Coffele Soave Classico 2007

Varietal
Garganega, Chardonnay

Category
White Wine

Region
Italy : Veneto : Soave Classico

Producer
Coffele

 

$35 for 750mL @ 'inoteca (wine bar on LES) with cheese pairing

very good; light, fruity but dry. a good balance for food but not super exciting by itself

Lagavulin 16

Amazing nose; smoky, tasty. smooth going down. not anything worth shattering, but i should try it at home (instead of a dark bar) before giving final judgment

Momokawa Pearl Junmai Ginjo Nigori Genshu Sake

18% abv

750mL @ warehouse (forgot price... most likely <$10)

wow. this is amazingly gross. starts ok, but has a strange metallic twinge at the end that spoils it. and its nigori, so i can't even heat it up and forget it :/

Ozeki hana-awaka Sake

250ml/8.4fl oz for $5.99, 7% abv

light, refreshing, slightly sparking. sweet, slighty fruity quite delicious

Bodegas Real "Nazares" Tempranillo 2007

$5.99 @ astor

yum! good balance, really tasty

Mano a Mano Tempranillo 2006

Just kind of boring. plain red wine. r

$6.49 or something from union square wines

Mia Prosecco

Colli trevigiani

sparkling (vino frizzante)

$7.99 @ Astor

mixes incredibly well for mimosas.

smooth, a very fruity dry.

Ozeki Dry Sake, Junmai

$4.99 (w/15% off, 4.24)/750mL @ Astor

Wow. this is pretty much disgusting. only good for cooking or mixing crappily. no taste besides lighter fluid when chilled, and burns and STILL tastes like lighter fluid when warmed/hot.

Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

$11.49 or something /6pack @ gristedes on 1st. no ABV?

uh. it doesn't taste like anything D:. really needs to be served warm. what pecan? suffers from being far too thin. not exactly gross, but definitely wouldn't buy again

Barkan Classic Pinot Noir

Israeli pinot noir

$15 @ libations (i mean, really, wtf? whats up with the wine list here... still bowled over)

decent. tasty, good with food, not super characteristic

Goose Bay Pinot Noir 2007

$26 @ libations for dinner (again, cheaper than you'd find in stores... so weird)

very earthy, practically fungal. not too heavy bodied, intensely flavorable, and great with a steak sandwich to boot. absolutely delicious. will deifnitely have to try more nz pinot noirs D:

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

$19/bottle at Libations for dinner out

(unbelievable prices... cheaper than at the store o_O... I have to wonder who wrote up the wine list, and if its a typo or not...)

Really quite delicious; nice fruit flavours with that characteristic kiwi sauvignon blanc twinge. not super exciting, but the best nz sauvignon blanc i've had. forgot what vintage it is

Hakushika Fresh & Light Sake

300mL from astor

Wonderful classic sake smell. musky sweet rice. taste is a bit more one dimensional, a little too thin, alcoholic, not super great. a decent standard sake but that's about it. also too thin to have hot.

13-14% alc, produc tof japan

Saranac IPA

part of tasting flight @ david copperfield's

pretty standard IPA -- basically, too strong for me! not bad balance, but wasn't really feeling it either.

Southampton Double White

kinda boring and a little off. then again, maybe i'm just not in a white ale kind of mood anymore

tasting flight @ david copperfield's

Unibroue Chambly Noire

mrm. good idea, not great execution. great hints to greatness, but just isn't tasty enough -- too thin

part of tasting flight @ david copperfield's

Long Trail Double Bag

tasting flight @ david copperfield's

this shit is good. dark malty goodness that's probably good in any weather. amazing tasty without being too heavy.

4.6%abv

Brooklyn Brewery Flemish Gold

6.5% abv saison farmhouse ale

tasting flight @ david copperfield's

its ok -- the taste is a bit off in a degree. not super excited about it

Prieure Royal Saint-Laurent 2007 Muscadet Cotes de Grand-Lieu

2007 estate bottled

$7.69 @ usq (after 30% disc)

sur lie, appellation muscadet cotes de grand-lieu controlee

12% ABV, loire white wine

very clean, not super exciting or tasty, but quite refreshing going down.

Brooklyn Brewery Oktoberfest

$8.99/6pk on sale from FD n(normally 10.99)

as oktoberfest beers go, its probably one of the better ones i've had... i just don't like the taste/style. too much... "autumn"-ness in it for my taste.

Takara Sierra Cold

$5.99 for 300mL@ warehouse

Type: Junmai Ginjo / Premium

Character:

Light and clean

Dry/Sweet: +5 (dry)

Texture: Soft and smooth

Aroma: Pleasant ginjo aroma

Suggestions

Serving: Chilled

Pairing food: Perfect by itself or with lightly seasoned foods

Alcohol: 12%

Size: 300ML

12% abv

kind of boring, tasteless. maybe i needed to have it even colder.

Pepperwood Grove 2005 Sauvignon Blanc

$6.99 @warehouse

13.5% abv, california , vinted & bottled by 3 loose screws, a division of don sebastiani and sons, napa, california

bought this just to throw into the fondue, but its actaullyr eally quite tasty (and for that matter, the first decent wine i've gotten from warehouse). fresh and herbaceous nose, apples taste. should be chilled quite a bit, but really not bad

Dogfish Head Red & White

@ PAOC retreat 2008

10% abv

y'know, its good, but for some reason, for a crazy craft brewery like dogfish head, and a nonstandard brew from them at that, it seems to have a very "dogfish-heady" taste. something about that slight tasty sweetness that they manage to pull off in alot of their beers.

so its good, sweet, fairly complex in flavour... but at the same time not all *that* different. D:~

Takara Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Silky Mild Sake

junmai nigori sake -- coarsely filtered. $3.99/375mL @ warehouse. +20 on sweetness scale. had w/snow crabs

drink chilled/cold, 15% abv

suuper good. white milky, sweet & fruity/musty. not too sweet, can't feel the alcohol at all. god i love nigori sakes. makes an excellent dessert drink, or with anything spicy

Channing Daughters 2006 Rosso Fresco

@ g's pl, w/asian noodles & veggies

$18.99 @ USQ, $13.29 w/30% off discount

reaaly really really tasty! long finish, great smell, very easy drinking. could workl with pretty much ANY food.

