When we went to Gramercy Tavern for lunch in June during Restaurant Week, at the end of the meal they gave each diner a $20 gift certificate good at lunch till Labor Day. Yesterday Betsy and I decided to combine each of our work errands in the city with lunch. As always, service and food at GT were impeccable.
My starter was a fantastic dish of sweetbreads with bacon and onions (Betsy had tuna tartare), I had the tasting portion of the 2004 Leitz Rudesheimer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett (Rheingau). Pretty good concentration, pear and peach fruit with a strong mineral uindercurrent. Good acidic body, nice wine. B+
For the main course I had a rabbit leg dish with roasted garlic and olives. I pondered some Italian and Burgundy options appropriate for the dish, but decided I'd try the 2002 Unti Syrah, even if not classic match, just because of positive recent notes and the fact I liked previous Unti wines. Indeed, it's a bit much for the rabbit. But a helluva match for Betsy's delicious hanger steak- big ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit, a touch of smoke with some flowers and vanilla. Very nice, B+/A-
I eyed the cheese platter, but knew I couldn't resist another wine if I did, so we paid and left. As always, Gramercy Tavern provides a nice experience.
That evening we headed with our hound to the riverfront for a concert. Betsy had prepared a seafood salad (halibut, squid, shrimp, and scallops) ; our friends Andrea and Jim brought a green salad. Some cheeses (and a rawhide chew for Lucy) completed the picnic. So leftover Sauzet burgundy went well with the seafood. Our friends had brought the 2003 Palacio de Menade Cuvee RS (Rueda). A bit better than previous showing,but not a wine I'd buy. Juicy-fruit gum flavors, overripe, almost flabby, barely enough acidity. C+/B-
A lightly chilled red, however, was a hit with the cheeses. The 2004 Terres Dorres (JP Brun) "L'Ancien" Beaujolais showed better than previous bottle. Cherry/berry fruit and some earth, a talc-y minerality on finish, Light and pleasing, perfect red to be served lightly chilled by the river. B+, A for value.
Everyone enjoys the wine and the concert. We take turns walking Lucy, who is happy to see many other dogs (and get petted by many small children). At the end of the night she shares her rawhide with a Vizsla who had been eying it. Nice day, nice night.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.