LoHud Wine of the Week

This is Bottle No. 10 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post Juan Gil Honoro Vera Organic Monastrell 2011: LoHud Wine of the Week | Mixed Case 5 Bottle 10 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is Bottle No. 9 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post Francois Pinon Vouvray Les Trois Argiles 2010 | LoHud Wine of the Week: Mixed Case 5 Bottle 9 appeared first on Small Bites.

Mountain Door Malbec 2011: Ripe and polished, with a plush core of plum, blackberry, raspberry, morello cherry, violets and mocha, this is the new-world wine lover’s dream. Region: Mendoza, Argentina. Price: $9.59. Goes with: ribeye, meatloaf, empanadas. Why I chose it: I’m proud to see a cooperative of Malbec growers in Mendoza creating a wine of dimension, that tastes like the expensive stuff, and keeping it under ten dollars.

This is Bottle No. 8 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post LoHud Wine of the Week: Mountain Door Malbec 2011 | Mixed Case 5 Bottle 8 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Union Wine Co Underwood Cellars Pinot Noir 2011: Raspberry-driven red fruit flavors, with surprising complexity in its price range. Smoke, spice, and cinnamon notes ground this Pinot as very Oregon! Excellent acid balance. Region: Oregon. Price: $10.97. Goes with: baked salmon, beef tenderloin, roasted chicken. Why I chose it: It’s not only versatile with foods, it’s the best darned Oregon Pinot I’ve ever tasted under fifteen bucks!

This is Bottle No. 7 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post Union Wine Co Underwood Cellars Pinot Noir 2011 | LoHud Wine of the Week: Mixed Case 5 Bottle 7 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is Bottle No. 6 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post Mixed Case 5 Bottle 6 | LoHud Wine of the Week: Jean Michel Blanc de Meunier Brut 2007 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Chateau de Vaugaudry Chinon Cuvee Prestige 2009:

This is Bottle No. 5 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post Mixed Case 5 Bottle 5 | LoHud Wine of the Week: Chateau de Vaugaudry Chinon Cuvee Prestige 2009 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is Bottle No. 4 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post Mixed Case 5 Bottle 4 | LoHud Wine of the Week: Rodano Chianti Classico 2007 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Shotfire 2010: Fat cherry fruit aromas are backed up by cacao, herbs, and cracked pepper. Chewy in the mouth, with medium acidity. It’s perfect with the Easter feast. Region: Barossa Valley, Australia. Price: $15.99. Goes with: Lamb Roast, Baked Ham, Meat Lasagna. Why I chose it: For me, recommending an untamed Aussie Shiraz is going out on a limb; But this one just really nails it, with its balance and charm. Recommended by: Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

This is Bottle No. 3 in our fifth series. More recommendations: food.lohudblogs.com/category/mixed-case.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

For 12 weeks, we feature a wine, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices. Each mixed case will be chosen by a local wine shop owner, who will also become our wine expert-in-residence during his or her tenure. (So should we need recommendations for a holiday, for example. we’ll ask.) We’ll get a new expert for each case. Right now, we’re working on our Mixed Case chosen by Michael Koehler of Suburban Wines & Spirits in Yorktown Heights.

The post Mixed Case 5 Bottle 3 | LoHud Wine of the Week: Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Shotfire 2010 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 2 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

The post LoHud Wine of the Week, Mixed Case 5, Bottle 2: Schmitges Dry Riesling 2011 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 1 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk
Mixed Case from Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry.

Meet our expert here:

The post LoHud Wine of the Week, Mixed Case 5, Bottle 1: 2011 Edmunds St John Rocks and Gravel appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 9 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4, Bottle 9 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Cabernet Franc Wölffer Estate appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 8 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4 Bottle 8: LoHud Wine of the Week: 2008 Langhe Rosso ‘Ars Vivendi,’ Renzo Seghesio appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 7 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4 Bottle 7: LoHud Wine of the Week 2011 — Teutonic Wine Co. Pinot Gris ‘Stoneridge Vineyard’ appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 6 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4 Bottle 6: LoHud Wine of the Week 2007 Zinfandel ‘Dry Creek Valley’, Bella Vineyards appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 4 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4 Bottle 4: LoHud Wine of the Week — Chateau de Pena Rivesaltes Ambré appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 3 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4 Bottle 3 – LoHud Wine of the Week: 2009 Bouchaine Pinot Noir ‘Carneros’ appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Prosecco ‘Extra Dry’ Cima de Conegliano

This is bottle 2 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4 Bottle 2 – LoHud Wine of the Week: Prosecco ‘Extra Dry’ Cima de Conegliano appeared first on Small Bites.

He’s the 6-foot-5 manager behind the counter who can find a perfect wine to pair with your dinner in five seconds flat, no matter whether you’re serving roast suckling pig or pigs in a blanket.

