02.22.08 / 2003 Sean Thackery Andromeda Pinot Noir Devil's Gulch Vineyard

I have a couple of these in my cellar, but I saw they had some with Thackery's distributor, so I ordered a bottle for us to try at BONDA. It was a little disappointing, as it was neither delish nor corked - just closed.

02.21.08 / Barnett Tasting

We are doing a wine tasting with Barnett Family Vineyards in April at BONDA, so our distributor brought the wines by for us to try. We were familiar with their Chards, but we also tried a single vineyard Pinot Noir, single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and a reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

I have the list, but forgot at the restaurant.

They were all delish, and will provide detailed tasting notes with our food thoughts soon.

2002 Arcadian Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Syrah

Don't know why I chose this wine tonight. I have been saving it to have with short ribs, or steak - definitely not what is on the menu tonight: cod with cous cous. But, it has been a tradition for Cooper and I to have a bottle of Syrah when his mommy abandons us on Wednesday nights.

I have had Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Sleepy Hollow, but didn't know they grew Syrah as well. Planted in 1998 with cuttings that Randall Graham (Bonny Doon) delivered from the Rhone River Valley to Sam Baldaras of Talbott. Joe Davis was offered some of the grapes and bought them to do his own exploration of Syrah. Although the heritage is unknown, Joe says "...quite interesting and the resultant fruit very delicious, reminiscent of the old world funk we like."

I am going to agree with the winemaker. I find, a perfumed nose of earth, charred vines, chocolate covered strawberries (?) - surprisingly does not reveal its alcohol one bit (13.9%). I know this sounds wonky, but it really makes me feel like I am in the Santa Lucia Highlands on a brisk spring night, watching a bonfire smoke up and trail off into the hills with the ocean breeze. Yes, wonky.

Burnt oak on the tongue with blackberry pie, thyme, pure joy with a touch of bitterness (like life, no?).  Surprisingly dry on the finish, but lingering. In the old world style, but nods to CA as well. It doesn't need food, but would probably benefit from it, as the stolen bits of Cooper's avocado are adding more depth, sweetness and high tones fruit - although that could be the oxidation?

It's times like these when I wish more Arcadian was sold in CT, as I think this was a lay around sample from Rob's New York book. I will investigate!

2002 La Spineta Ca' Di Pian

Clove, allspice, medium tannins. Little fruit hiding in there. There is a great story about this wine that I will fill in later.

02.14.08 / 2004 Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard Chardonnay

Valentine's Day is a good excuse to drink good wine. Courtenay has been feeling run down and in a bad mood so I let her choose a wine for us to drink. Of course she chose her favorite, Williams Selyem, and our last bottle of Chard.

It was premature to open it, but delish. Flavors of ripe pineapple, vanilla, oak. It needed some time to mellow out, but it really rocked after a bit. I made chicken under a brick with a pea, gruyere and asparagus risotto. She dug it and we had a great night!

02.09.08 / Bachelor Party Wines at Joseph's

Descriptions to follow. The winner of the night was the Two Hands by far! Another big Shiraz that gets great reviews that I have been avoiding, but Jamie bought and brought it - and it was delicious!

2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

At the Mackin Tasting at BONDA, we had this Belle Pente as the 10th or so vino. Rob said it wasn't showing that well due to shock and time in bottle. I ordered a case anyway as he practically sold out of it before it came into the state.

Off the cork, it was like strawberry wine - super light and fruity. Then it went through a skanky dark period of muck. I made a skirt steak and veggie stir fry (marinated in soy sauce, ginger, honey, balsamic, onions, and chinese 5 spice). The steak made the wine sing, bringing out medium tannins, bright fruit and that Oregon depth I love. It still has a bit of funk, which is odd for Belle Pente. Usually their wines are floral and reserved.

After two hours, it was still kicking, with a little RS build up. I think it is a little too young, but I was anxious to try it again.

When I first tried Brian's (I think that is his name) wines, we had a tasting at BONDA with he and Joe Davis from Arcadian. I said "How can you do this? Joe's wines blow Belle Pente out of the water!" Rob said that others said the same thing in reverse! Over the four years since then, I have grown to love Belle Pente. The wines need more time in the bottle, and are a bit young when released, but give them a year and they will reward you plenty. The '04 Murto Vineyard is prime right now, and we plowed through about a case of 2005 Belle Pente Vineyard Chardonnay at my house last year.

