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WTN: BTG Rioja and Rueda

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Dale Williams

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WTN: BTG Rioja and Rueda

by Dale Williams » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:28 am

Last night we went to Sonora, a "Neuvo Latino" place in Portchester for the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week. Sometimes places stint on their selections for these promotions, but Sonora gave a lot of nice options.
Betsy started with a nice shrimp ceviche with avocado and tomatoes; my starter was a lobster and avocado quesadilla with chipotle, creme fraiche alioli, and guacamole. I had a glass of the 2005 Basa Rueda, Clean citrus and apple fruit, no apparent oak, a bit light on finish but clean and refreshing. B/B+

For main course, I had lamb chops with chimichurri sauce, served with roasted garlic and wild mushroom mashed potatoes. Betsy had a vegetarian paella. I got a glass of the 2004 Sierra Cantabria Rioja. Pleasant enough wine in a very international style, I'd be hard pressed to guess Rioja or Tempranillo in a blind tasting. Ripe red cherry and raspberry, a little vanilla, fairly extracted for the level. I'll give it a B/B-, but if you look for more modern styles you'd probably be more pleased than I.

Betsy took a couple bites of two desserts (as I don't eat), a too-sweet sponge cake and a good chocolate bread pudding. Just as with NYC Restaurant Week, these deals are a good way to try a new place IF the restaurant doesn't treat you as a second-class citizen. This was a good deal at $26 (about same as most main courses on regular menu).

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.

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