I must admit I’m a bit behind in the Manhattan wine bar scene. I’ve been focussing more on Brooklyn these days and have neglected some of the best places to grab a glass (or a bottle) on the island. So here begins my attempt to rectify that. I decided to start with Ten Bells, a quaint little wine bar on the Lower East Side courtesy of Yassine Bentaleb (Le Pere Pinard), and Fabrice Vautrin (Les Enfants Terribles). My friend Paul (currently employed by Terroir) and I sipped a few glasses here last week during one of those days that made you want nothing more than a chilled glass of white wine. I ordered a glass of Menu Pineau* (also known as Arbois) from the Loire Valley. Made from 50 year old vines, it had a refreshing amount of acidity and an aroma I could only describe as herbal, thyme perhaps? It finished with ripe green apples and prepped me perfectly for Chenin Blanc, which I enjoyed for the rest of the evening. I’ll be back again soon.
*La Lunotte 2010 Le Haut Plessis
