Yesterday was time to try a new acquisition, the 2004 Fort Ross Vineyard Pinotage. I obtained some of this wine from Jill of Domaine547, who has been able to get me several hard to find California wines.
Last fall, I tasted their 2003 Fort Ross Vineyard Pinotage and absolutely loved it. So how would the 2004 vintage fare?
The Fort Ross website states that only 166 cases were produced of the 2004 Pinotage though the label states there were 175 cases. Either way, it is a small production wine. I should note that this is about half the production of the 2003 vintage. This seems based on the weather conditions during 2004, where the vines produced less grapes per acre. The 2004 Pinotage also saw 17 months in French oak, 20% new, while the 2003 vintage saw 15 months.
The 2004 Pinotage is similar in many ways in color, smell and taste to the 2003 vintage. The primary difference, though I don't think the difference is too pronounced, is that the 2004 seems to have more concentrated fruit and a bit less spice. It is still a hedonistic joy, a rich and complex wine that certainly pleased me very much. I may try the 2003 and 2004 Pinotages side by side sometime to get a better feel for their differences but I know I thoroughly enjoyed both. Overall, I highly recommend the 2004 Pinotage.
And in the near future, I will be tasting some of the Fort Ross Pinot Noir!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Mawby's: Lunch in Andover
When I think about lunch, many times I want a place that sells a good sandwich. And I don't want to have to pay too much. Yesterday, I decided to try Mawby's, an intriguing and eclectic restaurant/store in Andover.
Mawby's is located just off of Rt.28, at 7-9 Barnard Street, and there is plenty of street parking nearby. When you walk into Mawby's, you may be initially taken aback by its eclectic nature. They seem to sell a little bit of everything. First, there is plenty of food, from their deli, where you can buy sandwiches and salads, to racks of gourmet foods, including European chocolates. They also sell cakes and pastries. Second, you will find wine, most that seems to sell for under $20. Third, you will find many unique gift items, from fancy cutlery to dishes, from glassware to antiques. Check out the stuffed animal heads on the walls too!
Much of the store has a British feel to it, from the names of their sandwiches, to the decor, to the items they have for sale. The owner, Chris Perry, is half English and decided to to emphasize that aspect in Mawby's. It is the type of store that is very fun to poke around and check out everything.
If you want lunch, there is plenty to entice you. The sandwich menu is very interesting, with numerous gourmet ingredients in appealing combinations. Plus, many of the ingredients are organic. Nearly all of the sandwiches cost only $7-10. Consider a couple of the choices available:
The Exmoor Beast ($9.95): Oven roasted North Devon style roast beef, organic free range turkey, Berkshire heritage bacon, imported crumbled Gorgonzola, crisp romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and terragon mayonnaise on a sourdough baguette.
The Duke Of Edinburgh ($7.95): Fresh organic, free range turkey breast, country sage stuffing and fresh New England orange-cranberry relish on toasted French bread. Lettuce and tomatoes on demand.
They also have six types of burgers, including Wolfe's Neck beef, buffalo, Kobe beef and a veggie burger. The burgers range from $8-14 and come with a bag of potato chips and a pickle.
I decided to have a burger, though I wanted the buffalo with the toppings of the Wolfe's Neck sandwich. The usual buffalo burger is the Teddy Roosevelt Wilderness Hunter Burger ($8.95), a half a pound of very lean ground range roaming buffalo, grilled onions, and Wyoming chipotle pepper sauce on a roll. But I wanted it like The Winston Churchill Burger ($8.95), half a pound of organic Wolfe's Neck neef topped with English farmhouse cheddar, Berkshire Heritage bacon, and a tad of empire building barbeque sauce on a sourdough roll.
They were very accomodating and I felt that they would have made any changes that I had requested. Everything is made to order so they can easily make substititions if necessary. Plus, the menu has a list of items you can add to any sandwich or salad. Maybe add some Vermont goat cheese ($1.25) or even Smoked Duck Breast ($4).
