Tastings 2007-07-08T02:14:32Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2007:/tastings//7 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2007, peter Beacon Street Tavern Sirloin Summer 2007 2007-07-08T02:14:32Z 2007-07-08T02:03:52Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2007:/tastings//7.905 2007-07-08T02:03:52Z Take a sirloin steak. Cook it to taste, season with salt and pepper. A perfect steak. Take a quantity of butter. Mix in a larger quantity of Stilton cheese. You're looking for a butter consistency, but maximized Stilton flavor. Pungent and peppery. Place a bit of this Stilton butter on the steak while it's still hot. It will melt a little. The perfect steak, improved through added fat. Consider a few sides to add to this steak. You want flavors that will stand up well to the Stilton, but blend with the steak. Asparagus. Grill some asparagus. Leave it slightly charred but crunchy. You now have a delightful meal. But it could use a little something else. Something to take it over the top. Cut some onions extra thick. Bread them and fry them. Extra thick, extra crispy. Build a pyramid of onion rings beside the steak, from largest diameter to smallest. Serve.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Food Take a sirloin steak. Cook it to taste, season with salt and pepper. A perfect steak.

Take a quantity of butter. Mix in a larger quantity of Stilton cheese. You're looking for a butter consistency, but maximized Stilton flavor. Pungent and peppery.

Place a bit of this Stilton butter on the steak while it's still hot. It will melt a little. The perfect steak, improved through added fat.

Consider a few sides to add to this steak. You want flavors that will stand up well to the Stilton, but blend with the steak. Asparagus.

Grill some asparagus. Leave it slightly charred but crunchy.

You now have a delightful meal.

But it could use a little something else.

Something to take it over the top.

Cut some onions extra thick. Bread them and fry them. Extra thick, extra crispy. Build a pyramid of onion rings beside the steak, from largest diameter to smallest.

Serve.

]]> Peet's Ancient Trees Organic Pu-erh (***) 2007-06-22T14:35:02Z 2007-06-22T14:34:31Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2007:/tastings//7.899 2007-06-22T14:34:31Z Small compressed discs of delicious earthiness. Mild in flavor and extremely smooth. Brews up as dark as coffee.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Tea Small compressed discs of delicious earthiness. Mild in flavor and extremely smooth. Brews up as dark as coffee.

]]> Tealuxe Darjeeling Silvertips White Tea (***) 2007-06-22T14:05:39Z 2007-06-22T14:04:20Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2007:/tastings//7.898 2007-06-22T14:04:20Z Bin 148 at Tealuxe is a White Darjeeling. It has the buttery round flavor of a white tea and the spiciness of a Darjeeling. It's a little sweet underneath the spice, with no tannins. Very floral. The balance is excellent - I can recommend this tea.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Tea Bin 148 at Tealuxe is a White Darjeeling. It has the buttery round flavor of a white tea and the spiciness of a Darjeeling. It's a little sweet underneath the spice, with no tannins. Very floral. The balance is excellent - I can recommend this tea.

]]> Jean-Luc Colombo Syrah "La Violette" 2003 (***) 2006-11-27T05:23:40Z 2006-04-28T01:38:40Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.654 2006-04-28T01:38:40Z peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine
Jean-Luc Colombo Syrah "La Violette" 2003
Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman.

Pays d'Oc, Southern France. 100% Syrah. $12.99.

Light garnet - somewhat transparent. Floral (violet?) and coffee nose, with grass. Earthy.

Light body, intense flavor. Violet and blackberry, chocolate and pepper. I like it.


]]> MontGras Cabernet-Syrah Reserva 2004 (***) 2006-11-27T05:23:40Z 2006-04-26T01:14:37Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.651 2006-04-26T01:14:37Z MontGras Cabernet-Syrah Reserva 2004 Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman. Colchagua Valley, Chile. $10.99. The nose is plum and sweet red cherries. It's very light in taste, with a little pepper. Fruit flavors are currant and black cherry. There's a little cocoa. Light tannins, medium bodied. Tasty. I'd drink it again.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine
MontGras Cabernet-Syrah Reserva 2004
Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman.

Colchagua Valley, Chile. $10.99.

The nose is plum and sweet red cherries. It's very light in taste, with a little pepper. Fruit flavors are currant and black cherry. There's a little cocoa.

Light tannins, medium bodied. Tasty. I'd drink it again.


