CorkRules - Episodes | Bistro du Midi

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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

Transcript: Bistro du Midi

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