I believe this is the first production of the "Dundee Hills" designate for BP. The AVA is only two or three years old in the Willamette Valley - I think the wine was just Willamette before. J. Christopher, Cameron, and I think Patty Green all have wines with the same title, so it is a good boat to be in. I don't remember the price, but I believe it will go on the list for $45 or so. A fair price in my book, although I am going to hold off for a little while to put it on the list at BONDA.

2005 Dom. Tempier Bandol

In the 2002 vintage, the distributor could not give this wine away. This year, we were alotted 4 bottles, because they f*cked up ordering the 2004 vintage. Anyway, Dom. Tempier has always been a favorite of mine. Their single vineyard Mouvedre, Cincault blends are always amazing, but take forever to open.

I popped the cork at 8 pm, and it was tight, tight, tight. At 9:33, after a 15 minute trip home from BONDA, some fruit has developed, but I am beginning to think it is still too young.

Big alcohol and spice on the nose, with hints of currants and cough drops following on the tongue. HUGE tannins, lingering finish.

If you can find some, put it away til 2010 at least!

Sean Thackery Pleiades XII

Earlier this evening I was down in my cave, looking for older vintages for the bachelor party, and came across a bottle of Pleiades XII. I only have two of them, but the label was so rotten, that I pulled it. Jamie came over and saw the bottle, and suggested we open it. I said OK, wine is meant to be drunk.

Off the cork it tasted a lot like the XV - big charcoal, junior mints, hints of oak, small berries - and seemed like it could go for awhile. After a bit, it started to close out and get a little medicinal. Still super tasty, this is the only wine that I bought in the first few months when we moved into our house that has been here the entire time.

02.06.08 / 2005 Godolphin by Ben Glaetzer

Jamie and I have been sitting on this wine for awhile, waiting for the perfect time to drink it. I had been resisting buying a case, but I heard such great things about this wine, that I had to buy a six pack. We will sell it for $92, and it is well worth it. I was not a fan of Australian Shiraz until about 4 years back when I had a 2000 Henry's Drive Reserve. I have had many fantastic Shirazs and many mediocre Shirazs. The Godolhpin is not mediocre. 80% Shiraz and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Delicate, bold, delicious!

Cooper says, OK Daddy, if you like it, but I'll keep my formula.

Big and fleshy, with notes of oak that don't over power the fruit. Flavors of dark chocolate and mocha, super smooth, with mild tannins. It just kept getting better, and probably could have used some time in the decanter.

2002 McCrea Syrah

I selected this wine while choosing wines for tomorrow's bachelor party. We are going to Joseph's, which has a mediocre wine list, but their corkage is only $20. Jamie is bringing a few wines, Ryan is bringing some Dom, and I am bringing some wines. I thought about bringing the McCrea, but thought I might as well get in shape, as I really haven't had any wine this week.

First opened it was chilly (stored at 55 degrees), but smooth and delish. The age really burned off a lot of the alcohol that these Syrahs usually have. This is anotherwine from the legendary Mackin porch sale - it just keeps on giving!

Settled down a bit after an hour, and started to warm up a bit. The McCreaness started to shine through. A little oaty on the nose, with beef jerky and dried raspberry. Touches of cough syrup (in a good way), with that mealy flavour (also in a good way).

We had chinese, pork fried rice and veggie lo mein - which was not a good compliment. I don't know if it screwed with my palate, but I'm at a loss for words!

02.01.08 / 116 Crown Restaurant

After reading the fantastic NY Times article about 116 Crown in New Haven, Steve and I decided we should go. Court had made plans to go to New Hampshire for a bachlorette party, so I made plans with Steve and Sally for dinner. Court ended up not going, so the four of us supped at the newish restaurant.

The only place they had room for us was in the Tea Room, which was kinda cool, but very isolated - good and bad. It was nice to catch up with Sally in our own space. A 10 x 12 brickd wall with funky lighting, leather ottomans, and small tables. We each sat in a corner, while Sally's iPod played chill tunes, and noshed on small plates.

Elm City Wino loves the place, and raved about the wine list ("best in CT"), but I disagree. They had some interesting bottles, Sean Thackery Wines being my favorite, but not enough to really earn that cred. If I lived in New Haven, we would probably go quite often and I would drink more off their list.

I had some really great wines by the glass, but I will get to those after I look at their wine list again!

01.25.08 / 2004 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Peay Vineyard

If you have read my previous Williams Selyem post , you know I am a big fan of Bob's wines. Albeit a new fan of two years. I met the Peay brothers' sister in Bridgehampton a few years back and have been looking for their wines ever since. They make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast which are supposed to be excellent, they also sell their fruit. Truth be told, I haven't looked that hard, just in stores, at restaurants and CT distributors (of which there are none).

