Rosé of the day - Thursday August 22, 2013

 Le Petit Saint-Jacques Rosé 2012 $9.99

Tasting notes: deep pink, great nose, vibrant strawberry and red berry characters, well controlled, ripe with lively acidity and balanced finish

Varietals: 100 % Syrah

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, Minervois, France

Wednesday's answer:
Hump day had lots of attention but I will say that I didn't understand all of it. Here is a recap...

We started out stronger than I expected when  Jackie (quick draw) Beyerly jumped right in and blew up my hopes for a difficult day by coming up with the answer in a very short time. She said  "Its the CT Audubon Society in Fairfield....." which is right but those run on dots (....), hmmm, was she thinking something else. What am I waiting for? The answer is there clear as day but maybe there is more?? 

Well that started the downhill slide for me. Up next was Darren Hongo who wrote "That's Kacher Jacey Haskell". Which was confusing enough to me (can anyone help me on this) but the next response was just as confusing when Jacey Haskell responded "Why I liked it Darren Hongo". Errr... ok... I'm not sure what they're exchange was but I did look at each profile pic and they are both of small children?! 

Ok, lets get back on track.

Chefmichaelatyourservice stopped in and said "No Guess today.... Thought it might be a "school theme week" with the children going back next week... Sacred Heart Univ. LOL" Children at Sacred Heart? Young men and women yes, but there is more with children. Am I missing something? 
I digress, not this time chef sorry. 

Kevin (Stumped) Beyerly jumped in next and apparently overlooked Jackies answer as he posted "No clue, I need more firehouses..." Does this happen at home too Jackie? Sorry Kevin but the firehouses are done and if you look at the next poster you will see that your lady has got it about half right...

Jackie (Pay attention Kevin)Beyerly says "There's only 5 firehouses KB.....maybe the Super Duper Weenie will make an appearance????" Oy! this is going nowhere. have you been following along Jackie? 

Where the heck is Mark? Someone get Mark! This is all falling apart today!

Mark (Did somebody call me) Beyerly finally came by to fix this mess, or so I thought, but he didn't help much  "Unsure but I think Audobon up on Burr Street is a good guess!" Yeah, thanks Mark, can you please reign these people in, I'm pretty busy at the store today and these people are all over the place.

We wrapped up with
Kevin (Me pay attention? how about you, Super Duper Weenie, hello)Beyerly Was able to clear things up just a bit when he pointed Jackie in the right direction by posting "Probably not gonna see Super Duper Weenie again...that made an appearance already back on July 10th..." That is right Kevin, thanks. But now you are using the run on dots (...) Is there something I'm missing with you two?

Ok everyone, lets get it together and get back on track. Today should be easy enough to get us going again.

Lets see what you have!

PS. Happy Birthday Janice, I Love You!

The Next Napa Valley

    

       It’s one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments. The street sign as you enter the town says it all. Philo, elevation 331, population 349! You know you’re way off the beaten trail when the elevation is nearly as relevant as the number of people, but in Anderson Valley, hidden away west of the famous wine region of Napa, you also know the population is sure to grow when this fabulous region is discovered. Completely different from upscale Napa, there aren’t any Versailles-style villas, fancy resorts, bumper-to-bumper traffic, expensive tasting fees, and five-star restaurants. The Anderson valley feels authentic, natural — the way Napa was about 50 years ago.

The climate is much different from it heat driven sister in the Napa Valley. Anderson Valley is far more temperamental, its climate shaped by cooling fogs and its land offset by towering redwoods and massive oaks. Being just 9 miles from the Pacific Ocean often leads to a rapid shift to warmer temperatures as you head inland. This is comparable to cooler spots in Sonoma where world-class Pinot Noir’s are produced. The climate used to be great for apple orchards and still is, but it’s also proved ideal for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling cool-weather whites like Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris.

 The most popular varietal in the region is Pinot Noir. Of Anderson Valley’s 2,500 acres under vine, over 1,500 are rooted to Pinot Noir. Besides producing world-class table wines, it has given the sparkling-wine industry a firm backbone. Sparkling wine heavyweight Roederer Estate is the largest winery in the area, producing 100,000 cases of sparkling wine that rate as some of USA’s finest!

