Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/746412
22 / the tasting panel / november 2016 The Ransom Note is a monthly column by The Tasting Panel's East Coast Editor, David Ransom. Each month, David connects readers with some of the people, products and events that are making news along the Eastern Seaboard. F all arrived in Gotham with the usual fanfare of events, port- folio tastings and winemakers coming to town to show their latest offerings. On the event side, SHARE's A Second Helping of Life, a charity benefit for breast and ovarian cancer support, marked the 13th year of this wine, spirits and food–focused extravaganza. The event featured 25 of NYC's top women chefs, including the Food Network's Alex Guarnaschelli and Iron Chef winner Anita Lo, among others, and raised over $500,000. On-hand to pour their products and support the cause were longtime participants Banfi Vintners, Palm Bay international, Wines of Alto Adige/Südtirol, boutique importers Solstars Wines & FMG Wines and Spanish producers Bodegas Tarón and Villa Conchi. Spirits were provided by ZYR vodka, Macchu Pisco, and Zacapa Rum—the latter two teaming up to create the eve- ning's official SHARE cocktail, poured by bartenders Rebecca Applebaum of the Llama Inn and Natalie Czech and Lindsay LaFollette of Raines Law Room. Numerous importers, both large and small, hosted events with their producers in advance of the busy holiday buying season. On the smaller side, one that struck me was that of Vignaioli Selections, held at Laura Maniec's Corkbuzz Wine Studio. Vignaioli's Dino Tantawi focuses mainly on boutique Italian and Austrian producers and is geared mostly towards on-premise sales. A few standouts included Castello del Terricio, a Tuscan estate overseen by the Sarrafini family, and La Sala, an estate in the Chianti Classico region run by Laura Baronti. Among those stopping by to taste were leg- endary Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn of Tocqueville Restaurant and Aaron von Rock, Wine Director at Lincoln Ristorante. On a much larger scale, The Winebow Group's fall portfolio tasting is always a must attend for me, as Winebow's stable of producers is one of the most significant in the industry. However, it was not the actual portfolio tasting that struck me this year; it was a welcome event held the previous evening by Italian producer Falesco that stole the show. Hosted by second-generation family member Dominga Cotarella, the party featured ten vintages of Falesco's flagship wine Montiano, going back to 1993. Made from 100 percent Merlot grown at the estate in Lazio, Montiano is silky rich in texture and proves once again that Merlot has found a home in the fertile hills north of Rome. Falling in Love with Wine by David Ransom Left to right: Rebecca Applebaum of Llama Inn with Natalie Czech and Lindsay LaFollette of Raines Law Room, located in NYC, at SHARE's A Second Helping of Life benefit. East Coast Editor David Ransom with Falesco's Dominga Cotarella at the Kiton Showroom Party. PHOTO: GEERT TEUWEN PHOTO: MELANIE YOUNG Tocqueville Wine Director Roger Dagorn with Vignaioli Selections' Dino Tantawi. PHOTO: DAVID RANSOM