92.1% Merlot, 4.6% Blaufrankisch, 2.8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 0.5% Dornfelder

Sincerely 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

South Africa, western cape, produced by neil ellis wines 12.5% abv

from usq ($11.99, $8.39 after 30% discount)

very mineral, salty(?)sour-y(?)

1st impression: its ok, i'm actually shaping up to be not much of a sauvignon blanc fan.

2nd: chilled very much (fridge temp), with arugula salad, mrmmm. goes down very smooth and delicious. not super good by itself, but amazing with food

Samuel Adams Black Lager

@ PAOC retreat 2008

4.90% abv

really quite delicious -- had it right after the honey porter and they almost sorta blended into one, not a good sign of my senses. regardless, tasty, good, would have again

Samuel Adams Honey Porter

@ paoc retreat 2008

yummy! a good balance of sweetness with the beer. don't think i could drink more than half of this at at ime though... still *too* sweet

Colonia Las Liebres 2006 Bonarda

$7.99 @ USQ (w/discount $5.59)

mendoza argentina 13.5% abv, producer Altos las Hormigas

very delicious bite, mineral-y taste, lots of spinach. not much fruit to me, despite what the website review says... regardless, good and would get again

Belgian Beer Fest 2008 - Night of the Funk

Boston, MA

September 26th, 2008

(first number me, second, N, everything in bold is what we tasted)

Allagash Brewing Co.
Portland, ME / allagash.com

· 4 - Interlude (Strong Ale in French Oak w/ Farmhouse & Brett yeast; 9.5%) 4

· 5/4 - Barrel-Aged 10th Anniversary

B. United International
Importer / bunitedint.com

· Hanssens Cassis by Hanssens Artisanaal (Experimental brew w/ black currants; Version 1-2008; only 10 special cases made; 6.0%)

· Ichtegems Grand Cru (Flemish Red Ale; 7.0%)

· Scires by Birrificio Italiano (Black Cherry Sour Ale; 7.0%)

Boston Beer Co.
Boston, MA / samueladams.com

· 1/2 Samuel Adams Charon's Kriek (Barrel-aged Cherry Beer; 6.0%)

· Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk (Bretty Brown; 10.0%)

Brewery Ommegang
Cooperstown, NY / ommegang.com

· 3/2 Biere de Mars (The last 24 bottles in existence from the brewery; 6.5%)

· 2 Ommegeddon (Saison w/ Brettanomyces; 8.0%)

· 2 Rouge (Flanders Red Ale; 5.0%)

Cambridge Brewing Co.
Cambridge, MA / cambridgebrewingcompany.com

· 5 Samson (Belgian Barleywine; blend of bbl-aged Belgian strong brown ales and vintage Barleywines w/ traditional brewing herbs and subtle Brett; 10.0%)

· 2 Delilah (Blend of bbl-aged Belgian strong golden ale with Brett. Anomolous and Bruxellensis, and an herbed Belgian blonde gruit beer; 7.0%)

· Funky Bitch (Barrel-aged, spiced Belgian brown ale with Brett, blended with several other CBC barrel cellar specimens including our unreleased, spontaneously fermented sour Imperial Gueze; 9.0%)

D&V International
Importer / specialtybeer.com

· 4 Oud Beersel Framboise (Traditional Raspberry Lambic; 6.0%)

· 2/3 Oud Beersel Oude Kriek (Traditional Cherry Lambic; 6.5%)

· Oud Beersel Oude Gueuze (Traditional Blended Lambic; 6.0%)

· 4 Duchesse De Bourgogne by Brouwerij Verhaeghe (Traditional Flemish Red Ale, matured in oak barrels and blended; 6.0%)

· 5/4 Vichtenaar by Brouwerij Verhaeghe (Flanders Red Ale; 5.10%)

Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR / deschutesbrewery.com

· The Dissident (Flanders Oud Bruin; rare; we only got our hands on one case; 11.0%)

Global Beer Network
Importer / globalbeer.com

· 2/3 Cherish Raspberry (Fruit Lambic; 5.0%)

· 5 Monk's Café Flemish Sour Red Ale (5.5%)

· 3/2 Petrus Aged Pale (Aged in oak for 3 years; 7.3%)

Global Brewers Guild
Importer

· 4 DeProef Reinaaert (Flemish Wild Ale; 9.0%)

· 3 DeProef Zoetzuur Flemish Ale (Flanders Red Ale; 7.0%)

Ithaca Beer Co.
Ithaca, NY / ithacabeer.com

· 2 Vitus (Neo-Flemish American Whiskey Sout Brown w/ hand-crushd Wild Grapes; 6.0%)

· 2 Champagne Grisette (Tart wheat ale, fermented w/ Saccharomyces Bayanus & Brettanomyces; 4.5%)

New Belgium Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO / newbelgium.com

· 2 NBB Love (Single bbl, unblended La Folie, sour, wood-aged beer; 7.0%)

Rohrbach Brewing Co.
Rochester, NY / rohrbachs.com

· Oak-Aged Belgian Pale Ale (Wild Belgian Pale Ale on cask; 5.9%)

Russian River Brewing Co.
Santa Rosa, CA / russianriverbrewing.com
Vinnie Cilurzo was kind enough to send us one case of each of the following:

· Beatification (Batch #2; 100% spontaneously fermented w/ Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus & other wild yeast & bacteria in old bbls; 5.5%)

· Supplication (Batch #3; Brown Ale aged in French oak Pinot Noir barrels with three strains of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and sour cherries; 7.0%)

· Temptation (Batch #1; 3 years old; Blonde Ale aged in French oak chardonnay bbls with Brettanomyces; 7.25%)

· 2 Dubbel Pale Ale

Shelton Brothers
Importer / sheltonbrothers.com
Note: selection might change day of.