 As Pinot Noir gained popularity, more vintners looked to Anderson Valley, where land prices were more affordable and a good bet for Pinot. Prices are catching up. Today at 100K per acre for prime real estate, which is still more affordable than Sonoma, big name Napa wineries are finding there way to Anderson Valley. Over the past decade, we have seen Duckhorn buy Goldeneye, Cliff Lede purchased Breggo and Savoy Vineyards, and Silver Oak with its Twomey label. 

We all know that things happen slowly in the wine arena and sometimes even more when attempting to shed light on a new region. I believe Anderson Valley will drive the next exciting era for this specific region. It will redefine both Anderson Valley and Mendocino, with new players, money, and a specific purpose, which may in turn encourage the next wine generation to pursue winegrowing greatness!

Joe  D

Rosé of the day - Wednesday August 21, 2013

Domaine De La Petite Cassagne Rosé 2012 $10.99

Tasting notes: A lovely pale salmon color, Petite Cassagne’s 2012 rosé serves up generous helpings of Rainier cherry and golden raspberry fruit accented by spicy, herbal garrigue and a brightening limestone minerals. A delicious mélange of raspberry, tangerine and red grapefruit. On the finish, the wine’s garrigue expression comes to the fore to add complexity and an appetizing savory edge.

Varietals: 25% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Cinsault and 25% Mouvedre

Region: Costières de Nîmes, France

Tuesday's answer:
This may be the easiest follow-up to a post to date. There were a good number of answers given and they were all the same (relatively) which means that I can get through them and give you todays puzzle fairly quickly. It's 9:50am now so lets see how it goes.

Ellen Grecco Gilmore was our first posters and put up "That's the main entrance to Fairfield U!" Right you are Ellen, thank you!

Jackie (I'll get this) Beyerly made it quick and easy... Two words "Fairfield University" also a correct answer
Susan L. Melcher was in line next and put up "Main entrance to Fairfield U" and was the third person of the day to get it right. Nicely done Susan.

Chefmichaelatyourservice came by and did it in six words but was a bit more specific "North Benson Entrance to Fairfield University." and like the others was correct. Thanks chef.

Mark (I'm afraid of Bambi) Beyerly put up a typically cryptic answer instead of making it easy like everyone else but we get the drift. I think?! "My Alma Matter. Go Stags! Fear the deer (but drink the rose...)" You drink Rosé and are afraid of deer, right? :)

Peter Swetckie was our next in line and his answer "Entrance to fu and prep", Good, we'll take it.


Finally, Kevin (My big brother used to hide when Bambi was on) Beyerly brought up the rear when he had some fun with his answer "The "U"...Fairfield style!" Thanks K

Today is a bit more obsure but is unique to our town. I wonder how many will be able to figure it out.

Good luck!

Rosé of the day - Tuesday August 20, 2013

Domaine Ott Chateau de Selle Rosé 2012 $49.99

Tasting notes: Pale robe with golden highlights. The fine nose is evocative of peach and lemon, with cinnamon and vanilla notes. In the mouth there is a combination of the fine terroir, full-bodiedness and fresh fruitiness.

Varietals: Grenache 50% + Cinsault 30% + Syrah 15% + Cabernet Sauvignon 5%

Region: Cotes de Provence, France

Monday's answer:
Yesterday was going to be tough since the first couple of answers were Fairly general, Tracey Thomas was first with "FAIRFIELD BEACH" followed by Jackie (fingers crossed) Beyerly with "Penfield Beach?" and I would say that an arguement for the answers to be correct could be made but we waited to see what else would be posted and a little while later Ellen Grecco Gilmore came by and gave us what we were looking for with "Penfield Lighthouse." Nicely done Ellen.


Next up... Alexander Dacey with "Maine!" errr... No... Stay a bit closer to home Alexander.

Chefmichaelatyourservice was our next player and fell into the same trap Tracey and Jackie did with "Penfield Beach" Now we're not calling anyone "wrong" just not specific enough to be "right". Thanks to the good chef for playing though.

