BEER CLASS: He say beer, She says wine... Wine vs Beer

Brooklyn Brewery will join us this night with four great beer choices and Worldwide Wines will bring along four delicious wines. These beers and wines will be paired with a selection of cheeses from our friends at the Fairfield Cheese Company. 

Most people know about and enjoy the pairing of food with wine, but we do not think that enough people know how tasty it is to pair beer with foods. For those of you who enjoy drinking both beer and wine this will be an opportunity to learn that both of these beverages deserve a place on your dinner table! Our guest speakers at this event will be John William, Connecticut Salesman for Brooklyn Brewery and Jennifer Reilly, Sales manager for Worldwide Wines. Get ready as the debate begins and you will be the judge of what worked better!

Tues. April 9th 7pm-9pm.   $35.00 per person 

To reserve your seat call Jan at Harry's Wine & Liquor Market (203) 259-4692

Did you know?? The Irish have a proud tradition in the world of wine too!

The month of March is highlighted by St. Patrick’s Day. Leprechauns, pot of gold, shamrocks, corned beef and cabbage; Harp Lager and Irish whiskey are a few known symbols of this proud day for the Irish. So when the day arrives try toasting the luck of the Irish and the joys of this Celtic heritage with a glass of…wine.

 We know that Ireland has a terrific reputation for appreciating a pint of stout or a great whiskey, but they have also played a pivotal role in the global wine trade since the 1700’s. This was actually decades prior to Arthur Guinness initiating a certain brewery in Dublin! As the Irish moved abroad over the centuries, they actually brought with them their love of wine and assisted in developing some of the finest vineyards in the world.

Their names and labels have become comparable with fine wine across the globe. Chateau Montelena, Murphy-Goode, Concannon, Twomey, Plumpjack, Shea, Gary Farrell, and Dumol are just a short list of Irish American Wineries located in the Western United States. This group produces outstanding wines, and by the way, one of them beat the French twice in a blind tasting which were held in France and judged by French Masters! Guess who?

 So drop the Stout, slide the whiskey down the bar. Celebrate St. Patty’s with a fine glass of wine. Happy St. Patrick’s! Erin Go Bragh!

Joe D

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Mar 9

Your host will be Emily Welch of 55 Distribution with the wines of Greystack Cellars.

 

From Greg's recent blog post: 

 

Just recently I tasted a great California pinot noir, 2010 Grey Stack Four Brothers Pinot Noir.  Grey Stack Cellars is located in the Bennett Valley AVA which lies in Sonoma County.  It was my curiosity about Bennett Valley that first drew me to this wine.  The Bennett Valley AVA is one of the newest and smallest designated AVA's in California and is blessed with mineral-rich volcanic soils and a cool climate, perfect for pinot noir! 
My tendencies for pinot noir are usually either Oregon or Burgundy, so I was anxious to see how this one was going to compare.  It was certainly a bit richer and heavier than a typical pinot from Burgundy or Oregon but what stood out for me was its great structure and a wonderfully complex palate.  This wine was in no way "flabby" or what people including me call a fruit-bomb.  This was really well made wine,  Beside being really good now, I strongly believe this wine will continue to evolve and improve over the next few years and be even better than it already is.  I was immediately inclined to purchase a bottle and throw it in the cellar to see how it will show in a year or two.

 

Greg

 

Pinot Noir 2011                     $40.99

Syrah/Grenache 2010           $30.99

Sauvignon Blanc 2011          $29.99

Chardonnay 2010                 $23.99

 

Beer Tasting Friday March 8th 4pm-7pm

Your host will be Jay Le Blanc of Drinx.

As the snow eases across the area the store is humming. You can't see it in the picture but there are half a dozen people surrounding these two guys. It looks like people felt a little cooped up this morning and into the afternoon with the school closings and such. Jay is pouring fast and furious and the repsonse seems to be pretty positive. He brought along a few key chains if you feel like grabbing one on your way by to the counter. No purchase necessary!

