Jul
30
1
This Friday marked the official end of Riesling Week. Who knew there was a whole week dedicated to Riesling? Turns out that Riesling is regarded as one of the 3 most important white grapes in the world. During Riesling week, I learned a few things. Mainly that, if you want a dry Riesling, look for Troken on the label while Kabinet will likely be a sweeter variety. To celebrate Riesling week, I met a friend back at AYZA. That’s right, I went there twice in a ROW - so do not skip this one! The Riesling we had was on the sweet side. Not that it wasn’t a nice glass of wine - but, in our opinion, should have been reserved for dessert. And, as I said before, AYZA is certainly not short on dessert. I’ll give the warning again, do not skip the duck liver pate or the truffled pizza - but afterward, make sure to order the chef’s selection of chocolate.
Description: This wine pairs perfectly with Asian cuisine due to the harmony of sweetness and acidity. Also interesting taste combinations can be achieved through the pairing of blue-veined cheese or a fruit desert.
My Review - Lots of residual sugar in this bottle! A very high quality bottle that I’d recommend with a European pastry or maybe black forest cake.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jul
23
1
After years of living pet-free, we decided it was about time to adopt an animal or two, give a friendly kitten or cat a home and hope that in return they’d do cat things like lay around on the furniture, get under your feet as you attempt to walk, and sit on the sink to watch you shave. As chance would have it, a friend sent me a random e-mail telling me of a crazy cat lady who needed to unload some 20 cats and fast. We headed to Greenpoint, Brooklyn to see the cats. As soon as we walked in, a cat named Wallaby who is about a year old ran to me and rolled over on his back so I could pet his stomach. Then, we went into another room to see the kittens. A very cute kitten immediately selected us by crawling up our legs. He wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. Interestingly, both cats are “deformed”. Wallaby has excessively short front legs while the kitten has thumbs! The “crazy cat lady” ended up being not so crazy (even though she did have lots of cats) and we hung out and drank Shandys/Radlers/Panaches.
- Bottle: Blue Moon & Minute Maid Leomonade
- Recipe: Mix 1/2 beer and 1/2 lemonade
- Vintage: 2007
- Country: Ireland/Germany/France
- Advantage: You can drink all afternoon and not get drunk
- Disadvantage: You can drink all afternoon and not get drunk
- Price: Cheap
Description: The proportions of the two ingredients are adjusted to taste, normally half-and-half. Shandy that is sold canned or bottled is typically much weaker (about one part beer to ten parts soda).
My Review - A great and refreshing summer beverage with just enough carbonation to tickle the nose and just enough alcohol to make it fun.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jul
16
0
Summer weekends at home are a rarity. But, this Friday, I find that we don’t have any plans in particular. It turns out that if you are home on a summer weekend, one of your friends is bound to be coming home from vacation. A friend of ours who took a nice long 2-month sabbatical returned home and she came to visit, say hi, regale us with stories from afar, reconnect, and bring us kitsch! She was in Bali. Know for beautiful beaches and, apparently, kitschy souvenir shops. She brought us beer huggies (very functional) and a surf-board refrigerator magnet. Unfortunately, we have stainless steel appliances and magnets don’t stick to stainless steel. As a result, we now have a Bali surf-board on our toaster. We took our friend to a fantastic Chocolate and Wine bar called Ayza and had a great evening. Should you venture to this great establishment, order the Pate and definitely don’t skip the chocolate dessert!
- Bottle: Pinot Noir
- Winery: Bethel Heights
- Vintage: 2007
- Country: USA
- Region: Oregon - Willamette Valley - Eola-Amity Hills
- Price: $65
- Web Site: http://www.bethelheights.com/
Description: Brooding aromas of clove and anise over light barrel toast, forest floor, and dusty raspberries. The palate is dense, with a lively vein of acidity framing flavors of bright red cane berry, strawberry, and intense minerality. This wine has the structure to age well.
My Review - Wow! Even in the heat of a NYC summer this Pinot Noir stood out. It was bold up front with plenty of spice and it worked well with our Duck Liver Pate, blue cheese, and white truffled pizza.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jul
09
0
In January of this year, I moved into a new building in Manhattan. The building has a fantastic roof deck and we got into the habit of taking a bottle of wine – typically a Rosè or a sparkling wine – up to the roof to hang out and watch the sun set. When I arrived at the roof deck this Friday, bottle and corkscrew in hand, to my horror, there was a sign that said, “No Alcoholic Beverages Permitted”. Naturally, this did not in any alter or halt my plans to drink wine on the roof. Unfortunately, there are security cameras everywhere and it didn’t take long for the hired-gun enforcement guy to show up and tell me that I could not enjoy my wine on the roof. I had to go downstairs and sit in the air conditioning and have my wine looking out the window. I certainly learned my lesson and for future rooftop visits, I’ll be pouring my wine into an alternative beverage container.
