A Father’s Day Thought…

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While typically I would write a post on what the best Father’s Day wines are this year while working in a couple of feeble attempts at humor, I can’t seem to wrap my head around that this year. Wine is always a great gift (it is what my dad asks for every birthday, Father’s Day, Sunday…whatever!), and as long as you know the preference of the recipient and get something in their realm of enjoyment then it’s pretty tough to go wrong. My pops is all about California these days, so I guess it’s just a question of which Napa Cab to pick up.

However with a son that just turned two and our second child due literally any day now, Father’s Day is starting to take on some new meaning for me. Not in the hallmark sense, but in what it means to be a father. I feel like love is not a big enough word for the emotion that parents feel for their children. It is this innate and powerful force that encompasses feelings of care, fear, protection, worry, empathy, frustration, futility, generosity, pleasure and dozens of other emotions but of course mostly…unconditional love.

It’s hard to describe the elation you feel when your child learns to do something so simple, like ride a scooter, and to recognize his pride in his own accomplishment. On the other end of the spectrum, the heartbreak we experience when seeing our own child endure any kind of pain, sadness or disappointment can be utterly devastating. And of course none of this compares to the anticipation, excitement and anxiety of welcoming a child into this world and taking on the responsibility of caring for another human being.

So what’s the point? I’m not really sure to be honest. But if I have a point I guess it is this…If I have experienced all of this in the first two years of fatherhood, I can only imagine what the future has in store. It helps me to understand why parents sometimes act the way they do as no matter how old you may be, you are always someone’s “child”. But mostly, it gives me a new perspective and respect for parents everywhere as the roller coaster of emotions they have experienced over the years must be surreal… and something I genuinely look forward to.

So be sure to toast your dad this weekend with a glass of his favorite wine, and mom too! After all the nonsense you have put them through over the years, it’s the least you can do 😉

Cheers!

Have you checked out that new wine bar in Larchmont?

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If not, then you should! Crush Wine Bar is right on Palmer Ave next to the Larchmont Playhouse and it is certainly worth a visit. I had the pleasure of attending last week with two of the most respected, and all around good guys in the Westchester food and wine industry, Peter Kelly of Xaviars/X2O and Marc Newman of Trinchero Family Estates. If these guys give it the thumbs up then you know its gotta be good! We sat with owner Jennifer Deutsch for awhile but she was pretty busy making sure her guests were all well taken care of and enjoying themselves, a great quality in a restauranteur.

This “wine bar” title gets thrown around a little too often lately, with every restaurant offering more than three wines by the glass classifying themselves as such. But that is not the case with Crush. With over 30 wines available by the glass, and another 30 by the bottle, the wine selection is quite impressive. The list is definitely California driven with some solid selections from France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand appropriately mixed in. The menu also includes wine pairing recommendations for each dish, a very helpful addition if you are in need of a little guidance.

First we had the 2010 Menage a Trois Napa white blend, part of Marc’s Trinchero portfolio. While most people are familiar with their Zinfandel based red blend this Chardonnay, Muscat and Chenin Blanc combo is crisp and refreshing with zesty tropical fruits. It’s like a baby Conundrum (Caymus’s white wine blend) at about half the price. We paired it up with a watermelon chip and tzatziki dish which worked out very well.

Next we ordered up a meat and cheese platter including some incredibly fresh prosciutto, sopressata, brie, manchego and parmesan. Crush has a cool option of creating your own platter from a handful of different meats and cheeses. Alongside that we also had the bacon wrapped dates with almonds which screamed for a red. Marc opted for his Dona Paula 2010 Malbec from Mendoza which was a perfect fit with the meaty goodness of the bacon and dates. It’s a smooth and supple value wine that comes out of the bottle ready to drink. In fact it was so good that one bottle just wasn’t enough 😉

With a vast and approachable wine selection along with the culinary experience of celebrity chef Alex Garcia, it would appear that Crush will be “crushing” it for years to come. It offers a perfect atmosphere for those looking to stop in for a glass of wine while strolling around Larchmont, or even for a full night out as their tapas style menu allows you to sip and pick all night. Check it out next time you’re in that neck of the woods.
Cheers!

Happy #ChardDay !

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With the Twitter craze in all its glory, the wine social media industry has taken full advantage and delegated holidays for certain grape varieties and regions. Today happens to be #ChardDay (they all have the hashtag included so you can search for relevant tweets on Twitter). Since Chardonnay continues to be one of the most (if not THE most) popular wines in the US, I figured I would share my current fave.

