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August 2008
THIS is why wine producers tear their hair out — and don’t ship to Ohio
Thinking of getting into the wine business? Read Ship Compliant’s entry entitled “New Requirements for S Permit Applications and Renewals in Ohio” and tell me if you still want to do it.
Is this the best Ohio legislators can do? And is it any wonder it’s so difficult to get wine shipped into the state? And again, when the politicians in Columbus sit down with lobbyists to craft these laws, who is at the table representing the interests of consumers?
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Michael Mondavi releases ‘super-ultrapremium’ $200-a-bottle cab
Check out this piece by Steve Heimoff in Wine Enthusiast Online about “the launch of the first super-ultrapremium wine” by Michael Mondavi, to be named “M by Michael Mondavi.”
I have just one question.
What does “super-ultrapremium” mean?
(Okay, Heimoff himself explains in a comment to this post that the term was coined by someone — not him — back in the 1990s to describe a price point that was beyond the then-top-tier “ultrapremium.” And in the piece on the release of the Mondavi wine, the word is Heimoff’s, not Mondavi’s.)
Still, what’s next — supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?
Oops, that’s two questions.
Sorry.
For a Q-and-A with Mondavi on his new wine and many other topics, see Steve Heimoff’s blog entry entitled “Michael Mondavi on his new wine, high alcohol, high prices and lessons learned”.
MY lesson learned was in how to spell “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”….
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The best comment of the week, and the tastings list welcomes a newbie
First of all, the comment of the week award most definitely goes to Ed, for his whimsical question regarding the wine list at SideBar. Bee-yoo-tee-full.
Secondly, I notice that embedded deep (VERY deep) in this week’s edition of The Best Damn Wine Tastings And Events List In The World — which Uncorked is honored to copy and paste from the Dayton-based wine listserv that compiles it every week — are upcoming events at Jungle Jim’s. An amazing, if a tad overwhelming, grocery store, with a very large wine department and some interesting events, including a first-ever “Jungle Jim’s International Wine Festival” to be held Friday night and Saturday night, Oct. 3-4. On Ohio 4 near Fairfield, Jungle’s is a bit of a drive for Dayton-area wine enthusiasts, but certainly worth checking out if you’ve never been.
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 4-8 pm Domaine William Fevre 1er Cru MONTMAINS Chablis Cristom Pinot Noir 2003 Moccagatta Barbaresco Cole 2004 Rubicon Cask Cabernet
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 1-6 pm 2007 Frogsleap Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Pavillon Rouge Moccagatta Barbaresco Cole
RSVP 222-2892 for all Dinners and Luncheons
Saturday, September 27, 2008 Lobsterfest Luncheon 12:30 pm $65 Lobster-Ginger Bisque Lobster Risotto Cake with a Beet and Green Bean Salad Whole Steamed Maine Lobster with Local Corn and Roasted Redskin Potatoes Berry Basket
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 11-4 pm 2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay 2006 Vignalta Pinot Blanc 2006 Dominique Cornin Beaujolais Blanc 2006 Guenoc Victorian Claret 2004 Domaine D’Aupilhac Cotes du Languedoc 2006 Clos de los Siete 2005 Cliff Lede Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 6-8 pm Blanchet ’07 Pouilly Fume Cht. De Chamirey ’04 Bourgogne Blanc Rex Hill ’06 Pinot Noir Wente ’02 Crane Ridge Reserve Merlot Rombauer ’03 Zinfandel Foile a Deux ’05 Cabernet Brown Bag
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 2-6 pm L’Aventure ’05 Roussanne Napa Cellars ’06 Chardonnay Benton Lane ’06 Pinot Noir Marquis Philips ’07 Grenache Poinard ’05 Crozes Hermitage Moccagatta ’03 Barbaresco Bonus Bottle
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, July 31, 2008 5-8 pm Wine tasting featuring the wines of Borra Vineyards with Stephen J. Borra, owner and winemaker. It is a three generation winery with roots to a small town in Italy. Fusion Red and White Zinfandel Merlot
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 12-5 pm 2006 Festival ’34 Chardonnay 2006 Festival ’34 Merlot 2006 Festival ’34 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Drylands Pinot Noir 2006 Kaesler Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Renato Corino Barolo Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 Louis Jadot Puligny Montrachet, 1999 Hanzel Pinot Noir 2002 Arcadian Syrah, 2001 Chalk Hill Cabernet, 2000 Ristow Cabernet, 2000 Chateau Montelena, 2001
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 12-5 pm Cornin Beaujolais Blanc, 2006 Folie a Deux Zinfandel, 2001 Burnet Ridge Purple Trillium, 2006 Reynolds Family Merlot, 2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet, 2004
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161
Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Wines for Aug 29 - Aug 29, 2008 Assorted White Burgundy ZMOR 2006 Gewurztraminer Dusted Valley 2007 Viognier Kris 2007 Pinot Noir Odfjell Orzada Carmenere Owen Roe 2007 Abbot’s Table
Beer: Troeg’s Brewing DreamWeaver Wheat Saturday Food: Chef Away, but there are plenty of cheeses, salamis and crackers.