]]> Spirit Tasting 4: The Rescotchening 2006-11-27T05:23:40Z 2006-04-20T02:34:22Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.643 2006-04-20T02:34:22Z Finishing up my note-typing backlog - these whiskys were tasted over a month ago. I didn't jot much down for most of them, and I don't think any has a good, full tasting note. This entry may only be of use to me. I hope that JB or Robert will put together something more detailed for a few of these. This was a marathon Scotch tasting. We had about 15 whiskys, and they were all excellent. Next time we'll do something more focused. This is the fourth in a series of spirit tastings, the first several being Bourbon, Scotch, and Rum. For this one, we returned to Scotland. Ardbeg Serendipity Smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke. Awesome with water. Balvenie Portwood 21 Sharp, peppery finish. Bowmore 12 Very nice - tastes like the seaside. Quite smoky. Bowmore 15 Smells like cognac, tastes like candy. Cherry! Mellows with water. This was one of the favorites of the evening. Bowmore 17 This still has the cherry flavor I caught in the 15, but it's much more subtle. Similar to the 15, but more refined. Glenlivet 18 Very sharp before adding water, very assertive. Extremely full-flavored after water. Excellent. Glenmorangie 18 Smoky but not peaty? Very good. Glenmorangie Port Finish A little sweet, slightly winey - like the Glenlivet French Oak. Slightly smoky finish, nice and round with water. Glenrothes Vintage 1992 Charcoal, caramel. Probably my favorite from the night. Lagavulin 16 I won't even try to best JB's review. I'll only add that water only hurts this whisky - it became flat and flavorless. Macallan 18 Very round and smooth - some candy. Little change with water. I like the Macallan 18, but I don't have the same mind-blowing reaction that the other people from the tasting had. It's nice enough, but I prefer others. Talisker 12 Full flavor, not terribly smooth. Clynelish 14 Caramel pepper - a little fruity. The nose opens a lot with water.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Scotch Finishing up my note-typing backlog - these whiskys were tasted over a month ago. I didn't jot much down for most of them, and I don't think any has a good, full tasting note. This entry may only be of use to me.

I hope that JB or Robert will put together something more detailed for a few of these.

This was a marathon Scotch tasting. We had about 15 whiskys, and they were all excellent. Next time we'll do something more focused.

This is the fourth in a series of spirit tastings, the first several being Bourbon, Scotch, and Rum. For this one, we returned to Scotland.

Ardbeg Serendipity
Smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke.

Awesome with water.

Balvenie Portwood 21
Sharp, peppery finish.

Bowmore 12
Very nice - tastes like the seaside. Quite smoky.

Bowmore 15
Smells like cognac, tastes like candy. Cherry! Mellows with water.

This was one of the favorites of the evening.

Bowmore 17
This still has the cherry flavor I caught in the 15, but it's much more subtle. Similar to the 15, but more refined.

Glenlivet 18
Very sharp before adding water, very assertive.

Extremely full-flavored after water. Excellent.

Glenmorangie 18
Smoky but not peaty? Very good.

Glenmorangie Port Finish
A little sweet, slightly winey - like the Glenlivet French Oak. Slightly smoky finish, nice and round with water.

Glenrothes Vintage 1992
Charcoal, caramel. Probably my favorite from the night.

Lagavulin 16
I won't even try to best JB's review. I'll only add that water only hurts this whisky - it became flat and flavorless.

Macallan 18
Very round and smooth - some candy. Little change with water.

I like the Macallan 18, but I don't have the same mind-blowing reaction that the other people from the tasting had. It's nice enough, but I prefer others.

Talisker 12
Full flavor, not terribly smooth.

Clynelish 14
Caramel pepper - a little fruity. The nose opens a lot with water.

]]> Dei Rosso di Montepulciano 2003 (****) 2006-11-27T05:23:40Z 2006-04-17T01:30:34Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.639 2006-04-17T01:30:34Z Dei Rosso di Montepulciano 2003 Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman. Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy. $16.99. Dark ruby, with amber notes. Black cherry in the nose, with a little spice. It smells a bit sweet. The taste is fruity - cherry again, with a nice tannic backbone. I really love this wine. We often drink it with homemade pizzas - it's wonderful with prosciutto.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine
Dei Rosso di Montepulciano 2003
Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman.

Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy. $16.99.

Dark ruby, with amber notes. Black cherry in the nose, with a little spice. It smells a bit sweet.

The taste is fruity - cherry again, with a nice tannic backbone.

I really love this wine. We often drink it with homemade pizzas - it's wonderful with prosciutto.


]]> Brookline Liquor Mart Wine Tasting 2006-04-15 (Marathon Wines) 2006-11-27T05:23:40Z 2006-04-14T16:04:48Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.637 2006-04-14T16:04:48Z peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine It's the weekend of the Boston Marathon, and this week's theme is Marathon Wines. These are wines expected to cellar well for several years.