Kristie Coneys Kuhl sometimes disappers for awhile but when she puts up an answer, it is right. Yesterday was no exception, and she likes the wine! Her answer was "That is one of my favorite rosés. The picture is of Penfield Lighthouse" Mine too Kristie! In fact Jan and I drank that very bottle with Grilled Peaches and Burrata (Recipe from Fairfield Cheeses Company) and we finished the bottle with Grilled Swordfish. Yum!


Mark (let's do this right) Beyerly came by a bit later and put the stamp on it with "Given the close proximity of the lighthouse to "shore" (and the rocky foreground), I am guessing this was taken on Penfield Reef, looking out at the rumored to be haunted Penfield Reef Lighthouse - first built in 1874." Yes Mark, it was a long walk out the reef to the site of the picture taking, thank you for noticing. Low tide, Sunday afternoon around 4pm and a race back to the beach following the trek. Ran into a couple of customers along the way too.

Kevin (Mark is my big brother) Beyerly was there to lend support with "I agree with Mark. He is usually right." yeah, yeah... Mark is Mr. Fairfield, we know, we know already...


Sandy (This baby is getting big) Beyerly also put her support behind Mark when she posted ""Usually" right? I married the guy - he's got a 99.9% chance of being right about everything...." Hmmm, Am I reading that right or is there a bit of sarcasm in that post? I am not sure about the 99.9%, but he did a good job picking his wife.

And last but not least...  Steve Geronimo came by and offered this "One of my favorite places in the world.... Penfield Reef, pretty far out there too" and thank you for noticing that we did walk allll the way out there for the best vantage point to take the picture.

-Cheers

Rosé of the day - Monday August 19, 2013

Commanderie de la Bargemone 2012 $15.99

Tasting notes: Very pale in color, it nevertheless has loads of flavor, with plenty of melon, orange peel and floral aromas to go with a medium-bodied, racy palate that has both richness and freshness. Buy this beauty by the case and enjoy bottles over the coming year or so.

Varietals: 40% Grenache, 32% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 13% CabernetSauvignon

Region: Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, France


Friday's answer:
As we enter the final 2 weeks of what has been a fun promotion for us we are trying to decide haow to close it out in 2 weeks. As much as we have shown of this town, its small businesses and the landmarks that make it so unique, we can't help but to feel like there is so much more to do. We have decided that we won't do anymore themed weeks since it will prclude us from doing some of Fairfields important landmarks and places.
Please follow along and stay involved as we try to squeeze in as much of this great town as possible.

Ok, Friday:
Kevin (My big brother is magic) Beyerly was the first to respond and posted "Wow, big bro can predict the future." and added the stations nickname... "Station 1... The Rock baby!"

Chefmichaelatyourservice followed shortly behind Kevin and gave him the nod "Yes, even without my glasses I can read. Good job Kevin." then he asked the question that we've been asking ourselves "With only 2 more weeks to go, I wonder what's in store next ???" Thats a tough one Chef, we have a couple of ideas though, so keep watching.


Kristie Coneys Kuhl concurred and made it simple "Fairfield fire house!" Thanks Kristie!


Mark (Just follow my lead) Beyerly gave himself a well deserved pat on the back and posted "I'm on fire!" Yes, Mark, you are.


Jackie (I'm one of them) Beyerly took some liberty with Alicia Keys "Girl on fire" and applied it to her guys when she wrote "These Beyerly's are on fire!!!!! ( a little Alicia Keys) Nice job Bro-in-law....." 


BTW, Did anyone pick up on the creative modification to Friday's picture where we changed "Fairfield Fire Dept. No1" to "Fielfield Fido Diet Nod". I don't think it fooled anyone.

Lets see where the next couple of weeks take us as we continue our tour of Fairfield through Rosé.

Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, Aug 17

Your Host is Michael Tobin of Worldwide Wines.

La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc 2012    $9.99
Gold color with a bright intensity.  Aromas of ripe yellow (peach and apricot) and exotic fruits. Clean and refreshing with a good length the taste is a whirlwind of freshness, complexity, fineness and ends with notes of ripe melon.