· Haandbryggeriet Haandbakk

· 5 Nørrebro Bryghus Old Odense Ale

· 3 Mikkeller It's Alive!

· 3/2 Flemish Primitive # 6

· Cuvée De Ranke

· De Ranke Kriek

· Struise Earthmonk Sour Ale

· Cantillon Classic Gueuze

· Cantillon Kriek

· Cantillon Vigneronne

· Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze

· 2/3 Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek

· Panil Barriquee Sour Red Ale

· 2/3 Oro de Calabaza

· 3 La Roja

· 2 Calabaza Blanca

· 2 Bam Bière Farmhouse Ale

· 4/3 Echt Kriekenbier

· 1 Boon Greuze

· 4 Kriek Boon

· 3 Boon Framboise

Southampton Publick House
Southampton, NY / publick.com

· 4 Cuvee des Fleurs (A Saison flavored with a blend of edible flowers including L. augustifolia, A. nobilis, C. officinalis, R. canina and H. lupulus.; 8.0%)

The Bruery
Placentia, CA / thebruery.com

· Hottenroth Berliner Weisse (Traditional Berliner Weisse w/ Lactobacillus, Brettanomyces, and Saccaromyces fermentation. Special barrel aged version; 3.1%)

· 3/2 Melangé #1 (Blend of a young Flanders Red & Imperial Stout)

· 2 Saison Rue (Saison bottled w/ Brett; 8.5%)

The Lost Abbey
San Marcos, CA / thelostabbey.com

· Cable Car 08 (Sour Ale, blended once a year to celebrate the Toronado. Only 50 cases were produced this year; 7.0%)

· 2 Cuvee de Tomme (Dark Strong Ale aged in bourbon & French oak bbls w/ Brett & sour cherries for over one year; 11.0%)

· 2 Saint's Devotion 08 (Devotion Ale spiked w/ Brett; 7.0%)

· Sinners 08 (Secret blend of 3 bbls; 9.0%)

Wetten Importers
Importer / wettenimporters.com

· Geuze Fond Tradition (5.0%)

Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Easton, PA / weyerbacher.com

· 2/2.5 Riserva (American Wild Ale; 11.4%)

Willimantic Brewing Co.
Willimantic, CT / willibrew.com

· Willi Wonder! (Willi Whammer '05 blended w/ Certified Gold to Workingman's Wheat (and Willi beers), aged in a fresh Dickel bbl w/ Brett and Lambic yeast; 7.0%)

Gazela 2008 Vinho Verde

9% abv, sogrape producer, varietals of loureira, arinto, azal branco

$5.99 at usq (w/30% discount = $4.19)

ok for a vinho verde. i'm not super into them, but this one has the right amount of carbonation. not much in the taste/scent department, but its really just a thirst quencher. suggested serving, 4oC!

postedit: just had it again, properly chilled. WOW. huge difference! sweet, perfect, delicious.

Samuel Adams Oktoberfest

@ lobstravaganza
5.7% abv

nice, its just the choice of flavourings (i swaer i can feel pumpkin in here) doesn't suit me. otherwise, fine balance

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale

fall seasonal
@ lobstravaganza
5.9% abv

its good -- nice hops/acidity/spice balance. not a super-heavy beer, not too light either. a good fall seasonal

Johnnie Walker Black Label

40% abv
@ lobstravaganza

quite nice. slightly sweet, well blended
definitely would buy again.

Unibroue Trois Pistoles Dark Ale

@ lobstravaganza @ malte's 9/27/08

9% abv

really quite nice -- thick, slightly sweet, malty, heavy.deserty bread?

Jameson Irish Whiskey

$15/1L at delhi dutyfree airport

best with an ice cube -- splash of water doesn't do much.

semi-artificial vanilla caramel scent, a little too sharp/alcoholic on the nose
but remarkably smooth going down. just the right hint of warm spices, spiciness, and vanilla
really well balanced and tasty... but it just smells so damn bad!!

McClelland Islay Single Malt Scotch

$18.99/750mL @ mvl or warehouse ($32.99/1.75L)

lovely vanilla spice tones
but the taste is missing something. or perhaps adds something; a bit funny in the back end, doesn't wrap together all very well. definitely still drinkable, but not the best adjusted

needs a splash of water to bring out aroma

Man Vintners 2007 Chenin Blanc

Man Vintners 2007 Chenin Blanc

fruity soft apple
not too sharp/acidic on the nose
lots of apple, melon, pretty decent. really tasty, but missing backbone. easy to drink, but nothing too muh else there

$8.99 USQ (w/30% discount = $6.29

white, wine, south africa, chenin blanc, Stellenbosch

Stag's Leap 2005 Merlot

Stag's Leap 2005 Merlot
w/pasta (vodka sauce, peppers, italian sausage) w/ann
~$25-40
13.9% -> wow. that's a big wine

orange ruby red in color
spicy merlot, berry
well balanced, goes down *very* easy
don't know if its worth the price, but its definitely quite delicious

Weingut Freiherr von Schleinitz Pinot Noir Rosé 2007

$14.99 minus 30% discount on USQ = $10.49
12.5% abv
http://www.unionsquarewines.com/r/products/weingut-freiherr-von-schleinitz-pinot-noir-rose-2007?id=wLJS7IYA
its really quite good -- tastes good, feels good, goes with most food. kind of "interesting" tasting too. not too much more notes unfortunately, a little congested in the nose

