A taste of Broooklyn

I was faced with a mission of brining home something good without breaking the budget. Well I guess that is always my mission when it comes to buying wine. 

Last night I found a bottle of Brooklyn Oenology 2006 Social Club Red ($13.99) collecting dust in the "local" section of a nearby liquor store. It was by accident was I even there in the first place seeing that they tend to stock a lot of garbage, but this time it was a mistake I would come to appreciate.

BOE as they like to call themselves proclaim their wines to be "a celebration of both heritage and the artisinal resurgence in Brooklyn".  Ok, you got me.  "Artisinal" is the current buzz word to describe everything from spray cheese to paint colors. But whatever, they had me at the word "local".  Seriously, if you've read anything I've written before (all 3 of you), you know I am a huge supporter of all things artisinal, uh I mean local.

Onto the wine.  The Social Red is a Bordeaux style blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec & Syrah. Yes, yes, yes & yes. This is like the holy trinity of wine for someone like me.  Wait, a trinity is a group of 3...anyway. So yes, this wine has all the makings of a true champ.  There are floral notes of rose & not so floral notes of plum. The wine posseses a woodsy flavor with hints of cherry & clove. They say chocolate as well, I say I was already too impressed to tell.  The finish was bold & deep yet lasting & smooth. That is not a contradiction. Next/first time you try this wine you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

In short, this wine was a slam dunk for me.  And for the record, the wine while billed and labeled as a Brooklyn Hipster really grew up on the NoFo.  So either way the NYC snobs will probably still look at it as B&T all the way. That's why I support the snobs, they tend to ignore good wine from unsuspecting places.  That only means more amazing red for us.

Happy Tasting!
-ES

www.brooklynoenology.com/

A tale of two tastings

What better way to reward ourselves after the Shelter Island 5k than a trip back west through LI Wine country? 

A relatively little known new add to the tasting scene is Mattebella Vineyards in Southold.  Since August, Mattebella has been entertaining guests out of their quaint tasting shed while showcasing their wines which are cheerfully advertised as being produced "the old fashioned way".  The wines are harvested sans machinery and the vineyard is "committed to using sustainable viticulturural practices, while incorporating as many organic practices as possible into their farming method".

Mattebella has prided themselves on a more friendly, laid back environment and it shows.  The shed and accomodations are simple yet effective.  While they are open through December, this is purely a seasonal establishment.  Figuring that it will take a few seasons to work out the kinks, I still suggest stopping in to say "Hi" and grabbing a bottle on the go.  Unless of course the sun is shining  and your lucky enough to grab one of the Adirondack chairs out back.

The second stop of the day was a few clicks down the road @ Sherwood House in Jamesport.  The tasting house is a converted 1860's farmhouse complete with fireplace, deck and event barn.

From the second you arrive you feel as if you've stepped into a Williams Sonoma catalog. The farmhouse chic decor spills out to a patio complete with raw bar featuring local oysters & clams. For me, that's as close to heaven as I'll ever get.  The wine isn't so bad either.

In all seriousness, if you enjoy the scenery as much as you enjoy wine, Sherwood is the place for you. Dan's paper has rated them among the very best in multiple categories the last few years and I tend to agree with their asessment. Some vineyards pride themselves on style over substance, but in this particular instance Sherwood has acheived both near perfection.

46005 Main Road (Route 25)
Southold, NY 11971
http://www.mattebella.com/

TWO TASTING ROOMS:

1291 Main Road, Jamesport & Oregon Road, Mattituck
http://www.sherwoodhousevineyards.com/

Brooks & Porter Steakhouse - A mild departure from just talking about wine.

I recall a time when this place was called The Crease and I'd spend entire Sundays dominating plates of wings & pitchers of beer while watching 10 different football games simultaneously. Sadly, those days are long gone. On the bright side, a fancy more adult less college frat house steakhouse has sprung up where the old pub once stood. 

Brooks & Porter has been anchoring Merrick village for the last few years and turning out charred pieces of meat like a factory ever since it's inception.  Upon a my first visit shortly after their grand opening I was surprised to find a pretty damn good steakhouse in an otherwise generic "main" street lined with stores perpendicular to Sunrise Hwy.  That was then.

Since we have moved to the "outer reaches" of Suffolk, it had been awhile since we had been there.  Some old friends of ours who still live nearby suggested we stop in and check it out for dinner.  Without question, we agreed and met them for dinner last night.

To be fair, I know about as much about steaks as I do wine. If I like what I taste, then I'll go back for more.  Hence, this was our second time back.  Knowing I had been there before I suppose I spent a little time looking around and perhaps a bit more critical as well.  The decor screams modern steakhouse with it's combination of simple lines, dim lighting & deep dark wood finishings. But oddly enough, the menu is framed as if the place were 100 years old and once called Ye Olde Meat House (i.e. a bit gimmicky).