Miraval Rosé 2012            $21.99
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have released their first wine, a 2012 rose from their Provence estate, Chateau Miraval. In a blind tasting of a flight of Provençal roses at Wine Spectator's New York office, the wine was refined and elegant, with pure flavors of dried red berry and tangerine, and a focused finish with flint and spice notes  Wine Spectator, 90 pts

Craggy Range Chardonnay Kidnappers 2011                    $19.99

This has the weight of a Premier Cru Chablis with dried apples, cream and a hint of lemons. Full body, with a dense compacted palate and a creamy, crunchy acidity. Makes you want to drink it. Aged about six to eight months in oak barrels.  Wine Spectator, 91 pts

Craggy Range Pinot Noir  Te Muna Road Vineyard 2009           $39.99

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2009 Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir has very pretty ripe cherry, red currant and violet aromas with a hint of underbrush. Medium-full bodied, it offers good concentration, refreshing acid and a medium level of silky tannins, finishing long and berry laced. Drinking now, it should cellar to 2015.   Wine Advocate, 90 pts

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Aug 16

Your host is Narragansett.

Summer                         $9.29/6pc

Narragansett Summer is a light session ale made with two row pale malt and citra hops. The citra hops are a very popular, newer variety that deliver aromas of citrus and passion fruit without overpowering the taste buds. The beer is blonde in color and the mild kiss of the hops complement the pale malt perfectly, making it extremely drinkable.

Imperial Black Steam   $6.99/22oz

Imperial Black Steam is the third offering in Narragansett’s Private Stock series, a beer style selected to explore the creative boundaries of the limited-edition craft series while also celebrating the brand’s 123 years of lager heritage. The Imperial Black Steam label is designed with elements of nostalgia depicting a classic turn of the century steamship.

Fest                                $9.29/6pc

Gansett Fest is a great example of a traditional amber-brown German Oktoberfest style beer. It is perfectly balanced with four varieties of malts and two styles of hops. This is an extremely easy drinking autumn seasonal beer, but one you will want to savor as the rich malt profile complements the crisp, but not overpowering, hop flavor perfectly.

Rosé of the day - Friday August 16, 2013

 Ruinart Brut Rosé NV $69.99

Tasting notes: A delicious Champagne full of rose petal, wheat, cherry and citrus notes, all supported by a vivid acidity and chalky texture. An innate sense of power on a lightweight frame. Lengthy finish.

Varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Region: Champagne, France

Thursday's answer:
Running behind today so we'll try to do this fairly quickly and see how it goes...
First and foremost we at Harry's want to express our gratitude to not only the Firemen and women that keep us safe and help us through toughest moments but also the Police, EMS, town crew and all of the others that don't get enough in the way of gratitude along the way. We recognize how vital you are to our safety and comfort and we hope everyone will join us as we toast you and say Thank You!

Kevin (I'm faster that big brother) Beyerly was first yesterday and made it simple "Station 5..."The Hill"" and was right on target, thanks.


Jackie (he's a little too quick if you ask me) Beyerly follow right behind with  "Looks like Kevin fired away on his answer....." (pun intended I assume) "I have to agree with him though on Fire Station 5....small fact....there are 3 firemen at the fire station at any one time" Good to know there are always three watching out.

Susan L. Melcher joined the frey and followed suit with her answer "Fire Station on Congress Street in Greenfield Hill" Good job Susan, thanks for joining in. 

Jill Miller Rabideau with her first answer of the game shortened it a bit but gave us enough to know she is on it when she posted "Congress", thanks for jumping in with us Jill. 

Chefmichaelatyourservice was of course in the mix and has gotten his houses straightened out after a faltering Monday. He chimed in with "Firehouse on Congress St" Yes indeed my good chef!

Eric Gidley came by and put up a different kind of guess and that was an assumption that because we were toasting our Fire Departments that we are running short of  still wines in our Rosé section when he put up "Looks like we are running out of Rosés if we are turning to sparkling." Good guess but not true. We do have a good many sparklers but we could easily make it to Labor day with the number of still wines we have on the rack. Just a gesture to or hose handlers :)

Then of course Mark (No one knows this game like me) Beyerly put in his two cents and correctly pointed out that the rosé chosen was quite good with "Now THAT is a bubbly!" If you think that one is good, look at today's! he finished with  "Since I seem to be the slow guy here and can't keep up with the siblings, can I guess tomorrow's location? SPOILER ALERT: Fairfield Fire HQ on Reef Road?" Don't worry about keeping up, you've set the pace the whole game Mr. Beyerly and as usual, your pre-guess for today is right on target. Good job!

