Mar
05
0
On Wednesday, March 3, my father, Frederick J. Hartner died. He did it like he did everything else in life - on his own terms and with my mother at his side. The Greyhound is a breed of hunting dog that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, but with a recent resurgence of popularity increasingly as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed that often becomes attached to its owner, but if he gets sick of the owner, he can run away at speeds approaching 40 mph. Greyhound is also a bus line based in Dallas, TX. The Greyhound bus lines service over 3700 locations in the United States of America. And, lastly, the Greyhound is a cocktail made with vodka and grapefruit juice. A variation includes the Salty Dog, which is a Greyhound with a salted rim. The Greyhound was my father’s favorite drink unless he was on vacation… then he would switch to the Salty Dog. This Friday, we drank Greyhounds instead of wine in a toast to my father. Next time I’m on vacation, I’ll down a Salty dog.
- Bottle: Kettle One
- Distillery: Nolet Family
- Vintage: N/A
- Country: Holland
- Region: Schiedam
- Price: $38
- Web Site: http://www.ketelone.com/
Description: The Nolet family of Schiedam, Holland, has been distilling for more than 300 years. The formula for Ketel One vodka was inspired by the Nolet family’s ten generations of distilling experience. Settling for nothing less than perfection, a member of the family still tastes each batch of vodka before it is released. Prized for its smooth taste, Ketel One starts with the finest wheat and water. As the distillate is heated over a gentle, hand-stoked fire, the temperature and alcohol levels are regulated to ensure the best possible vodka. Not surprisingly, Ketel One has a developed a passionate following among vodka connoisseurs.
My Review - One of the worst things you can do to Vodka is mix it with Grapefruit Juice. But, dad loved it and we drank it in his honor. If you are going to try this out - use cheap vodka and save the Kettle One for a different occasion. But, Dad loved it and we were drinking in his honor. Rest In Peace Dad!
ETJ
Damian.
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Feb
26
0
LET IT SNOW! It isn’t often that Manhattan gets a snow storm that results in anything but slush on the streets but, this storm has managed to stick around long enough to dump a good solid foot of snow on city streets and sidewalks. People who commute from the outer boroughs or the suburbs didn’t make it to work on this last Friday in February and as a result, the office was very quiet. Having finished up everything I needed to get done, I decided to go home a little bit early and enjoy a nice bottle of wine and watch this storm’s waning hours from the window of my apartment overlooking the Hudson River. We had a few warm days in February but, in light of this winter storm event, it certainly appears that that little groundhog in Pennsylvania got it right yet again.
- Bottle: Oregon Pinot Noir
- Winery: Firesteed Winery
- Vintage: 2007
- Country: USA
- Region: Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla Valleys
- Price: $15
- Web Site: http://www.firesteed.com/
Description: Vibrant cherry and sweet spice aromas jump out of the glass and the taste of the first round of summer raspberries and strawberries push the burst of fruit straight through to the surprisingly long finish. Grapes for this wine, as in previous years, were sourced from throughout the Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla Valleys, creating a truly Oregon blend.
My Review - A nice light wine that tasts like a bowl full of berries. I drank this wine while watching the snow fall - which seems a bit inappropriate - I guess I was anticipating spring. I would definitely drink this bottle while grilling up some burgers!
ETJ
Damian.
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Tags: 2007, berries, cheap, Fruity, Groundhog Day, inexpensive, Light, Oregon, Pinot Noir, Rogue, Snow Storm, Spring, Umpqua, Walla Wally, Willamette
Feb
19
0
This week felt especially long even though Monday was a holiday. I got home on Friday a little on the tired side but definitely ready to cook some dinner and relax with a glass of wine. We also started our dog-sitting adventure this Friday. We are hosting an adorable King Charles Spaniel named P.J. for the week while his dad will be suffering through 80 degree temperatures in Barbados. The three of us gathered over what turned out to be fantastic crab cakes that I made from the Men’s Health Cook This, Not That cookbook and a bottle of Rosemount Shiraz. A completely laid-back evening as we watched the sun set over the Hudson River and attempted to wear the dog out by throwing his toy in what turned out to be a never-ending game of fetch. He was the clear winner in the “who can wear who out first game”.
Description: The diamond label shiraz has a full-bodied, juicy-sweet palate with cherry, chocolate, cherry pip and plum flavors. The finish is supported by well-balanced, long, silky smooth tannins. It is this fantastic balance that allows for great drinkability.
My Review - Pepper. And then some more pepper. And then lots of fruit. This wine starts off strong with lots of spice (pepper) up front and has a nice long-ish smooth finish. It is definitely a great bottle to have with red sauce or sausage or steak or spicy foods. It will drink just fine on its own as well. And, at this price point, get a few bottles to pop open when guests visit.
ETJ
Damian.