Champagne Veuve Clicquot Brut 1999 (****)
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Reims, Champagne, France. $74.95.

Sadly, I didn't write anything down for this one. It was fantastic.

Baumard Savennieres 2001
Domaines des Baumards, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Anjou, Loire, France. $24.99.

Light straw in appearance. Cherry aroma. Very dry, medium bodied. Well-balanced, with a long finish.

Guigal Saint-Joseph - blanc, 'Lieu Dit' 2001 (***)
Ampuis, Rhône Valley, France. $39.99.

Straw, tinged with green. Spicy, earthy nose. The taste is peppery, with an aromatic finish. Oily texture.

Rene Schmidt Riesling Schoenenburg 1999 (***)
Domaine Baumann, Riquewihr, Alsace, France. $21.99.

Light gold. Nose of pear and apple. It's dry, and tastes of apple. Nice.

Maison l'Aiglon Saint-Chinian 'Grand reserve' 1999 (***)
Les Producteurs Reunis, Cébazon, Languedoc, France. $9.99.

Garnet. Very fruity nose. Cinnamon and spice. Earthy, almost fishy flavor. Currant. Bold tannins.

Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 (****)
Tay Vineyard, Napa, California. $60.00.

Ruby. Currant and dark cherry nose. Bold tannins. Cherry, currant, and leather. Very nice. Lizzie's favorite.

Chateau Langoa Barton 1997 (****)
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France. $53.99.

Ruby. Cherry, spice, and pepper nose. Very tannic, with cherry underneath. Grassy, earthy, with cedar. My favorite.

Tyrell Eitelbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Auslese 1998 (****)
Christoff Tyrell, Trier-Eitelsbach, Saar, Mosel, Germany. $36.00.

Pale straw. Lemon nose. The taste is a very crisp lemon. Great dessert wine.

Dow's Porto, Quita Senhora da Ribeira 1999 (****)
Silva & Cosens, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. $49.95.

Black in appearance, going garnet at the edge of the glass. Cinnamon and plum aroma. Spicy with a fantastic finish - raisin, spice, plum, and cherry. Slightly tannic, not too sweet.

]]> <![CDATA[Adler Fels Gewürztraminer 2003 (***)]]> 2006-11-27T05:23:40Z 2006-04-13T01:08:09Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.632 2006-04-13T01:08:09Z peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine
Adler Fels Gewürztraminer 2003
Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman.

Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California. $11.99.

Welcome to a special Wine Blogging Wednesday edition of Tastings. WBW is a monthly wine blogging event, and this is our first time taking part. The theme for this month is white wines other than Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling, and it's being sponsored by the Wine for Newbies podcast.

I had a bottle of Gewürztraminer of unknown provenance in my pantry, so I opened it up and gave it a shot.

Gold in color. The nose is lychee, honey, and a little pepper. Mostly lychee and honey.

It's medium bodied, and a little oily, with lychee and honey as the main flavors. It's dry, but not acidic enough to be crisp. It's fairly well balanced.

I'd drink it again, but something a little crisper is more my style. Three stars (of five).


]]> Brookline Liquor Mart Wine Tasting 2006-04-08 (Israeli Wines) 2006-11-27T05:23:39Z 2006-04-08T22:35:59Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.628 2006-04-08T22:35:59Z They've been tasting Israeli Wines for Passover at Brookline Liquor Mart all week. Golan Heights Winery Sauvignon Blanc 'Gamla' 2004 Golan Heights Winery, Galilee, Israel. $11.50. Very light straw in appearance. Strawberry nose. Green apple in flavor, very tart. Well-balanced. Hamasrek Chardonnay 'Single Vineyard' 2003 (***) Hamasrek, Belt Meir, Judean Hills, Israel. $25.99. Extremly pale - it almost looks like water. Green apple scent. The taste is oak, pepper, and grape. It's well-balanced. Domaine du Castel Chardonnay 'Blanc de Castel' 2003 (***) Domaine du Castel, Jerusalem Hills, Israel. $36.99. Gold. The aroma is vanilla and toast. It's light bodied, with vanilla. Tart. Golan Heights Winery Pinot Noir 'Gamla' 2003 (**) Golan Heights Winery, Galilee, Israel. $21.50. Garnet in color. The nose is hay and bread. The taste is vegetal and fishy, with more hay. Not my style. Tzora Cabernet-Zinfandel 2003 Tzora, Jerusalem Hills, Israel. $23.55. Ruby. Hay and barnyard aroma. The taste is hay, cherry, and currant. A little too tannic. Yatir Cabernet-Merlot-Shiraz 2002 (****) Yatir, Jerusalem Hills, Israel. $37.95. Brick appearance. Currant nose, currant taste. Bold tannins. Nice balance. Orna Chillag Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2003 (****) Orna Chillag, Galilee, Israel. $22. Very dark ruby. The nose is cinnamon and port. Very, very nice - bold backbone, currant flavor. Long finish. I liked this a lot. Yarden Gewurtzraminer 'Ice Wine' 2000 (***) Yarden, Galilee, Israel. $24.95. Light gold. The nose is vegetal, with caramel and grape. The taste is juicy and spicy, with more grape.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine They've been tasting Israeli Wines for Passover at Brookline Liquor Mart all week.