-Cheers!

Beyond Pinot Grigio ........2012 Italian White Wines

Talk about Italian white wine and for most people one type comes to mind - pinot grigio. Granted there are many very nice pinot grigios out there, unfortunately most people associate it with one of the mass produced ones which can be quite light and unremarkable. As we have been tasting through the recent 2012 Italian white wines we cant help but to be impressed with them. Regardless of the grape varietal and region, we are seeing wines of great depth, rich fruit, and noticeable balance. The quality which really speaks to me also is the persistent and wonderful finish on these wines. The wines I'm about to highlight below all make for great cocktail wines, in addition to pairing particularly well with fish dishes and cheese pairings.

1. Bisson Bianchetta Portofino $21.99/btl. This might be my favorite. You can't help but imagine sitting on a patio along the Ligurian coast as you sip this beauty. The wine exhibits beautiful citrus tones and subtle hints Ocean. At 12.5% alcohol this is a winner!

2. Fontezoppa Verdicchio $16.99/btl. The best characteristic of this wines is the loooong finish. Great flavors of apple, almond, and intense minerality. This wine also is quite restrained in terms of alchohol at 13%.

Other 2012 Italian whites worth checking out:

* Cesani Vernaccia $13.99/btl.

* Tintero Moscato d'Asti $14.99/btl.

* Novacella Kerner $19.99/btl.

* Broglia Gavi $19.99/btl.

* Zenato Lugana $13.99/btl.

* Cantina Tollo Pecorino $14.99/btl.

* Gugliaro Pinot Nero $19.99/btl.

Stop in and let us pair some of these wines with the summer dishes you'll be serving. These are definitely worth trying!

-Greg

Rosé of the day - Thursday August 15, 2013

 Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rosé NV $49.99

Tasting notes: This signature of Nicolas Feuillatte; intense, impertinent pleasure! There is simply no other rosé Champagne like this cuvée from Nicolas Feuillatte. Blended from 90% red grapes with a dollop of Chardonnay, this wine explodes in the glass with vivid aromas and flavors of raspberry, strawberry and red currants.

Varietals: 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Meunier and 10% Chardonnay

Region: Champagne, France

Wednesday's answer:
With a few technical difficulties  out of the way, we are on our way with Rosé or the day. Many of you understand where we have been going with the theme this week and it was nice to see that a couple new people joined in yesterday. First on that list was first time responder and perhaps one of our towns bravest (thats a guess folks) Eric Gunnar Sundman who guessed "Jennings FIre Dept" and was correct with his guess. If I am wrong about it being your first response, I apologize.

Next up Kevin (I've always wanted to be a Fireman) Beyerly who said emphatically "Definitely Jennings fire dept, station number 2, aka The Big House" nicely done.

Following right behind Kevin was Jackie (wifey-poo) Beyerly who was the second but not last to confirm "Station 2 Jennings Fire Dept" and then added "....it is one of 5 fire stations in town....." Hmm 5 stations, what do you know about that. Seems like you could do one a day for a week. :)

Chefmichaelatyourservice aka The good chef stopped in to lend his support of the answer also "Total agreement" was his comment.

Mark (Thanks everyone but this is my job) Beyerly was next and since Kevin and Sis-in-law already put up the specifics he was left swinging in the breeze. So whats a guy to do... confirm the answer and put up a challenge... a prediction! He said "Umm. What the other guys said.... How about we predict tomorrow's location?" Good idea!

Next up and our final guesser yesterday Steve Geronimo and you can tell by his profile pic that he is one of our bravest, Thanks so much for your service to our town Steve! And send thanks to your brother on our behalf. His guess... "Jennings Rd Fire Station." and right you are. 

Finally I got back to the page and saw Mark (I have an idea) Beyerly's suggestion and put out the challenge. Sad to say that everyone realized that there were still 2 stations left and it was going to be a no win situation. Whatever you say I simply do the opposite (Especially if Mark is guessing). Now tomorrow I won't have that ability so fire away (pun intended)

Thanks for playing along!