It’s the 2009 Double T Chardonnay from Trefethen. Trefethen’s estate Oak Knoll Chardonnay is one of the better known Chards in all of Napa for its quality and somewhat reasonable pricing. This Double T comes from the same estate, but is produced from the fruit off the younger vines and spends less time in oak. So what does that mean?  The fruit is a bit cleaner and brighter then in the estate Chard. Also, while the oak integration is still noticeable, it does not overpower the wine with those rich and creamy buttery notes that many Napa Chards suffer from. This wine has a nice dose of those characteristics but the green apple, pear, citrus and some popcorn nuances maintain the focus on the palate. Pair it up with a hearty shellfish dish or sip it on a hot summer day. Either way, this is a wine worthy of picking up for #ChardDay. Oh, and for under $20, it is certainly one of the best value Napa Chards around.

Cheers!

Review of Two Popular Westchester Restaurants…Flames and Il Sorisso

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This week I had the good fortune of eating out at both of these well known Westchester dining establishments. They are very different in style, cuisine and even location. But quite frankly I find that most people just won’t read a full restaurant review, so I figured I would consolidate and do a 2 for 1. But the overall consensus on both places is that they are worth attending, as long as you are aware of a couple of subtle flaws.

First, Il Sorisso in Irvington. A large group of us went on Saturday night for a Birthday celebration. We were about 16 people and they put together a great package dinner menu. For around $50 a person it included salad, pasta an entree and all the beer, wine and coffee you could drink. They also let us bring in a few bottles to start with for a minimal corkage fee which I am always a fan of. Team Bruno killed it and graced the table with a Pride Cab, a Mondavi Oakville Cab, a Jordan and the Anderson Conn Valley Right Bank blend… all fantastic! However the Pride Cab they brought was the 09 which would still be a bit young, so I swapped them out with my 03 that I have had stored for about 5 years. Holy crap was that drinking well!! But I digress…

While the food was all really solid (I had the Penne with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage and a “Homemade” Veal Parmigiana) and the service was great, I still left the restaurant with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth… and it was not from the food or the wine. My wife and I were the first to get to the restaurant and Game 7 of the Ranger vs. Caps series was being played night. There is a flat screen TV over the bar that had a rerun of Sportscenter on. I asked the bartender if he could put on the game instead, but he said the owner had to make the call on that. I figured it would be an easy enough call, but boy was I wrong. I asked the uninterested owner if he could put on the game, but the combination of the restaurant being a bit busy and the remote control being ALL the way in the basement just made it impossible to put on the game. Seemed a bit odd to me, but I am not a huge Rangers fan, so I kind of let it go. But I informed him I was part of a large group that was going to be spending a good amount of money in his restaurant and there were about 6 big Ranger fans coming in that would certainly have the same request. His answer… a very nonchalant “OK”. So he was prepared to shoot down another 6 requests for the game, which he basically did. I mean, we had to harass the guy for the 45 minutes we were waiting for our table to get the game on. And of course by the time he finally caved, our table was ready.

So I guess my end take on Il Sorisso is this: The dishes were all fresh and well prepared and the pricing is somewhat reasonable. The staff was very attentive and moved us through the meal wonderfully. However the owner has not quite grasped the whole “customer experience” concept which makes it a tough place for me to frequent, especially when there are so many solid Italian restaurants in Westchester that are the exact opposite.

Next up, Flames Steakhouse in Briarcliff. This is arguably one of the best steakhouses in all of Westchester when it comes to the beef, depending on the night. We had a work function on a Thursday night and when we all discussed the meal the next morning, everyone had different opinions on the steaks based on which cut they ordered. Those of us who got the NY strip thought it was fantastic, while the ribeye fans thought it was a little too fatty…even for ribeye. The filet was solid too, but not of the same caliber as the strip. The issue is if you go on another night it can be the exact opposite. Obviously the quality of the cuts the restaurant is getting from their meat distributor has a lot to do with this, but for the price of their steaks you would expect a little more consistency across the board.

Flames also mixes in a good amount of Italian fare into the dining experience. Again, we went with a large group so we were able to order a bunch of small apps to start. The eggplant rollatini may be the best in town and the lobster ravioli literally melts in your mouth. But it’s tricky to pull off this Italian restaurant and steakhouse combination, almost like the restaurant has an identity crisis at times. We ate in the wine cellar, which I would highly recommend, and they have a nice secluded outdoor patio section as well. But the interior is sort of a retro throwback to the 70’s and again, its tough to tell whether you are in a steakhouse or Italian restaurant. Personally, I like that throwback and somewhat “wiseguys” kinda feel…but I have a feeling I am in the minority on that one. But unlike Il Sorisso, Nick (the owner) will make you feel right at home and is looking to make your dining experience as pleasurable as possible.