Abita Purple Haze                 $9.29/6pb

Purple Haze® is a lager brewed with real raspberries added after filtration. It is brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. The berries add a fruity aroma, tartly sweet taste and a subtle purple color and haze...you may see fruit pulp in the beer.

Abita Satsuma                       $9.29/6pb

Abita Satsuma Harvest Wit is brewed with pilsner, wheat malts and oats. It is made with real Louisiana satsumas and spiced with coriander and orange peel. This unfiltered brew has a slightly cloudy appearance with a subtle citrus flavor and aroma.

Boulder Mojo IPA                $10.59/6pb

Mo-Jo: 1: A magic spell or charm; magical power; 2. Herbaceous ale that summons hop attacks.
Pale in color but packed with flavor, MoJo reflects the perfect balance of hop bitterness and malt character. The unique Amarillo hop adds a slight citrus flavor to an ultra-crisp dry finish.

What is in a score?

Last night we had the second half of our “Great vintages” wine class and during the class we revisited a concept that had been broached the week before and it got me to thinking which has inspired this blog post.

We have a great group of students that we are happy to say, feel like their questions and participation are appreciated. We may be educating them as a rule but we are always amazed by the many good questions we get and the number that make us scratch our heads as we try to figure out how to answer them. I am happy to report that between Len (our instructor) and me, we are able to adequately answer most of them… until this one.

While the class was studying the vintage chart that Len had passed out and while discussing what scores really meant T=tannic, E=early drinking etc.., a very innocent question was asked.

Q: Does the grading 1-100 work like the grading on a test my child takes in school?

A: Yes

Q: So, if we see a score that is 90pts or above this is an A to A+ wine? If it scores 80 to 89 it is a      B to B+ wine and so on?

A: (Len) Yes, that’s right… (Patrick) um, just a second Len, I don’t agree.

Uh, oh here we go. Who is right here? Each of you is saying a different thing?

I think on the surface the idea is that Len is correct. That is the way it was set up by Robert Parker and it was used that way for many years. Something has happened in the last decade or more that I argued has skewed the scale. People believe that wines scoring below 90pts are not “good” or at least not “very good”.

Winemakers are not satisfied with an 80-89pt rating unless it is a brand that is considered a next tier product already. In fact, some have gone as far as not sending their wines to be tasted by the critics if they weren’t happy with a score that they received previously in another vintage which, I believe, has changed the scale. I went to the computer and logged on to a couple of the better known critics to see what they had to say about wines that they had rated below 85pts and was surprised at some of the adjectives they were using for what should be “better than average” wines.

“An earthy, decaying underbrush, compost-like nose” Mondavi Napa Cabernet 78pts

“Tasted But Not Recommended” Mondavi Napa Cabernet 84pts

“This wine seems texturally deficient. With a clipped, tough finish, it is a relatively weak effort - at least if pleasure is your goal.”Mondavi napa Cabernet 76pts

“1997 Brunello di Montalcino is somewhat one-dimensional, little complexity, depth, or length. However, it is one of the finest wines this estate has yet produced.” Banfi Brunello 86pts (Is that a back handed compliment, yikes)

And on and on…

I am not trying to pick on critics or particular producers but I did want it to be relatable so I picked a couple of better known Vineyards.

Last night Len was back and handed out a sheet that was a printed copy of this: http://palatepress.com/2013/03/wine/how-wine-criticism-is-changing/

So, was I right? Is a 70-80pt score a failing grade? I guess it is the eye of the beholder but I wasn’t able to find a score that was in that scale that the critic said “Good wine” “solid performer” or any positive attribute that would make me buy the wine, and I guess that is the point.

At  Harry’s, you will find a few shelf talkers and there are also a few ratings tags here or there because we agree with the sentiment that a particular critic bestowed on a wine. You will notice that in this store there are not many of them and I will make the same point that we made last night…

If you want a good experience with wine tasting and buying, build a relationship with someone in the store that you frequent, we are all different people with individual likes and dislikes. A person that understands you and your tastes is going to help you much more that a piece of paper with a score on it.