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Friday, Aug 29, 2008 5-7 pm… Beer Tasting Green Flash Brewing Co. - Imperial IPA Dogfish Head - Black and Blue Magic Hat - #9 Pale Ale Magic Hat - Circus Boy Two Brothers Brewing Co. - The Bitter End Pale Ale
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2007 Filladonna Pinot Grigio… 2005 Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay… 2005 Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel… 2005 Ravenswood Vintners Blend Cabernet Sauvignon… 2006 Cloudline Pinot Noir…
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com Tuesday, Sep 2, 2008 5-7 pm Each wine selection is paired with a bite sized sampling from the kitchen. OBERON Napa Valley Merlot, 2005 BACKSBERG South Africa Merlot, 2005 J. BOOKWALTER Columbia Valley Merlot, 2005
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 11:30 am to 2 pm 005 Navarro Correas Syrah, Argentina 2006 Navarro Correas Malbec, Argentina 2005 Cellar No 8 Merlot, California 2005 Cellar No 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008 5:30-8:30 pm 2006 Hugo Unwooded Chardonnay, McLaren Vale 2007 Chateau du Donjon Minervois Rose 2006 Plume Bleve Grenache-Syrah Vin de Pays d’oc 2004 Hugo Shiraz, McLaren Vale Surprise bottle
Trader Joe’s in Kettering. Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00. Woodsman’s White Cserzsegi Fuszeres (NV) Neszmely, Hungary. Finca Solano Organic Tempranillo (2003) DO Utiel-Requena, Spain. Sebastien Roux Pommard (2005) AOC Pommard, France.
And beer: Trader Joe’s Oktoberfest. Trader Joe’s Dunkelweizen Amber Unfiltered Wheat Beer.
Savona Italian Restaurant
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 5 pm Nora Albarino Galicia, Spain 100% Albarino Naia Verdejo Rueda, Spain 100% Verdejo Altos de Luzon Jumilla, Spain Monastrell, Tempranillo, & Cab. Sauvignon Sierra Cantabria Tinto Rioja, Spain 100% Tempranillo Lolita Pinot Noir Limoux, France 100% Pinot Noir Wellington Zinfandel Sonoma Valley, CA 100% Zinfandel
Therapy Cafe
Sunday, September 7, 2008 5-8pm a sake tasting. $30 7 Japanese sakes and 2 shochus, and complimentary sushi sampling from Thai Nine. RSVP to info@therapy-cafe.com or to 937-470-2089 Ozeki sake -junmai Hakushika Kuromatsu Chokara Ozeki Karatamba Ozeki Osakaya Chobei Ozeki Nigori (unfiltered) Hakushika Snow Beauty (unfiltered) Ginza No Suzume Shochu Kapa No Sasoimizu Shochu Hana Awaka -sparkling sake
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org This week’s wines: Matheus - Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett Tiefenbrunner Chardonnay La Carraia Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre Argiolas Perdera Urano - Cabernet Sauvignon
8/28 - Thurs - Italian Wine Tasting please RSVP (it’s helpful for food quantity) 9/4 - Wine Tasting 9/12 - Beer Tasting - Octoberfest Beers
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008 Schramsburg Sparkling Wine, Mirabelle Rose Napa Valley, NV Chateau St. Michelle, Chardonnay, Columbia Valley Indian Wells, 2006 Simi, Merlot, Sonoma County, 2004 Chateau St. Michelle, Cabernet, Columbia Valley Indian Wells, 2005
Special Reserve Flight Rosso Di Montalcino, Red Wine, Montalcino Italy, 2006 Bodegas Valdubon, Red Wine, Ribera Del Duero Reserva Spain, 2001 Marchesi Di Barolo, Red Wine, Barolo Italy, 2003