- Bottle: Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc
- Winery: Charles Krug, The Peter Mondavi Family
- Vintage: 2008
- Country: USA
- Region: Napa Valley
- Price: $15
- Web Site: https://www.charleskrug.com/
Description: Our signature style Sauvignon Blanc preserves the vibrant flavors of the grape from the night it was harvested through the time a bottle is opened. This harvest yielded fruit forward tropical notes of banana, pineapple and accents of lemon-lime. Pear nectar nuances and hints of peach skin ensure a smooth, balanced finish.
My Review - A great implementation of Sauvignon Blanc - citrus abounds and the finish is clean stainless steel. A great bottle for the back yard bar-b-que, a rooftop (when permitted) or any summer afternoon.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jul
02
1
I cannot believe that it is July! Actually, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. In January, I was sitting in my office with a girl I have worked with for nearly 10 years and she said that she couldn’t believe that the holidays were over. I warned her then that before we knew it, it was going to be time to set up the Christmas tree and decorate again. My how time flies when you are drinking wine! Speaking of time flies – what is it that makes time fly after a glass or two (or bottle) of wine? It seems that at one moment you are sitting at Le Zei innocently people watching at 5:30pm in the afternoon and an innocent bottle or two later with some lite fare and it is suddenly 11pm at night. And, to further wrap the enigma in mystery, it seems that if you order another bottle… the next time you look down it won’t be midnight but more like 3am. Clearly, this is an area of concern that is going to need some further exploration over this 4th of July Weekend. Happy Independence Day!
- Bottle: Regaleali Le Rose
- Winery: Tasca D’Almerita
- Vintage: 2007
- Country: Italy
- Region: Sicilia
- Price: $14
- Web Site: http://www.tascadalmerita.it/
Description: On the Regaleali Estate you can find thousands of roses, all subtly different; brought from all over the world, they thrive here. The Regaleali Rose is dedicated to stories of love and friendship. The name has changed, and so has its appearance, but unchanged are the grapes, above all the Nerello Mascalese which gives the rose of Regaleali its class and unquestionable fragrance.
My Review - A nice rose that is light in color and proved to be extremely drinkable - just ask the waiter who brought us every bottle in the restaurant. It was available by the bottle or the glass - but why mess around?
ETJ
Damian.
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Jun
25
0
This week has been insane! I returned from Germany on Wednesday in time to see our new product, SneakerDry, get delivered and prepared for launch. The product is targeted toward athletes who get their shoes wet (think sweat in running or biking shoes, etc). Our first “issue” was for the Front Runners New York Gay and Lesbian Pride Run scheduled to take place on Saturday, 6/26. When we finally landed in LaGuardia, I was informed via text message that my brother, who was driving SneakerDry to Manhattan, had his car radiator explode. Luckily he was just outside of the Holland Tunnel. So, I got myself a zipcar and drove to NJ to pick him (and SneakerDry) up and get everything into the city. On Thursday morning, I dropped it off at New York Road Runners with the promise that they would hand out a copy with each race packet. On Friday, I went to the office and got slammed with the normal rush of post-vacation inquiries and e-mail overload. So, tonight, I’m just sitting back, watching some shows that I DVR’ed while I was in Europe and enjoying a quiet glass of wine.
Bottle: Verdejo-Viura
Winery: El Hada
Vintage: 2009
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda
Price: $10
Web Site: Imported by http://www.smswine.com/
Description: Pale gold. Zesty lime and apple on the nose, with a light herbal quality. Tangy and bright, with bitter citrus pith and green apple flavors in a light-bodied format. Fleshier on the persistent finish.
My Review - Beautiful color and lots of fruit on the nose and in the initial taste. This wine packs a nice grape-fruity punch on the finish. All in all, a nice bottle for the price.
ETJ
Damian.
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Jun
18
0
This Friday, I was in Freiburg, Germany. Freiburg is in the SouthWest corner of Germany at the foothills of the Black Forest. It sits on the Rhine River. Freiburg is in the heart of a major German wine growing region called Baden. Right across the river, conveniently enough, is the Alsace wine growing region of France. Both regions are known for their outstanding white wines. The famous varietals from the regions include Riesling, Gewurztraminer (say “gah-vertz-tra-mean-er”), Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc. After flying overnight from NYC to get to Freiburg, we decided to be good international travelers and stay up as if we had been in Germany all along… So, we dropped our things at the hotel and headed for the center of Freiburg where we toured the awe-inspiring Freiburg Muenster Cathedral. A bit overwhelmed, we exited the cathedral and to our great luck, spotted a wine tasting house. Americans would call this a “wine bar” except, it didn’t have any food. No problem though – there were plenty of merchants selling breads, cheeses, and if you can imagine sausages on the streets. At the recommendation of the barkeep, we DID NOT have white wine and instead tasted a fantastic “Rotburgunder” (Say “wrote-bur-gun-der”) or “Red Burgundy”. The wine was FANTASTIC!