The burger was delicious! It was good-sized, juicy and had plenty of flavorful toppings. The roll was obviously fresh and very soft. I was very pleased with the burger. It came with a bag of Cape Cod potato chips, good local chips. They also had fresh brewed iced tea which earns them points from me.
You will also find on their menu soups, nine different salads, and three grilled flatbreads (kind of like a mini-pizza).
I spent a little time chatting with the owner, Chris Perry. He was very personable and it soon was obvious that he is a passionate individual. He is dedicated to ensuring Mawby's is the best that it can be. He is doing something he loves and I think it shows. This is the kind of restaurant I enjoy, a nice local place run by a passionate owner that has very good food.
Chris mentioned that the restaurant will be expanding in the fall. It will start opening for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will be keeping my eye open for that and will report back to my readers when that happens. Until then, I will keep stopping by for lunch when I am in the area. I hope that you too will check it out.
Mawby's is located just off of Rt.28, at 7-9 Barnard Street, and there is plenty of street parking nearby. When you walk into Mawby's, you may be initially taken aback by its eclectic nature. They seem to sell a little bit of everything. First, there is plenty of food, from their deli, where you can buy sandwiches and salads, to racks of gourmet foods, including European chocolates. They also sell cakes and pastries. Second, you will find wine, most that seems to sell for under $20. Third, you will find many unique gift items, from fancy cutlery to dishes, from glassware to antiques. Check out the stuffed animal heads on the walls too!
Much of the store has a British feel to it, from the names of their sandwiches, to the decor, to the items they have for sale. The owner, Chris Perry, is half English and decided to to emphasize that aspect in Mawby's. It is the type of store that is very fun to poke around and check out everything.
If you want lunch, there is plenty to entice you. The sandwich menu is very interesting, with numerous gourmet ingredients in appealing combinations. Plus, many of the ingredients are organic. Nearly all of the sandwiches cost only $7-10. Consider a couple of the choices available:
The Exmoor Beast ($9.95): Oven roasted North Devon style roast beef, organic free range turkey, Berkshire heritage bacon, imported crumbled Gorgonzola, crisp romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and terragon mayonnaise on a sourdough baguette.
The Duke Of Edinburgh ($7.95): Fresh organic, free range turkey breast, country sage stuffing and fresh New England orange-cranberry relish on toasted French bread. Lettuce and tomatoes on demand.
They also have six types of burgers, including Wolfe's Neck beef, buffalo, Kobe beef and a veggie burger. The burgers range from $8-14 and come with a bag of potato chips and a pickle.
I decided to have a burger, though I wanted the buffalo with the toppings of the Wolfe's Neck sandwich. The usual buffalo burger is the Teddy Roosevelt Wilderness Hunter Burger ($8.95), a half a pound of very lean ground range roaming buffalo, grilled onions, and Wyoming chipotle pepper sauce on a roll. But I wanted it like The Winston Churchill Burger ($8.95), half a pound of organic Wolfe's Neck neef topped with English farmhouse cheddar, Berkshire Heritage bacon, and a tad of empire building barbeque sauce on a sourdough roll.
They were very accomodating and I felt that they would have made any changes that I had requested. Everything is made to order so they can easily make substititions if necessary. Plus, the menu has a list of items you can add to any sandwich or salad. Maybe add some Vermont goat cheese ($1.25) or even Smoked Duck Breast ($4).
The burger was delicious! It was good-sized, juicy and had plenty of flavorful toppings. The roll was obviously fresh and very soft. I was very pleased with the burger. It came with a bag of Cape Cod potato chips, good local chips. They also had fresh brewed iced tea which earns them points from me.
You will also find on their menu soups, nine different salads, and three grilled flatbreads (kind of like a mini-pizza).
I spent a little time chatting with the owner, Chris Perry. He was very personable and it soon was obvious that he is a passionate individual. He is dedicated to ensuring Mawby's is the best that it can be. He is doing something he loves and I think it shows. This is the kind of restaurant I enjoy, a nice local place run by a passionate owner that has very good food.
