The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what&rsquo;s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Certified sommelier, Michaela Quinlan, reviewed the wine list to find the perfect pairings with sweetness and spice, the unique value wines, and the extraordinary bottles on their list. In addition to spotting the best bottles, Michaela also shared her knowledge of the Kabinett classification in German wines.

The term Kabinett originally implied a wine of superior quality, set aside for later sale. It is essentially the German version of the wine term Reserve. Kabinett wines are generally non-chapatilized which means they have not had sugar added to the unfermented grape must, which means that Kabinett wines are usually lower in alcohol content. The term originated from the Cistercian monks at Eberbach Abbey in Rheingau, where they deemed the wine too good to sell and set it aside for their own cabinet.

A wise choice. So let&rsquo;s see what&rsquo;s in the cabinet at The Lobster Club.

The <a href="https://hub.binwise.com/restaurant/375-park-ave/list/wine-list.html">wine list is extensive</a>, and it&rsquo;s also online so you can review the list before you hit the restaurant.

At the top of the list, you will find half bottles of sparkling, white, and red from a wide range of regions in France, Italy, and the United States. This offers an excellent opportunity to try a wine without committing to a full bottle. For half bottle white, consider the 2017, Selbach-Oster, Riesling Kabinett from the Mosel region is reasonably priced and offers the opportunity to try a Kabinett wine.

They also offer a full range of champagnes that range from a very reasonable Mouss&eacute; L&#39;Or d&#39;Eugene, Perpetuelle at $85 to a 1996, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne priced at $1250. They also offer a large variety of French Burgundy wines, and red Burgundy wines. While this extensive list offers wines from Europe and the States, it definitely favors French wines followed closely by Californian wines.

They also offer a large selection of magnums and large format, three-litre bottles, so if a celebration with friends, family, and/or coworkers is the goal, they have the selection, the size, and the substance to let you and your party celebrate in style.

For more info on the <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/the-lobster-club/episodes/5">Lobster Club wine list</a>, visit CorkRules.com and check out episode 4 of the podcast where Robert and Michaela identify a few stellar wines to try.

Cheers.

###

The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what’s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Fine Wines at The Lobster Club

Syrah and Shiraz. Two different names for the same grape variety, but also the name of two different styles of wine. Originally from France but spread around the world today, it has found its own identity in regions far away from the original origin.

The black grape Syrah comes from the French Rhône valley and it’s still very much planted there. Here, it’s the only variety used in Hermitage and Cornas, and also used in blends with other local grapes in areas like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône to mention a few. The grape name won’t appear on the label though since in France, and in Europe in general, the origin is of more importance than the grape variety.

Decoding the wine label: Syrah or Shiraz?

Champagne, the obvious choice for celebrations or holidays in any form for many wine drinkers. Since it’s a fantastic, artisan beverage, why change the tradition? With the holidays coming up, choose to pour something extra special this year – the millésime style champagne.

Decoding the wine label: Millésime

Bordeaux is a name synonymous with some of the world's most prestigious red wines, but its white wines, particularly Bordeaux Blanc, often fly under the radar. While the reds of this region have garnered international fame, Bordeaux Blanc wines, crafted primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes, are some of the wine world's best-kept secrets. These wines offer an elegant balance of freshness, complexity, and aging potential that can rival the finest whites from anywhere in the world.

Bordeaux Blanc: An Underappreciated Gem of the Wine World

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, our palates yearn for refreshing beverages that embody the essence of summer. For those new to the world of wine, choosing between cider, orange wine, and rosé can be a delightful journey. Each offers unique flavors and experiences perfect for warm weather sipping. In this article, we’ll explore three standout choices: Wolffer Dry Cider No. 139, Cune Viña Rosado 2023, and Spiritus Terrae Malvasia Orange 2021.

Savoring Summer: The Best Rosé Drink Choices from Cider-Orange-Rosé for Beginners

Navigating the wine list at a restaurant can be a daunting task, as many wine lovers have experienced. In our previous article on the tension of ordering wine at restaurants, we discussed this issue and shared some tips to help ease the process. However, one CorkRules user has recently encountered a situation that highlights just how challenging it can be.

The Switch? – #restaurantfail #winelistfail

Memorial Day weekend signals the official kick-off to summer, and what better way to celebrate than a backyard barbecue with friends and family? But for the wine lovers out there, the usual pairing of burgers and beer can feel a little, well, uninspired.

Fear not, fellow geeks! Let's ditch the predictable and dive into three exciting wine options that will have you sipping and savoring alongside the sizzling BBQ.

Memorial Day BBQ Bash: 3 Wines to Geek Out Over (While Grilling)

What is the right price for a bottle of wine at a restaurant? Wine pricing at restaurants is a hot topic of late but has many complexities. Let's dig into it and better understand the issues and some potential solutions.

The tension around wine pricing at restaurants?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a name that resonates with prestige and quality in the world of wine. This illustrious appellation is steeped in history dating back centuries and has been producing some of France's most celebrated wines for generations.



Nestled within the southern region of Rhône Valley, France lies Châteauneuf-du-Pape - translated as "the Pope's new castle". The area earned its moniker during the 14th century when it served as a summer residence for Popes who sought refuge from political turmoil in Rome.

The Rich History of Châteauneuf-du-Pape highlighting some great value wines

In the world of wine and food, we often find ourselves ensnared by ratings, stars, points – an endless parade of numbers that dictate our choices. We chase after high-rated wines or Michelin-starred restaurants with fervor only to be met with experiences that seldom live up to their lofty reputations. But amidst this whirlwind pursuit for perfection lies a simple truth - what truly makes wine and food special are not scores or accolades but pure experiences crafted from love.