“Our job is to prepare ourselves with the best wines at various prices that we can get our hands on — and then be ready when a customer comes in,” he says. “We’re librarians and these are our stacks. And we need to be ready to say, ‘I think you should meet this wine. This will be perfect with what you’re having.’”

Wooddy — along with the shop’s owners, Dieter Kannapin and his son, Derek Kannapin — tastes between 6,000 and 7,000 wines to select the 1,700 they offer for sale at any one time, so Wooddy can tell you, for example, that Beringer Reserve Chardonnay has gone back to its original, no-oak style, or recount the time he lunched with Mount Eden Vineyards winemaker Jeffrey Patterson on his front porch, tasting every vintage of his wines going back to the 1990s.

“This is what Rochambeau does,” says Wooddy. “We don’t wait for the wine world to come to us, we go and seek it out. And that’s how we know everything that’s here.”

It’s this breadth of experience that led us to select Wooddy to be our wine expert-in-residence for the next three months. For the next 12 Wednesdays in Life&Style, he’ll choose our LoHud Wine of the Week, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. (His first recommendation, a Bordeaux — 2009 Chateau L’Argentyre — is at the bottom of the page.) At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices assembled by Wooddy. Then we’ll introduce a new expert.

We’ll also turn to him for suggestions for pairing wines with meals, including for the upcoming holidays. And when we do, it’s likely he’ll go for something unexpected and delicious, which is how he describes his “best $20 bottle in the shop,” a 2009 Cartuxa Tinto Colheita, a red from Portugal that Rochambeau has carried every year since its 1993 vintage.

But getting Wooddy to part with any of his wines can sometimes be amusing.

“I think I’ve developed a kind of crazy reputation with my customers,” he says, deadpan. “One of the things that I think amuses people about the way I sell wine is that I’m very tactile. When somebody asks me for a food and wine selection, I’m known for actually carrying the bottle of wine around the store with me, occasionally stroking it as if I don’t want to let it go, but wanting to give it a good home.”

So imagine what his reaction will be when someone decides to buy the oldest wine in the store (a 1929 Domaine Bchelet Maury from the French Roussillon that sells for $149.99) or the more expensive (a $1,500 Screaming Eagle Napa Valley Cabernet)? We shudder to think!

Another wine that will be hard to let go is the 6-liter 2005 Shafer “Hillside Select” Cabernet which, at $2,200 a bottle, is the most expensive in the shop.

Large-format bottles are a specialty of Rochambeau, so Wooddy isn’t surprised when customers come looking for them.

“We think it’s fun and it’s a way we can distance ourselves from the competition,” says Wooddy. “We have as many large formats of Chateauneuf du Pape as probably some stores have regular bottles.”

Another draw? The specialty spirits. Cocktail aficionados from all over the region travel to Rochambeau to pick up their ingredients. There are 14 absinthes alone! Plus, there are nine varieties of Italian Amaro, bottles such as Creme de Violette (an ingredient in the Aviation), aperitifs with quinine (a bark) and gentian (a flower). And there’s an Evan Williams single barrel bourbon, bottled especially for Rochambeau. (Bottles costs $29.99 each and are sitting on top of the actual barrel they aged in near the front of the store.)

Maybe it’s fitting that old-fashioned spirits are among Rochambeau’s specialties. It originally opened in 1933, making it one of the New York’s oldest post-Prohibition wine shops. (The liquor license has one of the lowest numbers in the state.) Dieter Kannapin took over in 1977, and during the 1980s and 1990s, Rochambeau was among the top sellers of Bordeaux futures in the U.S.

Today, there is also a huge selection of fine scotches, whiskeys and bourbons, and, says Wooddy, “probably more specialty gin than maybe anyone outside of New York City.”

And while we’re on the topic of the metro area, we love that Rochambeau champions local and regional wines. You’ll find bottles from Connecticut, the Hamptons and upstate New York alongside the wide selection of wines from the Loire Valley, Piemonte, Tuscany, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Spain, California, and the Pacific Northwest.

“People are surprised that we know all these wines,” says Wooddy. “But we should — it’s our job. That’s why you come to us.”

The post Meet Our New Wine Expert: Jeffrey Wooddy of Rochambeau Wines & Liquors in Dobbs Ferry appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 1 in our series.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.
Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

Meet our expert here:

The post Mixed Case 4 Bottle 1 — LoHud Wine of the Week: 2009 Chateau L’Argentyre appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Rockledge ‘The Rocks’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2009:

This is bottle 12 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 12 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Rockledge ‘The Rocks’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Ca’ Furlan ‘Cuvée Beatrice’ Prosecco:

This is bottle 10 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

Wine Geek’s website is here.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 11 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Ca’ Furlan ‘Cuvée Beatrice’ Prosecco appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Olivier Morin ‘Constance’ 2009

This is bottle 10 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 10 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Olivier Morin ‘Constance’ 2009 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 9 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk.

