Eugene Carrel Jongieux "Vin de Savoie" 2009

Eugene Carrel Jongieux "Vin de Savoie" 2009, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Review:
Ok, as if the world of wine wasn't confusing enough.. This wine is from the Savoie wine region in the Savoy region of France...Huh? Basically the vineyards cling to the sides of the mountains in this alpine region. The grape, Jaquere, is not all that common. In fact this is really the only region that it's grown in. What does this mean to you? It means put down your Pinot Grigio and explore. This wine, with it's clean, crisp acidity is right up your alley. Ok, it's a tad bit rounder than most PGs, but it's still worth a try. This wine will be in my Summer rotation this year, try it and I'm sure it will be in yours as well..-Mitch

R Wines 2009 Diddley Bow Riesling

2011-04-28-21-40-58_1000000302, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Review:
Unfortunately it took the demise of "R" Wines for us to buy/try this awesome wine. Originally this wine was supposed to retail for close to twice the price, it was only after "R" Wines fell apart and all of their wines were offered at close out prices that we decided to give it a try. I'm so glad we did. This wine is fantastic! The touch of sweetness is so well offset by the crisp acidity it is hardly noticeable. Pro: This wine is great Con: Not much left....especially if I keep drinking it.- Mitch
PS- Sorry for the funky picture. This is what happens when you download a new photo ap to your iPad....they'll get better....I hope.

Lake Placid IPA

Lake Placid IPA, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Hmm... The other day I drank/tasted Lake Placid's Ubu ale and loved it. (no real big surprise since I had tried it before). Tonight I tried their IPA and unfortunately came away with a different conclusion. Don't get me wrong, not a horrible IPA, just not wonderful one. Pours a clear brown with foamy white head. Nose was muted, some mild hop notes. Mouth is light with nice effervescence. Flavors fall in line with with the nose, muted spotty hops with some malt acting as a foundation. Don't get me wrong.... no real flaws.... ver easy drinking... just a little too toned down for my liking.

Wine and Music Review: Matt and Kim 'Sidewalks' & 2009 Tres Picos Garnacha

The fiery smorgasbord of funky tunes heard on Matt & Kim’s ‘Sidewalks’ complement the succulent flavors of 2009 Tres Picos Garnacha. This full-bodied Garnacha is remarkably delicious. It hosts bright, juicy flavors of red berry and dark fruits with a hint of spice. The finish is silky smooth. Tastes just like cherry pie. 

Garnacha is a versatile grape and is often used in blended varieties. It is dry and slightly sweet with a firm backbone. These qualities make it an excellent match for grilled or braised red meat. I would recommend pairing this wine (and album) with barbecued short ribs.

Wine, music and barbecue… it does not get any better than that!

Widmer Brews

In 1984 two brothers followed their dream and opened Widmer Brewery. Their shared passion for craft beer has translated into the production of many delicious European and American style beers. Located in Portland, Widmer Brewery offers a variety of brews including: Nelson Imperial IPA, Pitch Black IPA and their signature unfiltered Hefeweizen.

Widmer Nelson Imperial IPA has a strong hoppy characteristic matched with a hint of sweet malt. This imperial IPA will go well with an assortment of grilled meats. I recommend pairing it alongside a juicy buffalo burger with pepper jack cheese.

Their Pitch Black IPA is brewed with black malt, resulting in a bitter flavor similar to that of a dark stout. This unique beer pairs well with food that can hold its own. It would be perfect to serve with a thick cut of steak or spicy BBQ ribs.

The brothers’ most popular and decorated brew is a traditional Hefeweizen. This unfiltered gem is crisp and refreshing with a slight hint of citrus. It is an exceptional mate for grilled swordfish or Indian food.

Earth Day 2011 and Bluebird Pinot Noir

Today is Earth Day, a day in which we appreciate the environment and the wonders of nature. Wineries around the world are doing their part to conserve resources and reduce their carbon footprint. Miracle One Wines and X Winery joined together to create Bluebird Wines. Both wineries share a passion for the environment and work hard to provide customers with great wine at affordable prices. Last week we tasted Bluebird’s Pinot Noir and quickly decided it needed to be on our shelves. The wine is excellent and the packaging is easy to use. Bluebird’s Pinot Noir presents elegant notes of cherry and red berry. This easy drinking Pinot is fun and eco-friendly! Compared to glass bottles, packaging wine in a pouch reduces greenhouse gas emissions and landfill volumes.

Ah Barbera!