The Serendipity of Experiences in Wine and Food

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa.

Wine List Review of Bern's Steakhouse

Tina Johansson

Bern's Steakhouse

Cork Rules Script

Bern&rsquo;s Steak House

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

TJ: Thank you Robert, great to be here.

RT: Today we&rsquo;re talking about a real Tampa classic, Bern&rsquo;s Steak House. It was opened by Bern and Gert, a married couple, in the 1950&rsquo;s and it&rsquo;s run by their son today. It started as a small, intimate restaurant, and today they have several different dining rooms to welcome 350 guests. One of these rooms is the infamous Harry Waugh Dessert Room, serving dessert and matching beverages only, like fortified wine and spirits. The room is named after the director of Chateau Latour in Bordeaux at the time, and it&rsquo;s truly an excellent way to end a dinner in.

TJ: And what a wine list! This one really is one of the heavier I&rsquo;ve seen. Page after page with amazing wines, and even though many of them are classics there are bottles from places like Hungary and China as well. And of course, there is a separate list just for the dessert wine and digestifs.

RT: Yes, Bern&rsquo;s really is an institution today. So what are your gems in the list?

TJ: Well since it is a steak house, I&rsquo;m in the mood for red. The 2019 Clonakilla Shiraz from Canberra in Australia would be my pick. It has the classic ripe fruit flavor of Shiraz but it&rsquo;s a bit lighter and fresher than the regular Shiraz. A great bottle with the less heavy meat servings like dry-aged carpaccio or Elk loin.

RT: Quite the bottle. But say I want to spoil myself with a truly special wine that you don&rsquo;t see on a list often, a wine list of almost 200 pages must have something unique? What would you drink that&rsquo;s something out of the ordinary?

TJ: Yes, they have quite a few exciting bottles actually. If you&rsquo;re into Burgundy wine they have bottles form basically all different areas and crus, but I would probably pick a wine from the northern Rh&ocirc;ne instead. I think that&rsquo;s a better fit for the food here. Why not go for the 1985 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage, one of the best Syrah&rsquo;s in the world and a back vintage that can be hard to find!

RT: Wow, yes that&rsquo;s a bottle hard to say no to! Not a wine most people get to drink in their lifetime.

TJ: Yes, and the two bottles are also fun to compare. As you might know, Shiraz and Syrah are two names for the same grape variety just made in different styles where Shiraz tends to be more fruit driven, and Syrah a bit leaner and more spicy in general.

RT: Yeah, two great examples of the diversity of the variety! And now, since we are in Bern&rsquo;s, we have to finish the meal with dessert and fortified wine in the Harry Waugh Dessert Room. I&rsquo;m sure there&rsquo;s plenty of fortified bottles to choose from as well, but which one do you think we should end the evening with?

TJ: I would go for Tawny Port, a fortified wine made from black grapes in Portugal. A fortified wine is made by blending a fermenting wine with grape spirit to stop the fermentation and keep the natural sugars and aromas of the grape juice. That means the wine has quite a high alcohol at about 20% and also that it&rsquo;s sweet. A perfect way to end an evening and a fantastic companion with dessert. They have the Graham&rsquo;s 30-year-old tawny port, which has a perfect balance between dried fruit and more nutty and dark chocolate notes. Perfect match with the salted caramel bread pudding on the menu!

RT: I agree with you, fortified wine is great and most of us drink it way too seldom. It&rsquo;s very good with dessert, or as a dessert on its own. Or even with a nice cigar! So, thank you Tina for being back with us and sharing more of your favorite bottle.

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 wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

END

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Serial is a boutique winery located in Paso Robles, known for producing high-quality, small-batch wines. The winery is owned and operated by the Smith family, who are dedicated to sustainable and organic farming practices.

Classic European fare served in an upscale modern-meets-tropical space with a patio & bar.

Krasi

Sazon

La Boca

Coppa

Helm Oyster Bar & Bistro

Helm Oyster Bar and Bistro

Ledger Restaurant & Bar

Ledger

Row 34

The Ordinary

The Fig

Harvest

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Martin’s

Villa Jolanda

Moscato d'Asti NV

Moscato Bianco

Moscato d'Asti, Italy

Moet & Chandon

Ice Imperial NV

Champagne, France

Piper-Heidsieck

Brut Champagne NV

Pinot Noir

Champagne, France

Villa Jolanda

Santero, Moscato Rose, Piedmont NV

Piedmont, Italy

Giulia

Santa Marina Prosecco, Italy, Veneto / Friuli-Venezia NV

Glera

Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

Grandial

Blanc de Blancs Brut NV

Chardonnay

Languedoc, France

Gunderloch

Riesling, Rheinhessen NV

Rheinhessen, Germany

Miraval

Cotes de Provence Rose 2020

Grenache

Provence, France

Michael Pozzan

Special Reserve Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

Oakville, USA

Louis Jadot

Macon-Villages, Burgundy NV

Burgundy, France

Annabella

Cabernet Sauvignon (Special Selection) NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, USA

Sansibar

Louis d'Or Brut Champagne NV

Cuvee

Schaumwein, France

Louis Jadot

Bourgogne Gamay 2020

Gamay

Bourgogne, France

Vignobles Raymond

Les Hauts de Lagarde Rouge 2020

Blend

Bordeaux, France

Banfi

San Angelo Pinot Grigio 2020

Pinot Grigio

Toscana, Italy