So while I can’t give either restaurant a glowing review,  I can tell you that I really enjoyed my meal at both Il Sorisso and Flames. Are they my top choices to go to for Italian food or Steak respectively in Westchester? No. But if they are in your neck of the woods and you haven’t been yet they are both worth a shot. Just be sure there are no important sporting events you are planning on watching at the bar that night 😉

Can I drink anything good for under $7 a bottle? Hells yeah!!

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It has been brought to my attention that a lot of my recent posts have not hit on that real value end of the spectrum.  For some wine drinkers, a value wine is under $20, for others under $15 or $10. But there is also a large contingency that is looking for something cheap and drinkable under the $7 mark. Mind you, it is tough to find “great” wines at this price point.  However what we are looking for here is great value,  not top quality.

So with that, I give you my Top 7 under $7!

7. Fish Eye Pinot Grigio

Nothing too complex here, but the fruit is clean and the acidity is crisp. What else do you want from a $7 Pinot Grigio?!

6. Yellow Tail Shiraz

Bash it all you want, for about $5-6 this is an easy drinking Shiraz with lots of ripe, dark fruit.  And for a few extra bucks their Reserve is a big step up!

5. Il Bastardo Sangiovese di Toscana

This is the wine that has that fat Italian guy sitting in a chair that’s too small and drinking out of a glass even smaller. Funny label,  good juice!

4. Beringer Chenin Blanc

All the green apple and citrus that a good Chenin Blanc should have with just a hint of sweetness. Fantastic summer sipper at $5-6 a bottle.

3. Rex Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon

Ever seen that label with the Rooster… that’s this wine! Lots of black cherry and cassis, but with soft and mild tannins. Smooth and supple.

2. Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir

Blind taste this next to Pinots 2 and 3 times the price and you will be shocked how well it stands up. The whole Pepperwood Grove line is solid, but this one stands out.

And the number one wine under $7 is….a tie!!

1. Black Box & Bota Box

That’s right… Boxed wine! It doesn’t matter which varietal you go with (Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, etc.), these two brands provide the absolute best bang for the buck on the market. Box wine no longer has to be the sweet, cheap and nasty wine that gives you those viscous hangovers.  They are using good grapes and making really solid wine from them. And at around $20 a box that breaks down to $5 a bottle  (4 bottles per box for those non mathematicians out there).  So open it up and keep it in your fridge for the week…with the bag acting as a “bladder” inside the box the wine will stay fresh longer than in your fancy bottles.

Cheers!

Tips from a Brewmaster’s Table

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Recently Brooklyn Brewery visited The TapHouse in Tuckahoe for another one of their innovative Beer Pairing Dinners. If you ever want to experience the TapHouse at their best… get yourself to the next one! Chef Kevin kills it in the kitchen and the staff really creates some wonderful beer pairings enhancing both the food and the brews. Garrett Oliver himself, basically the foremost authority in the beer industry, hosted this beer dinner which was pretty special. Below is a piece written by yours truly about the event. Some fun information on how Garrett recommends pairing beer with food instead of wine. Yes, even us wine guys can get into the craft beer craze as well 😉

Enjoy!

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2012/Tips-from-a-Brewmasters-Table/index.php

Talk about Zin-sanity!!

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This week I attended the ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) food and wine event in NYC. These guys are serious about promoting Zin and do a wonderful job at it. This particular event was a Pairsine Chefs Food & Wine Pairings,basically meaning they paired up a number of really nice dishes with different Zinfandels from various producers. The event was held in the Sun West Studios on the West side of Manhattan. Needless to say the views were pretty impressive and only enhanced while sipping  some tasty Zins! Here were a few of my favorites from the event.

Best Overall Zin: Ridge Geyserville 2009 Sonoma

Big and juicy with lots of spice, yet surprisingly smooth for a young Zin. Very sophisticated wine.

Best Family of Zins: Ravenswood Zinfandels

Everyone knows their entry level wines offer great value, but their small production Teldeschi and Belloni Zins were really impressive, especially from such a large outfit.

Best Newcomer: Chacewater Zinfandel 2010 Sierra Foothills

This is their first bottling and damn was it tasty! I see big things for these guys….

Biggest Surprise: Tie between Opolo Vineyards and Pedroncelli Winery

Opolo’s Summit, Mountain and Reserve Zins all showed very well, especially at the price points offered. Pedroncelli had 2 Zins, both under $20 that were soft with beautiful fruit. They also had a Zinfandel Rose (NOT White Zinfandel) I was somewhat skeptical about, but I will be seeking that one out for a summer BBQ sipper.