Ah Barbera!, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Of all the grape varieties that hail from Italy, I think barbera is my favorite. I know, I know, that's a pretty serious statement but hear me out. I think it's a more versatile grape than either sangiovese or nebbiolo. Not to mention the quality to price ratio, which I consider to be higher as well. Here's the skinny. Barbera is an Italian red grape that is known for producing wines that have deep color, ripe fruit flavors, high acidity and remarkably low tannin levels. They can range from light and easy cocktail reds to more serious, powerful wines, that need time to mature in the bottle. The best examples hail from the Piedmont region in northern Italy, particularly the towns of Alba and Asti. Where Asti is known for their more serious, powerful barbera offerings, Barbea d'Alba is often a lighter, more user friendly version. I have to say, for me, warmer weather and Barbera d'Alba go hand in hand. Their lively acidity and bright ripe fruit flavors make them fantastic "deck" reds. Since they tend to be less tannic they go better with the lighter fair that starts to show up on our tables this time of year. No matter which style you explore, I think you'll find that barberas are extremely enjoyable. CHEERS!-Mitch

Sierra Beer Dinner @ Little Pub

Sierra Beer Dinner @ Little Pub, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Here's a quick re-cap of the wonderful Sierra Nevada beer dinner that the Little Pub hosted the other night.
The food was great and the beer pairings were perfect (more on that in a moment).
Beer dinners are mostly about the food and beer but they're also about the brewery itself. I thought I had a good idea what Sierra Nevada was all about. High quality micro brews that reflect proper styles and impeccable quality. What I didn't realize, and you should know, is how environmentally responsible the brewery is. They call it their "Hops Harmony" philosophy. Here are a few examples of Sierra Nevada's commitment to our environment.
They have the second largest privately owned array of solar panels. Hydrogen fuel cells that in tandem with the solar to produce 90% of the energy needed to run the entire brewery. Water treatment that creates a biogas that they use to run their boiler system. CO2 recovery system that captures the CO2 produced in the brewing process for reuse in other aspects of that same process. Heat exchangers that recover and recycle energy. I could go on and on mentioning their material recycling (99.5% of their solid waster is diverted from landfills), organic recycling, hybrid diesel, etc.etc. When you drink one of Sierra's many great brews, not only can you enjoy a top notch micro brew, you can also feel good that that production of that beer had little or no negative impact on the environment.
Now more about the food and beer....
The night started with a chicken tortilla soup paired with Summerfest. The light lager mellowed the slight spice from the soup. Next came the iceberg wedge coupled with Ovila Dubble (pictured above). The wedge had a drizzle of balsamic that played harmoniously with the malt in the dubble. Veggie spring rolls with a spicy dipping sauce arrived with the Torpedo IPA. The higher hops in the IPA played nicely with the dipping sauce. Sierra's flagship Pale Ale was severed with the main course of fish and chips. The crisp. flavorful fish was the star of the show here with the pale ale playing a supporting role. Finally came the high octane Brewer's Reserve Grand Cru which was severed with an ultra decadent bread pudding with a whiskey sauce. Both were stellar.
It was a great night all around, great food, great beer, great people. Thanks Little Pub!

Sierra Nevada Ovila Dubbel

Sierra Nevada Ovila Dubbel, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Hmmm.... I so wanted to love this beer, instead I like it and appreciate the attempt. Nice dark brown color that is slightly cloudy. Warming, bready nose, a touch of heat. Rich, dense feel with just enough bubbly. Malt is the star of this show with slightly awkward hops peeking out from behind the curtains. Great cause, nice try, ok double.-Mitch

Ovila Take Two

So I had the opportunity to try the Ovila a second time, this time from a keg vs a bottle. Totally different product. This time the beer had a much more complex flavor and the mouth feel was much more lively. All in all a far more enjoyable experience. I've also re-thought my take on the Ovila out of the bottle based on just trying my all time favorite dubbels from Westmalle. (read bellow)

I love this beer. I always have. So much so that I think I've built it up in my memory over the years into something that it isn't. Pours a beautiful mahogany brown with nice chunky tan head. Nose has sweet candied malt, mouth is rich and less lively than I remember. (this is where I think my memory has re-worked reality. I think this beer is always pretty relaxed and not overly zippy in the mouth. This is also where I fear I was unfair to the Ovila. Both beers are pretty mellow as far as carbonation. With this in mind I look forward to trying the Ovila out of a bottle again) Flavors of sweet malt with slight spice dominate. The finish is dry and warming. Enjoyable as always.-Mitch

Le Hold Up

Le Hold Up, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Hmmm... Pinot Noir blended with Grenache!? Being a bit of a wine snob and believing that Pinot Noir (let alone Pinot Noir sourced from the Burgundy) should never be blended with anything, I might have decided I didn't like this wine before I even took the first sip. Well, if there is one thing (and the only one constant thing) that I've learned over all these years tasting wine... never try to judge a wine before you taste it.
Sure, this isn't the most complex of wines but it is extremely pleasing in a very comforting way. Nice wet earth on the nose with hints of red cherry. The feel is light and silky. Flavors of bright red fruit shine through with very subtle earth tones providing the canvass. Again, this is not a very complex wine. It is however a crowd pleaser that can easily be served as a cocktail wine or with food. Here it is being served with a hearty lentil/kale soup (which is the star of the show and the wine is simply a supporting actor)" -Mitch

