Perhaps the surest indication that organic/sustainable viticulture, or “green wine,” has reached a tipping point is the recent opening of Wine Geeks Armonk (559 Main St, Armonk 914-273-9463), a renovated vintage gas station now devoted to artisanal wines with a special emphasis on organic and bio-d bottlings. Who are the Wine Geeks? A husband-and-wife team, Derek and Carol Todd, who met in the Manhattan theater scene and grew to become veteran foodies/oenophiles. (Derek recently was the wine director for Blue Hill at Stone Barns.)
Wines spawned in sustainably farmed, organic, or even biodynamic vineyards do not taste demonstrably better or worse than conventional wines. But the real advantage for shoppers here is that the Todds have hand-picked every wine in the shop and can tell you exactly what you want to know about any of them.
Here are some of their (and my) favorites, along with the homespun snippets that are displayed with each in the store.
â– Raventos I Blanc Cava, Spain ($20) Bright, crisp, clean, refreshing bubbly.
â– Bieler 2008 Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé, France ($11) Can you say summer?
â– Monarchia 2007 Olivier, Hungary ($10) Flowers and citrus. Crisp and refreshing!
â– Kung Fu Girl 2008 Riesling, Columbia Valley ($15) Asian pear, white peach. Great with sushi.
â– Channing Daughters 2007 Tocai Friulano, Long Island ($25) Green almonds, white grapefruit and flowers with a hint of spice.
â– Nikolaihof 2008 “Hefeabzub” Gruner Veltliner, Austria ($27) One of the leaders in bio-dynamic viticulture. Oh yea, it’s delicious.
â– Yellow + Blue 2008 Malbec, Argentina ($13) Juicy black cherries, hints of cinnamon and chocolate
â– Layer Cake 2008 Shiraz, Australia ($17) Luscious and layered. Drinks like an $80 Shiraz.
â– Belle Pente 2006 Pinot Noir, Oregon ($39) Fleshy, smoky, pretty, with notes of raspberry and bitter cherry
â– Staglin 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($183). Spectacular wine from an organic vineyard. Rich, but focused.
