Morrell’s Wine Bar, New York

Morrell’s Wine Bar

1 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10020-2003

www.morrellwinebar.com

212 262 7700

Drinking Seis 2007 at Morrell's wine bar

As many readers already know, I made a resolution to visit New York once a month.  I really want to get to know this fascinating city well.

Although I try to make sure I see places that I have not seen before, Morrell’s wine bar just off the Rockefeller Center draws me back time after time.  It has a list that is almost the size of a phone directory with more than 2,000 interesting and reasonably priced wines, a friendly bar where I almost always seem to wind up sharing experiences (and wine) with a new friend, and a good list of appetizers to have with your wine.  You can drink by the bottle and have access to the full selection, and you can choose to drink by the glass from a list of about 100 wines.  (I am amazed that the servers always find your choice of wine instantly, and it always tastes fresh.  Quite an achievement when the choice is so broad!)  The wines by the glass start at about $8.00.

The wine in the picture is a 2007 Seis from Luberri from Rioja.  This is 100% Tempranillo from vines that are 15 to 25 years old.  It is bursting with dark fruit (raspberry and blackberry) with smoky overtones and reveals soft tannins as you swallow.  A very concentrated and well made wine that retails at around $12.00 a bottle. Highly recommended.

The people who serve the wine seem to know their stuff.  I also like the way they place the wine in front of you at the bar even if you are only drinking a glass so that you can caress the bottle and inspect it.  All the wine is served in nice glass, and they serve interesting, well-chosen, low priced wine as well as seriously delicious and expensive stuff.

They offer things to eat as well.  I sometimes have their steak tartare, which comes with a quail’s egg in the middle ($16/$25), or the plate of charcuterie plate (Jamon Serrano Ham, Saucisson De l’ail, Sopressata, Rillette de Gascogne, $16).  You can have a complete lunch or dinner although I have only had appetizers at the bar.

Although it is more expensive to eat Morrell’s, I wouldn’t be tempted by the Dean and Deluca shop next door.  I have eaten there on several occasions with the family, and it is nothing more than an over-priced and overcrowded fast food joint.  It never fails to disappoint.

I often spend some time at Morrell’s retail shop next door, but unfortunately they often seem to be unable to produce a bottle of the stuff that you have just enjoyed at the wine bar.