Description: The decision to become a successful winemaker, Fritz Waßmer has finally taken 1998th Gleich zu Beginn setze er sich das Ziel, ausschließlich Weine voller Konzentration und Kraft herzustellen. At the beginning he set a goal to produce only wines full of concentration and strength. Als 1999 seine ersten Weine auf den Markt kamen, waren diese für badische Burgunder sehr außergewöhnlich, da sie in Stil und Art an den großen Weinen aus dem Burgund orientiert waren. When in 1999 his first wines came on the market, these were very unusual for Baden Burgundy, since they were based in style and manner of the great wines from Burgundy.
My Review - Silky smooth, plenty of tannins so you could keep it for a long while, fruity up front, and an earthy finish. Who knew Germans could make red wine?
ETJ
Damian.
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Jun
11
0
Tomorrow, I’m hosting a wine tasting. You can read the details of the tasting under the tasting link on the right side of this web page. So, after work, I went to Moore Brother’s Wine Shop on 20th street in Manhattan. They were happy to help me pick out all the wines and even deliver them. Of course, I couldn’t resist picking out a bottle to taste tonight as I created the tasting notes. After all, I have to prime my pallet. After selecting my wines, I went to Whole Foods on 7th Avenue and 24th street and picked out some Italian meats, cheeses, and bread. I’m looking very forward to tomorrow, enjoying some wine with some great friends. I’m not, however, looking forward to getting to the bottom of the current bottle.
- Bottle: Vigna Madre Barbera d’Alba
- Winery: Germano Ettore
- Vintage: 2006
- Country: Italy
- Region: Piedmont
- Price: $30
- Web Site: http://www.langhe.net/germano/
Description: Its color is intense ruby red with garnet tinges. The nose has pronounced ripe fruit and berry-like aroma well integrated with vanilla tones. Powerfully structured in the mouth, its light acidity emphasize a fragrant finish and aftertaste.
My Review - This is what Piedmont is all about! Great nose with that oaky vanilla flavor. Then lots of fruit and berries on the mid-palate and finishes off with a slightly tannin taste. I had this with $1/slice pizza and it was AWESOME!
ETJ
Damian.
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Jun
04
1
It seems like yesterday that I was writing about my yearly college reunion trip to Penn State University and, here I am again in Happy Valley for another great weekend with my college roommates and our husbands and/or wives. This weekend used to be all about debauchery, but now just about every one of us is 40 or older. It has been 18 years since we graduated from Penn State. There are now kids, pets, careers, and a whole lifetime of experiences that we bring to the table. Perhaps the most valuable experience is the memory of the after-effects of drinking too much bad alcohol. So, on this Friday night, when we showed up at Cozy Thai, a fantastic restaurant that features “bring your own bottle”, we had some very nice Oregon Pinot Gris on hand.
- Bottle: Pinot Gris
- Winery: Raptor Ridge
- Vintage: 2008
- Country: USA
- Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
- Price: $18
- Web Site: http://www.raptoridge.com/
Description: This wine is a balance of three of our favorite characteristics, one from each vineyard. From the Yamhill Springs Vineyard, the most early ripening, lush pear and apple flavors and aromas round out the palate. From Meredith Mitchell, we derive a nice minerality and spice that cuts the fruit before it gets too overwhelming. Finally, from Bellevue Cross, our last site to ripen, we always know we can depend on some citrus notes and a nice acid framework.
My Review - A fantastic bottle of wine that manages to be both complex and light at the same time. It is a fruit forward bottle (lots of fruit on the nose and on the initial taste) and then finishes with a clean (stainless steel) with lots of minerality. It worked perfectly with my Panang Curry.
ETJ
Damian.
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May
28
0
On the last Friday before the unofficial start of summer in New York City, most people left the office by 2pm and headed for various destinations, among them, the Hamptons, Upstate New York, or to places far away from the Northeast United States to visit family for the long weekend. I found myself stuck with a work issue that just had to be fixed by Tuesday morning, long weekend or not. When I finally left the office at 4pm, the streets of New York City were relatively quiet. I had a weekend of parties and events planned - but nothing happening on Friday night. I took the opportunity to relax with, of all things, a beer - made in Cooperstown New York. Memorial Day Weekend and a beer made in the same town that is also home to the baseball hall of fame - does it get any more American than that? A big THANKS to all the Veterans that make my life possible.
- Bottle: Ommegang “Rare Vos”
- Brewery: Ommegang
- Vintage: 2008
- Country: USA
- Region: New York
- Price: $10 (24oz Bottle)
- Web Site: http://www.ommegang.com/
Description: Named after a Brussels bar made famous as the starting point for bicycle and pigeon races, our Rare Vos Amber Ale is also a great place to begin your virtual taste test. As you pour, you’ll notice the beautiful coppery-amber color and the rich creamy head. Lift the glass to your mouth and enjoy the aroma of spicy orange blossoms. Taste, and the pleasant mellow flavor of caramel malt glides easily into a dry, hop finish. Once you’ve finished, start again (after all, this isn’t a race).
My Review - A fantastic amber Belgian-Style Ale. I imagine it would have been great with pizza, a burger, or even sushi - but, I think it was a meal all in itself.
ETJ
Damian.
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