Gabriele and I are just back from a very relaxing Memorial week off in Charleston, South Carolina. We did all the touristy things like museums, Fort Sumpter and the U.S.S. Yorktown. We also enjoyed some fine Southern cuisine and some new wines.
By far the best dining experience was at McCrady’s, an award winning restaurant in downtown Charleston. The couple we were renting from confirmed it was the place to go for the special meal of the vacation. We were looking for a full on dining experience and that’s what we got, in all senses of the term.
The setting and atmosphere were great. It’s located off a short alley, the decor was attractive and the feel was intimate and special, not stuffy. We both went with a four course a la carte selection, and there wasn’t a dud in the bunch. Special mention goes to the grouper on a bed of pureed potato with carrots, fennel and braised chicken on top, and to the pork two ways with almonds, rhubarb and peas. The service found just the right balance of serious and personable.
Since we both were having fish and meat courses, the wine had to be versatile. Our waitress sent over the sommelier to discuss the very broad wine list. I discarded my original idea of a bigger style Pinot Noir for a 2009 Perrin Les Sinards Chateauneuf-du-Pape. We hadn’t had the wine before but I knew the maker, we tend to like CNPs and 2009 was a great year in the Rhone.
So it was no surprise this wine delivered. It opened with a beautiful nose, and was light bodied with cherry fruit leading the way. The acids were very balanced, there were some subtle herbs and the tannins were quick on the finish, making it a nice accompaniment to all our courses. Based on what I guessed the wine retails for, the markup was steep but not insulting.
At another dinner we found a new Rioja we both enjoyed. It was the Vina Alberti 2006 Reserva, which we had at the Glass Onion restaurant right on Rt. 17. The meal was a pleasant surprise — the restaurant is very unassuming and located among a string of car dealerships along a busy commercial strip. We went there because another place was closed on Mondays, and enjoyed the meal very much.
The Vina Alberti Rioja was 100 percent Tempranillo, and a bargain since Mondays are half price wine night at the restaurant. I tasted dried raspberry and some cherry as the dominant fruit, with a smooth texture on the palate. There was a hint of spice, and a bit of creaminess on the way to a tart finish. It’s a good wine alone or with food, and looks to retail for about $25.
Finally, to celebrate our anniversary we popped a bottle of Dom Perignon 1998 on the deck of the house we rented. The bottle was a wedding present in 2007, and we figured it was time to enjoy it. Gabriele is a far bigger sparkling fan than I am, but it was good.
It was very straw colored in the glass, and seemed very balanced to me. It wasn’t overly brut in taste, which Gabriele liked a lot since she doesn’t like bone dry sparkling wine. She tasted some pear and just a hint of cranberry like tartness, without the “bready” aftertaste you can get with some sparkling wine. If you’re into champagne and looking for a special bottle, the link above takes you to a Jancis Robinson review with more information on how this vintage stacks up.
If you’re looking for a new vacation wine this season, check out the Perrin or the Vina Alberti. Hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day, and the unofficial start to summer 2013.
Rental — thanks again Kim and Rob for the nice accommodation!