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 9 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Illahe Viognier 2010 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Alvaro Palacios ‘Camins del Priorat’ 2010:

This is bottle 8 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk. .

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 8 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Alvaro Palacios ‘Camins del Priorat’ 2010 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

Laurent Miquel Chardonnay/Viognier 2011: R

This is bottle 7 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk. .

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 7 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Laurent Miquel Chardonnay/Viognier 2011 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 6 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk. .

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 6 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Yalumba ‘The Scribbler’ appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 5 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk. .

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 5 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Gustav Gruner Veltliner 2011 appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

This is bottle 4 in our series. To see the others click here: Mixed Case from Wine Geeks in Armonk. .

To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 4 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Fabre Montmayou Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 appeared first on Small Bites.

Derek and Carol Todd carry wines from small producers — bottles that come from families who own their own vineyards, grow their own grapes and shepherd those grapes from the ground to the bottle.

Tania Savayan/The Journal News

“So it’s really a passion for people,” says Carol Todd. “And it’s something that we share. We wanted to reflect that in what we have in the store.”

Plus, they say, small-production wines offer a better value. But there’s one problem. Small-production wines have, by nature, a small inventory.

“One of the drawbacks to small-production wines is that there’s not a lot of it, so it does tend to run out faster,” says Derek Todd.

That’s where the faith comes in. If the same bottle you bought last time isn’t there on the shelf, they’ll choose another for you.

“We’re sort of becoming their personal sommeliers,” says Carol. “We’re tasting a lot of wine to find the best value for them. Once they’ve trusted us a few times, they come to see that we’re not going to carry anything in the store that we don’t believe in.”

We think that makes wine geeks Carol and Derek Todd the perfect choice to be our wine experts-in-residence for the next three months. For the next 12 Wednesdays in Life&Style, they’ll choose our LoHud Wine of the Week, and include tasting notes and suggestions for pairings. (Their first recommendation, Nicodemi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cerasuolo Rosé 2011, a rosé from Italy, is at the bottom of the page.) At the end of the 12 weeks, we’ll review our Mixed Case, and recap the choices assembled by the Todds. Then we’ll introduce a new expert.

We’ll also turn to them for suggestions for pairing wines with meals, such as for a Thanksgiving and the holidays. And when we do, it’s likely they’ll go for one of those handcrafted wines. Most of the wine in the shop, an industrial-chic-looking building just a short drive outside of town, comes from a line of 10,000 cases or less.

The couple opened Wine Geeks in 2009 after converting an old garage into a retail space. There are bay doors, a cement floor, wooden and metal shelves and a big, beautiful communal table in the back, where they host wine tastings and classes.

“We always wanted to do a retro-industrial feel, so when we found an old gas station, it was perfect,” says Derek. “And the idea of reclaiming a space was really important to us, as well,” says Carol.

Besides small producers, the Todds also focus on organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines.

“We think that if you can drink a great wine and avoid pesticides and unnatural additives then, why not?” says Carol.

Derek and Carol honed their appreciation for wine while working at restaurants in Manhattan. They were trying to make a go of being actors, and the restaurant jobs paid the bills.

“But the more and more I worked with wine and worked with a lot of great wine programs and some terrific restaurants, I developed a real passion for wine,” says Derek. “And to be honest, at a certain point I found myself on a night off being much more interested in finding a great restaurant and enjoying a really interesting bottle of wine than going to see theater.”

Carol has worked at Union Square Cafe, the Harrison and Blue Hill, all in Manhattan. Derek worked at the Red Cat, Cafe Luxembourg and Sant Ambroeus, among other restaurants. He eventually became the wine director at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills.

“That’s our strength from spending so much time in the restaurant business,” says Carol. “We know how to ask those questions and figure out what styles of wine a person is going to gravitate toward, based on what they’ve had in the past and enjoyed.”

“So there’s a certain amount of trust that we’re asking from people that (your wine) may not be there when you come back next time, but we’ll give you something that we think you’ll like just as much,” says Derek.

“If not more!” laughs Carol.

If you go …

The post Mixed Case: Meet Our New Experts — Derek and Carol Todd of Wine Geeks in Armonk appeared first on Small Bites.

LoHud Wine of the Week

 
To see previous experts in our Mixed Case series, click here:
Mixed Case by Aries Wine & Spirits, White Plains.
Mixed Case by Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits.

The post Mixed Case Bottle 1 — LoHud Wine of the Week: Nicodemi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cerasuolo Rosé 2011 appeared first on Small Bites.