The Barolo-like Ballerina at Less than Half the Price!

"When I am asked which wine would I choose were I to be restricted to a single one, my answer is: Carema." - Neal Rosenthal

Strong words from legend-importer Neal Rosenthal (above), especially considering this man has some of the world's greatest wines like Jean-Marie Fourrier's Griotte Chambertin and Ghislaine Barthod's Chambolle-Musigny "Les Cras" at his finger tips!

But also wise words, because few reds have the honest, rustic mountain charm that this has (and the price is crazy-low, see below). If Barolo is a wine of burly tannins and raw power, Carema is a ballerina - silken, perfumed and delicate. Or think of it this way: Carema is to Barolo what Chambolle-Musigny is to Pommard, with all the silky perfume that implies.

What can I say, I LOVE Austrian wine. Just such a whacky lineup of really profound, kooky wines, everything showing great. We were hosted by Wolfgang and Eddie at Seasonal, a new Austrian restaurant on 58th Street in Midtown that deserves some serious attention. Sophisticated, pure food with contrasting yet integrated flavors. Really worth visiting NYCers - I can't say enough good things about this restaurant.

We had a lot of wines, but I'm only posting on a few because I'm lazy and I didn't take good enough notes and honestly the great wines were just so, so compelling that they sort of overwhelmed the just plain old good wines.