#247
Bistro du Midi
Latest Episode
- 2/3/23 | 4:57
About this Episode
Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas visit Bistro du Midi a classic bistro vibe with a lively bar and a menu that is seasonal and creative. The wine list offers selections from both the old and the new world but places a special emphasis on French wines.
Sam offers a few stellar suggestions to kick off your evening, value wines that won’t break the budget, and a special bottle for those who want to understand why wine from Bordeaux is celebrated.
Wines reviewed include:
- 2019 Alphonse Mellot Les Romains, Sancerre
- 2019 Antidoto Ribera del Duero, Spain
- 2000 Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac, Bourdeaux
Bistro de Midi:
RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!
A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator. Hello Sam, it’s great to be back together for another episode.
SH: Hi Robert!
RT: Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules.
We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well… it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting. Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.
RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.
RT:
Cork Rules
Bistro du Midi
Overview
Bistro du Midi is located in Boston, Massachusetts and offers Southern French cuisine with New England influences. They feature two floors for dining where you can enjoy the bistro on the street level or dine upstairs in the dining room while taking in the view of the Boston Public Garden.
RT: Sam, I can’t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?
Where to start
This list has lots of French selections, which of course makes sense with the theme. They also include some Italian options and a few New World sections as well, but the heart of this list is definitely French. A bottle that would make for a delicious aperitif or to pair alongside your starter plates would be the Drappier Rośe Brut. These bubbles come from the Champagne Drappier estate which has been in the town of Urville since 1808. 70% of the grapes they grow is Pinot Noir, which is what this bottle is made from. It’s got bright red fruit aromas and on the palate notes of grapefruit and subtle flower petal tones. It would be perfect with the Salmon Crudo or Tuna tartare.
Another great start to the evening would be the 2019 Alphonse Mellot Les Romains, Sancerre. Domaine Alphonse Mellot has been around for over 500 years and has had 19th generations of family winemakers. They’re known for their outstanding quality white wines, and this Sancerre is no exception. It’s 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Upper Loire region of France. It's going to have a gorgeous acid core and aromas of lemon and notes of peach. It also has lovely structure and mineral qualities too. It’s going to pair really well with the arugula salad with goat cheese or oysters to start.
Value
A lovely bottle that would pair well with the menu but also won’t break the budget is the 2019 Antidoto Ribera del Duero. This bottle comes from Bodegas Antidoto located in Soria, Spain and is made from Tinto Fino, also known as temperanillo. This bottle has red and black fruit flavors of cherry and blackberry, which I always love. It also has notes of vanilla and pepper. It’s bold but balanced with tannins and acidity. It's going to play really well with these rich, French dishes, especially meat. You could start it with the charcuterie board or try it with the Wagyu beef with mushroom and garlic.
Celebratory
This wine list has no shortage of celebratory wines. There’s some incredible bottles with lots of age, but there’s definitely some range here even on the celebratory front. One that caught my eye was the 2000 Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac. This is a gorgeous Bordeaux and a great vintage. It’s bold and beautiful with structure and tannins. It has notes of blackberry and black current, along with tobacco and pencil led. Really flavorful and complex with a lasting finish. Sip this alongside the duck breast for a classic pairing. You could also go with the foie gras, or the beef entrees to create the ultimate celebratory experience.
RT: Sam Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Bistro du Midi's wine list. I can’t wait to go try them myself. To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.
If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible. We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.
And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.
Thank you.
End
Want to request a Restaurant?
Interested in having a restaurant’s wine list featured in a future podcast episode? Let us know here.