Golan Heights Winery Sauvignon Blanc 'Gamla' 2004
Golan Heights Winery, Galilee, Israel. $11.50.

Very light straw in appearance. Strawberry nose. Green apple in flavor, very tart. Well-balanced.

Hamasrek Chardonnay 'Single Vineyard' 2003 (***)
Hamasrek, Belt Meir, Judean Hills, Israel. $25.99.

Extremly pale - it almost looks like water. Green apple scent. The taste is oak, pepper, and grape. It's well-balanced.

Domaine du Castel Chardonnay 'Blanc de Castel' 2003 (***)
Domaine du Castel, Jerusalem Hills, Israel. $36.99.

Gold. The aroma is vanilla and toast. It's light bodied, with vanilla. Tart.

Golan Heights Winery Pinot Noir 'Gamla' 2003 (**)
Golan Heights Winery, Galilee, Israel. $21.50.

Garnet in color. The nose is hay and bread. The taste is vegetal and fishy, with more hay. Not my style.

Tzora Cabernet-Zinfandel 2003
Tzora, Jerusalem Hills, Israel. $23.55.

Ruby. Hay and barnyard aroma. The taste is hay, cherry, and currant. A little too tannic.

Yatir Cabernet-Merlot-Shiraz 2002 (****)
Yatir, Jerusalem Hills, Israel. $37.95.

Brick appearance. Currant nose, currant taste. Bold tannins. Nice balance.

Orna Chillag Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2003 (****)
Orna Chillag, Galilee, Israel. $22.

Very dark ruby. The nose is cinnamon and port. Very, very nice - bold backbone, currant flavor. Long finish. I liked this a lot.

Yarden Gewurtzraminer 'Ice Wine' 2000 (***)
Yarden, Galilee, Israel. $24.95.

Light gold. The nose is vegetal, with caramel and grape. The taste is juicy and spicy, with more grape.

]]> Brookline Liquor Mart Wine Tasting 2006-04-08 (Passover and Easter Wines) 2006-11-27T05:23:39Z 2006-04-08T21:42:01Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.627 2006-04-08T21:42:01Z peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine This week's theme was Wines for Passover and Easter Celebrations. There was a separate table of Israeli Wines, so this week we had twice the tasting. I'll write those up separately.

Omaka Springs Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (***)
Omaka Springs Estates, Marlborough, New Zealand. $18.99.

Pale, straw in color. Grapefruit aroma. The taste is green apple, crisp and sweet. It's a little too acidic, but nice enough.

Baron Herzog Chardonnay 2003 (***)
Baron Herzog Wine Cellars, San Martin, Central Coast, California. $13.99.

Pale, greenish. The aroma is very floral, with green apple. The taste reflects the apple, with some oakiness. It's well-balanced.

Montes Chardonnay 'Montes Alpha' 2003 (***)
Montes, Curico, Casablanca Valley, Chile. $22.99.

Straw in appearance. Grape and strawberry aroma. The taste is oaky and tart. The balance is ok - it's well-balanced between the oak and fruit. Long finish.

Bartenura Barbera d'Asti 2003 (**)
Bartenura, Castelboglione, Italy. $12.99.

Garnet. The nose is plum and cherry. It's dry, and very light in flavor. The balance is nice enough, but it's nothing exciting.

Agricola Le Corti Chianti Classico 2003 (***)
Agricola Le Corti, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Tuscany, Italy. $19.99.

Ruby in color. Cherry in the nose and on the palate. Bold tannins and pepper. Well-balanced, with a light body.

Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir los Carneros Napa 'Aires' 2004 (****)
Sinskey Vineyards, Napa, California. $22.50.

Ruby. Very nice nose - pomegranate, very fruity. The taste was very fruit-forward, pomegranate and plum. Well-balanced. Lizzie liked this best.

