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Jun 23
2009

Wine Values

Finding a good wine value is no easy task. Sifting through an epic list of names, years and prices can be daunting for even the savviest oenophile. Enter "Your Sommelier." We've teamed with renowned wine expert Kevin Zraly to sort through the wine lists at more than 100 New York restaurants to find the best bangs for your buck (watch the video above to hear more about the project). You can view Zraly's full list of recommendations here, but for a taste of what to expect, here are his picks for good-value wines at the five Most Popular restaurants in town. It's interesting to note that the top three restaurants have higher percentages of wines under $100 than others in that category, leading one to wonder if there's a correlation between popularity and good wine values.

Union Square Cafe, Union Square
Total # of wines: 335
% of wines below $100: 41%
% of wines below $50: 14%

Kevin Zraly's Recommendations:
White, Billecart-Salmon/ Brut Reserve, $75
White, Burgundy/ Clos-Du-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Chât. Puligny Montrachet, 2006,$65
Red, Tuscany/ Chianti Classico, Riserva, Castello di Cacchiano, 2001, $55
Red, Tuscany/ Super Tuscan/ Carmignano, Villa di Capezzana, Capezzana, 2004, $55
Red, Burgundy/ Côte d' Nuits/ Côte de Nuits-Villages, Domaine Bachelet, 2005, $80
Red, Bordeaux/ St. Émilion, Clos de la Cure, 2000, $85

Gramercy Tavern, Flatiron District
Total # of wines: 500
% of wines below $100: 61%
% of wines below $50: 22%

Kevin Zraly's Recommendations:
White, Selbach-Oster Kabinett, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Mosel Valley, Germany, 2007, $48
White, Von Kesselstatt Kabinett, Piesporter Goldtropfchen, Mosel Valley, Germany, 2005,$38
White, Burgundy/ Marsannay, Marc Roy, Les Champs Perdrix, Côte de Nuits, 2006, $70
Red, Burgundy/ Savigny-lès-Beaune, Nicolas Potel, Côte de Beaune, 2005,$75
Red, Barbaresco, Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco, 2005, $66
Red, Native Italian/ Valpolicella, Accordini, Ripasso, Veneto, 2006, $45
Red, Native Spanish/ Ramirez de la Piscina (Tempranillo), Reserva, Rioja, 2001,$50
Red, Assorted Reds/ Carmenère, Arboleda, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 2007,$45
Red, Cabernet Sauvignon/ Glen Carlou, Grand Classique, Paarl, South Africa, 2004, $33
Red, Cabernet Sauvignon/ Cousiño Macul, Antiguas Reservas, Maipo Valley, Chile, 2006, $40

Babbo, Greenwich Village
Total # of wines: 825
% of wines below $100: 34%
% of wines below $50: 12%

Kevin Zraly's Recommendations:
White, Friuli-Venezia Giulia/ "Vespa Bianco" Bastianich/ Chard, Sauv., Picolit, 2006, $70
Red, Campania/ Aglianico del Taburno, La Rivolta, 2005, $55
Red, Piemonte/ San Giuliano, 1999, $95
Red, Toscana/ Chianti Classico D.O.C.G./ Antinori Marchese Riserva, 2004, $60
Red, Toscana/ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano/ Daviddi, 2004, $50

Le Bernardin, West 50s
Total # of wines: 555
% of wines below $100: 12%
% of wines below $50: 0%

Kevin Zraly's Recommendations:
White, Loire Valley/ Central Loire/ Sancerre/ Le Chêne - Domaine Lucien Crochet, 2006, $70
White, Burgundy/ Côte de Beaune/ Maranges/ Philippe Colin, 2005, $75
White, Germany/ Mosel-Saar-Ruwer/ Riesling Kabinett/ Saarburger Rausch - Zilliken, 2001, $75
White, Italy/ Campania/ Greco di Tufo - Feudi di San Gregorio, 2006, $60
White, Italy/ Friuli/ Pinot Grigio - Livio Felluga, 2007, $60
White, United States of America/ Sauvignon Blanc/ Napa Valley/ Honig, 2007, $50
Red, Bordeaux/ Left Bank/ Saint Estephe/ Château Meyney, 2001, $85
Red, Bordeaux/ Right Bank/ Saint-Emilion/ Château Saint Domingue, 1998, $85
Red, South West Red Wines/ Cahors/ Château Lagrezette Cru d'Exeption, 2003, $80
Red, Rhône Valley/ Côtes-du-Rhône/ Coudoulet de Beaucastel, 2006, $80

Gotham Bar & Grill, Greenwich Village
Total # of wines: 590
% of wines below $100: 24%
% of wines below $50: 2%

Kevin Zraly's Recommendations:
White, French Loire Valley/ Menetou-Salon, Domaine Gérard Millet, 2007, $48
White, French Burgundy/ Beaune/ Saint-Aubin 1er Cru "Les Charmois," Maison Champy, 2005, $65
White, German/ Riesling Kabinett, Fritz Haag Mosel, 2005, $48
White, Austrian/ Riesling "Ried Silberbügel," Dr. Unger Wachau, 2004, $56
Red, Italian/ Piedmont/ Barbaresco/ Pertinace "Macarini," 2005, $95
Red, French/ Burgundy/ Chalonnaise/ Mercurey 1er Cru "Les Crêtes," Domaine Ninot, 2006, $60
Red, French/ Southern Rhone Valley/ Châteauneuf-du-Pape/ Maison Bouachon "La Tiare du Pape," 2005, $75
Red, Spanish/ Rioja/ Remelluri, 2003, $95

Category: News

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