Chris mentioned that the restaurant will be expanding in the fall. It will start opening for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will be keeping my eye open for that and will report back to my readers when that happens. Until then, I will keep stopping by for lunch when I am in the area. I hope that you too will check it out.
Wine-Sense: Pre-Fourth Summer Bash
Looking for some summer wine choices? If so, you should have been with me last night.
Last evening, I led a group of about fifteen people from the North Shore Winers to a special Pre-Fourth Summer Wine Tasting Bash at Wine••Sense in Andover. I recently reviewed Wine-Sense and found it to be an excellent, boutique wine store with a passionate and energetic owner.
Andrea Alexander and Jonathan Tagliani, both local distributors for different companies, were present and showcased some of the wines from their respective portfolios. This included whites, roses and reds. Something for all tastes.
I began the tasting at Jonathan's table, who had three Roses and one White.
First up was the 2007 Domaine Raffault Chinon Rose ($15) from the Loire Valley of France. It is made form 100% Cabernet Franc and has an alcohol content of 12.5%. It has a light pink color. Now, I am not a fan of Cabernet Franc. I find that most Cabernet Franc has a green pepper flavor that turns me off. And I did smell a little green pepper on the nose and also tasted it. The green pepper did mix with some red fruit, predominantly strawberry, but it is not a combination that I like. But, it was a very popular wine with others at the tasting. If you like Caberent Franc, then you will likely enjoy this Rose.
Next, there was the 2007 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rose ($30) from the Provence region of France. This estate uses organic agriculture and will be certified as such later this year. The wine is about 90% Mourvedre with a little added Syrah and Grenache. It has an alcohol content of 13.5%. The Bandol region makes some incredible Rose, especially ones that age well. Domaine Tempier is considered by many to be the best estate in Bandol and I do very much enjoy their Rose. So how does Domaine de Terrebrune measure up? Actually, extremely well. The Rose is a very pale pink color with an intriguing nose of fruit and a touch of spice. It is a full-bodied wine with a complex taste of red fruit and spice. It is a wine to savor, to reflect on its quality. It has a long finish and I think it is comparable to Domaine Tempier. This is an excellent Rose and one I would highly recommend.
The 2007 Chateau De Trinquevedel Tavel Rose ($20) is also from the Provence region. This is a Rhone blend with primarily Grenache and it has an alcohol content of 14%. It has a medium pink color, almost a light red. On the nose, it has lush fruit smells which also are reflected on the palate. Vibrant strawberry, raspberry and watermelon flavors. There also seems to be a bit of pepper in the wine, especially on the finish. I very much enjoyed this wine and would also recommend it.
Lastly, there was the 2007 Seebrich Riesling Kabinett ($15) from Germany. With an alcohol content of only 10%, this is certainly a lighter choice. And once you taste it, I am sure you will enjoy it too. It has a nice crispness to it with only a hint of sweetness. It presents more of an apricot flavor with hints of tropical fruit. This is the type of wine to pair with spicier foods, maybe some Thai or Indian. Many people seemed to enjoy this wine and I would also recommend it.
It was time to move on to Andrea's table where she had three Whites and two Reds.
I began with the 2006 Stefano Massone, Vigneto Masera Gavi ($13) from the Piedmont region of Italy. This white wine is made from 100% Cortese and has an alcohol content of 11.5%. This dry wine has good citrus flavors with a touch of minerality and some nuttiness, especially on the finish. I liked it but it did not really impress me. For the price though, it is a good buy.
Next, there was the 2007 Salneval Albarino ($13) from the Rias Baixas region of Spain. I am a big fan of Albarino, especially from Spain. This wine, with an alcohol content of 12.5%, is an excellent example of Albarino. It has delicious citrus flavors with a touch of honey. It is a very crisp and refreshing wine. This is the perfect type of wine to pair with seafood. And this is an excellent price for an Alabarino that tastes this good. I highly recommend this wine.
