Rosé of the day - Tuesday July 9, 2013

Domaine du Tariquet Rosé 2012 $9.99

Tasting notes: A beautiful shade of pomegranate red, with an exquisite bouquet, both subtle and intense. Mild spicy notes lead to a delightful duo of wild raspberry and flower petals. Rich, full bodied and fresh on the palate.
The fruit is a treat as the wine’s intensity retains an ethereal quality, leaving a trace of rich flavours and salty spiciness on the finish. A rosé made from red grapes, using the same vinification process as for white wine.

Varietals: 40% Merlot, 40% Syrah, 20% Tannat

Region: Gascony, Bas-Armagnac, France

 

Coteaux D'Aix-En-Provence

Coteaux D'Aix-En-Provence

Coteaux D'Aix-En-Provence, France

Monday's answer: 
The answer is here but first a question, When will this heat end? I know it is summer but the heat and humidity are unbelievable. Can't complain too much, the sales of Rosé have never been better!

Ok, here we go... Peggy O'Leary (Mom) was in first yesterday with  "The Carlton". A good guess but not this time. The Carlton does have a similar look and might get a shot a little later in the summer but I'm sorry to say that it is not today. 

Chefmichaelatyourservice was our second player and tried  "Fairfield Motor Inn.... next to the Circle Diner" and he was right. He was not the only person to reference the diner next door to it, Kristie Coneys Kuhl was a short time behind the Chef and said "Fairfield hotel, next to the Circle Diner" and both answers get the nod for being right even though they are slightly different. This game is meant to be fun and we don't have to be exact, right?
Well most of us don't...
 
Our final player for this was Mark (I have a stick in my butt) Beyerly who wanted to make sure that we got it "right" and put up "I could be mistaken, but I believe the official name is "Fairfield Inn at the Circle"" Which of course is "right", Yawn...  

I give Mark a tough time but we really are glad to have him and all of our players getting involved. This promotion can be  work but you all make it fun to keep it going. Thank you! 

Rosé of the day - Monday July 8, 2013

La Remise de la Mordorée, Rosé  2012 $15.99

Tasting notes: Light salmon color. A fresh and very pleasing wine revealing light aromas and flavors of red berries and dried cherry. It shows more minerals than fruit and offers an especially dry, crisp finish.

Varietals: Merlot, Marselan

Region: Southern Rhone, france

Friday's answer:

Leave it to me to predict what will be the harder ones... Once again I thought that Friday's would be difficult for everyone and one again I was... err,... not entirely correct. (Trying to save face right off because Mark [I know everything] Beyerly was involved Friday).

Chefmichaelatyourservice got things started early with a simple and matter of fact answer,  "St. Emery's Church on King's Hwy". Which of course was correct. 

Steve Melnick was next and said "This one is easy ( I think)! St. Anthony's on South Pine Creek", We are glad you put in the caveat because it wasn't as easy as you had thought. In this case St Anthony's was not our answer but I think this was your first slip up so we'll move on and give you a chance to redeem yourself with the next one.

Mark (I'm exhausting) Beyerly chimed in with  "A Hungarian wine might have been more appropriate for this shot.....The statue of St Francis is a clue to this church's history - originally founded and run by the Franciscans up until 2011. Chef Michael is correct, St Emery Church on Kings Highway East" 

Blah, blah blah... 

Guess what Maaarrkk, we don't have a Hungarian Rosé! (not sure if I should be boasting about that but it is true this year) So pipe down

Maryhelen Melnick, any relationship to Steve? was next and she correctly answered "St. Emery's church,Fairfield,ct"

Finally,  Janice Balint Monteleone wrote "My friend Dodi Hesse, guessed "in front of St. Emery's" We were both baptized there!!" She and Dodi have been life long friends who met in Kindergarten if you can believe it. Jan shared the post on her page and Dodi replied there.

Ok, lets get this week going strong! I am predicting that there will be a large number of people that will get this one and my guess is that the first correct answer will be put up within minutes of the post. Lets see if I am right at least once with a prediction.

WINE DINNER: "A Night in Rio" - Tuesday, July 16, 2013 7pm-10pm

Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market, Winebow,

Wine Lovers of Connecticut, and Bin 100 Restaurant Present:

"A Night in Rio Dinner"

Tuesday, July 16, 7pm

$70 per person all inclusive

Bin 100 Restaurant, 100 Lansdale Ave, Milford

Hors D'Oeuvres Reception

Cod Croquettes, Pao de queijo, Feijoada, Coxinha

Pitu Caipirina with Pitu Cachaca

  

Moqueca de Camarao

Jumbo shrimp, coconut sauce with fire roasted tomato, sriracha, fried plantains

Lima Vinho Verde 2011 – white

Linguica Churrasco

Gilled Brazilian smoked sausage, black bean and corn salsa

Loios Alentejo 2011 – red

Churrasco a Moda

Grilled Angus NY Strip steak with roasted garlic, sautéed collard greens, fried yucca