Lake Placid Ubu Ale

Lake Placid Ubu Ale, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

"Like the chair on the label suggests, this beer is perfect for chillin' and relaxing. Easy to drink blend of rich semi-sweet malt and clean crisp hops. Color is a rich mahogany with a fluffy off-white head. Nose is more warming, sweet malt than hop. Mouth is medium in feel with just the right amount of carbonation. Rich, dark bread flavors are framed by a thin line of drying hops. Super user friendly... Tough to have just one" -Mitch

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale

This beer arrived to us a few months back. For some reason my eyes kept looking past it when I was picking a sixer to take home. I finally honed in on it the other night and I'm glad I did. I'm going to skip the serious review and just say hat this is a delicious beverage. Really well balanced, easy to drink.... even easier to keep drinking... could be my new go-to session ale... only time will tell. -Mitch

Ancona's Wines of Wilton 1 Year Anniversary

This weekend we are celebrating Ancona’s Wines of Wilton’s one-year anniversary. Time sure does fly when you’re having fun! Beginning April 7th we are hosting a sale to commemorate this special anniversary. Stop by our Ridgefield or Wilton location and receive 15% off bottles featured in our pick section. These wines are all beautifully made with outstanding quality for the price – most are under $20.

On Saturday, April 9 from 3:00 to 6:00 we will be tasting 2009 Elk Cove Pinot Gris and 2007 Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture Terra di Vulcano.

This is our way of saying “Thank You!” to the local community. We sincerely appreciate all of the support and for making this past year a memorable one.

On the Road to Wine Knowledge

The Ancona's team prides themselves on wine knowledge and utilizing that knowledge to assist customers in selecting the right wine for the right occasion. Wine is so complex compared to any other agricultural product. There are over 10,000 documented grape varieties and about 230 that are prominent in the fine wine world. Each of these can produce a multitude of different end results based on where they are grown, how they are grown, and who makes the wine.

I don't think I have ever studied anything that has such a broad spectrum of learning--agriculture, chemistry, geography, history, language, and more. The more you know about a wines origins, its character, its value, and its ability to compliment a nice dinner, the greater and more lasting your pleasure.

Before taking a wine course you may have not heard of Counoise, know how to pronounce it, know whether it is a white or a red grape, know where it is grown, and the style it produces?

After taking a wine course, you will come to learn that Counoise is pronounced "Coon-wahz", it is a red grape grown in the Rhone Valley introduced from Spain by a papal officer to Pope Urban V when the papacy was based in Avignon in the mid-14th century. Today it is a key component of many Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines because it's moderate alcohol and tannins coupled with good fruit and lovely aromatics, balances the spicy, strong tannins and high alcohol of Syrah.

The CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) course through the Society of Wine Educators is the course by which the Ancona's team is learning the spectrum of how grapes are grown and what they ultimately taste like in a glass. The CSW credential signifies a mastery of the core principles and fundamentals of wine and is recognized world wide within the wine industry. Even though there are members of the staff who have taken various courses or have learned on-the-job, we know that continuous learning in this industry will help us keep abreast of change and provide the best service to our customers.

Weekly we will keep you informed of what we have learned as well as new wines that we have tasted. We promise to keep it fun and informative!

AmeriCares Fundraiser (April 2, 2011)

As we all know, healthcare is very expensive and there are many low-income and uninsured children and families in our local community. AmeriCares Free Clinics was established 17 years ago and with the help of hundreds of volunteer nurses, doctors, and administrative personnel, thousands of residents can now receive medical services.

Ancona's Wines & Liquors assisted in AmeriCares annual fundraising efforts on Saturday by organizing and presenting a wine tasting of over 25 wines. The atmosphere was very festive and the attendees enjoyed mingling while tasting and sampling various wines from around the world.

Bull’s Head Market of Norwalk did an outstanding job preparing a lovely assortment of hor d’oeuvres while classical guitarist Gene Pino provided music for the event. Guests were able to participate in a silent auction and raffle. It was a beautiful evening full of wonderful energy and a feeling of giving that resulted in great success.

Thank you to all who came out to support the cause, we had a fantastic time! We would also like to extend our gratitude to our distributors who donated their time at the event and the bottles for tasting - Martin Scott Wines, Peter Skurnik Wines, Slocum & Suns, and Winebow.

Ancona's is donating 15% of the proceeds from the wines tasted at the event. If you were unable to attend the event, you may still make purchases that will be donated until April 9th. To review the selection of wines and purchase them on-line click here and type AmCare as the promo code so your purchases will be included as part of the fundraising efforts. Please help us in supporting this wonderful community service to children and families in need of proper medical care.