The 2006 Staatlicher Hofkeller Wurzburg Abtswinder Altenberg Scheurebe Kabinett ($21) is from Germany. This wine must have one of the longest names in the world. The wine is made from the Scheurebe grape and comes in a bottle that reminds you of Mateus. Though in Germany, that shaped bottle is sometimes known as a "goat sac" bottle. The wine has an intriguing nose of spicy grapefruit. On the palate, it has plenty of acidity with an almost sweet taste combined with citrus, especially grapefruit. Again, this is a wine that some people really loved. For myself, I am not as keen on grapefruit so I was not a big fan of this wine. Though if you enjoy that flavor, you will definitely love this wine.
On to the reds, we began with the 2006 Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti ($12). This is a simply, easy drinking wine. It is a light wine with a fruity nose and plenty of cherry flavors on the palate. It has decent acidity and would make an excellent BBQ wine. A good value choice at this price point that should please many.
The final wine was the 2006 Domaines Barons de Rothschild Aussiers Rouge ($18). This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot and Syrah and has an alcohol content of 13.5%. It is made in 90% staineless steel. It has an enticing nose, very aromatic fruit. Though there was some good red fruit flavors, I also detected a touch of green, almost unripe flavor. So I did not care as much for this wine.
Overall, a very good tasting and my fellow Winers all seemed to enjoy. Many of them did buy wine so they found wines that they enjoyed. If you have not been to Wine••Sense yet, you definitely should check it out.
Last evening, I led a group of about fifteen people from the North Shore Winers to a special Pre-Fourth Summer Wine Tasting Bash at Wine••Sense in Andover. I recently reviewed Wine-Sense and found it to be an excellent, boutique wine store with a passionate and energetic owner.
Andrea Alexander and Jonathan Tagliani, both local distributors for different companies, were present and showcased some of the wines from their respective portfolios. This included whites, roses and reds. Something for all tastes.
I began the tasting at Jonathan's table, who had three Roses and one White.
First up was the 2007 Domaine Raffault Chinon Rose ($15) from the Loire Valley of France. It is made form 100% Cabernet Franc and has an alcohol content of 12.5%. It has a light pink color. Now, I am not a fan of Cabernet Franc. I find that most Cabernet Franc has a green pepper flavor that turns me off. And I did smell a little green pepper on the nose and also tasted it. The green pepper did mix with some red fruit, predominantly strawberry, but it is not a combination that I like. But, it was a very popular wine with others at the tasting. If you like Caberent Franc, then you will likely enjoy this Rose.
Next, there was the 2007 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rose ($30) from the Provence region of France. This estate uses organic agriculture and will be certified as such later this year. The wine is about 90% Mourvedre with a little added Syrah and Grenache. It has an alcohol content of 13.5%. The Bandol region makes some incredible Rose, especially ones that age well. Domaine Tempier is considered by many to be the best estate in Bandol and I do very much enjoy their Rose. So how does Domaine de Terrebrune measure up? Actually, extremely well. The Rose is a very pale pink color with an intriguing nose of fruit and a touch of spice. It is a full-bodied wine with a complex taste of red fruit and spice. It is a wine to savor, to reflect on its quality. It has a long finish and I think it is comparable to Domaine Tempier. This is an excellent Rose and one I would highly recommend.
The 2007 Chateau De Trinquevedel Tavel Rose ($20) is also from the Provence region. This is a Rhone blend with primarily Grenache and it has an alcohol content of 14%. It has a medium pink color, almost a light red. On the nose, it has lush fruit smells which also are reflected on the palate. Vibrant strawberry, raspberry and watermelon flavors. There also seems to be a bit of pepper in the wine, especially on the finish. I very much enjoyed this wine and would also recommend it.
Lastly, there was the 2007 Seebrich Riesling Kabinett ($15) from Germany. With an alcohol content of only 10%, this is certainly a lighter choice. And once you taste it, I am sure you will enjoy it too. It has a nice crispness to it with only a hint of sweetness. It presents more of an apricot flavor with hints of tropical fruit. This is the type of wine to pair with spicier foods, maybe some Thai or Indian. Many people seemed to enjoy this wine and I would also recommend it.