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 6:30 p.m. Maloy O’Neil Wine Dinner with Shannon O’Neil $65 per person not including tax and gratuity Maloy O’Neil Pinot Grigio, 2006 with Smoked Salmon and Crab Cake, topped with a Roasted Serrano Chili Buttermilk Sauce Maloy O’Neil Chardonnay, 2006 with Mixed Greens with Apples, Smoked Bacon, and Candied Walnuts Tossed in an Apple Cider Vinaigrette Maloy O’Neil Lexicon Red Wine, 2004 with Tri-Colored Peppercorn Crusted Pork Loin topped with a Plum Gastrique served with a corn and pepper ratatouilleMaloy O’Neil Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 with Roasted Kona Bean Rubbed Strip Loin topped with a Black Cherry Reduction served over Mushroom and Herbed Risotto Maloy O’Neil Gioi Red Wine, 2004 with Chocolate Covered Berries rolled in Macadamia Nuts Topped with Chantilly Cream
Bruning’s Wine Cellar in Beeavercreek
Wednesday, September 3,2008 from 5 - 8 pm Biltmore Estate Chardonnay Luna Pinot Grigio Menage a Trois Red Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:30 pm Picnic Tapas and Wine 5 tapas courses with five wines for $45, including gratuity September 8, 2008 6:30 pm Sierra Nevada Beer Dinner
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 6-8 pm Italian Wines Villa del Borgo Pinot Grigio Polizian Rosso Di Montpuchlio
French Savary Chablis St. Martin Garrgue Bronz Ermitage Pic St Loup Langudoc
Cork-N-Vine
White Flight Ballentine Chenin Blanc- Terra D’oro Pinot Grigio- Trinchero Chardonnay- Stags’s Leap Chardonnay-
Red Flight Layer Cake Cotes du Rhone- Marquis Phillips Shiraz- Genesis Merlot- Folie a Deaux Cabernet-
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com Friday, August 29, 2008 5-8 pm - Labor Day Weekend Casual Tasting Saturday, August 30, 2008 3-6 pm - Labor Day Weekend Casual Tasting
Jungle Jim’s International Market
www.junglejims.com 513-674-6000 Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 1-3 pm $30 Wine tasting - Loire Valley Wines
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This judge rules in favor of SideBar
Last night I got a sneak peek at the new wine bar and cocktail lounge called Sidebar that we wrote about last week and which opens at 4 p.m. today (8-28-08) in downtown Dayton at 130 W. Second St., across from the Schuster Center parking garage.
This is an impressive addition to the downtown nightlife and entertainment scene, and patrons of the Schuster Center especially should take note. (For pictures of the place and an assessment of the cocktails list, check out my colleague Alexis Larsen’s Lounge Lizards blog.)
I wanted to see whether Eric Jerardi would back up his claim that he has put together “the most affordable, well-rounded, hippest wine list in the state of Ohio.”
Hyperbole? Without a doubt. But there are some fun, interesting, impressive wines on the list, which the legal-themed SideBar calls “The Docket.” And some of the wines do indeed appear to be very attractively priced.
Jerardi shows his mastery of Italian wines with the inclusion of two fine Italians on the “by-the-glass” list: the 2006 Batasiolo Gavi ($9) and the 2005 Annunziata Barbera D’Alba ($8).
The bottle list includes offerings such as 2007 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc ($25), 2006 Chat. Ste. Michelle Eroica Riesling ($35), 2006 Cakebread Chardonnay ($55), 2004 Markham Merlot ($35), 2005 Pierre Andre Savigny Les Beaune Clos Des Guettottes red Burgundy ($40) and 2003 Marengo Barolo “Brunate” ($65). For those of you who get out more than I do: How do you think these prices compare to other restaurant/wine bar price lists?
SideBar and Jerardi also deliver some trophy wines on the reserve list, including 2005 Antinori Tignanello ($125), 1999 Penfolds Grange ($300), 1998 Lafite-Rothschild ($600), 2003 Mouton-Rothschild ($600) and the 2001 Chateau d’Yquem in half-bottle ($400).