Codorniu Cava

11.5% abv
brut cava
its just bad. tasteless -- practically SALTY. slightly more palatable once much warmer than fridge temp, but still... nothing to write home about

Brooklyn Brewery Pilsner

$10.99/6pk @ FD
5.1% abv

very clean, fresh scent
wow! what a tasty pilsner -- goes down smoothly, just the right amount of carbonation, and a great low hop/malt aftertaste

Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap 2006

$10.99 @ USQ (30% off = $7.69)

red blend of Syrah, Mourvédre, Viognier.
strong leathery red-wine scent
bright garnet red in glass, very pretty
jammy, fruity, yet still light and juicy. goes down easy. sweet initially, leathery tannins in middle/end
takes kinda like the sebeka pinotage (also fromw estern cape i think?)

its quite good, but balance still kind of weird to me

Astica Torrontes 2006

$5.99/FD/USQ
Cuyo, Argentina
13% abv

very clean honeydew scent -- sweet/honeysuckle
tastes kind of like ethanol. fine cooking wine -- dry
unpleasant lighter fluid burn... smells alot better than it tastes. *sigh*

Chateau Tellagh Medea 2004

90% with 10% cab sauv
12.5% abv from algeria

dry, yet very full-flavoured tasty. great dashi aftertaste

$22 @ queen of sheba restaurant
$5.99 @ grand wl in astoria
Black Varieties: 40% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 15% Carignan, 10% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

really liked it alot!

Guinness Extra Stout

$10/FD
4% abv

its really kind of bitter -- tried making a balck and tan w/it and old sam adams -- either the sam adams was way too old, or i have to use draught style guinness.
didn't liek this as much as draught guinness

Stag's Leap 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

$20 or so
w/bacon scallops pasta at j/a's place

delicioso! scent came off kind of weird, like vomit. but lovely crisp taste, with a strong aftertaste -- without food, somewhat like ume from asian food. complex and delicious

Selbach-Oster 2004 Riesling Auslese

8% abv
sweet semi-dessert type wine

ztinger sonneustir riesling auslese

rotlay

mosel-saar-ruwer

its ok. had with fondue -- cost $40! definitely nothing terrible special. *very* summer fruity scent, slight sweetness on the tongue, not cloying.

Pierre Sparr Alsace Riesling 2006

$9.99 @ TJ's
dry aromatic riesling
12.5% abv

french riesling -- really quite good. fruity aromatic, but dry on the tastebuds. also works wonderfully in fondue

Trader Joe's French Market Sauvignon Blanc 2006

vin de pays doc
$4.99 @ trader joe's
12% abv

reallyc heap! tj's house brand importad from france

not much of grassy scent (bien!) sweet candied apple scent? very lovely smooth sauvignon blanc. dry, hints of fruit, long lasting in back of mouth -- i could use this for cooking and drinking easily!

as a side note, kind of weird in fondue -- a little sharp

Terra Sparkling Malbec 2007

$9.99 from astor
ags: Red, Argentina, Mendoza

its quite drinkable. maybe the only time i've ever liked a malbec??

Cardeal Dao Red Wine 2005

$6.99 on FD
REGION: Portugal › Dão
GRAPE: Rufete (40%), Touriga Nacional (40%), Bastardo (20%)
IMPORTER: Admiral
ALCOHOL: 13%

wow. totally rubbed me the wrong way. its a semi-drinkable table wine, but i really would never want to grab a bottle.

Hofbrau Maibock

6.8%
FD

very good! amazingly tasty, crisp, good yaer-round beer (i think its summer seasonal tho)

brewed in... kentucky?

Harpoon Summer Beer

$8.99 on freshdirect


citrusy, light nose
crisp. i like it alot. very... "crunchy"? a little weak on flavor, but what it does have is quite pleasant. would drink again

Kelso Chocolate Lager

6.75% abv
from kelso's of brooklyn
had this at spuyten duyvil on tap

its really really quite delicious! at first it seems too much/filling to drink a whole gpint of, but the flavours don't stop getting better. its literally like a meal in a glass, in a lighter-guinness kind of water. bittersweet chocolate with heaping espresso in the background. delicioso!!

Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale

4.5% abv
~$9-11 @ freshdirec

summer offering from brooklyn brewery. very very crisp, clean, tasty all around. my favorite summer seasonal so far.

Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager

amazingly full-flavoured for a lager. got a huge hoppy bite to it though, perhaps overdone a bit on that end. otherwise it would be quite delicious and crisp in summer.

5.0% abvsu

Blue Moon Honey Moon Summer Ale

5.6% abv
had it @s/eb's 4th of july bbq

orange peel and honey. its really quite light on the honey which is nice -- honey beer simultaneously seems like the world's best and worst idea. a bit on the flavourless side, but perhaps i had just drunk it too cold. really not bad and a good idea fora summer drink.

Torrontés "Plata," La Rioja - 2007

$7.99 @ astor

very crisp! good balance of dry/fruit/acid... makes a good kir cocktail, and satisfying by itself

l'Étoile de Rachelle, Colombard Chardonnay 2006

Vin de Pays, France
$8.99 @ Astor

its a chardonnay. fruity. oaked. not terrible, not great; just a chardonnay

Kronendal Shiraz 2006 South Africa

$8 from astor

super-fruity shiraz. a little too much fruit bomb. pours like blackberry dye into a cup. wouldn't get again.

