Saturday afternoon’s balmy temperatures did nothing to dissuade a few hundred thirsty wine drinkers from gathering inside of the Metropolitan Pavilion‘s 5th floor space. With dozens upon dozens of different varietals being poured, the three hour tasting event would feature select wines from around the globe as part of the Laithwaites Wine Spring Tasting. The afternoon allowed a steady flow of guests to sip some exquisite bottles, meet and greet with winemakers flown in specifically for the daytime event and to select their favorite wines of the bunch all amid a modernized cocktail setting.

Laithwaiteswines.com is an all encompassing wine site that offers up recommendations, exclusive wine clubs, customizable searches by region, grape or price and often hosts singular tasting events. With the recent uptick in temperature, the warm weather had us yearning for sparkling wines- of which there were aplenty during this session, ranging from novel to more traditional styles. We began surprisingly in Long Island, where the North Fork’s Sparkling Pointe was pouring their “Brut Seduction” 2005. The spice filled notes delivered in the medium bodied cuvee offered a deliciously clean finish here, where we returned more than once for repeat pours. We also went wild for some sparkling reds and roses, particularly Andrew McPherson‘s ripe “Full Fifteen Sparkling Red” from Australia, a distinctively bold fruit-forward pour that was as refreshing as any that we tasted all day, and the Baileyana “Covee du Clos Pinot Noir Rose,” an explosion of ripe summer fruits that make this one ideal for picnics or gulping down outdoors.

Between jumping from table to table, we followed suit of the other guests and picked up some small bites of assorted cheeses, crackers and charcuterie to pair with the wines and to clear our palates between tastings. The front of the space was equipped with plenty of tables for window-side seating, but most of the attendees were up for chatting with strangers, comparing tastes and recommending many of the bottles around the room. Based on suggestion, we stumbled onto among our favorite wine of the afternoon- “El Bombero,” a 2012 big bodied red blend that emerged as the antithesis to the other wines that we had enjoyed to that point. From its berry-filled nose to its rich, full finish (and a 15% alcohol content), it’s $13.99 retail price was somehow only the 4th most impressive characteristic of an already impressive wine. Also worth mentioning, the award winning wine from the Laithwaite family- “Chateau la Clariere Laithwaite” 2009- was an exceptional one. This Bordeaux blend was absolutely delicious, rife with ripe cherry and an unparalleled rich fruit on the palate.

Fortunately, we took some time to chat with Tony Laithwaite, wine expert, maker and founder after he addressed the live audience at the event and had the opportunity to express just how much we enjoyed his wines. As the day progressed (and admittedly, more of the wines began getting fuzzier) we outlined some of our other favorite tastings- transcribed specifically for our readers below. But you’d be better served perusing the Laithwaites site for yourself to find that wine that meets your own criteria and maybe you, like us, can stumble on something new that you absolutely adore.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Notables from Laithwaites Wines Spring Tasting 2014 at the Metropolitan Pavilion

De Loach Pinot Noir 2012 ($26.99) – Drinkable and light Russian River Valley Pinot

Domaine Pardon Fleurie 2011 ($26.99) – Excellent, elegant Braujolais that is incredibly smooth

Le Coin Sauvignon Gris 2012 ($17.99) – Delicate and approachable white for Sauvignon Blanc lovers

El Campeador Reserva 2008 ($15.99) – Great value at the price, big and oaky