The menu is what you would expect with the typical assortment of different cuts made to order, various offerings of fish, a raw bar & chicken for those who don't like beef.  One item of note is that the restaurant offers various side sauces to "compliment" your steak.  Maybe I'm old school, but to me a steak should be able to stand on it's own.  But that's just me.

The wine list was pleasantly long and the waiters good at pretending to know a little bit about everything that was on there.  In addition, they will serve a bottle in a decanter and single glasses in a mini-carafe. Did someone just say "gimmicky"?  Ah yes, that was me in the last paragraph.

Having said that, I obviously ordered a beer. 

Which brings me to me next point. I tried something I had never tried before and thought maybe the glass it was poured into was dirty. On the other hand, the beer might have had some depth and meant to possess that smokehouse flavor. Rather than send it back, I powered though and even ordered another.  Let's just say that after trying the second beer, my instincts were correct. The smokehouse flavor was in fact not meant to be part of the brew master's plan...MMMmmmm.

Our waitress was great, but @ 8pm on a Saturday night the busiest night of the week she made it seem pretty standard to already have been sold out of 3 items on a not so extensive menu. Although, she did say that the head chef was a bit finicky and sent a full order of fish back to their purveyor.

dirty glass - check
limited menu - check

I can't say that I've ever really not liked a steak.  But I can say that I have had a few steaks that stand out above all the others.  This was not one of those times.  My sirloin was bit overcooked.  Even I know enough about proper cooking times & temperatures. I would expect that for $50, my chef would know far more about that than me.  But again, I powered through and moved on.  I don't ever send anything back unless it might kill me.

dirty glass - check
limited menu - check
overcooked steak - check

Lastly, there was dessert.  Let me say this, go for the pumpkin cheesecake if nothing else.  I sincerely mean that.  While the entire meal was forgettable with the exception of the company I was with, the cheesecake stood out above all else.  It would seem that Brooks & Porter has a much more prosperous future as a dessert studio than steakhouse.

As previously mentioned, this place used to be pretty damn good.  But that was about 3-4 years ago. Last night proved to me that Brooks & Porter has officially jumped the shark. If you're looking for a good steakhouse, this is a pass.  On the other hand, if you're in the mood for an amazing piece of pumpkin cheesecake then by all means order two.

It is safe to say this was our final trip to B&P.  If I want a piece of cheesecake, I suppose I'll have to spend some more time searching for a good bakery.

Until next time,
ES

Brooks & Porter Steakhouse

16 Merrick Avenue

Merrick, NY 11566

(516) 379-9400

http://www.brooksandporter.com/

Last Night's Bottle - Leo Family Red

I originally couldn't recall if someone gave this as a gift or I bought it myself but then it finally dawned on me that we purchased @ the Winemaker Studio the last trip out. Either way, we drank the bottle dry. 

This is the first and so far, only wine released under the Leo Family label. A blend made of sustainably farmed grapes: 80% Merlot, 7% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon from the North Fork of Long Island. Aged 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, released spring 2011.

A robust, smokey, woodsy blend with undertones of fruit (prune & berry) & spice (clove).  Very well balanced with low acidity & tannins.

Paid $40 which is above my usual budget but I feel worth every penny.  My only regret was that I didn't overcelebrate (i.e. drink way too much) all weekend with the family & friends. I would have enjoyed it a little more if I wasn't fighting off the after effects of my weekend long bender. Will have to better observe my limitations next time.

Cheers.

-ES

NYC Wine Bar Review: Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar

Sometimes I take it for granted that I work in the greatest city in the world.  Perhaps it's because I rarely find myself able to escape the commuter's corridor of midtown Manhattan. But before Irene supposedly ends the world as we know it, I made it a point to get out one last time and take in some of what this otherwise wonderful city has to offer.

Just beyond the shadows of Penn Station lies Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar. This is a small yet elegant space with seating for about 20 and possibly 5 more at the bar. But if you find yourself there on a summer night, the outdoor sidewalk patio is the preferred option. 

Whether inside or out, nothing quite compares to watching passersby while enjoying one of the bar's 90+ wine selections. If wine is not your thing, they offer a handsome list of specialty martinis as well.

Food options vary but are somewhat limited. While I didn't stay long enough to eat, I did peruse the menu and decided the wiser choice might be to stick with the tapas style appetizers and forgo the entrees altogether. Or you could do as the name suggests and sample some of the decadent chocolates that are available. I should also add that they do offer a 2 course, prix fixe lunch menu for $9.95 on weekdays.

Whatever your taste, Ayza has a little something for everyone.  It wouldn't hurt to remind yourself every now & again that if you stray a few blocks from the loud frat houses lining the Avenues next to Penn Station you can find a tiny gem in Ayza.

Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar

11 W.31 Street

(b/t 5th & Broadway)

NYC.NY 10001

212.714.2992

http://www.ayzanyc.com/

Last Night's Bottle - Jordan 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

On an otherwise typical Thursday night, we decided to open a bottle of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy with dinner and some Jersey Shore. That's right I proudly watch that trash and although this season is the worst one yet, I still find myself drawn to it.

The Jordan name is readily available, easily recognizable and typically reliable from one of California's most well known producers.

While I find the wine to be classic in most every sense of the word, the price ($35-45) could be considered somewhat excessive for a slightly above average bottle of wine. I have have enjoyed similar wines for much less $.

About the wine:

A rich crimson color leads to blackberry, cherry & currant notes with mild mineral undertones & subtle spice that jump out at you right away.

The palate is full of berry flavor followed closely by cinnamon & vanilla and a hint of wood.  The wine itself is soft with an understated acidity.

Again I did enjoy this bottle, but it is what I would expect from a large producer such as Jordan. In one word, "reliable".  If you have the dollars to spend, by all means don't let the price fool you.  If you prefer to find that diamond in the rough for a small cost, then move on to something you haven't already tried before. I think it is safe for me to say that Jordan's Cabernet doesn't stand out among 100's of other similar wines out there.

More to come next week.

In the mean time, Happy tasting!
-E.S.

Final Chapter - Part 3 of 3: The Winemaker Studio

At long last I have been able to devote some time to my final post from last week's trip to the North Fork.

Our third stop was @ The Winemaker Studio, a cooperative tasting room in Peconic, New York. The informal minimalist space with the giant chalkboard features a rotating list of Long Island winemaker's independent, private labels for tasting and/or purchase. The Studio offers a wide range of Long Island wines and styles from some of the most well respected local winemakers.

-From their website: "Hosted by Anthony Nappa Wines, we also feature other winemaker’s private label wines as well as a rotational list representing local winery brands with a focus on limited production wines, unusual wine styles, and library selections. The Winemaker Studio is well suited to highlight esoteric, obscure, and interesting wines."

A bit off the beaten path of the main roads featuring the bulk of the Fork's wineries, a small store front on Peconic Lane welcomes passers by to stop in and enjoy some of the lesser known wines from around the area. Our tasting room host was generous and knowledgeable. Even to the gentleman next to us who insisted on slurping every sip of his wine and letting everyone around him know how much he knew about wine. I love these self proclaimed "wine professionals".  Someone please slap me if I ever become so pretentious.

Moving on, the Studio offered a full list wines to be sampled at $2-3 a taste or $7-15 a glass to be enjoyed nearby at one of the few tables. The standard varietals were represented and I strongly recommend listening to the man behind the counter because he knows what he is talking about and happy to offer his opinion or advice to anyone seeking it. 

As this was our last stop of the day, I only limited myself to two tastings. The good news is that both were pure knockouts!

2010 "Anamoly" White Pinot Noir (Anthony Nappa Wines) - According to the tasting notes, this is a white wine made from red grapes.  Hmmm...that's an interesting start. This wine possesses a rich, full body with tart yet sweet fruit flavors which is somewhat misleading, but all comes together with a lightly acidic finish.  I found myself allowing enough time for this wine to linger as long as I could.

This was nearly my favorite wine of the day...except for that I had allowed myself one more wine to taste.

3.5 of 5

2009 Shiraz (Suhru) - We were lucky enough to experience some of the Suhru product at an event earlier in the year and fortunately knew what we were in store for.  The Shiraz is a deep and rich red color with a nose of white pepper, spice  & tea. It has been referred to a "spice rack" of aroma. And I wholly agree with that accusation. To match the color, the palate bursts with red fruits like plum & cherry and again with a lingering taste of the white pepper and subtle vanilla finish.

As I previously stated, this wine was a knockout.  Perhaps it is because I am a sucker for anything spicy or a wine that pops in your mouth. This was all of that and then some.  Of course, we bought a bottle for home and while I do enjoy sharing good wine with friends, this bottle is for me. I will just strongly suggest that everyone get out to the Winemaker Studio and try for yourself.

4 of 5.

Overall, we had a wonderful day. I have been trying to dedicate myself to hitting up some of the places we've never been before or that tend to be smaller and more fan friendly.  It is a much more pleasant experience when you're not rushed or force fed a general flight tasting then expected to buy everything in sight.  I don't go to wineries to hear a pushy sales pitch.  So far this approach has suited us well.  The last few drives out east to the smaller maybe less well know producers have yielded some of our favorite places to enjoy a lazy afternoon.  I suggest you do the same.

Until next time, happy tasting!
-ES

http://anthonynappawines.com/tws_home.html