Biggest Disappointment. Cakebread Cellars Zinfandel 2009 Red Hills Lake County

I know, I know… everyone loves Cakebread. But in all honesty, I’m not sure I get it. In a room full of great Zinfandels, this one was just OK. It wasn’t bad, but there was nothing that really stood out about it. And of course, Cakebread is NOT cheap…

This ZAP movement is up and coming and they will be having more of these events throughout the country. So if you are a Zinhead (one who favors the Zinfandel varietal), then I strongly suggest checking them out the next time they are in town. The events are not inexpensive, but you certainly get your money’s worth both in quality and quantity of solid food and killer Zins.

Cheers!

The WWG Wine Guide for Easter and Passover

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This is one of those rare years where Easter and Passover fall on the same weekend. So I am taking that as a sign that some higher power would like for me to combine my Easter and Passover wine blogs into one religiously harmonious post. Am I just being lazy, it’s possible. But maybe we all learn a little about how the other side celebrates the holiest of days in their respective religion, or at least what they eat and drink!

The traditional Easter meal usually consists of either ham or lamb… or both for the true hedonists out there. For those going with some sort of a glazed or baked ham, the quintessential pairing would be a Pinot Noir. It is light enough not to over power the ham yet delicate enough to help enhance all those succulent flavors. Personally I am all about California Pinot these days, but there are certainly some great wines from Oregon and France (particularly Burgundy) as well. A Nebbiolo based Barolo would also make a good accompaniment with its beautiful balance of acidity, tannins and delicate fruit. Below are a few of my favorites at some different price points.

If lamb is on the menu, you’ll probably want to go with something a little heartier like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux. In fact many Cabernet based wines (the main grape used in most Bordeaux wines) can have a minty characteristic to them that ends up being a wonderful compliment to your lamb or gigot dish. California is certainly the most popular region for Cabernet, but there are some great values from Australia and Chile to be found. And as for Bordeaux, some of the entry level 2009 selections are just starting to hit stores. If you can get your hands on one for Easter than you are in for a treat! 2009 was one of the best vintages Bordeaux has ever seen, if not THE best! So it’s pretty tough to find a bad wine from that year. Check out my lamb pairings below for some ideas.

I won’t sit here and pretend I know a whole lot about Passover and the Seder celebration… but here’s what I do know. There are six symbolic foods that are served on the traditional Seder Plate all having special meaning. Other than that, each family has their own tradition of what they serve. It seems that brisket and chicken are the most popular options which would certainly lend themselves to very different wines. The other commonality that appears to transcend almost all Passover celebrations is that Kosher wine is served. With that, I have listed some of my favorite Kosher wines below.

Cheers and Mazel Tov!

EASTER HAM PAIRINGS

Under $15

Rascal Pinot Noir 2010 Williamette Valley, OR

Smoking Loon Pinot Noir 2010 California

Handcraft Pinot Noir 2010 California

$16-29

Belle Gloss Meiomi Pinot Noir 2010 Santa Barbara, CA

Seven Devils Carlton Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

Cambria Pinot Noir, Julia’s Vineyard  2009 Santa Maria Valley, CA

Moshin Pinot Noir, Molinari Vineyard 2007 Sonoma, CA

$30 and Up

Heintz Pinot Noir 2008 Sonoma Coast, CA

Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 2008

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 Williamette Valley, OR

Barolo Giacomo Grimaldi 2007

Barolo Pio Cesare 2007

EASTER LAMB PAIRINGS

Under $15

The Seeker Cabernet Sauvignon  2010 Central Valley, Chile

Chateau Begadan Cru Artisan 2009 Bordeaux, Medoc

Liberty School 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

Columbia Crest ‘H3’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Columbia Valley, WA

$16-29

Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon  2009  Knights Valley, CA

La Chapelle de Calon 2008 St. Estephe

Simi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Alexander Valley, CA

Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Napa, CA

$30 and up

Archipel Red Blend, 2007  Sonoma, CA

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Australia

O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Howell Mtn, CA

Chateau Talbot 2007 Saint Julien, Bordeaux

PASSOVER SEDER PAIRIINGS

Under $15

Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Central Coast, CA

Barkan Classic Shiraz 2010 Israel

$16-29

Segal’s Chardonnay, Special Reserve 2009 Galilee Hts., Israel

Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon, The Reserve 2009 Upper Galilee, Israel

$30 and up

Legend Red Blend, Shiloh 2009 Judean Hills. Israel

Golan Heights Winery Yarden Yonatan Vineyard Syrah 2007 Galilee, Israel

 

Shamrocks and Shenanigans… What to do on St. Patrick’s Day in Westchester

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Let’s take a break from wine for a minute, shall we? While there is nothing wrong with a little vino on St. Patrick’s Day, the majority of Westchestorians will be chugging green beer, scarfing down corned beef and cabbage while singing When Irish Eyes are Smiling… or at least wishing they were. So if you would like to turn that imagery into a reality here are a few fun spots to hit around town for some good old fashioned St. Patty’s Day shenanigans.

