Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Dec 29

Your host will be Len Gulino, "The Wine Tutor"

Len teaches the predominance of our classes here at Harry's and is lending his expertise for our annual pre-New years Bubbly tasting. Each year we select a handful of bubbly wines from different price points and goegraphic areas to feature for the holidays. This year we have a number of good choices... For my money the Besserat is the hands down favorite this season. it drinks as well or better than the one with the orange label and saves you some money to boot!

If you have a question about the world of wine feel free to pepper Len with your questions and put his knowledge to the test. It is what he does after all.


Rossinyol Cava N.V. $9.99
Visual: The bubble is small and persistent due to a very slow second fermentation in the bottle at low temperatures in the cellar.
Nose: Very fruity with aromas of apple and pear from the varieties Macabeo and Parellada. Very delicate aromas from the yeasts, which have been created from the long stay in the cellar before the degorging.
Taste: A very well-balanced cava; easy to drink, as it should be for a medium-alcohol cava, with good structure. Very elegant and ingressive due to a very gentle pressing of the grapes.

Lamberti Rosé N.V. $14.99
Pinot Bianco - 34%, Pinot Nero - 33%, Raboso - 33% sourced from the best hillside vineyards across Treviso in the Veneto. The red fruit is vinified with the saignée method. The wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in closed pressure tanks via the Charmat method to obtain a fine mousse. Bright coral color with beautiful aromas of rose petals and bananas, a delicate mousse, light body, a lovely balance and a fresh, lasting finish.

Besserat de Bellfon Champagne Brut N.V. $29.99
The medium straw colour has copper highlights and delicate fast moving bubbles forming a fine necklace. Its open nose leads to floral aromas and hints of dried flowers, while the paalate reveals fruitiness, white peaches and Mirabelle plums, followed at the end by hazelnut and caramelized nut notes. The gentle bubbles provide a creamy mouth feel and long finish. A classic blend of 35% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir and 45% Pinot Meunier.

Marguet Champagne Vintage 2006 $59.99
The blend is 70 % Chardonnay and 30 % Pinot Noir from old vines located in grand cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. The wine is aged in the bottle on the yeast for at least 5 years thus ensuring a long period of autolysis that lends a unique complexity to the wine. This is a very rich and quite toasty brut composed exclusively of Grand Cru Mountain of Reims fruit. It has fantastic black cherry Pinot Noir fruit, savory intrigue and quite a lot of minerality on the finish.

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Dec 28

Your hosts will be Alex and Mike of Harry's Staff


Stone Ruination IPA $6.99 22oz.
So called because of the "ruinous" effect on your palate! This massive hop monster has a wonderfully delicious and intensely bitter flavor on a refreshing malt base. One taste and you can easily see why we call this brew "a liquid poem to the glory of the hop!" Those who seek, crave and rejoice in beers with big, bold, bitter character will find true nirvana in Stone Ruination IPA!


Yellow Snow IPA $7.29 22oz.
Pale golden in color with a hoppy fruity aroma. Big hop flavor up front complemented by medium body and hoppyness mid-pallet. Finishes with a characteristic lingering bitterness.


BBC Lost Sailor IPA $3.99 22oz.
A classic British-inspired IPA, Lost Sailor keeps an even keel with a well rounded malt profile to support generous dry-hopping with the time-honored Goldings hop variety. With its floral and citrus aroma and medium body, Lost Sailor is the perfect session beer, whether lost at sea or in the comfort of your own home or a local pub.

Warm Holiday Wishes From Harry's

During the holiday season it gets pretty busy at the Harry's Corner, with Harry's, The Fairfield Cheese Company, The Pine Creek Deli, Fabricare and now the newest store, Tutto's Pasta, there is quite a bit of interest in our little square and the endless line of people continues to come. The spaces don't stay empty for long but there is a real joyous calm to it. Lots of waves and smiles go along with the holiday greetings as everyone makes room for the next person.

One of our favorite parts of the December rush is that so many of Harry's alumni come back to help and we get to catch up with all of their lives. Some like Ryan and Annie are home from college while others like Christelle, Mike and Carl hang up their 9 to 5 jackets and get back on to the wine sales floor to help us make sure that our customers get the individual service that we offer all year. I honestly don't know how we would do it without them.