Quinta da Garrida Dao 2008 – red

Muxagat Douro 2009 – red

Brigadeiros

Brazil’s favorite chocolate treat

Smith Woodhouse 10 Year Tawny Port

For reservations please contact: 

Wine Lovers of Connecticut

1211 Quinnipiac Ave, New Haven

RSVP  203-469-4218

Email:  wineluvint@aol.com

For reservations please contact:  Wine Lovers of Connecticut 1211 Quinnipiac Ave, New Haven RSVP  203-469-4218 Email:  wineluvint@aol.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

Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, Jul 6

Your Host is Jean Noel Maubert of Fine Terrior Selections.

  

Cep d’Or Cotes de Provence Rose 2012     $14.99

80% Cinsault and 20% Grenache.  Beautiful pastel colour. Very good bouquet with a discreet almond aroma. Caressing and seductive with a lot of finesse.

L’Olivette Bandol Rose 2012                        $24.99

The primary grape here is Mouvedre, and Grenache and Syrah make up components as well. This wine shows off brilliant red fruit and superb richness, but even with its full body it still maintains a brilliant acidity which keeps it refreshing and quaffable.

Vinkara Narince White 2012                       $14.99

Produced with Narince grapes that are indigenous to Anatolia, Turkey. This lively full-bodied wine has hints of tropical fruit, apricot and citrus fruits aromas and also floral aromas.  It has balanced acidity and a long finish.

Ksara Reserve du Couvent 2011                 $14.99

A medium to full-bodied wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Aged in oak for six months, it is beautifully structured, with a nose of smoked fruits and vanilla. In the mouth, peppers, plums and berries abound. It has excellent length.

Rosé of the day - Friday July 5, 2013

Fournier Pere & Fils Sancere Rosé 2013 $22.99

Tasting notes: aromatic with bright red berries and stone Palette: juicy with great minerality Food Pairing: salads, light meats and asian cuisine One of the most elegant of roses.

Varietals: Pinot Noir

Region: Loire valley, france

Thursday's answer:
Sorry for the delay today, technical issues...

Short and sweet if we can. We hope that everyone had a great Fourth of July, it certainly was a pretty day. The fireworks were fun last night and I think our choice of location fit the bill nicely.

Yesterday's answer was put up in a couple of different ways but different people and everyone had a good grip on it. First Tom Bauder jumped in with "Vfw building". Correct Tom, thanks for chiming in and let Carol know that we have her in our minds and cheering on a speedy recovery!

Next we had Alexander Dacey with "...across from 7-11!" Good, we'll take it!

Followed by Mark (The Patriot) Beyerly who put up  "American Legion post at the corner of Reef and Oldfield Road! Excellent choice and happy 4th of July to all!"

And last but certainly not least Chefmichaelatyourservice gave us "V.F.W. on Reef Road"

Good job by all.

Today could be a bit tougher but I've said that before so we'll see how it goes...

Heat Wave! Cooling off this weekend...

Summer is here, the Rosé racks getting a major working over and everyone is looking for summer whites to bring to their parties or to have with the lighter, summer meals. It looks like many people are taking the extended weekend since the fourth fell on a Thursday this year and many of them have family and friends in to take advantage of the beach and help cool off.

The problem? How can I keep them happy and not break the bank? 

Here are a few great suggestions that will work for the extended weekend with the extended family and they are also things you'll likely revisit all summer as the "Dog Days" begin to set in.

First up:

Anjos Vihno Verde $7.99

Composed of Arinto, Trajadura and Loureiro, Quinta da Lixa "Anjos" is a bright, refreshing Vinho Verde with lively notes of apple, grapefruit, lemon and wildflower on the nose and palate. Crisp acidity merges with a subtle herbal note on the finish.

Low in alcohol at only 9.5%, and low in price, you can pour it freely and not have to be concerned about the dent it puts in your wallet. More and more people are dicovering this terrific little wine from Portugal!

Second:
Hofer Gruner Veltliner $13.99 ltr
Bottled in a full one liter bottle with a beer bottle style crown cap, is a refreshingly versatile, food friendly un-oaked white that packs a mouthful of flavor in every sip. The flavors are reminiscent of citrus, minerals, and the tell-tale white pepper that Grüner is known for.

At $13.99 you get an extra glass of wine in each bottle since they are using a litre bottle instead of a 750ml. Once again, it is a good way to stretch your dollars out a bit while family and friends are here and Gruners have made a very big mark over the past few summers and get more and more popular as the years go by.