Our friends Jay and Jayma came for a visit, and WS is one of Jay's favorite producers. I have been saving the Peay Vineyard Pinot, since I was only alloted one, ever, and thought it the perfect time to open it. I brought home some zaza from Pepe's and Modern to do a little taste test. Pepe's straight up cheese won, of course.

I was very disappointed with the wine. There was nothing wrong with it, quite tasty. It had the tell tale WS style, light raspberry, soft tannins, etc.... there just was not anything special about it. At $75 from the vineyard, and two years of looking at the bottle, I expected a lot!

Oh well, we will see if I ever get alloted any more. Next round is at the end of the month. Court finally got on the list as well, so hopefully we will have more buying power!

02.07.08 / 2004 Dom. Des Champs Vignons Chinon

I went into NYC for three meetings yesterday and took the train back to Westport to see Jamie @ BONDA. I had a very finite time, as Courtenay was on her way to pick me up, so I opened one of the wines I bought from Mackin, the 2004 Dom. Des Champs Vignons Chinon. A village level Chinon that was posted and he was looking to unload for a great price.

We had it as the 12th wine or in the tasting, and both agreed that it was a powerful, yet elegant wine. Below is my write up for the wine list. We are selling it by the glass at $9 a pop.

From Chinon, France this wines is stinky on the nose and mellow on the palate. Featuring whafts of charcoal, soil and leather, muted fruit with medium tannins, and a lingering finish. For those who like a real vigneron produced wine of the earth. Great pair with Bacon!

01.30.08 Mackin Wine Tasting

So Rob brought some wines by BONDA for us to try. Some new vintages of wines, some post offs (selling cheap), and others that were new to his portfolio. Lots of Italian, French, and Pacific Northwest wines. All red (if I remember).

Needless to say we tasted a lot of wines (mostly spit), and I bought a handful for the list.

I will review them as I taste them again.

I have been a very bad BlogFather

I have been experimenting with twitter on my personal blog, and not really drinking that much wine. With the Super Bowl and a bachelor party coming up tomorrow, Court asked that I take a week off. I wanted to catch up on wines that I missed over the last few weeks, but just didn't get a chance. Also my report on 116 Crown is due as well.

Sorry for the delay, but I should be caught up by Sunday!

Cheers!

01.30.08 Fountainhead Wine Tasting for Wine Tasting Dinner

On Wednesday, Mike came by the restaurant to taste us on the wine that he and Mark chose for our final Wine Tasting Dinner with the Fountainhead. Not final as in ever, but the end of our triumvirate of the winter. We are ending it with Fountainhead Selections: wines that they import and have a relationship with the vintners. It is always a fun dinner as there are many stories about the soil, climate and temperment of the winemakers.

We started off with a 2005 Schueller (one of my favs) Pinot Gris Reserve (we will serve the 2002 Uncle Leon Reserve, but it only comes in Mags). As usual, this wine did not disappoint. Notes of honeysuckle with a touch of sweetness and a bit of viscosity. Jamie thought a good pairing would be Roasted Cauliflower with an anchovy dressing (a nod to Pasta Nostra's classic dish).

Next up was 2005 Schueller Pinot Noir Lot #12. We had the '04 for New Year's Eve and it rocked. The '05 was a little less funky, but still had a little stink, with muted fruit and a soft finish. Mike thought it might still be a little shocked as it has only been in the country for 3 weeks. I thought a nice veggie moroccan stew over cous cous. The cumin would really bring out the spice in the wine.

From Southern Rhone, 2005 Dom. Rabasse Charavin - a fantastic wine for the price. I thought we should keep it simple with a cheese plate, toasted fruit bread and a white raisin relish.

2001 Dom. Piaugier Reserve Alphonse Vautour was next. Mike is really pulling out all the stops. A nice leg of lamb would support this great wine.

As the final red, 2003 Dom. Berthoumieu "L'Argelis", a Tennat from 100 year old vines in Madiran. I thought this was going to be big and bold, but it was more supple, like a fine tuned Bordeaux. Mike has been bugging me to make a Cassoulet for one of these tastings and I have always declined - too much work! But after tasting this wine, it deserves a Cassoulet style dish.

If you want to make a reservation for the wine tasting dinner, please email bondarestaurant@hotmail.com and I will contact you if space is available.