Wine Tasting Tonight at Chef's Table

The Loewens are an energetic, idealistic young couple on a quixotic quest to gain renown for the great unknown sites of this part of the Mosel. Their wines exhibit a cool, chalky-minerally style, as if they were blended with 15% Blanc de Blancs Champagne. But all that's stony is not slate. The Loewens have some wines on sand or gravel, and these have a "northern" coolness without being explicitly slatey. Quant translates to mean "everything's cool and good."

Tasting notes : Don't let the nose fool you. This is a fresh wine full of primary fruit. It might actually fool you into thinking it's a Vouvray Sec. The palette is moderately sweet and full of honey, light citrus fruits and apples and features a bumpy finish.

Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the Priorat to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. The 2007 Berroia is 90% Hondarribi Zuri with the balance Folle Blanche and Riesling.

Tasting notes : Pale straw-colored, the wine offers an exceptional perfume of slate/mineral, green apple, and floral aromas. On the palate it has excellent volume and density with lots of bright fruit.

Andean Wineries is dedicated to producing premium and reserve wines in Mendoza, Argentina, at the foothills of the Andes mountains in Maipu. Their philosophy is centered on creating wines that speak of the land where they are grown and crafted. Antis Chardonnay is made from 100% Chardonnay cultivated at 1050 meters altitude in the Luján de Cuyo region from 25-year old vines

Tasting notes : The wine is golden in color with an attractive baked apple character with citrus and peach undertones. It is medium-bodied, showing nice balance with hints of tropical fruits on the palate and on the clean, crisp finish. This well-crafted Chardonnay is a great accompaniment to poultry, fish, and cream-based pasta dishes.

Located in the Montsant region of eastern Spain, Falset Marçà was founded in 1913 by a group of vineyard owners dedicated to grouping themselves in order to have access to larger number of quality vineyards. Montsant translates to "Holy Mountain", and is home to large swaths of old vine vineyards, originally planted by monks who lived in this silent and majestic region of Spain. As part of Vinos Sin-Ley, winemaker Jordi Alonso also has vast experience growing many varieties within the Spanish climate. Only 450 of the 1300 cases made are available in the U.S.

Tasting notes : Grown from over 100 year old vines, this Garnacha and Cabernet blend is magnificent. The wine has an inky color with licorice, cherry liqueur and oak spice aromas followed by cherry, dark berry flavor and fine tannins with a bright, long finish. These flavors are smooth, subdued, and mesh harmoniously.

For many generations the vines at Domaine de Chateaumar have been cultivated by father and son. Today it is Jean-Felix and Frederic Souret who manage the vineyard, always maintaining the greatest respect for nature : vineyards run for generations without any chemical weedkillers. The soil is turned several times during the year – providing aeration and suppleness – this allows the vine stocks to draw a wonderful energy from deep down to create beautifully formed grapes.

Tasting notes : A true declassified Chateauneuf du Pape, the wine is a deep, nearly opaque purple, bringing confident aromas of raspberry, strawberry and blackberry to the nose, with eucalyptus, black pepper, licorice and floral notes. Touches of cinnamon and spice follow onto the medium to full-bodied juicy palate. The tannins are firm, ripe, and well integrated. It all makes for delicious fun.

Winemaker Nick Haselgrove is a noteworthy character from the McLaren Vale region, with over 21 vintages of Australian and International winemaking experience. Blackbilly is the name for the extraordinarily distinctive Yakka Tree that is unique to Australia. It has spikey leaves and a unique spear shaped flower. Periodically bushfires change the Australian bushland and burn the "Blackbillys" into their distinctive shape. Unique spear shaped flowers grow out as part of the regeneration of the plant.

Tasting notes : Aged for 18 months in oak, Blackbilly Shiraz features highlighted fruit notes reminiscent of blackberries. Full of ripe, full tannins, it stands on its own, but with a soft finish and crisp acidity. Dominated by black fruits, vanilla and coconut oak. An excellent after taste with lamb, stews, or chocolate.