Saul has been in helping to coordinate patries and deliveries and Scott is in to help the gang up front to get the lines moving. I think Scott said it best a couple of years ago when he said "I love the energy in the store at the holidays". Scott grew up working the holiday time at Harry's along with his sister Kira and brother David (our original craft beer guy), so it is a signal to him and the rest of the family that the season is here. His kids Mia and Anthony are now the fourth generation from the family to grow up coming to the store each week. Some of you will remember their art work that has been proudly displayed around the store much like your own kids artwork on the refrigerator at home. Anthony also carries the proud distinction of being our best climber of beer stacks back in the store room and when he reaches the top he looks like the king of the mountain perched up there.

We are all truly appreciative to Fairfield, Southport and the rest of our neighboring towns whose residents continue to make Harry's Corner such a viable place to work. Some of the faces that come in will only appear once or twice a year and in some cases share a story about the store from many years ago. We hear lots of people that grew up with, and remember, "Harry the duck" who still swims in the wine chiller to this day and is visited by many children while mom and dad pick something up.

While this time of the year is very busy, and the staff looks like they might just need a rest and some time to regroup, I can say with certainty that we all love this time of the year and we genuinely appreciate your patronage over the year.

From our family to yours we wish a Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year. May it be blessed with all of the best that this time of the year can offer.

William
Patrick
Scott
Jan
Greg
Renzo
Chris
Stephanie
Andie
Kerry
Joe
Rob
Monica
Mike
Alex

and our alumni-

Saul
Christelle
Mike
Carl
John

The Newest Brewery in Ct... and the world is ending! so sad :(

So here it is the the last day of the world, 12-21-12 and these knuckleheads are starting a new brewery and introducing it today!

Renzo came to me a couple of weeks ago and asked if we could introduce just one more brewery brefore the world ended today. Me, being the pessimist that I am said "Yeah, go ahead and schedule it. The world is going to end anyway so I won't have to worry about how busy the store is going to be on the last Friday before Christmas".

So, now here we are with the store absolutely buzzing with people and there is Renzo setting up for the tasting that wasn't going to happen!

Your host will be Rick of Two Roads Brewery.

Ol’ Factory Pils $9.69/6pb
Traditional in concept with a Two Roads twist…dry hops. We use a combination of classic German as well as American hop and malt varieties in our Pils. We renovated a 100 year-old factory building and designed this Pils to have “extra” aroma…so, pardon the pun! Crisp…refreshing…refined.

2 Ruin DIPA $12.29/6pb
A big, hoppy IPA with plenty of bite! Our assertive, hop-centric Double IPA has a lean malt backdrop and is brewed with four American hop varieties – Summit, Palisade, Cascade and Magnum. Piney, citrus, floral, not-for-the-timid!

Worker’s Comp $9.69/6pb
A traditional farmhouse ale made with a very expressive yeast strain that contributes an array of tropical fruit, spice flavors and aromatics. Brewed with a variety of harvest grains including barley, wheat, oats and rye as was likely the case with farmhouse brewers of yore. The result is a complex, refreshing and distinctive example of this esoteric style. Intensely fruity (passion fruit, pineapple, mango, lychee), slightly spicy (clove, white pepper)

Holiday Toasts!

With Christmas just a few days away, it is a time for celebration and a time to spend with the ones you love.
Here at Harry's we have been in full throttle mode for the past few days and will only be getting busier as we close in on Christmas. There has been quite a bit of stocking shelves and filling the coolers to satisfy all of our customers’ needs. I am taking a break from the holiday madness and using this quiet moment to spread some holiday cheer! I’m sure many of you are still running around trying to get your last minute shopping done. Good luck, and keep at it... the clock is ticking!

Below, I have put together a few Christmas toasts that I hope will help you to bring some joy and holiday cheer to your family’s homes.

Enjoy!

I wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
A pocket full of money
And a cellar full of beer!

May you never be without a drop at Christmas!

May all your joys be true joys, and all your pain Champagne!

Here's to the bright New Year
And a fond farewell to the old;
Here's to the things that are yet to come
And to the memories that we hold.

On a personal note...
This will be my last blog post here at Harry’s as I have decided to fulfill one of my dreams and move to the land of palm trees and bright sunshine in San Diego, California. Christmas eve will be my last official shift.
I would like to personally thank Patrick and William for giving me the opportunity to grow and gain an incredible amount of knowledge over the past few years. I am proud to call Harry’s my home and would like to extend thanks to all of my customers who have relied on me to pick out the perfect bottle for them.
I wish you all the best and happy and healthy holiday season. Cheers!