Cantillon Kriek Lambic

$12/12oz @ spuyten duyvil

soursoursoursoursoursoursoursour

soursoursoursour

its actually pretty good minus the kick you off your feet sour-ness. great taste and the most radioactive red color you'ev ever seen outside kool-aid. its special. i wouldnt drink more than a couple oz of this ever again

Hitachino Red Rice Ale

$8/12oz @ Spuyten Duyvil

subtle nuttiest... ok but nothing to get terribly excited about. weird orange/clear color. just didn't feel exactly right

Neptune Island 2005 Cabernet Merlot

$6.98 @ astor
80% cabernet
20% merlot

south eastern australia
griffith
14% abv

pungent fruity scent. pours dark/purple like an aussie shiraz... smells like a fruit bomb -- blackcurrant way in back.
oof, its a bit too cold -- but really good! light fruit up front, substantive
handles the abv well good balance of acidity. pretty sweet which is a bit strange...

but definitively would buy/drink again

Lilla Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

White wine Italy
DOC
Castilenti
12% ABV
$7.99 from astor

smells pretty generic. like white wine. the barest hint of fruit at the back. bad sign

its pretty clean, generic, tastes like its already been opened a day. i can see it accompanying a dinner, but its ... just a dry generic wine.

Brooklyn Brewery Weisse

5.1ABV
$7.99 on style from freshdirect

I like how it has "Brooklyner" on it

anyways... its a really standard bavarian-style wheat beer. so standard, its actually kinda boring. its light, very low on the spicy side, got the slightest bit of fruit, and i mean, it's good, i like the style of beer, it just doesn't bring anything else to the table

Green Groves 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

green groves 2006 sauvignon blanc
californianot
napa county
13.5% abv
$8.99 on winelibrary

nose: grass. lots and lots of grass. not too much in the way of fruit actually. just... lots of grass. sweet grass?

mrm, actually not bad at all! very light up front, nice little spicy/husky/tasty component in the back of the throat. would be a very good accompanient to alot of food... seafood esp.

its not a go-to, but its definitely drinkable. a decent hot summer dinner wine. wouldn't drink by itself

Vezzo Pinot Grigio 2006

Vezzo Pinot Grigio 2006
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT
italy
12.5 ABV
$6.99 from astor

Getting some fruity ... semi-spicy apple on the nose. lots of fragrant red apple. it smells great!

really liking this, alot. i like how it was body -- almost a bit musky, just the white wine i was looking for after too many too-dry, too-sweet, too-nothing ones. great taste. will go well with my dinner (farfelle w/pesto)

could become a std

Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2006

Aussie Shiraz
$10 w/free sh @ winelibrary
14% ABV

Mrm... weird smell.
its *very* dark... and thin, no legs when swirled, just drops against the side. after sitting for a couple minutes, the normal shiraz fruit jam coming out, but still got a weird bit of... motor oil? in the back something industrial. you can definitely feel the alcohol burn in the nose.

tastes kind of like a medicine cabinet. too much burn/ too much sting, and its very thin. too thin to be able to handle this kind of sting. got a nice puckery aftertaste, and might even make an ok hot-day wine because its so thin... but not my cup of tea

Piazzolla Malbec 2005

part of 10 under 10 pack from astor may 2008
13.5% ABC Mendoza, Argentina 2005

It smells like red wine. Smells exactly like what you would think red wine smells like. which is not necessarily a good thing at all. some fruit & cotton candy deep in the nose, but mainly just smells of alcohol.


ahhh alcohol sting!!
its pretty soft and generic-ly if left in your mouth, it tastes just like a malbec, which is to say, a red wine. in drank normally, too much alcohol burn. blah, not my cup of tea.

Jacques Sans Souci Blanc 2005

$8 @ winelibrary w/free shipping offer
12% ABV

weak yellow/jaundice color.

nose is very disappointing. very heavy on the alcohol. in the way back, a light hint of summer fizzy grapes.

w'oh. this goes down like water. literally, like water. could be dangerous in that respect.
really not much taste at all. i can see this being excellent mixed. its also a pretty decent summer wine fo rthose that don't like the sweetness normally associated with summer wines.
so on one hand, it could actually have taste. on the other hand, this is exactly what the doctor ordered when its 100F out and you don't feel like a corona.

and if you don't like it, just cook wiht it

Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Marlborough

13% ABV
cheap from MVL

mrm, a pretty one dimensional strong alcohol scent. otherwise its got the rustic grassy thing going on, with a good dose of pear.

ooh, better than i had imagined. very fruity! amazing fruity, got acidity up the spinal cord. lots of apple & pear. kind of disappointing finish, disappears quickly. but initial taste very nice. residual sweetness on the background. a kinda chewy acidic aftertaste? not so bad. but the midtongue just doesn't agree

sauvignon blancs like this make me reappraise their value in cooking

anyways. this would be excellent with dinner. not a spicy SEAish type thing, maybe just something light.

like. a vegetarian.
or something.

not bad, not great either

Avery Lane 2005 Gerwurztraimer

cheap on MVL
12.5% abv

kiinda worried about this just based on the scent. strong... light pear(?) fruit smell that also feels completely one dimensional. and it also smells like its going to be really sweet. let's see...

and yeah. its just sweet grape juice. nothing else to it. in fact, its not even grape juice.

its sweet water. with 12.5% abv. somehow

yeah.. i wouldn't buy this again

Mirassou Pinot Noir 2006

$6.99 on MVL

modesto california


really pretty dark ruby/garnet jewel color - the light glints off it very nicely

very storng on the nose. smells a bit alcohol-y, but its got a nice fruity aroma to it too

wow!

alot deeper than it hought it would be. went down very sweet initially, but turned into a thicker pudding/stewy feeling in the back. very smooth & fruity. yum. might become one of my standbys if i can find it closer

Hite Korean Beer

had @ korean bbq in ktown w/jh & ps. poured into little tiny cups (6oz?)