It was time to move on to Andrea's table where she had three Whites and two Reds.
I began with the 2006 Stefano Massone, Vigneto Masera Gavi ($13) from the Piedmont region of Italy. This white wine is made from 100% Cortese and has an alcohol content of 11.5%. This dry wine has good citrus flavors with a touch of minerality and some nuttiness, especially on the finish. I liked it but it did not really impress me. For the price though, it is a good buy.
Next, there was the 2007 Salneval Albarino ($13) from the Rias Baixas region of Spain. I am a big fan of Albarino, especially from Spain. This wine, with an alcohol content of 12.5%, is an excellent example of Albarino. It has delicious citrus flavors with a touch of honey. It is a very crisp and refreshing wine. This is the perfect type of wine to pair with seafood. And this is an excellent price for an Alabarino that tastes this good. I highly recommend this wine.
The 2006 Staatlicher Hofkeller Wurzburg Abtswinder Altenberg Scheurebe Kabinett ($21) is from Germany. This wine must have one of the longest names in the world. The wine is made from the Scheurebe grape and comes in a bottle that reminds you of Mateus. Though in Germany, that shaped bottle is sometimes known as a "goat sac" bottle. The wine has an intriguing nose of spicy grapefruit. On the palate, it has plenty of acidity with an almost sweet taste combined with citrus, especially grapefruit. Again, this is a wine that some people really loved. For myself, I am not as keen on grapefruit so I was not a big fan of this wine. Though if you enjoy that flavor, you will definitely love this wine.
On to the reds, we began with the 2006 Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti ($12). This is a simply, easy drinking wine. It is a light wine with a fruity nose and plenty of cherry flavors on the palate. It has decent acidity and would make an excellent BBQ wine. A good value choice at this price point that should please many.
The final wine was the 2006 Domaines Barons de Rothschild Aussiers Rouge ($18). This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot and Syrah and has an alcohol content of 13.5%. It is made in 90% staineless steel. It has an enticing nose, very aromatic fruit. Though there was some good red fruit flavors, I also detected a touch of green, almost unripe flavor. So I did not care as much for this wine.
Overall, a very good tasting and my fellow Winers all seemed to enjoy. Many of them did buy wine so they found wines that they enjoyed. If you have not been to Wine••Sense yet, you definitely should check it out.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Twitter Tastings: July 17
Recently, I posted about an innovative wine tasting run by Bin Ends called Twitter Tastings, or Twitter Taste Live. The first Twitter Taste Live has now been announced for Thursday, July 17.
The special guest will be Eric Solomon from European Cellars. European Cellars has been importing hand-crafted wines from France, Spain and Portugal since 1989. They're Spanish portfolio has been at the forefront of the influx of extremely high quality Spanish wines that having been making they're way to market over the past 10 years. I have tasted numerous wines from their portfolio and believe they have some very delicious and exciting wines.
For this premier Twitter Taste Live, Eric will be showcasing 6 of his top Spanish selections. Eric will also be joined by my friends and fellow bloggers, Ryan and Gabriella of Catavino. This should be a fascinating tasting so check out Bin Ends for more information.
The schedule is also set for the second Twitter Tasting on August 21st. Etienne Hugel, from Hugel et Fils in Alsace will be joining everyone live from Alsace!
The special guest will be Eric Solomon from European Cellars. European Cellars has been importing hand-crafted wines from France, Spain and Portugal since 1989. They're Spanish portfolio has been at the forefront of the influx of extremely high quality Spanish wines that having been making they're way to market over the past 10 years. I have tasted numerous wines from their portfolio and believe they have some very delicious and exciting wines.
For this premier Twitter Taste Live, Eric will be showcasing 6 of his top Spanish selections. Eric will also be joined by my friends and fellow bloggers, Ryan and Gabriella of Catavino. This should be a fascinating tasting so check out Bin Ends for more information.
The schedule is also set for the second Twitter Tasting on August 21st. Etienne Hugel, from Hugel et Fils in Alsace will be joining everyone live from Alsace!