Chris O’Brien

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Dec 15

Your host will be Alain Blanchon of Alain Blanchon Selections.

Clos Fussay Reuilly 2011 $16.99
Reuilly is a lesser known appellation in Loire Valley producing mineral driven, complex sauvignon blancs. The Clos Fussay Reuilly drinks like a Sancerre with a lovely mineral character from the rich limestone soil and just a hint of citrus fruit. Lean, dry, and refreshing.

Thevenot Haute Cotes de Nuits Blanc 2010 $19.99
This Burgundian AOC of Haute Cotes de Nuits allows the blending of Pinot Blanc, and indeed this wine is 80% Pinot Blanc and 20% Chardonnay. The Pinot Blanc, a very aromatic grape, gives pronounced floral and fruity notes while the Chardonnay brings a touch of finesse. The usage of only 20% new barrels helps to give the wine structure, and yet not get too woody. The nose is expressive and nicely divided between white fruit and floral notes.

La Campagne Pinot Noir 2011 $9.99
Medium color with aromas of cherry and strawberry fruit with a mildly tannic finish. This is a lighter-styled wine that is easy to drink, yet pairs well with food. It is a great value for Pinot Noir at this price point.

Chateau Puygueraud Cotes de Francs 2009 $25.99
Shows lovely black currant, floral and black licorice notes. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a tight bead of fruit and mineral throughout. Has a long finish.

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Dec 14

Your host is Scott Valey of Charter Oak. Second time through for this local brew. We are doing our best to continue to think globally but to act locally. Charter Oak fills the bill for that. It is brewed right here in the great, Charter Oak state of Ct.

Pale Ale $8.49/6pb
Charter Oak's Royal Charter Pale Ale beer (named after the Connecticut charter hidden in the Charter Oak Tree) is the little brother to our IPA, but still brewed with plenty of flavor and hops. This top fermented ale will be solidly an American Pale Ale style; not too sweet and not too bitter, but complex enough to not disappoint you. From your first sip and scent of a citrus and floral aroma, a solid backbone of the Cascade Hop can be detected. We hope you will enjoy this well balanced, medium bodied, and deep golden appearance in our Pale Ale. We can assure you it is not intensely hopped up, but only a subtle bitterness and dry finish. This is a beer you can drink all night long!

Brown Ale $8.49/6pb
Charter Oak's 1687 Brown Ale (this was the year the legend of the Charter Oak took place, and Wadsworth hid the document in the majestic Oak Tree - later to become know as The Charter Oak) is an American style which is slightly more robust than the traditional English Brown Ale. This beer will be brewed to a dark copper shade and be somewhat sweet and malty with distinctive toasted flavors from both our premium specialty roasted and chocolate malted barley, also allowing for a faint undertone of caramel. This style is lightly hopped for balance and this ale will prove to be a wonderful selection for a sessionable beer. Our medium-bodied, limited bitterness and hop aroma will make this an excellent choice. Look for our 1687 Brown Ale at your favorite watering hole in June

THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the store,
The patrons were shopping for spirits and more.
The bottles were placed with care on the rack,
In hopes they’d be purchased and put in gift wrap.


We open the doors at eight o’clock on the dot, and people are waiting to check our stock.
Wine, spirits, champagne or beer,
For all your holiday needs, know we are here.


The employees are polished and up to the job,
Just ask our wine staff, Greg, Chris, Joe and Rob.
Whether buying for Christmas, Kwanza, New Year’s or Hanukah,
Ring out with Andie, Steph, Kerrie, John or Monica.


There’s jovial William, so knowledgeable and quick,
And dependable Patrick with his diligence and wit.
Wine is their passion, wine is their life, red or white, they’ll show you the grape, that will bring you delight.


Buy Zinfandel, Buy Burgundy, Buy Malbec or Cabernet,
Buy Riesling, Buy Albarino, Buy Pinot or Chardonnay.
To the top of the counter, to the nets and the bag,
Package them quickly, 750 or mag.

Stouts, IPAs, or our holiday beer, no matter your desire,
Renzo is here.
With the help of our guys, Alex and Mike,
They’ll pick, box and carry, whatever you’d like.