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Feb
12
0
We gathered at our apartment with a few friends on this Friday evening to watch the Vancouver Winter Olympics opening ceremonies. A pall was cast upon the opening ceremonies by the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. Appropriately, the games did go on, with the opening ceremonies dedicated to the fallen athlete. We were initially unimpressed with the opening ceremonies. Not sure if it was because of the malfunctioning indoor cauldron or the memory of the spectacle that was the Beijing Summer Olympic opening ceremonies in 2008. But, at second look, the spirit of the games outshone any lacking in the ceremonies. Vancouver rose to the occasion and provided a fantastic venue as some of the greatest athletes in the world who just happened to be Canadian lit the cauldron. The most famous among them was, The Great One, Wayne Gretzky who, once the indoor torch was lit, took a cold rainy ride on the back of a pickup truck to light the outdoor torch. Let the games begin! Godspeed Nodar Kumaritashvili.
Description: Pure, rich and very elegant; a powerhouse of lush black fruit, silky cocoa, black spice and cream, wrapped around blackberry, cherry and ripe plum. Layered and complex with a nose to linger over, a finish that never ends. Sweet anise, hints of tobacco, black chocolate, more cherries and exotic spices, layers of jam. This wine will stand and perform anytime you think of a Cabernet and want something just a little more exotic. Born at the base of the Andes and fed by the purest spring waters…I love this wine.
My Review - Like last week’s wine, this wine was full of dark fruits, chocolate, and cocoa. Once I got past that, it was all about the black cherries, plum, and finally tabacco. As “Layer Cake” suggests, the wine had many layers. It was a real crowd pleaser at a crowd pleaser price!
ETJ
Damian.
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Feb
05
0
This past week marked the end of January (already) and the start of February and, of course, Groundhog Day where we learned our weather fate… 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring. As is usually the case, the Groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA, named Phil, predicted one thing, while other Groundhogs around the country had conflicting reports. Of course, Phil is the most famous Groundhog due to the 1993 movie featuring Bill Murray. But, in case you are interested, the voting went like this - Staten Island Chuck (New York), Dunkirk Dave (New York), and Buckeye Chuck (Ohio) predicted an early spring; Wiarton Willie (Ontario), Spanish Joe (Ontario), and Shubenacadie Sam (Nova Scotia) agreed with Phil. At any rate, it is still cold out there, so I bundled up to make my way from work to my favorite wine bar, but then decided that the bottle of Rosenblum Reserve Zinfandel I had waiting at home would warm me up just as well.
Description: Dark in color, the wine is displays notes of black cherry, raspberry, rhubarb, violets and cracked white pepper spice in the bouquet. Full-bodied, the wine reveals dense and juicy dark fruits in the mouth, as supple tannins melt into a lingering finish. Versatile as far as food compliments go, this Zinfandel pairs well with rotisserie chicken, baby back ribs or hearty pasta like lasagna Bolognese.
My Review - This is dark dark wine. The color is dark. The tasts that come out the strongest are the darkest, black cherry, pepper, and definitely tannins. It paired really well with strong goat cheese on cracked pepper water crackers.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jan
29
0
After a reprieve of winter’s wrath, we are back in the gripping cold of a Canadian air mass here in Manhattan. It was everything I could do to make the one mile trek from the office to my apartment without freezing. As I walked up Broadway, I noted the quickened pace of the others on the street who huddled down as deep into their coats as they could. It is hard to imagine that in a few short months the layers of clothing will be shed and the walking pace considerably slower. This evening, I am contemplating the indoor cycling event called “Cycle for Survival” that raises money for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center so that they can do cancer research. My team, Indoor Road Rash, has managed to meet our goal of raising $1000 and we’ll show up on Sunday morning and participate in a huge indoor “spinning” event. So glad the event is indoors! Tonight, however, I’ll just enjoy my wine. By the way, if you’d like to donate to my team, just click the Cycle for Survival Logo in this post.
Description: on the nose it shows itself to be rich in ripe fruit and possesses a marked elegance; on the palate it is pleasantly easy to drink, harmonious and tasty. The aforementioned features make it a modern wine, highly successful and suitable for serving with the widest range of dishes.
My Review - Has that great Barbera/Piedmont smell. Deifnitely a medium bodied wine that will stand up to just about any dish you throw it’s way. I’m having some chinese takeout… only in America do we eat Chinese food while drinking Italian wine.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jan
22
1
This was a tough week. It was the first full week in the new apartment and, while overall things went very smoothly, it was still extremely stressful. We did manage to get everything unpacked and had the pictures hung on the walls and the crates were picked up by the moving company by Monday. On Thursday, I stayed home again to allow the cable/phone/internet provider to attempt to install service for the second time in 5 days. They were successful. I even managed to sign up for the gym in the building and, even though my key fob doesn’t work, I managed to get in a workout on brand new equipment. Finally it is Friday night and time to relax a little bit with a glass of red. And, while I selected a burgundy, we do have a brand new (slightly higher) rent payment to make - so burgundy on a budget was in order.
- Bottle: Savigny-les-Beaune Narbantons Premier Cru
- Winery: Louis Jadot
- Vintage: 2006
- Country: France
- Region: Burgundy
- Price: $28
- Web Site: http://www.louisjadot.com/en/
Description: A very delicate vintage, full of contrasts. The reds are full of character and charm.
