bottled there as well. If you searching for dryer styles, avoid bottles marked “Vendage Tardive” or “Selection de Grains Noble”. I recommend the producer Zind Humbrecht. Wines labeled with the grape type (i.e. Pinot Blanc) are typically dryer from this renowned producer.
Alto Adige
This beautiful alpine region, located in the sleepy valleys of the Dolomite Mountains is home to some of the purest, delicious white wines on the planet, made without a wisp of oak. Here, dry wines are king. Look for well known varieties like Pinot Grigio & Sauvignon Blanc or more adventurous grapes such as Muller-Thurgau, Sylvaner, Kerner & Nosiola . Recommended producers: Alois Lageder, Elena Walch & Tramin.
The white wines from Alto Adige should be drunk young while still very fresh- they are not meant for aging. Wines from Alsace, however, can age beautifully and gain complexity when matured.
Sources:
All these producers are available @ Binny’s.
Next Month:
For all you Pinot Noir drinkers, I have one word: Grenache.”
–
Shebnem Ince
Wine Director
The Gage
24 S Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
(312)-372-4243
www.thegagechicago.com
and
Henri
18 S.Michigan
Chicago, IL 60603
www.henrichicago.com
(312) 578-0763
Food & Wine Magazine Top Sommelier 2011
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on November 3, 2011
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/november-wine-blog/
2011 Infiniti G37x
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on October 20, 2011
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/2011-infiniti-g37x/
2012 Subaru Impreza Preview Night
Mid City Subaru hosted a preview night for the 2012 Subaru Impreza on October 18th, offering customers test drives and pre-orders.
View the facebook album here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150895496345377.751353.54477095376&type=1&l=7d6c1aa46b
The all new 2012 Subaru Impreza is the most fuel efficient all wheel drive car that you can purchase in America. Subaru has redesigned the Impreza from the ground up and kept it the same size but added two inches of room on the inside. Subaru has also given the Impreza a new 148 HP 2.0L engine mated to either a 5 speed manual or a CVT transmission. In fact the new Impreza now has less horsepower than the outgoing model. But does that mean that it is slower? Check out our first drive review to find out.
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on October 19, 2011
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/2012-subaru-impreza-preview-night/
Love is in the air around Chicago (and Berman’s)
By SABRINA PARISE and ALBERTO ORSO
Oct. 13, 2011
The similarities Matt Weiner shares with girlfriend Becca Pernikoff are many.
They’re the reason the 25-year-old from Chicago knew that Pernikoff is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.
But the one thing that sets the couple apart is the only reason Weiner needed to enlist “Good Morning America’s Love Live” help for popping the question, in a big way.
“The one place where Becca and I are polar opposites is in celebrations,” he wrote in response to “GMA’s” call for men who wanted to make their marriage proposal an unforgettable and live TV event.
“I like to celebrate more low-key, and Becca would rather throw a huge, blowout party and invite the world,” Weiner explained.
“I want to prove to her that I have it in me to do something so extravagant that she would never think I would have the nerve to do,” he told “GMA.” “I think she is very concerned that when I finally do propose it will be very low-key and intimate.”
It turns out that Pernikoff, thanks to Weiner’s out-of-the-box thinking, had nothing to worry about.
The 25-year-old got the surprise of her life today when Weiner got down on bended knee and asked his girlfriend of three years to spend the rest of his life with him, at her office, on live TV, in front of millions of “GMA” viewers.
Surprise Proposal
Appearing camera-ready for a national TV interview, Pernikoff took her place next to her boss at the Berman’s Infiniti of Chicago car dealership, where she works as a saleswoman, to be interviewed by “GMA’s” George Stephanopoulos.
The interview, believed by Pernikoff to be about car sales in Chicago, quickly veered off course when Stephanopoulos told her to, instead, look at the scene behind her.
Her mouth dropped as she saw, not only her entire family, but also three signs reading “Will,” “You,” and “Marry,” followed by Weiner, sitting in an Infiniti convertible with the word “Me” on the window, and holding a dozen roses.
All Pernikoff could say was, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” until, of course, she said yes to Weiner’s proposal.
Relationship Built on Love and Family
The sight of Weiner and Pernikoff surrounded by family after the proposal is not uncommon for the Chicago-based couple.
Family, Weiner told “GMA,” is something the couple’s relationship is built on.
“I love the way she puts family above everything else,” he said. “She came from a family with two older boys and she was the baby girl. I was the oldest child and had a younger brother and sister.”
For Weiner, the attraction to Pernikoff was instant, after they were first introduced by mutual friends three years ago.
“We started dating after college when one of my best friends from high school started dating one of her best friends from college,” he wrote in his submission to “GMA.” “The first time we talked on the phone I knew we were meant for each other.”
The fun-loving couple has had their share of good times together over the course of their relationship – from trips to Las Vegas, Anguilla and Florida to slow nights in watching their favorite show, “Modern Family” – but it was the most difficult time in Pernikoff’s life that cemented the couple’s future together.