St. Germain: All Over Boston
I recently posted about the St. Germain cocktail that I took to a summer party and which was a big hit. I was a pleasant surprise to read today's Boston Globe and found an article about St. Germain, "A sweet summer pick? St-Germain is the one."
The article gives some descriptive background on the liquer and then provides a list of local restaurants/bars that serve St. Germain, including listing some of the cocktails. Maybe you want to try a Hit of Sunshine that combines St. Germain, raspberry puree and champagne. Or a San Germargarita with Patron silver tequila, fresh lime juice and agave nectar. There are plenty of options so I recommend that you check out the Globe article.
What is your favorite St. Germain cocktail?
The article gives some descriptive background on the liquer and then provides a list of local restaurants/bars that serve St. Germain, including listing some of the cocktails. Maybe you want to try a Hit of Sunshine that combines St. Germain, raspberry puree and champagne. Or a San Germargarita with Patron silver tequila, fresh lime juice and agave nectar. There are plenty of options so I recommend that you check out the Globe article.
What is your favorite St. Germain cocktail?
Portugal & Wine
As I recently said in my First Anniversary post, I want to learn more about wines and foods of Portugal. Especially as I hope to travel there in 2009. And I want to share what I learn with my readers.
To that effect, I will also post links to articles about the wines and foods of Portugal that I come across, to share what others have to say about it as well.
For example, I just came across an item in the Daily News Journal of Tennessee called "Portugal Produces Fine Wines." The article reviews four Portuguese wines that they blind tasted. The wines are from three different regions of Portugal.
So stay tuned for much more about Portugal.
To that effect, I will also post links to articles about the wines and foods of Portugal that I come across, to share what others have to say about it as well.
For example, I just came across an item in the Daily News Journal of Tennessee called "Portugal Produces Fine Wines." The article reviews four Portuguese wines that they blind tasted. The wines are from three different regions of Portugal.
So stay tuned for much more about Portugal.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Bacon Vodka
It is certainly no secret that I LOVE Bacon! And I also enjoy Vodka. How would they work combined? I am not sure but I did find a recipe to create Bacon Vodka.
McAuliflower of Brownie Points posted her recipe to create this enticing concoction. It is a simple recipe, essentially letting bacon strips sit in a bottle of vodka for a few weeks. There are plenty of comments attached to the post with some additional suggestions for bacon vodka. Check it out!
I will attempt to make this Bacon Vodka in the near future and will report back my efforts.
While you are reading over the bacon vodka recipe, you should also look over the rest of her blog as McAuliflower has plenty of other interesting recipes.
McAuliflower of Brownie Points posted her recipe to create this enticing concoction. It is a simple recipe, essentially letting bacon strips sit in a bottle of vodka for a few weeks. There are plenty of comments attached to the post with some additional suggestions for bacon vodka. Check it out!
I will attempt to make this Bacon Vodka in the near future and will report back my efforts.
While you are reading over the bacon vodka recipe, you should also look over the rest of her blog as McAuliflower has plenty of other interesting recipes.
Stoneham Sun: Andover Exploration
My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the July 2 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it may also touch on a few other food and wine topics.
The new column has been published today and is also available online. The new column provides a couple recommendations for stops while exploring Andover. The first recommendation is for The Cupcake Boutique, a place to find excellent cupcakes as well as other baked goods. The other recommendation is for Wine-Sense, a small, boutique wine shop. There are other interesting places that you can visit in Andover but that I did not mention. I just wanted to whet your appetite a bit, to show you some potential, and to have you explore and find other foodie destinations.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Dine with passion.
The new column has been published today and is also available online. The new column provides a couple recommendations for stops while exploring Andover. The first recommendation is for The Cupcake Boutique, a place to find excellent cupcakes as well as other baked goods. The other recommendation is for Wine-Sense, a small, boutique wine shop. There are other interesting places that you can visit in Andover but that I did not mention. I just wanted to whet your appetite a bit, to show you some potential, and to have you explore and find other foodie destinations.
If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.
Dine with passion.