anyways. just kind of really watered down. i can see this going down like water in the middle of summer. otherwise, not good, but not offensive either. if anything i think its fairly cheap in the city

Stoudt's Blonde Double MaiBock

$6-7 draught @ ginger man

y'know, i just wasn't feeling this beer at all. i really wanted to, since double bocks sound like candy on a stick, but while this had alot of different flavours going for it, they didn't... mix together at all. just ended up being a bit weird and incongruous

Heineken

shit's like carbonated horse piss

only good for cooking

Franziskaner Hefe Weisse

Brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (5.0 ABV)
$6-7 draught @ ginger man, new york

typical hefeweizen with a bit more spice/kick than usual. pretty decent, but not too special for a hefe

Victory Storm King Stout

$7.50 draught @ ginger man, new york

yummy, good stout.
didn't stand out from other stouts, but had the same texture & nice malty taste of caramel & choco (not sweet). delicioso!

9.10% ABV http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/1013

Old Speckled Hen

$6 draught @ ginger man, new york
fairly common around the city though i think

its a british pale ale, not all that special. creamy, nice on certain days, but that's about it. not too mcuh taste/complexity from what i remember, and just too pliant.

but it is very creamy

Dogfish Head 60 Minute

Wow.

So unlike the Dogfish Head 120 minute, this actually still tastes recognizably like an IPA. However, its also the best IPA i've ever had. just the right balance of hops, acidity, flavour... i wouldn't, however, compare this to the 120, just b/c the 120 really belongs in a dessert beer category, instead of the normal IPA.

really delicious though, can't wait ot try it again in a bar!

$6-7 for 20z draught @ ginger man new york e 37th st right by 6th

Barefoot Chardonnay 2003

really cheap, from trader joe's

the scent has a bit of off-vinegar feel, which is throwing me off. but otherwise its a standard very fruity chardonnay. definitely some pear/apple.
goes down fresh and fruity, just the tiniest bit of sweetness, nice full flavors at the back of your throat.
actually very pleasantly surprised from the taste, the scent was foreboding, but its a very pleasant late-mid taste. not a difficult wine, will match with alot of food pairings. will probably become a staple in the house

Brooklyn Brewery Brown Ale

$10/6pack @ freshdirect

nice meaty yeasty scent

tastes just like it smells. really needs to be drank at higher than fridge temperature though, maybe closer to room temperature would work better

pretty decent, all around, a good brown ale. a little fizzy on the nose, and not the world's tastiest, but its fine

originally a 3, reappraisal gives it a 4

Black Tower Rivaner 2005

$6.99 from MVL

its fruity, pretty sweet, a very easy (if not too complex) drink. went great with fondue, probably good all summer
could become a standby if i can find it around here

Burley Fox Shiraz

Australia
$16/bottle (4 season // internet)
had at eric's

not too bad, a bit lighter/sweeter than the jindalee, but still got the great burst of flavor

Dogfish 120 IPA

$9/12oz bottle in Boston
from Neil
delaware berwery

wow! talk about intense -- rich dessert-ish flavor. very yeasty, very complex. however, really can't drink much of this at once - don't tihnk i can even drink 1 by myself. though at $9/12oz and 20% alcohol (that equals 4 shots), perhaps thats a good thing

FRV 100 Sparkling Gamay Wine

$19.99 @ chamber street wines
tried @ earth day organic wines tasting @ le cercle rouge (chamber street wines sponsored)

Terres Dorées FRV 100 Sparkling Gamay de Jean Paul Brun 2005

Rose

http://winegeeks.com/wines/1063

Wow! Amazing! Just simply perfect -- slightly sweet, yummy

Seven Terraces 2005 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

13% alcohol
17.99 list, $7.99 @ warehouse

New Zealand Marlborough region

got a nice grassy taste to it
i didn't chill it enough -- i think these have to be alot colder.
but there's something weird at the back of the throat going down, that's a bit like vomit/acidic
i think its a little too mellow, not enough acidity

probably wouldn't get again

Rosemont Estate Traimer Reisling

$5.99 from MVL

very strong yellow-ish color. very pleasant fruity (and slightly floral - like fruit blossoms) scent.

wow. didn't expect that. sweet, but not overly so -- exactly the right balance. crisp, nice balance with the sweetness -- , but a wonderful spicy/tasty finish. never goes flat!

delicioso!

Spaten Optimator

brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (munich)
$11.49/6pack @ gristedes megastore

doppelbock 7% ABV

@ a firend's place, but was very delicious. wasn't chilled enough, and i couldn't really smell much from it, but the taste was superb.

Sam Adams White Ale

$8.99/6pk @ Freshdirect

y'know, i'm just simply not feeling this one. i can't detect anything terribly offensive about this, it just doesn't sit well with my stomach. and it doesn't taste of anything particularly good. this is sam adam's spring seasonal and the first sam adams i didn't like

Sebeka Shiraz Pinotage "Cape Blend" 2007

South Africa, Western Cape
58% Shiraz
42% Pinotage

shiraz-y initial scent, with a hint of... iono. like tuna or something. comes out hella colorful from the bottle.

initial sweetness, full body, lingers in your mouth, but the alcohol burn goes to my nose pretty quickly.

its ok. pretty good all around, not the most complex, and the burning nose thing is bothering me a bit, but i do kind of like it. definitely would drink as a table wine

i'm *really* enjoying the scent. very fruity :)

Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale

Deliiicious! THen again, I like all nut brown ales. Just the perfect amount of body, nice heady aroma, and a very good taste. a good example of a nut brown ale.
$10/6pack @ freshdirect

Jindalee 2007 Shiraz

had this in toronto @ ben wick's in cabbagetown, toronto

cherry, fruity, really really good shiraz.
$27 for bottle (@ bar)
had $18/bottle @ queen of sheba

edit -- bought from mvl for $7.49/bottle

changed it to 5/standby. its really quite a good shiraz; fruity without being overwhelming

Wagner Niagara

$6.99 from the vineyard, $5.99 from marketviewliquor

Niagara varietal from Cornell. i liked it at first taste, but it really needs to be very cold. bought a bottle from the winery, but decided it had a metallic aftertaste.
very sweet, very good for a first wine thingee.