Third:
Anares Terra Nova Verdejo $12.99
The 2012 vintage just arrived and is drinking spectacularly! I wasn't able to find tasting notes so I'll give you a few of my own... Bright and crisp with well balanced acidity and bright mineral and citrus notes. Verdejo can often show many charateristics of Sauvignon blanc but in this case the acidity is not as piercing and the citrus is very well balanced.

Do you want a varietal that many of your guests will not be familiar with but will fall in love with? This is it! I love to reccomend this wine to anyone from Pinot Grigio drinkers to Gavi, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino and on... I have gotten a ton of great feedback and many have made this their go to summer white.

Last but not least:
La Foret des Dames Sancere $16.99
Classic Sancerre minerality on the nose. Classic gooseberry and lime fruit with some melon on the palate. Very round Sancerre leading towards a nice crisp finish. A very good Sancerre!

This one is described very well in these tasting notes. Who doesn't want to find a great Sancere at a great price? When this was brought in to us to taste there was no reservation. The quality to price ratio is very high and was in stock the following day. Ask anyone on the staff for a Sancere and they will take you to this one first. Do we have more expensive ones? yes. Would I pay up for them right now? No.
This Sancere does not show incredibly flinty, calcified, minerality. It is a slightly more rounded style that hints toward green melon but that does not detract from its quality and the incredible drinkability. If you want to serve Sancere and you don't want to break the bank... easy choice

Here is hoping your Independence day was great and your weekend is better!

-Patrick

Rosé of the day - Thursday July 4, 2013

A to Z Pinot noir Rosé 2012 $12.99

Tasting notes: The A to Z Rose has bright and vibrant aromas of wild strawberries, red currants, peach, watermelon, cherries, raspberries and hibiscus with hints of rosemary and thyme. In the mouth, the juicy attack is a riot of red fruit and melon flavors that move into a mid-palate that is bright and rich all at once. The wine ultimately finishes crisp and clean with lingering flavors of strawberries and lavender. Pure enjoyment!

Varietals: Sangiovese

Region: Southern Oregon, USA

Wednesday's answer:
First, We would like to wish a Happy 4th of July to everyone!
This day commemorates our countries Declaration of Independence and is a very important day to each of us and our freedoms. We are fortunate to live in the greatest country in the world!
While we don't always agree with aspects of our leaders decisions, it isn't hard to look around the world with all of its turmoils and feel fortunate to live here. More, we live in and around Fairfield Connecticut which offers us a wonderful, safe place to raise our families and live our lives.
Please take a moment on this Independence Day to look at the billboard in the picture and recite quietly to yourself our out loud with your loved ones the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and all it stands for.

Done? Good, on we go...

For the third day in a row Old Glory has been in our picture as we led up to today. Yesterday we were at the Scandanavian Club down the road were our flag flies along side those of the Nordic region of Europe.

Gretchen Kuhn was our first person to guess when she put up "Fairfield Beach?". I have a picture in my head that I think was in hers also where after climbing off of the beach and crossing the parking lot there is a play area with swings and such. The picture does have that feel but i am sad to say that it isn't the correct spot.

Next up was Steve Melnick who came up with the correct answer first yesterday and he said it simply but emphatically - "Scandinavian Club!" good job Steve

Chefmichaelatyourservice says "Easy one.... Scandinavian Club on South Pine Creek Rd." Which is also correct and a bit more specific. This was followed by Michael Chelak who tells us that "Chef Michael has been working, working, working. :-)" Ok guys what gives? are you one in the same or relatives. Give up the info.

Mark (Clue Master) Beyerly jumped in with a fun Norse filled answer to cap things off for the day when he wrote "Chef Michael is really cooking!!! Home of the Torsdagsklubben, Glogg party and dancing around the maypole." You really need to get more involved you know Mark, try to come out of that shell a little.

Once again, our thanks to all involved it really keeps it interesting and fun.  

Rosé of the day - Wednesday July 3, 2013

Alois Lageder Rosé 2012 $16.99

Tasting notes: Fruit sourced from vineyards planted in the Bolzano area to deep and rich alluvial soils. After maceration, the grapes were fermented and aged on their lees in stainless steel tanks. An inviting, medium-bodied Rosé that presents distinct red berry notes with hints of violets on the fresh and long finish.

Varietals: Lagrein

Region: Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtirol, Italy

Tuesday's answer: With a dozen people involved yesterday on our Facebook page it seemed to be a well received picture that we put up. Aside from those that commented or liked the post there I have spoken to many over the last couple of days that just want to make sure that we aren't going to pull the plug on this thing anytime soon. Justine D. was among them and when I assured her that we would keep it going through Labor day she asked me "What are you going to do next?".

She got me with that one... Hadn't really thought about it much. We're having fun with this and, well, I guess we'll have to put the thinking cap on. Hmmm...