Related Episodes
Dear Annie
- 5:58 min
Sam Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Dear Annie, a community-focused neighborhood restaurant that focuses on brand values of sustainable foodways, unique and natural wines and friendly vibes. Sam shares what to pair with the house-made small plates and the menu that has a focus on fresh seafood and shellfish, including wines from a 400-year-old vineyard, wines with notes of vanilla and spice, or lemon, honeycomb and stone, and sparkling wines from a winery that uses a fermentation process that dates back to the 1500s.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2020 Honeymoon by Martha Stouman, California
-
2018 Collecapretta La Selezione delle Cese, Umbria, Italy
-
2019 Patrimonio Rouge “Cru Des Agriate”, Corsica, Italy
Le Farfalle
- 15 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
- 4:58 min
Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at Le Farfalle in the Harleston Village of Charleston, South Carolina where they put a modern spin on traditional Italian cuisine and offer a stellar wine list. In addition to pairing suggestions and tasting notes, Sam shares background information on the wine regions and producers to take your wine education up a notch. She introduces us to an Italian wine cooperative composed of 400 small winegrowers who sustainably farm the land, rare Italian varietals, and the more well-known and loved barolos and nebbiolos.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2020 Montepulciano Rosato, Viticoltori Riuniti
-
2018 Nero Buono “Polluce”, Italy
-
2021 “Alice” Verdeca, Puglia, Italy
Bar Mezzana
- 360 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- 4:55 min
Sam Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas talk wine, food, and wine producers as they explore the wine list at Bar Mezzana in Boston. Sam identifies some interesting finds and introduces wines made from hybrid grape varietals, organic vineyards in Greece, and great vintages from family-owned vineyards. If notes of roasted nuts and flower petals, and beautiful bright flavors of apple and peach sound delicious to you, or if you don’t know what to order with PEI mussels, or the Paccheri pasta with lobster, Sam will point you in the right direction.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2016 Erbaluna “Rocche Dell’Aannunziata” Borolo
-
1701 Franciacorta Satèn, Lombardy, Northern Italy
-
2020 Kontozisis “A-Grafo” Assyrtiko
Taberna De Haro
- 999 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446, USA
- 5:54 min
Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Taberna de Haro in Brookline, MA. This Spanish restaurant is known for its massive Spanish wine list and authentic Spanish cuisine that takes diners far beyond tapas. Think saffron-scented paellas, spicy garlic shrimp, and perfectly sliced Iberian ham all paired with select bottles from a James Beard award-winning wine list. And Sam is here to help you find the perfect pairing whether you are celebrating something special or just winding down for the weekend. She identifies the tasting notes, offers pairing suggestions, and delivers a little background information on the producers to take your wine knowledge up a notch.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2017 Avinyó Brut Nature Reserva Cava
-
2017 Do Ferreiro Rebisaca
-
2005 Viña Bosconia Reserva
Alcove
- 50 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- 5:26 min
Sam Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Alcove. Located on the waterfront at Boston’s Lovejoy Wharf, Alcove is a welcoming, neighborhood restaurant that serves fresh seafood fare and an award-winning wine list.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2018 Domaine Guiberteau “Les Chapaudaises”, Loire Valley
-
2021 Ameztoi “Rubentis” Txakolina, Spain
-
2020 La Soufrandiere “Le Clos de Grand -Pere”, Burgundy
Mariel
- 10 Post Office Square #120, Boston, MA 02109, USA
- 6:16 min
Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Mariel’s where Cuban dishes, craft cocktails, and a curated wine list offer a taste of Havana in its heyday.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2020 Rafael Palacios Godello from Valdeorras, Spain
-
2018 Marcel Deiss Saint Hippolyte Pinot Noir
-
2018 Suertes Del Marques “Trenzado”
The Coast Guard House
- 5:34 min
Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Coast Guard House Restaurant, a delightful location with spectacular sea views, and locally harvested seafood. Whether you want a special wine to celebrate with or one that meets your budget, or if you want to try one of the newer natural wines on the list, Sam offers suggestions on old-world and new-world wines that will meet your needs. She also reviews natural wines
Wines reviewed include:
-
2017 Muller-Catoir “Mandelring” Muller-Catoir Winery, Germany
-
2020 Ermes Pavese Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle, Italy
-
2016 Frank Cornelissen “Magma” Cornelissen, Scicily
Barbuto
- 113 Horatio St, New York, NY 10014, USA
- 6:19 min
Samantha Hohl, a certified sommelier, joins Robert Tas to review the wine list at Barbuto, an Italian restaurant heavily influenced by California vibes. The menu is simple and seasonal and the wine list features an eclectic selection of Italian, French, and California wines, amongst other lesser-known varietals from all over the world. Sam dives into the wine list to find a few hidden gems and makes stellar pairing suggestions to help tantalize the taste buds.
Wines reviewed include:
● 2018 Vigneti Luigi Oddero e Figli “La Morra” from Barbera d’Alba
● 2018 Lieu Dit, Sauvignon Blanc from the Santa Ynez Valley
● 2019 Feudo Montoni “Lagnusa”, Nero d'Avola
Stoneacre Garden
- 5:45 min
Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas kick back at the restaurant, Stoneacre Garden where they not only have a welcoming and wholesome dining room where you will experience deliciously comforting cuisine, but they also offer a greenhouse bar, a courtyard bar, and rooftop bar. The vibe here is vibrant, fun, and wholly delightful. They frequently host events including live music. And to top off your experience, they offer a well-developed wine list.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2017 Les Vieux Clos Joly Chenin Blanc, France
-
2015 Raúl Pérez Ultreia, Spain
-
2018 Gail Vineyards “Doris”, Sonoma Valley
Yvonne's
- 6:35 min
Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier and Robert Tas to enjoy the speakeasy vibe at Yvonne’s. This playful supper club offers an intimate and exclusive dining room where guests can revel in the eclectic decor, enjoy a seasonal menu, and an adventurous wine list. Sam reviews the list to find the best bubbles and budget wines and offers pairing suggestions to ensure your dining experience is one to remember.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2016 Tocai Friulano from Larkmead Vineyards, Napa
-
2019 Lindquist Family Marsanne, California
-
2015 Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Brut Champagne
Use the QR Code or
click on Download to install!