Think of that person in the same light you would your barber or hair stylist. Talk to them and build a trusting relationship. Let them know what you like and what you dislike so that they can help you to have a good experience each time you put your money on the counter. We have used this theory for building what we believe is one of, if not the best shop in our area. It is a philosophy that has been handed down through the generations and we will continue on that path well into the future of Harry's.

-Cheers

Patrick

It's always a better day when Lily comes to work!



Saying hello to Joe today

 As the week wore on the crew started talking about the idea that it was Patrick's Sunday to work and everyone on the schedule for the day grew excited and looking forward to working. For a brief minute I mistakenly thought it was because they like to work with me and that Sundays had some how become a desirable day to work.
I was quickly reminded that what it really means is that when Patrick works on Sunday, so does Lily. She has this infectious way about her with her tail always wagging and her gentle way of sidling up next to them as she greets her co-workers for the day when they come in to work.

Soon that greeting is turned toward the customers that come in were she gets lots of love and I especially love to watch her meet the kids that come into the store with their parents. Even the most apprehensive child is soon pretty sure that she really wants to go home with them and that they have found a new best friend.

Over and over again on Sunday she is getting what she gives and that is a really genuine exchange of friendship with those that meet her. It has gotten so that on the Sundays that she is not working there are lots of questions as to why and when she will be in next. In fact during the week the question is raised over and over again about whether or not she will be in. Pretty amazing that her following has grown to be so big. It started as a one time trip to the store that was supposed to last an hour or two and is now something that people really look forward to. We may have to teach her how to sign autographs or something.

If you are out and about today and would like to come and say hi, I am sure she will win your heart too. Just look at her in the pictures, how could anyone resist?

Ps. If dogs make you nervous and would like us to move her away from you we understand completely and will give you plenty of room to shop without any problem at all. Just let us know that you are uncomfortable and we'll happily take her a safe distance away and she will not complain at all.

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Mar 2

Your host is Carlito Vitale of Winebow.

Italy is well represented today both in the wine selection and the person pouring them for you. One or two of the varietals might be new to our customers and if you are part of the "century club" (a group of tasters that have or are in the process of tasting at least 100 varietals), these are ones to look for on your list. Lugana and Cannonau aka Grenache are secondary or lesser known grapes. An interesting thing happened about a month ago when Dr. Oz did a piece on the natives to Sardinia and how long they live, in some cases well past 100 years and much of the credit is given to the wine they drink. "Cannonau grapes are grown in Sardinia and are known to contain 2-3 times the level of artery-scrubbing flavanoids than other wines. These grapes endure endure the harsh Sardinian sun by producing mre red pigment to protect them from the ultraviolet rays. Thus providing us with more antioxidants".

Shortly after the story aired our shelves quickly emptied and even the distributors were finding it hard to keep up. Today is your chance to sample it for yourself

Zenato Lugana 2011 $13.99

Pale lemon-green in color, this Lugana offers delicately appealing notes of peach, citrus, banana and herbs, which are beautifully accompanied by a crisp acidity and supple body on the palate.

Vitiano Rosso 2010    $9.99

This shows excellent balance with less of the overripe character that has been a signature of past vintages. Dark red fruit, roasted coffee beans, spices and mocha are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge from this fleshy, generous Vitiano Rosso. The fruit is beautifully layered all the way through to the finish.  Wine Advocate, 88 pts

Vitiano Rose 2012     $9.99

Deep coral in color, Vitiano Rosé delivers clean, juicy aromas of strawberries, plums, cranberries, and scents of roses and gardenias. Dry, medium-bodied and refreshing.

Argiolas Costera 2010                       $15.99

Intense ruby-red in color, this wine offers seductive aromas of ripe black cherries, pepper, and licorice. Warm and full-bodied on the palate, with excellent texture, ripe fruit flavors and pleasant tannins.

