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About this Episode

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas point out the best bottles on the 67-page list at Quince. Quince has earned a green star from Michelin for its efforts in sustainability and biodiversity, and the wine list offers a stellar selection of organic and biodynamic wines to try.

Wines reviewed include:

2018 Ansitz Dornach Pinot Bianco, Vigneti delle Dolomiti
2000 Jamek “Ried Klaus” Smaragd, Wachau
2018 Monteraponi, Colli Della Toscana

Transcript: Quince

Quince

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier

Hello Grant, great to have you back for another great wine list.

GW: Hello 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 wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, 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.

Quince

Quince is a contemporary dining masterpiece in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square, and they were the first to be awarded a green star from Michelin for its efforts in sustainability and biodiversity. They have an impressive 67-page wine list so let’s dive in and see what we discover.

Starting with by the glass and you can’t go wrong with toasting with a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose which is always a delight.

For a solid white that fits their Italian flair I’d go for a glass of the 2018 Ansitz Dornach Pinot Bianco, Vigneti Delle Dolomiti from Alto-Adige is a great choice but for you Robert, I’d suggest the 2017 Jean-Francois Malsert from Saint-Joseph which is peppery, perfumed and elegant.

Lastly, a great way to fortify your evening would be the 1929 D’Olivera, Tinta Negra which is a great opportunity to drink a little bit of history.

Moving on to bubbles, I love the Egly-Ouriet ‘Les Crayeres’ V.V Grand Cru which is 100% PN from a single vineyard in Ambonnay but you also can’t go wrong with the likes of Cederic Bouchard and Ulysse Collin of which they have multiple bottlings.

For the big houses, I’d go for the 08’ Bollinger La Grande Annee or anything from Krug of course.

Now it’s time for whites to keep things moving. For the lighter more linier side, I absolutely love anything from Peter Lauer making beautiful and pure styles of Riesling from Saar, a sub-region of the Mosel in Germany and on their list I’d go for his Ayler Fass 3 Troken which is a favorite.

Another great Riesling but from Austria that could be really fun is the 2000 Jamek ‘Ried Klaus’ Smaragd from the Wachau.

If you’re feeling a little natty and funky but still want an iconic wine from Italy then look no further than the 2009 Gravner Ribolla is just the kind of skin fermented ‘orange wine’ that you need in life.

I also love seeing the 2018 Monteraponi, Colli Della Toscana which is one of my favorite Tuscan producers and makes a great 100% Trebbiano.

Moving up the scale and if you want white Burgundy then I think the 2018 Alice et Olivier De Moor ‘Coteau de Rosette’ from Chablis is really awesome but you can also ball out with Raveneau if you want Chablis. Something a little rounder and further south, I’d go for the 2013 Dominique Lafon from Meursault is a great direction to go. A great domestic alternative from here in California is the 2017 Racines ‘Sanford & Benedict’ Chardonnay from the Sta Rita Hills or the 2009 Stony Hill Chardonnay from Spring Mountain would be fabulous since those older Stony Hill’s age so well.

Now for your reds, Robert, and particularly if I’m dining with you, I’d order the 2012 Lorenzo Accomasso ‘Rocche dell’Annunziata, Vigna Rocchette is an amazing Barolo if you want to ball out. I know you love wines with some age as well so I point you towards the 1964 Oddero which would be a really interesting time capsule.

One more Italian favorite for me at a better value is the 2013 Giuseppe Quintarelli ‘Primofiore’ is a favorite of mine from the Veneto and always delivers.

If you want Grand Cru Burgundy then I’d go for the 1995 Jacques-Frederic Mugnier ‘Bonnes Mares’ which is a splurge for sure but a wonderful producer championed by the late Becky Wasserman.

But if you’re a baller on a budget then I’d order the Jean-louis Dutraive ‘Champagne’ from Fleurie would be a better way still being able to pay the rent and is of course a delicious option. If you want California PN then I’d go for the 2015 Ceritas ‘Coastalina’ from the Sonoma coast but the 2019 Hirsch ‘The Bohan Dillon’ is a great value as well and an amazing vineyard in Fort Ross Seaview.

or California Cab there is a lot of great options to choose from, but my eye immediately goes to the 2011 Corison ‘Kronos Vineyard’ which is an undervalued vintage which is aging beautifully. Another no brainer is the 1990 Dunn ‘Howell Mountain’ which has some great age on it. I just had the 92’ for my 30th birthday and it was perfect.

Lastly, to finish on a sweeter note, I’d go for the 2009 Paolo Bea, Montefalco Sagrantino, Passito from Umbria.

Final thoughts, this is an incredibly detailed list that spares no expense but offers great depth and has something for everyone and at every price point. This was a great list to go over and I look forward to dining there soon.

Cheers!

Grant, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Quince’s wine list. I can’t wait to go try your great suggestions.

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like Grant 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.