Killian's Irish Red Ale

Had this for St. Paddy's -- friend brought it over.
Y'know, really didn't like it. I think it might've been kinda old, tasted flat & stale. No real flavor, complexity to it. Definitely not as tasty & hardy as a good ol' Guinness. Oh well :/

JP Azeitao Vinho Tinto 2004

Portuguese 13% alc
Vinho Azeitao Vinho Regional Terras do Sado
mix
castelao 85%
aragonez (tempranillo) 7.5%
syrah 7.5$
impoted by NJ


uh. pretty gross. just a really bad taste overall. this is one for the sangria.

Sierra Nevada Early Spring Beer

2008 Early Spring Beer - ESB - SPring seasonal

12.49 for 6pack @ Gristedes

smells like a normal Sierra Nevada

WOW. it tastes reaally weird. the initial taste is that its super bitter and carbonated (i guess it really is a ESB also -- I thought it was just a play on words). The aftertaste is like a very hearty bread made for dipping into soup. It's really tasty once you get past the bitters -- very rich & malty

might be still a little too bitter for me (b/c i'm weak :P)

Fairbanks Cream Sherry 2005

um, its ok. probably better for cooking with than anything else. but i kinda knew that ;). makes an awesome cream sherry flip though.

$4.49 from MVL

Southern Tier India Pale Ale

Oooh, and it smells like an IPA! That distinctive, hoppy, veeeery slightly sweet & fresh scent that's so deceptive b/c it'll kick you off your feet immediately afterwards. And oh its weird!
I can't say I like the aftertaste, its got something strangely metallic about it. It's smooth & creamy going down, a bit heavy in the midtaste, but altogether not as hardcore as more IPAs feel. not bad. would drink again if its there. might not necessarily buy the 6pack again though.

Southern Tier Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale

New York brewery, I think this is their signature beer. Can as part of a variety mix 6pack for $10.49 on FD.

Wow! What an aroma! Smells hella fruity & hoppy -- hits you right in the nostril.
The taste however, is less powerful. It's pretty light -- a decent thirstquencher when very cold. A surprisingly nice creamy feel at the back of the throat when going down. So... its ok. but that's pretty much it

Southern Tier Raspberry Wheat Beer

$10/6pack of mixed from FD

wow. opened, and a rush of hearty raspberries came out. i can smell it without even putitng my nose right on top of the bottle. the raspberry scent comes out strongest, but you can smell the wheat if you get closer and if you wait till the end.
First taste was just eh -- ok. Tasted pretty generic, carbonation kicked in pretty fast.
But after a few swigs, I found I liked the aftertaste. You can taste the raspberries at the very back of your throat, and the beer settles well overall. Probably still wouldn't buy a 6pack of this, but wouldn't mind drinking it if it were there.

Makes me kinda burpy o_O

Ommegang Rare Vos Amber Ale

Had this @ David Copperfield's -- comes in a 375ml container (oops). Very delicious! Slightly sweet, nice, complex taste, still went down well. I need to find this in the city.

so far i've been mightily impressed by ommegang's offerings...


found this @ whole foods in union square for $9 i think? was pretty good

Oxford Landing 2006 Viognier

Oxford Landing Viognier
from marketviewliquor
Price: $5.99
Quantity:


Description:
Surprisingly stylish and elegant, the 2006 Viognier exhibits beautiful apricot and honeysuckle aromas and scents, crisp acidity, wonderful freshness, and a steely backbone. It should be consumed over the next year. This wine is an exceptional bargain. 88 points Wine Advocate

Country: Australia • Year: 2006 • Bottle Size: 750 ml


mrmm... smells kind of off on the first initial sniff. which is strange, because its a screwtop. maybe its the whole "should be consumed in 2007" thing (tho feb 2008 should surely be ok).
on second smell, i DEFINITELY get the apricot aroma (don't know what honeysuckle smells like). mrmm, the right balance of crisp/soft... goes down *very* easily
a little bit of a heavy aftertaste, but otherwise, good. could smell it all day!
unfortuantely tho, isn't too interesting besides the intial apricot smell

would buy again, but this sounds like the type of wine that might change quite a bit depending on year.

comes from the Yalumba region. (which is apparently the biggest aussie producer of viogniers to being with)

Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic

light but unfiltered
hint of complex flavours but a bit on the crbonated side for me
light, yummy... but kind of bitter i guess, like cranberry. not something i would turn down, but not something i would go out and buy either. (then again, i'm not a cranberry person).

all the lambics i've had before were sweet -- this was quite interesting. not a bad job of it all around, i just don't prefer the taste

Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

Very low key. generic smell. deep breaths barely give a hint of body. perfect density -> between thick and carbonated... surprisingly unplaceable midtaste coats your mouth with a layer of silk
but complete lacks flavour! didn't deliver on the pormised cinnamon, ginger & oranges. gets stale *really* fast.
i want to like it... but... eh

Sam Adams Winter Lager

gone from FD as of 2/15/08
available as 6pack for like, a month, and as part of variety pack

Smells like a lighter version of the cream stout. Very distinct flavour. Candy light, lingering aftertaste. Wonderfully full of spices, in particular, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Reminds me of a good chewy spicy cookie. doesn't fall into the "just make it hearty" winter beer trap. would definitely drink in summer. favourite out of the log.