WINE DINNER: An Evening in Paso Robles Tues. March 12, 2013 7pm-10pm

Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market, 55^o Restaurant and

Justin Winery Present:

An Evening in Paso Robles

With Special Guest Jim Gerakaris, Winery Sommelier & Educator

Tuesday, March 12, 7PM

$75 plus tax and tip

Shaved Pear Salad

endive, lolla rosa, goat cheese, toasted almonds, sherry vinaigrette

Sauvignon Blanc 2011

House-Made Shrimp Fazzoletti

saffron, blood orange, scallion

Chardonnay 2011

Roasted Halibut

red beet ravioli, brussels sprouts, wild mushrooms, fingerling potatoes

Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Grilled Vintage Farms Sirloin

veal ragu, salsify puree, cabernet-black mission fig glaze, truffle oil

Justification 2009

Isosceles 2009

Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta

caramel gelato ,poached lady apples, toasted pumpkin seeds

Obtuse Port 2010

For reservations please contact:  55o Restaurant 55 Miller  St, Fairfield Phone:  (203) 256-0099 info@55winebar.com www.55winebar.com

For wine info please contact: Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market 2094 Post Road, Fairfield Phone:  (203) 259-4692 harrys@snet.net www.harryswine.com

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Mar 1

Your host is Frank of SBC.

It's all about local tonight. Frank is visiting from Southport Brewing Company which is just a stones throw from Harry's. If you hop on the post road and head toward Southport it is on your right about a mile away. They were with us a few months ago to kick off and introduce their Pale ale. Tonight they have added their newest addition to the repitoire, Big Chill, their winter brew. Standing with Fank is one of our loyal Friday night tasters, Dan Carlucci. He is in a band called String Fingers out of Easton and they played at the Harbor Brew Fest that we hosted last summer over at Harbor Yard. We'll be doing it again this year and if it is anything like last year the tickets will go fast. At Harry's we are big supporters of the local movement, and have been for our 7+ decades.

Pale Ale                      $8.99/6pb

Our India Pale Ale is hopped 3 times giving it a floral aroma. Handcrafted by our brewmaster using 8 English specialty malts.

Big Chill                     $12.99/6pb

Mild malt aroma. Clear light amber color with a small white head. Mild sweet beginning with a light bitter middle and a sweeter finish.

Growers Champagne - Watch Out Orange Label!

I'm guilty of it myself - 99% of us don't enjoy champagne frequently enough!  Most people consider it a celebratory beverage only to be consumed on New Year's Eve, at weddings, or other special events.  Personally, some of the more widely distributed Champagnes from France (fyi - Champagne only comes from France) have left me underwhelmed.  And after spending $43.99 I feel as though the wine should be more memorable.

Last month, while doing a blind tasting with 6 different sparkling wines, I was introduced to 2 spectacular Champagnes from an Importer named Terry Thiese. Terry has been instrumental in finding and promoting these incredible wines. Instead of growing grapes and selling them off to a major producer, these "growers" have taken to actually vinifying the wines and selling them under their own labels.  The results of this movements are some fabulous champagnes with true character, top quality, great displays of terroir, and reasonable prices.  Beware though, just because it's a grower champagne doesn't mean it will be of high caliber. It is sensible to look for those from importer such as Terry Thiese, Neal Rosenthal or any of the other reputable wine import companies. 

The 2 champagnes I was most excited about were the following:

Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blanc Brut NV $55.99 (100% Chardonnay) This wine was as beautiful on the palate as it was on the nose.  In my tasting notes I wrote "unbaked apple pie", indicating that the apple aromas were more vibrant than a cooked apple. On the palate this wine showed great minerality, green apple flavors, and a crisp citrus note.  Highly recommended.

A. Margaine "Cuvée Traditionelle” Brut, N.V $44.99 (90% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir) This was my winner of the night, hands down.  The finish was incredibly long and it had an incredibly supple texture. The nose was highlighted by lemon zest, brioche, and white flower.  The price is incredible! Loads of elegance at a more than reasonable cost.  Highly recommended.

Don't wait until New Years to enjoy one of these wines!

-Greg