My Review - This is a fantastic wine to drink right now - and for the price you really can’t go wrong - I mean, it isn’t table wine priced - but for this much earth and spice it is worth a few extra dollars. Serve it first at your party and your guests will remember it all night. And, yes, I did go there with the picture.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jan
15
0
This Friday was moving day! I’m completely exhausted. The movers got to the first stop at around 8:30am and made short work of a small apartment. Then they moved on to my apartment which proved just a touch more challenging. As I sit in the new apartment with over the top views of Manhattan from the 24th floor - looking North and West over the Hudson River, I must continually remind myself to keep facing the window - because turning around is truly a horrifying experience. There are red crates (provided by Arthur Werner, our moving company) filled with an assortment of S…tuff - that will all need to be unpacked and find a home. To keep us sane, we invited a few friends over - yes, that’s right, on the very night we moved in. It forced us to stop unpacking and open some wine and eat some pizza. I’m truthfully thankful to all those who stopped by to welcome us to the neighborhood and make sure that we took a deep breath and relaxed a bit. Oh, and, one of our enterprising fellow winos found the Catena Malbec that is featured here. And, yes, the picture in this post is of our view out the window.
Description: The ripe plum fruit flavors and silky texture of the Angelica vineyard (2,850’ elevation); the dark fruit character and pepper notes of the La Pirámide vineyard (3,100’ elevation); the black cherry aromas and excellent structure of the Altamira vineyard (3,870’ elevation); the explosive floral aromatics full, concentrated mouthfeel of the Adrianna vineyard (5,000’). The blend of these components creates a wine of unique character that has balance, concentration and a strong varietal identity.
My Review - WOW! The Argentineans went all French on us and blended a fantastic bottle of wine. But, unlike the French, they managed to get it to my table for around $20. This bottle will definitely not disappoint. Pepper, Plum, and Cherry are overpowering in this bottle - but in a very good way! Buy some for later and some to drink now!
ETJ
Damian
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Jan
08
0
This Friday represents the last weekend in my current apartment. I am moving across the Hudson River from Hoboken, NJ to Manhattan in New York City. I am extremely excited about the move. I’ll be on the 24th floor in a fantastic apartment with a North West view but, more importantly, living with my dearly beloved “significant other” as they say. The bad part is, of course, the packing and then the moving and then the unpacking. So, I left work a little early this Friday and got home and began packing my worldly possessions into boxes that will be picked up and driven through the Lincoln Tunnel next Friday morning. I filled every box I had and, to my dismay, I still have items that need to get packed. And, I wonder, why do I have all this stuff? And, then I rationalize… since I don’t have any more boxes, I might as well just open a bottle of wine.
- Bottle: Zinfandel
- Winery: Charles Krug
- Vintage: 2007
- Country: USA
- Region: Napa Valley
- Price: $25
- Web Site: http://www.charleskrug.com
Description: Beautifully balanced with layers of blackberry, raspberry, roasted coffee and white pepper spice, this medium bodied Zinfandel has supple tannins and a lush, round finish. Enjoy this wine with a hearty dish of beef short ribs with chipotle peppers and fresh oranges or spiced pulled-pork on fresh ciabata rolls.
My Review - Great big spicy bottle of Zinfandel - just a little reminder of how Napa Valley Zinfandel should taste - from the likes of Peter Mondavi. This is a young bottle that could be cellared - but, then again, why wait?
ETJ
Damian.
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Jan
01
1
New Year’s Day 2010! The start of a brand new decade and the opportunity to sample another 52 bottles of wine! I spent most of today recovering from last night’s New Year’s Eve Party. About ten of us celebrated at a great spot called Employees Only in New York City. The choice for a toast was not Champagne, but rather Cava. It was delicious and sparkling. But, today, after watching my Alma Mater Penn State Nittany Lions defeat LSU in the Capital One Bowl, I felt the need to kick 2010 (the new year and new decade) off with a glass of bubbly. I selected a split of Veuve Clicquot Non-Vintage Brute Yellow Label. After just a few sips, I felt that all was right with the world… the year had been kicked off appropriately, and I’m already looking forward to next Friday. Happy New Year!
- Bottle: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label
- Winery: Veuve Clicquot
- Vintage: NV
- Country: France
- Region: Champagne
- Price: $35
- Web Site: http://www.veuve-clicquot.com/
Description: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is a perfect example of harmony between delicacy and power. Dominated by Pinot Noir, this wine has a firm structure, rounded with a touch of Pinot Meunier. Nearly a third of Chardonnay gives it the elegance and finesse needed for perfect balance. A blend of fifty crus, mainly Grands and Premier Crus. Consistent Quality due to 25 - 30% reserve wines.
My Review - My personal favorite champagne. I think this bottle should be enjoyed at just about any special occasion. But, it is also priced so that it can be shared at not so special occasions like, “After Work”.
ETJ
Damian.
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