And I’m Jan...bookkeeper, cashier, and ready to move the line,
I’m also the author of this cute little rhyme.
Patrick’s my husband, I readily admit and we work well together though he balks when I sit

We have corkscrews, aerators, waiters and stoppers, more than enough to please all the shoppers.
Gift certificates, baskets and holiday wrap, we have all you’ll need to make your gifting a snap.

We’ve been in Fairfield 71 years and counting, to our patrons and
friends our gratitude is mounting.

May your holidays be happy and your family be near, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good year!!

A drum roll please...

We are happy to announce that Tutto Pasta has opened its doors and is ready to serve you!
See their website here.

Another great reason to shop local!
Harry's corner continues to search out and find unique shops that add diversity and convenience to your shopping experience. This shop will add a new layer of that artisanal flavor and uniqueness that just can not be found at the big grocery store chains. This family owned store is offering fresh, made to order pastas of all types. When I was in there a few minutes ago they were hand rolling their first batch of Raviolis. If you need linguini, tagliatelle, pasta sheets, etc... they will make them in front of your very eyes. There are an assortment of sauces that are being made on premise daily that complement their fresh pasta and it could not be more fresh. We can't give it all away, you'll have to stop in and see it for yourself.

At our corner, we are all doing our best to service our community with the addition of stores whose owners are truly passionate about their crafts.
71 years ago a small liquor store opened in this location bearing the name of it's owner, "Harry's". Through the years we have had the good fortune of being able to build it into what we think is Connecticut's best wine, craft beer and liquor market. Over the decades many writers and critics have given us the nod and that continues to motivate us to strive to be better each passing year.
Many in our community are quite familiar with "The Pine Creek Deli" which has been a staple at the corner for more than a decade. "Fabricare Cleaners", originally Zoots, has occupied its place for a similar period of time. "Fairfield Cheese Company" has made its mark snuggled in next to Harry's for the past 4 years, garnering quite a bit of acclaim themselves. Recently Fabricare was convinced to split their space in order to help the corner continue to grow.
The shop has turned out beautifully and the construction and inspections have finally made way for the next generation of diversity at the corner.

Congratulations, and welcome!

Special Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur tasting 4-7pm

Your host tonight is Marian Cherrone and she is pouring a great new find for us here at Harry's. The timing is perfect for the holidays. One taste of this and you will be a believer too! Lots of these type of thing come through our doors but there aren't many that are show stoppers and to a person this was one of those products for us. Over Ice cream, with Peppermint Schnapps, Amaretto or by itself. Yum...

Chopin Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur is a unique combination of exceptional Polish tastes: Poland's finest chocolate and Chopin Vodka, the world's finest single ingredient vodka. This masterfully blended creamy liqueur can be enjoyed neat, on ice, with coffee or over ice cream! 36 Proof
$24.99 750ml

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Dec 8

Your host will Deidre Magnello of Deidre Magnello Selections.

Medeville Graves Blanc 2011 $19.99
Sauvignon Blanc provides fruit, aroma and freshness to the wine, and Semillon imparts roundness and finesse. A touch of Muscadelle adds perfume. This blend is the best expresion of white Graves and helps to achieve balance between freshness and structure.

Les Trois Pecheurs St Veran 2010 $14.99
From the village of St Veran comes this unoaked chardonnay which is the white grape of Burgundy. It has a richer flavor and mouth feel than the entry level Macon-Village of this region. The aromas and flavors are all about the crisp citrus notes and underlying minerality.

Puig Parahy Georges 2010 $14.99
The Puig-Parahy 2010 Cotes du Roussillon Georges - about to be bottled when I tasted it - offers its usual exuberant, infectiously juicy, impeccably-clean, tart-edged fruit, reflecting a blend of Carignan, Grenache, and a smidgeon of Syrah, raised in tank. Blackberry and purple plum are tinged with brown spices, bittersweet herbs, and peat-like smokiness. Given the pricing of past vintages, we can expect that this 2010 rendition of "Georges" will once again offer outstanding value over the next several years. Robert Parker, 90pts

Lafond Canon Fronsac 2009 $19.99
Notes of blackberry and pepper. The palate is well balanced, complex, silky with vanilla note, liquorice and eucalyptus. Half of the vineyard surface is cultivated with herbs between the rows to maintain a good microbiological life in the soils. 80% Merlot – 20% Cabernet Franc

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Dec 7

Your host is Barry of OPA OPA Brewing Company.