Rory Dolan’s on McLean Ave in Yonkers is probably the most well known Irish Bar and Restaurant in town, and with good reason. It offers up a large number of brews on tap (yes they have Guinness) and the food is a step above your standard Irish pub fare. The celebration will be going from 9 am to 4 am over at Rory’s where you can expect Live Irish music all day, Irish Breakfast, Corned Beef and Cabbage and beer flowing like water. They will also be featuring the Ireland vs. England Soccer match enhancing the full Irish Pub experience…just watch out for the random scuffles.

If you are looking for something a little more sophisticated without losing that pub feel, then head on over to the TapHouse in Tuckahoe. Their beer selection is stellar and the “gastropub” fare is outstanding. Plus if you are looking for something other than the standard St. Patrick’s Day grub their apps and entrees are vast and delectable. It’s also right across the street from the Tuckahoe train station, in case you plan on having more than just a couple of pints.

If it ends up being a nice day out there’s probably no better place to be than on Mamaroneck Ave in White Plains. The main drag has almost a dozen different bars that you can bounce around from all afternoon and into the wee hours of the morn. Depending on what you are looking for there is a little something for everyone. My favorite still tends to be The Lazy Boy for their astounding beer selection and somewhat tamer crowd. Hudson Grille and Brazen Fox have some of the best eats on the strip with Brazen being a great spot to watch a game as the bar is loaded with flatscreens.

And then there’s The Candlelight Inn. This iconic establishment on Central Ave across from the freaky European Health Spa structure that has been abandoned for decades has some of the best bar food in town… and it’s cheap! On St. Patrick’s Day they whip up a mean batch of Corned Beef and Cabbage for under $10. They also still serve pitchers for under $10 so if budgets are tight this year, then the Candlelight is definitely the move.

Or you can stay home and just pick up some Guinness at Target for $13.50 a 12 Pack and cook up the traditional Irish fare on your own. Sometimes that ends up being the most fun way to celebrate anyway.

Céad Míle Fáilte!

A Simple Guide To BYO Restaurants and Corkage Fees

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You can say what you want about New Jersey, but there is no better place to go out for a meal. No, it’s not because you may run into Pauly D or JWOWW at your favorite restaurant (although that’s a pretty solid reason). New Jersey laws have made it very difficult and expensive for restaurants to obtain a liquor license, so most of them will allow you to bring your own wine, beer or booze without any corkage fees!

Unfortunately that is not the case for most restaurants in NY, although there are a handful of BYO spots out there (ex. Buon Gusto in Irvington and Juniper in Hastings). However, almost all restaurants will allow you to bring your own bottle as long as you pay a corkage fee. Most of the higher end steakhouses and fine dining establishments will charge so much that it ends up not being worth it ($30-40 a bottle), unless you are bring a particularly expensive wine. For example, if you want to bring a bottle of Far Niente Napa Cab that cost you $100, it is certainly more cost effective to pay the $35 corkage fee than to purchase it off the wine list for $200-300.

But there are a number of places that will charge a much more palatable fee ($10-20) making it very cost effective to grab a bottle from your cellar or even your local wine shop to take with you. For example, Acquario in Silver Lake only charges $8 per bottle! So when you consider a typical mark up on any given wine in a restaurant can be 2-3 times what you would pay for it in a store, bringing your own is an absolute no brainer. This is especially genius if you have a magnum you wanted to open. This way you are basically paying one corkage fee for two bottles. Is that being a little bit too frugal? Probably, but whatever man…aren’t we still in a recession?!

So my recommendation is this… the next time you are going out for a meal around town, give a call first and ask the restaurant if you can bring in your own wine and what corkage fees are associated in doing so. Be aware, there is some etiquette involved. The most important is not to skimp out on the tip. The server will have to serve the wine just the same as if you purchased it at the restaurant, so remember to factor that into the final tally. Lastly if you are out with a big group and know you will be doing some drinking, you may want to bring a couple of bottles with you but still purchase one or two from the restaurant’s wine list. It is a sign of good patronage and who knows, in doing so you may even get that corkage fee waived.

Cheers!

http://www.aquariony.com/

http://www.juniperhastings.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/buon-gusto-restaurant-irvington