Sam Adams Cream Stout

part of the Sam Adams Winter Seasonal Varietal Pack
$16.99 for 12 (2x of 6 diff types) @ freshdirect
still available as of 2/19/2008 (but the winter lager is gone! :()

Sam Adams Cream Stout
Quite hoppy --> creamier than most beers. Very similar in initial taste to sierra nevada porter, great 1st impression. milk shakey -> very full initial taste. but loses that complexity VERY fast. afterfaste is merely carbonation.

Sam Adams Holiday Porter

part of the Sam Adams Winter Seasonal Varietal Pack
$16.99 for 12 (2x of 6 diff types) @ freshdirect
still available as of 2/19/2008 (but the winter lager is gone! :()

Sam Adams Holiday Porter
thick chocolatey
very complex -> diff taste hints going down than initial first sip. delicious, full meal by itself
would buy again, my 2nd favourite out of all 6

Villa Cerrina Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006

Villa Cerrina
trader joe's $5-$6
italy

ganbellara, italy

fruity, better than most abruzzos i've tried. definitely will buy

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

10.99/sixpack @ FD

Y'know, I love sierra nevada. but i just couldn't get into the celebration ale. it was just too harsh. the taste was good, but utterly overwhelming. the flavours didn't mix together all too well... i wouldn't buy it again

(and anyways, as of 2/8/08, its already unavailable from FD...)

Heritage du Chauteau Touraine - 2005 Sauvignon Blanc

@ a friend's place

very crisp, clean taste. not sure of the pricing, but definitely a very enjoyable wine overall.

Bodega Norton Torrontes 2006

Bodegas Norton Torrontes, $5.99, 2006 @ Marketviewliquors
from mendoza, argentina

Mrm... not bad for the price -- but the initial hit was much more promising than the end result. very fruity, soft, but quirky scent and initial taste, but becomes more vinegary too quickly. would definitely buy again though.

Schneider Weisse

$3.49/17oz bottle @ FD

I remember enjoying this quite a bit at a lorelei beer garden in soho last summer, so maybe its got something to do with the temperature its served at. this time around, my fridge is going wonkers, so it was very cold indeed. it was decent, since i'm a sucker for hefes anyways. Decent flavour, etc, it was just missing *something*. maybe its got something with the mug I poured it into, but am i bourgey enough to think that the container actually affects the taste of the liquid substance? either way, i'll give this a 3rd chance b/c i liked it so much the first time... just wasn't entirely impressed this time.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

$8.99/6pack at FD

I actually like this quite a bit. Probably the most of out all the mainstream beers. According to freshdirect, this, along with Sierra Nevada, are the most popular "craft" beers in the US -- suddenly it all makes sense now why I like them the most. SLightly bitter, hardy, a good beer just for when you kind of would like a beer. It tastes like New England. Can't really describe it much better than that...

Corona Extra Lager

$10.49 @ FD for a 6pack

Why are Corona's so damn expensive in the city? damn. coming from a cali girl, its just utterly ridiculous. coronas are good but only when its 100 out and you've got limes on hand. but during summer, man, i can drink these like water (albeit, really hella expensive water). maybe even slightly hanker for it (though never as much as a good hefe). for the niche it fills, its definitely a standby (if i can afford it).

again. why the hell do coronas cost as much as newcastle or guinness?!

Cooper Pale Ale

@ Nelson Blue, dec 07

the stereotypical australian beer. it was really just *ok*. nothing special about it whatsoever. it tasted and felt like a pretty run of the mill ale that i'd forget about. well what can ya do, most "stereotypical" country beers kind of feel like that.

Tooheys New Draught Beer

@ Nelson Blue (kiwi bar!!), Manhattan around Brooklyn Bridge

A friend got this, so I only got a sip, but oh man was it good. (as a side note, online reviews say it gets stale and flat reaaally quickly). a fruity, sweet, hearty, flavour. so much blending together, its like a party in your mouth on the first sip. will definitely have to try again

Amaicha Torrontes 2005, Mendoza Argentina

<$7 @ TJ's

fresh balance between crispy and soft. nothing entirely special though. will probably buy again just b/c its cheap and does well enough as a stereotypical white. could be more complex though. ended up using some of it as cooking fodder

Ommegang Abbey Ale

$5.99 at Fairway, $9.99 @ FreshDirect

My first introduction to Belgian ale... omg. I am such a happier person for it. This is the most amazing stuff in the world. Exactly the right amount of carbonation, a bit of fizz while still going smoothly down the throat. And the taste. Oh gawd, the taste. Its indescribable. I think I may have found true love.

Trader Joe's 2007 Vintage Ale

$5ish(?) @ TJ's

a dark ale. nothing completely memorable about it besides that it was good, a bit harder than i expected, and didn't blow me out of the waters. of course i think we were pretty far along already that night by the time we got to this... so will have to reserve judgement

Santa Rita 120 Merlot - Chile, 2006

<$7 @ TJ's

An excellent merlot -- not a very complex taste, but at the same time, different from your run-of-the-mill merlot. Got a nicely surprising spicy kick to it, so I can imagine it going well with a good slab of red meat. Will definitely buy again, b/c its probably the cheapest and best in that "spicy red wine" category

Duvel Belgian Golden Ale

$6.99 @ Freshdirect

i know this is supposed to be the normal/generic standby belgian ale, but it just didn't quite get me as much as some of the others.
Memorable if only b/c it was drank in an outside hot tub in january in Nowhere, Vermont. The taste itself wasn't very memorable, i remember it being good, but a bit too carbonated for my taste. Kind of disappointing actually, as a second belgian ale. To be fair though, it wasn't chilled at all, and I'm sure the proximity of the hot tub didn't help matters. Will have to try again before making any real judgements.