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| Mon. 01 Mar '10 |
| Wine | CHICAGO |
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Tuesdays With Amy
An all-access pass to one of Chicago's best wine programs
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For five years, master sommelier Fernando Beteta was the face of NoMI's vaunted wine program.
But as of last week, there's a new woman in charge of the restaurant's 1,250-label list: Amy Payne, a former wine consultant and NoMI's assistant sommelier since September.
And the best way to access her, and the wines, is through Cellar Notes, an intimate weekly wine tasting ($30) in the restaurant's beautiful glass-walled cellar.
Each Tuesday night, six wines are (generously) poured, sniffed, tasted and discussed. There's no intimidation and no bluster, just casual conversation about the provenance and character of the wines--some of which are new to Payne, as well.
Payne picks a mix of personal favorites and bottles being considered for the restaurant's list. Two from an Oregon-themed tasting in February--the 2007 Brooks Amycas, a citrusy, mineral blend of Alsatian noble varietals; and the elegant 2008 Sineann Old Vines Zinfandel--are now waiting to be added to the list.
Upcoming March tastings cover Portuguese wines (from Vinho Verde to Touriga Nacional on 3/9), dessert wines (3/16) and Pinot Noir from around the world (3/23).
Prime your palate this month and then--if you're feeling corksure--test your skills at her blind tasting on April 6.
NoMI, 800 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-239-4030 or nomirestaurant.com
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Upcoming Cellar Notes (pdf) |
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