I had the pleasure of visiting Boston for a few days in order to attend an echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound) course. In addition to learning a lot of cardiac ultrasound (via the American Society of Echocardiography), I was able to enjoy some great food and wine at Bistro du Midi and Bin 26. My thanks goes out to Jonathan Feiler, the Director of Wine Education and Head Sommelier at the Ocean House, who provided me with the restaurant recommendations.
Bistro du Midi serves great Provencal cuisine and has an extensive, well thought-out wine list. The menu is seasonal, sporting fresh ingredients, and dishes such as the goat cheese gnocchi with ramp pistou are true to Spring and thoroughly enjoyable. The wines I tasted were equally as good. The Cave de Vignerons de Saumur "Les Plantagenets" Blanc 2011 (Loire Valley) was yellow in the glass, with white flowers and tons of green apple aromas, finishing cleanly with a good amount of acid. The Domaine Laroque Cite de Carcasonne Cabernet Franc 2011 (Languedoc) was deep red to purple, with rich notes of cassis and raspberries intermingling with tobacco, leather, and spicy overtones.
Bistro du Midi serves great Provencal cuisine and has an extensive, well thought-out wine list. The menu is seasonal, sporting fresh ingredients, and dishes such as the goat cheese gnocchi with ramp pistou are true to Spring and thoroughly enjoyable. The wines I tasted were equally as good. The Cave de Vignerons de Saumur "Les Plantagenets" Blanc 2011 (Loire Valley) was yellow in the glass, with white flowers and tons of green apple aromas, finishing cleanly with a good amount of acid. The Domaine Laroque Cite de Carcasonne Cabernet Franc 2011 (Languedoc) was deep red to purple, with rich notes of cassis and raspberries intermingling with tobacco, leather, and spicy overtones.
Bin26 Enoteca in Beacon Hill has an extensive wine list with over 50 selections by the glass. I had the opportunity to try several of them as I enjoyed my layers of potato, mushroom, and fontina cheese baked in a cast-iron crock. The Hersch Veltliner #1 2011 from Kamptal (Austria) was pale yellow with citrus and floral notes and touches of subtle spice. The Henri de Richemer Piquepoul 2011 (Languedoc) showed notes of honey, melon, and ripe apple, with a full mouthfeel. The most interesting wine of the evening was the Kirchmayer Gruner Veltliner 1990 (Kamptal-Stangl). It had a beautiful golden color with greenish tints in the glass, sporting scents of caramel, golden raisin, honey, and preserved apples and melon. The palate was still lively with notes of white pepper and a dry, crisp finish.