Pernikoff’s father died unexpectedly in July of 2009 at the age of 57. His passing, Weiner said, gave their marriage proposal today even more meaning.
“The moment I knew I was going to spend my life with Becca was when I was driving to her old apartment to tell her that her dad passed away,” Weiner said. “I was on the phone with my dad and I was hysterical, telling him how scared I was that Becca was going to move back to be with her family and that I was going to lose the girl of my dreams.”
“My dad told me to relax and that everything would work itself out, and it has,” Weiner said.
Delivering the very public proposal Pernikoff dreamed of reminded Weiner of another reason he loves his bride-to-be so much.
“I love that she gets along great with anyone she meets and becomes best friends with everyone,” he told “GMA.” “Hence why she is planning on having close to 16 bridesmaids.
Certain to be included in the Pernikoff-Weiner wedding party are the two friends who introduced the couple three years ago.
But before they walk down the aisle themselves, Pernikoff and Weiner will have another wedding to attend, the April wedding of the matchmaker couple who introduced them.
view the video at
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/gma-love-live-chicago-man-proposes-live-tv-14727807
View the album on facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150365243790827.370945.154567740826&type=1&l=bc03852336
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on October 13, 2011
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/love-is-in-the-air-around-chicago-and-bermans/
Killer Cabernet Alternatives & Getting Real About Real Estate.
When people find out I am a sommelier, one of the first things they ask is, “Okay, find me a killer Cabernet for less than $10. Oh yeah, from Napa Valley, I love Napa Cab”.
No can do my friend. That is an impossible dream.
The average price of an acre of prime Napa vineyard is about $150,000. This acre will yield, under proper circumstances, about 4000 bottles of wine. You will need thirteen barrels in which to age this wine. You will need employees at harvest and crush. It would help if you had a degree in oeneology too. You will need access to a fermentation tank. You will need a cool space for your barrels to age, and then you will need access to a bottling line, corks, bottles, labels, shipping crates, a distribution channel and yes, stop this crazy train I want to get off too! After all this, your wine will up up costing your customers about $150/ bottle, and you won’t be making to much profit in the process.
I have often wondered why a large majority of red wine drinkers seem to be ‘stuck’ on Napa Valley Cabernet when there is a whole planet of red wine out there, often much less expensive. I do understand the majesty of voluptuous, ripe, sun-soaked Cabernet Sauvignon, enriched by the dusty earth of the valley floor, bathed in that expensive vat of french oak. But truly, the allure here is the ripeness levels, and it is Napa’s climate that allows for this.
The climate in Napa Valley is classified as Mediterranean. What this means is that the winters are mild, rainfall is minimal and summers are characterised by hot days coupled with cool nights. So the sommelier secret here is that there are many viticultural regions around the world that also share this climate and are well-suited to growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The big difference? The real estate is much cheaper. Here are just a few:
1) Paso Robles,CA. 240 Miles south of Napa Valley, Paso Robles is a bit hotter on average, but otherwise shares many of the Mediterranean climatic qualities. Ripe, luscious Cabernets can be had for under $25/ bottle. Two producers I recommend are Justin ($25.00, and yes, these are the same people who make the ultra-premium, ultra-expensive Isoceles) and Broadside ($19.99). Drink ‘em young and move on.
2) Rapel Valley. Chile. Cabernet was introduced in 1851. It is a large region, with some climatic variations as one travels from North to South, but in general again, one finds that moderate, Mediterranean climate suitable for smooth-drinking, agreeable Cabernet. There is also a large focus on organic and biodynamic viticultural practices here. I recommend the Casas del Bosque Cabernet 2009 ($18)
3) Tuscany, Italy. A magical land of fresh pasta, fashionable sunglasses and folks whizzing around on Vespas wearing expensive shoes. This region adopted Cabernet in the early 1980s, planting it mainly on the west coast, known as the Maremma. Two affordable ‘super-tuscans’ that involve plenty of Cabernet (as well as some Sangiovese, Merlot & Cabernet Franc) are Rigoloccio Toscana IGT 2007 ($18) & the Villa Antinori Toscana IGT 2006 ($17). Tuscan Cabernets and Cabernet blends tends to have a dustier, more herbaceous quality than those found in the Americas.
So there you have it. It may not be the answer you were looking for, but at least you know now why so many of those Napa Valley Cabernets come with such a huge price tag. Location, location, location!
All the wines featured in this article can be found at:
Vinic Wine Company
1509 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
1-847–733-7000
www.vinicwine.com
info@vinicwine.com
And, a retraction. Last month, I erroneously placed Piedmont in northeastern Italy. It is in the northwest.
Next month’s column will explore White Wines:The Road Less Taken.
Shebnem Ince
Food & Wine Magazine Top Sommelier 2011
Posted by Berman's Auto Group on October 5, 2011
http://bermanautogroup.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/killer-cabernet-alternatives-getting-real-about-real-estate/
