ENJOYING A 2019 TELLERS CELEBRATION WINE

 Today's post is a follow-up tasting covering  Raphael's joint venture with Tellers Steakhouse as promoted by Northforker magazine; what a combination for the north fork wine scene.   A fascinating posting popped up on the Northforker blog posting highlighting a joint venture between Raphael and Tellers, an American Chophouse (Bohlsen Restaurant Group [Tellers, Prime, Central Market, Harbor Club, H₂O, and Monsoon]).  Given this background, I acquired two bottles for Father’s Day as an extended tasting.  Through the work of Raphael's winemaker Anthony Nappa and Teller's Sommelier Paulo Villella, they have created Tellers Celebration Blend private label wine, which looks to be a Long Island version of a right bank Bordeaux. The blend leads with Merlot then Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc.   Raphael refers to this as a quintessential Bordeaux blend, and while the blend does contain all the classic grape varietals, the blend is somewhat different, and I would say better. While the blend is closest to a Right bank Bordeaux, but they went lighter on the Merlot and had a heavy hand with the Malbec, as seen in the tables below.

LEFT BANK – Graves, Mérdoc		RIGHT BANK – Saint-Émilion, Pomerol		TELLER CELEBRATION – Raphael
Cabernet Sauvignon	70%	Merlot	70%	Merlot	50%
Merlot	10%-15%	Cabernet Sauvignon	10%-15%	Cabernet Sauvignon	10%
Cabernet Franc	10%-15%	Cabernet Franc	10%-15%	Cabernet Franc	10%
Petit Verdot	<5%	Petit Verdot	<5%	Petit Verdot	10%
Malbec	<5%	Malbec	<5%	Malbec	20%
Carménère	<1%	Carménère	<1%	Carménère	0%

The increased Malbec nicely brought forward the dark fruit and more assertive nose.  The wine overall is bright with well-balanced acid, good mouthfeel, and a medium finish.  In keeping with the Red Bordeaux instead of the Red Bordeaux Supérieur style, the Oak is light and designed to be drunk young.  No need to let this wine rest in the cellar for a decade or more.  The wine also reflects a shift in style for Raphael, who traditionally produces wines higher in tannins and Oak.  The blend reflects much more of Anthony Nappa's label style.  

The test of wine, however, is how well it pairs with food. The first bottle paired with true Blue Point oysters and a large tray of steamed mixed shellfish (Mussels, Scallops, Clams, Calamari, Shrimp) in garlic, Bridge Lane Sauvignon Blanc, Chorizo, and Old Bay broth. Note that all the seafood was from New Wave Seafood Market.  The wine had just enough acid to complement and enhance the raw oysters and stood up well without overpowering the rich broth of the shellfish mix. The wine is hearty enough to match well with a few USDA Prime Shell Steaks from Stew Leonards to complete the day. The next day the wine was paired with an extraordinarily rich, well-marbled USDA Prime Tomahawk steak again from Stew Leonards cooked just slightly past Black & Blue.  The combination was a home run.  This wine is an outstanding blend and well worth grabbing a case while it lasts and ordering it while enjoying a fine dinner at Tellers. 

TELLERS 2019 CELEBRATION BLEND

READY FOR OYSTERS AND SHELLFISH

A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN - RED WINE & A PRIME TOMAHAWK