Archives-February 2011

Ponzi

Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley~Oregon

Ripe plum, roses, almond extract, clove and anise stand out in this inviting and ever-changing nose. The full mouth of sweet black cherries balanced with high notes of blueberry and pomegranate finishes with soft and silky tannins.

Newton

Chardonnay

Sonoma and Napa~California

Enticing and delicate aromas of white nectarine and vanilla spice are intertwined with baked apple and caramel notes. The aromas carry through to the palate where they are accented by ripe melon and fresh pineapple flavors. The velvety mouthfeel of this well-balanced Chardonnay persists throughout the lingering and refreshing citrus finish.

Duckhorn Decoy

92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc

Sonoma and Napa~California

Wine & Spirits: 88 points

This appealing Napa Valley bottling highlights the complexity of the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal. Since 1978, Duckhorn Vineyards has been producing Cabernet Sauvignon that embodies the diversity of Napa Valley winegrowing and offers classic Cabernet elements of currant, cherry, plum and olive.

Pairs well with:

Roast lamb

The Federalist

Zinfandel

Dry Creek Valley~Sonoma~California

The roots of Zinfandel began to take hold in the United States just as the Federalists were establishing our nation’s independence. This Dry Creek Valley estate-grown Federalist Zinfandel is an ode to this noble grape, and a celebration of its decidedly American origin. The robust fruit, bright berry fruit character and lively acidity speak to the distinct characteristics of these bold, strong vines that are inseparably intertwined with the history of the United States itself.

Pairs well with:

Hearty fare such as roast meats including prime rib and lamb; complements anything with smoky flavors from the grill such as ribs.

Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red

37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 16% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 3% Sangiovese, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Carmenere

Columbia Valley~Oregon

Wine & Spirits: 90 points

Tastes like really, really good red wine. Which varietal is lending which notes? Who cares? Rounded, lush, layered and lovely, the ultimate food wine, pairing well with everything from pasta and pizza to grilled meat and roasted chicken. Bright raspberry, currant, mocha, a touch of pepper spice, soft tannins and a lingering finish… year in and year out, like partying with an old friend.

Pairs well with:

Lamb chops, hearty grilled vegetarian dishes or hamburgers.

Columbia Valley~Washington

Maryhill Winemaker’s White

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier

World Wine Championships: Bronze Medal

One of our newest stars; as likeable, and popular as our Red Blend. A nose reminiscent of melons, tropical fruit and a hint of lemon zest with a fruity approach and a well balanced structure.

Maryhill Winemaker’s Red

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc

World Wine Championships: Silver Medal

This year’s Winemaker’s Red shows a clear, bright, ruby-red color. The aromas hearken to its predecessor with Caramel, a bit of dark berry and cherry and a hint of smoke and lilac. On the palate a medium to light acidity comes through as cranberry to compliment the caramel, coffee and bits of chocolate. Light tannins indicate this wine is ready to drink now but will cellar well for a few years; an everyday drinker to enjoy with just about anything.

Eye of the Hawk Ale

Eye of the Hawk Select Ale is coppery amber in color and characterized by a luxurious caramel malt flavor, a substantial mouth-feel and a slightly warming yet dry finish.

Serving Suggestions

Because of its rich body and deep flavor, The Eye is a welcome complement of meals. However, for all its heartiness, The Eye is also complex and subtle, making it a worthy complement to salmon, or pasta with cream sauces.

Lindeman’s ~ Gueuze Cuvée René

Gold Medal—World Beer Championships

Possibly the oldest beer, Gueuze, or Geuze, (pronounced “GOO-za”) is unseasoned, wild-fermented wheat beer. The brewers blend aged lambic and younger lambic, to taste, and a bottle refermentation occurs after capping. It is highly coveted by gourmands in Belgium who lay it in their cellars like wine. Golden color, cidery, winey palate; reminiscent, perhaps, of bubbly dry vermouth with a more complex and natural flavor.

Serving Suggestions

As an aperitif in place of dry sherry, with carbonnade a la beouf, mussels in white wine or Gueuze, flavorful cheeses; traditionally served in tall, thick tumbler with cubes of sugar to sweeten to taste.

Dogfish Head ~ Chateau Jiahu

Inspired by a beverage found in clay posts in China around 9000 years ago. In keeping with historic evidence, Dogfish brewers used pre-gelatinized rice flakes, Wildflower honey, Muscat grapes, barley malt, hawthorn fruit, and Chrysanthemum flowers.