IPA $9.59/6pb
This beer is brewed for those who appreciate the pure pleasure of the Hop. The malt comes through, but its not long before the hops take over! Aromatic, bitter and a bit strong, this beer graduated from the more is better school.



Red Rock Ale $9.59/6pb
A blend of German vienna malt and English crystal malts create this malty and slightly fruity beer. Sweet caramel flavors give way to a surprisingly soft and smooth finish.



Light Lager $7.99/6pb
Clean, crisp malt flavors are accentuated by a delicate hop fragrance in this low-calorie pilsner style lager.



Pale Ale $7.49/Growler
Clean malt flavors are the heart of this copper colored American styled ale, and the snappy hop finish is its soul.

3 Great Burgundies! (Affordable too)

It's easy to find great burgundies, but here at Harry's we are always searching for great burgundies that won't break the bank.  Heading into this holiday season we are happy to report we have a bevy of great burgundies to offer.  Below are some noteworthy wines to check out:

2009 Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Blanc $25.99/bottle

Just in!  We have always loved this producer regarless of vintage and just yesterday we took delivery of several cases of the 2009 vintage of this wine - great producer & great vintage! This is a white burgundy made from the chardonnay grape within the area of Chassagne-Montrachet. You could refer to this wine as a "baby chassagne".

2009 Harmand-Geoffroy Gevry-Chambertin Rouge $39.99/bottle

This wine continues to impress.  We started working with this wine early in the fall and each time we open it up we can't believe it comes in under $50 a bottle.  This "Gevry" has the structure and body to stand up meals including roasted meats and game.  100% pinot noir.

2010 Cheveau Macon-Fuisse Blanc $21.99/bottle

A super-versatile white burgundy, like the Pillot, made 100% from chardonnay.  I love this wine, it has fresh and vibrant fruit with a creamy texture.  This wine is vinified and aged exclusively in stainless steel vats.  The body and texture are achieved through the use of grapes harvested from old vines and aging with longer lees contact.  I especially like serving this wine with an asortment of cheeses.

Stop in and pick up some of these wines to try.  These are all small production wines so supplies are limited.  Hopefully we have enough to last through the holidays.

-Greg

Special Tasting 4pm-7pm Minsk Vodka

Elena Shulman is here to introduce our customers to Minsk vodka. Some of you will recognize Kristina (right) who is part of the Harry's Alumni and still makes the occasional appearence to help out on a busy day. Today she just stopped in to say hi to her buddies still on staff.


For tonights tasting we are offering special pricing on this "perfect for the holiday party" Vodka.
Reg. $29.99 1.75ltr
tonight $26.99 1.75ltr

It has been a good find for us. good taste and good quality. More here

Stop by to try it!

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Dec 1

Your host will be Ian Scudder of Serge Dore Selections.

Pfaffenheim Gentil 2010 $14.99

Dry and crisp, ‘Gentil Pfaff’ unveils subtle mineral notes, translating into purity and freshness with a fine, silky texture. Wines from this ultra-reliable producer (often voted 'Best in France') are sought-after worldwide. The ‘Gentil’ is a blend of five grape varieties that come together in one synchronous glass. Pinot Blanc 28%, Pinot Gris 23%, Gewurztraminer 16%, Riesling 16%, Sylvaner 16%, Muscat 1%.

Xavier Frissant Touraine 2011 $14.99
The hillside micro-climate and the soil with a high proportion of stones has a great influence on this wine, which is evident in the striking minerality at first sip.A pale shimmer in appearance, the wine reveals an expressive nose of lychee and linden flower. It is fresh and mineral in the mouth, with lively aromas of citrus and exotic fruit notes.


Macard Bordeaux Red 2009 $14.99
Ripe and dense, but fresh, with silky-textured plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit carried by sweet spice and maduro tobacco notes. The fleshy finish shows nice drive. Should open up more with brief cellaring. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. 50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot. Drink now through 2011. Wine Spectator, 90 pts


Adissat Cotes du Rhone 2010 $16.99
Dark purple. Perfumed bouquet of spicy dark berries, cherry and cracked pepper. Pliant blackberry and bitter cherry flavors display good depth and restrained sweetness. Finishes with good lift and cut, leaving black pepper and licorice notes behind. Pretty serious for a Cotes du Rhone. (55% grenache, 40% mourvedre and 5% syrah; all raised in concrete): International Wine Cellar, 89 pts