Joseph Roty Bourgogne rouge 'Cuvée de Pressonnier' 2003 (****)
Joseph Roty, Cevrey Chambertin, Burgundy, France. $30.99.

Garnet. Earthy nose, plum and apple. The taste is very hearty. It's earthy and peppery. Great balance.

Royal Wine Co. 'Timor' (no vintage) (***)
Royal Wine Co., Israel. $13.50 500ml.

Orange-red in appearance. Sharp, orange aroma. The taste is orange again. Nice full body, good balance.

La Playa Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 'Late Harvest' 2005 (***)
La Playa Vineyards, Santa Cruz, Colchagua, Chile. $14.99 half bottle.

Pale, straw appearance. The aroma is earthy - grass and cilantro. The taste is very grassy. It's well-balanced, very nice.

]]> Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (***) 2006-11-27T05:23:39Z 2006-04-08T00:47:18Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.625 2006-04-08T00:47:18Z peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine
Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman.

Viña Concha Y Toro, Central Valley, Chile

Garnet in color, with a nose of currant, cherry, and pepper. The taste is of currant and peppery oak. Full bodied, with medium tannins. A nice long, oaky finish with lingering tannins. The finish is slightly sour, but not unpleasantly so.

Definitely one to buy again, and a great value at $8.


]]> Imperial Tea Vanilla Silver Needles (**) 2006-11-27T05:23:39Z 2006-04-04T15:05:54Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.620 2006-04-04T15:05:54Z This doesn't happen often. I've had two or three dozen teas from Imperial over the years, and this is only the second I haven't liked. It looks like a nice base, downy silver needles with a ton of body. The scent of vanilla in the leaves is overpowering and almost acrid. Once brewed, the vanilla is a little more subtle, but it's a little heavy-handed for my taste. There's a strong vanilla aftertaste. The white tea base just doesn't have enough body to stand up to the vanilla. This would be great if you like heavily scented teas, but it's not for me.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Tea This doesn't happen often. I've had two or three dozen teas from Imperial over the years, and this is only the second I haven't liked.

It looks like a nice base, downy silver needles with a ton of body. The scent of vanilla in the leaves is overpowering and almost acrid.

Once brewed, the vanilla is a little more subtle, but it's a little heavy-handed for my taste. There's a strong vanilla aftertaste. The white tea base just doesn't have enough body to stand up to the vanilla.

This would be great if you like heavily scented teas, but it's not for me.

]]> Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz 2003 (***) 2006-11-27T05:23:39Z 2006-04-04T00:52:51Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.619 2006-04-04T00:52:51Z Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz 2003 Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman. South Australia. Dark ruby in color, with a peppery, slightly mineral nose. Not extremely fruity - there's a little grape, but not much else. It's heavy and full-bodied. Bitter, but with soft tannins. There's a little pepper. Well-balanced, but it has a short finish. It's fairly unobtrusive. I'd drink it again, but probably not buy it. $10.99.... peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz 2003
Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman. South Australia.

Dark ruby in color, with a peppery, slightly mineral nose. Not extremely fruity - there's a little grape, but not much else.

It's heavy and full-bodied. Bitter, but with soft tannins. There's a little pepper.

Well-balanced, but it has a short finish. It's fairly unobtrusive. I'd drink it again, but probably not buy it.

$10.99.
]]> Bonny Doon Zinfandel "Cardinal Zin" 3002 "Yeastly Bold Vines" (***) 2006-11-27T05:23:39Z 2006-04-02T01:21:10Z tag:www.sharp-tools.net,2006:/tastings//7.616 2006-04-02T01:21:10Z peter http://teichman.org/ peter@teichman.org Wine
Cardinal Zin 3002 "Yeastly Bold Vines"
Originally uploaded by Peter Teichman. Bonny Doon Vineyard, Santa Cruz, CA.

If Bonny Doon has one thing, it's excellent marketing. Their wines have interesting labels and back stories, and some have fantastic artwork. The label on this bottle is by Ralph Steadman, and has been catching my eye for a while. After hearing a positive review of this wine, I decided to give it a shot. I try to maintain a healthy skepticism toward well-marketed wines.

This was the "Yeastly Bold Vines" variety of Bonny Doon's Cardinal Zin, which has a small amount of Riesling lees added to their normal Cardinal Zin. It's labeled as 3002, as the addition of the Riesling kept them from labeling it as the 2003 vintage.

Ruby in color, with a nose of cherry and raspberry. Fairly light bodied.

Black cherry and raspberry flavor, with a thin mouthfeel. Extremely fruity - almost too forward. I'd happily drink it again, but I'd probably buy something else given a choice. Not a great value for my palate. $18.00.
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