Back to yesterday's answer, Marlene Goldbronn Kimberly was first in with "Seagrape?" Which earned the nod as we "liked" her answer and is part of the property although a different business from the main part of the picture, most townies do know that corner as "The Grape". The real answer was hinted at by Mark (game cop) Beyerly who wrote "Hmm, the Seagrape can just barely be made out "Inn" the picture, but I'm not sure that is what the photographer intended....", Which, I have to admit is true, Curses!


Chefmichaelatyourservice concurred with Mark and correctly answered "The Inn at Fairfield Beach", Well done Chef, but one question... Where have you been? We do get used to seeing our regulars you know.


Susan L. Melcher also agreed as she posted "Yep......the Inn at Fairfield Beach.", Well done Susan thanks for the help!


Finally, Amy Cyphers Albert jumped in and answered  "Seagrape!". This time Game cop let the answer ride and we "liked" it without any futher trouble from him. I wonder if it because the kid in her profile picture is so cute or if he noticed that she worked at Seatle Genetics and is worried that I might ask her for "a favor". Careful, Mr. Beyerly, you never know.

Today is a bit unusual but if you know the spot it will jump out quick. Lets see how thing go. Good luck!

Rosé of the day - Tuesday July 2, 2013

Santons Rosé 2012 $9.99

Tasting notes: Pale pink in complexion with a beautiful intensity. Its nose is powerful somewhat akin to crushed strawberries. Its body rests easy upon one's palate, full of a variety of fruit flavors, well-rounded, characterized by a wonderful freshness, and its alcohol content assures the elegant balance of this wine.

Varietals: 50% ; Cinsaut - 30% ; Syrah - 20%

Region: Coteaux-d'aix-en-provence, France

Coteaux D'Aix-En-Provence

Coteaux D'Aix-En-Provence

Coteaux D'Aix-En-Provence, France

Monday's answer: Amy Dixon stopped by yesterday and commented on our post but like the good wine geek that she is, shwe was mostly focused on the bottle in the picture rather than where the picture was taken. Amy is in the business like us and my guess is that when she came across a Txakolina Rose her mind got a bit focused on it. I don't blame you Amy but the question each day is "Where was this picture taken?". So the response "I NEED THAT" isn't exactly the response we were looking for.... Put down the Rosé glass and concentrate. :)

Eight long hours passed after Amy put up her response and while a good number of folks stopped in, looked at the posted and visited the blog no one else put up a guess. Many of you "liked" the picture and we even had one or two that "shared" it but still nothing.

Finally, Mark (Flowers make me nervous) Beyerly stopped in with his daily guess "Looks like a florist. In Fairfield". 
Err, I, um... Lets see...  Yes Mark, it does. Thank you for playing along... Is Sandy around?

That's it! Lets get Sandy, she'll get it. So we did, right on the Facebook page we gave her a shout out  and she responded,  "Here I am: Shall I even venture to guess, Dailey's Florist shop on Blackrock Turnpike??" 

And the mystery was solved... Thanks Sandy!

Ok, The 4th of July is just around the corner so lets get some red, white and blue in a couple of these. 

Rosé of the day - Monday July 1, 2013

Txomin Etxaniz Getariako Txakolina Rose 2012 $22.99

Tasting notes: Weird and Wonderful Basque Rose! Pale orange. Intensely floral bouquet offers spicy red berries, orange zest, white flowers and minerals. Energetic and juicy, with fresh, incisive citrus fruit and redcurrant flavors underscored by a chalky mineral tone. Finishes firm and dry, with excellent clarity and lingering spiciness

Varietals: Hondarrabi Beltza and Hondarrabi Txuri

Region: Getaria, Basque region, Spain

Friday's answer: Were you watching... Did you see it? Just in case any of you missed it I'll help out by reposting it here...

This is how he put it up- Mark Beyerly- "Prepare yourself: I have no idea."

So simply written and it has such beauty to it. 

Mark (I have no idea) Beyerly, (has sort of a ring to it don't you think?) Gets Stumped!

Ok Mr. Beyerly it is time you prepare yourself! Today we have flowers again and we know what happened last time... "Stumped. I have no idea...." Ah yes what a lovely memory and today we have another opportunity. So exciting!

Now for the correct answer:

A drum roll please....

Cindy Carley Barker has burst on to the scene with three in a row. Friday she was the only participant to correctly guess our picture and here is what she posted "Our Saviors Lutheran Church on Hill Farm Road.....I remember when the lot next door was all strawberry fields. Now it's their parking lot!"

100% correct. Good to have you on board!

Eight other people "liked" our picture and inside of the doors here at the store the were a number of inquiries about the photo and its location but no one else was able to pin point it.

Today could be a tough one. Time will tell.
___________________________________________________________________________

CLUE: Approximately as often as we do our Rosé of the day promotion, so to speak:    _ _ _ _ _ _'s