Dogfish Head ~ Chicory Stout

A dark beer made with a touch of roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John’s Wort, and licorice root. Brewed with whole-leaf Cascade and Fuggles hops, the grains include pale, roasted & oatmeal. It is roasty and delicious.

Serving Suggestions

Grilled chicken, BBQ, shellfish, sushi, smoked fish and yes … chocolate!

He’brew ~ Origin Pomegranate Ale

Brewed with the juice of over 10,000 luscious pomegranates, ORIGIN is a complex, rich and balanced Imperial Amber Ale with a truly unique character. The pomegranate juice is added during fermentation, leaving only the residual sugars, which serve to balance the hop bitterness.

Terrapin ~ Big Daddy Vlady

Terrapin “Big Daddy Vladdy’s” Russian Imperial Stout is number 13 in our Side Project Series of beers. Brewed under the strictest Socialist guidelines, this Imperialistic Stout will be carefully monitored and allocated accordingly. Black as the coldest Siberian Winter’s night, this colossal, viscous beverage will bring the hammer and sickle down on your little girly man’s palate.

Stone Brewery ~ Old Guardian Barley Wine

Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine is a stunning representation of all that is big and bold in beer. This beautiful, bold barley wine has a massive malt character and a near-critical level of hop notes.

He’brew ~ Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A.

Winner: Best in Show – Saratoga Beer Festival

Ladies and Gentlemen, Shmaltz Brewing Co. is proud to present Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. Brewed with an obscene amount of malts and hops. Shocking flavors – far beyond contemporary community standards. The Most Radical Jewish Tribute Beer ever created. Aged in rye whiskey barrels.

Southern Tier ~ Porter

Porter is our darkest beer, but not necessarily our strongest. It is widely held that the darker the beer, the stronger the beer, but this is summarily false. The contribution of color comes directly from the color of malt that we use. Some malt is roasted to achieve dark color and coffee-like flavor which in turn get transferred to the beer. Our Porter is richly complex with overtones of chocolate and espresso beans followed by a subtle flavor of hops. It’s a nourishing beer without being too sweet or filling.

Yuengling ~ Porter

An authentic craft-style beer, our Porter calls for a generous portion of caramel and dark roasted malts, which deliver a rich full-bodied flavor and creamy taste with slight tones of chocolate evident in every sip.

Brasserie de Silly ~ Pink Killer

Fruity and thirst-quenching, sweet yet not sickly, Pink Killer is a beer based on malt, wheat and pink grapefruit, which explains its very unique colour and the hint of bitterness typical of this fruit, in turn quenching the biggest of thirsts with a flavoursome taste.

Bell’s ~ Best Brown Ale

A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown Ale is a mainstay in our fall & winter lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops.

Heavy Seas ~ Small Craft Über Pils

Silver Medal: World Beer Championships

We call this beer an Über Pils – a pilsner style bock lager. Rich, malty, and well rounded but with a firm structure of noble hops. Surprisingly pale in color for such a powerful, complex beer.

Bell’s ~ Expedition Stout

One of the earliest examples of the Russian Imperial Stout in the United States, Bell’s Expedition Stout offers immensely complex flavors crafted specifically with vintage aging in mind, as its profile will continue to mature and develop over the years. A huge malt body is matched to a heady blend of chocolate, dark fruits, and other aromas. Intensely bitter in its early months, the flavors will slowly meld and grow in depth as the beer ages.

Kona Brewing Company ~ Pipeline Porter

Pipeline Porter is smooth and dark with a distinctive roasty aroma and earthy complexity from its diverse blends of premium malted barley. This celebration of malt unites with freshly roasted 100% Kona coffee grown at Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s Big Island, lending a unique roasted aroma and flavor. A delicate blend of hops rounds out this palate-pleasing brew.

Peak Organic ~ Winter Session

This winter wheat beer uses dark malting to provide subtle toasty notes. We then single-hop and dry-hop this beer with Citra hops from our friend Brad’s farm. Interesting pineapple notes from the Citra hop provide a stark contrast to the toasty notes in the body. An engaging and sessionable Winter Seasonal.

Chase Vodka

Voted Best Vodka by San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010

Chase Distillery produces the UK’s only potato vodka. Chase Vodka (formally Tyrrell’s Vodka) is made from Herefordshire potatoes and distilled using artisan methods. It tastes beautifully smooth, soft and naturally sweet. It’s distilled five times in our handcrafted copper pot and our unique 70ft copper rectifying column on our farm in Herefordshire.

Chase ~ Elderflower Liqueur

Chase Elderflower Liqueur is made using freshly pressed elderflowers and our fine English potato vodka giving it a pure luxurious quality. Enjoy straight or with champagne.