The inside seating space is attractive, though it does seem to be built for parties of two moreso than for parties of three or more. Bartenders enjoy ample space behind the bar, but on the customer seating side, servers will be doing the limbo and the hurdles to get to tables if several parties of more than two people congregate. The outdoor patio should be a real winner, though — it’s a shame SideBar couldn’t have opened earlier in the year to get full summertime use of it. During this fall’s Indian Summer nights and next spring, that patio should be an attractive gathering place.
One question mark is the food. Jerardi said last week the details on SideBar’s final food menu were still being ironed out. With wines and cocktails of this quality, a great food selection would be a real plus. Perhaps someone involved with SideBar could let us know here what their most recent plans are.
Overall, Sidebar is an impressive debut, very much worth checking out.
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Are wine drinkers ready for plastic bottles?
Move over, screwcaps. The Next Big Thing to hit the wine world may well be plastic bottles.
Boisset Family Estates will ship 25,000 cases of Beaujolais Nouveau wines from its Mommessin and Bouchard Aine & Fils French wineries in plastic (PET) bottles to North America this fall, according to this story in Wine Business International. A similar story in Decanter.com triggered some interesting comments.
It’s about money, of course, but it’s also about the environment, the French wine company says. Plastic bottles are shatterproof, easily recyclable and so much lighter than glass that they will reduce weight of the air-shipped wine by 42 percent and freight costs by 33 percent, the Boisset folks say. And that puts more money into our wallets: according to Boisset’s local wholesaler/distributor, those savings will translate into an $11.99 price tag in Ohio for the Bouchard 2008 Nouveau — $3 less than the 2007. That’s welcome news. And the company says that PET packaging produces 50 to 60 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than glass throughout its life cycle.
“It just makes sense also from an environmental point of view,” Boisset’s president, Jean-Charles Boisset, told Wine Business International. “Why on earth are we still bottling these wines and shipping in glass?”
Well, why indeed?
Tell me: would you buy wine out of a plastic bottle, if it was cheaper and easier on the environment?
Would you buy fine, expensive wine in a plastic bottle?
Or do you agree with one of the comments posted on the Decanter.com story that declared, “Wine belongs in glass not plastic!” ….?
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Lest we forget that wine is a business … a very BIG business …
Call me naive — even at a now suddenly ripe old age — but I find this story kind of depressing … and not just because some business conglomerate lost a bit of money. It’s called “Foster’s Has First Loss in 16 Years on Wine Writeoff”, by Bloomberg.com.
Read it to the end, I dare you.
Is there any mention anywhere about the magic, the romance, the life-affirming alchemy that simple fermented grape juice can provide to human beings?
Nary a word.
(Sigh …)
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We’re drinking more wine — and booze — than ever
I’m not sure how to reconcile this with the earlier news that Beer has eclipsed wine as Americans’ drink of choice — perhaps we’re just drinking more of everything, eh? — but there’s now news that Americans are buying and drinking more wine than ever, according to the Beverage Information Group.
Here’s an interesting quote from the news release:
“If wine continues to grow at these levels, the U.S. will surpass both Italy and France to become both the largest wine market and biggest wine importer in the world by the end of the decade,” says Eric Schmidt, manager of information services for the Beverage Information Group based in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Wow, this on top of the news from last week that Ohioans are also buying and drinking more liquor than ever.
What does it all mean? Hmmmm.
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New wine bar poised to open in downtown Dayton
Most of you know Eric Jerardi, either from his stellar musical career or from his Get Real Wine Series or his ownership of the Little Store, a wine shop and deli at 7325 Peters Pike that I wish were closer to my home.
Well, Eric is about to add another line to his already impressive bio: he’s the wine consultant and chief spokesman for a new wine bar and cocktail lounge called SideBar, which is scheduled to open Thursday, Aug. 28, in the First National Plaza at 130 W. Second St. in downtown Dayton. Map of location
It’s an ambitious venture, all the way around — and not just because it’s opening in the heart of downtown, which has taken a hit or two in recent years, employment-wise. Jerardi himself sets the bar rather high for the wines that he will put on SideBar’s wine list, calling it “the most affordable, well-rounded, hippest wine list in the state of Ohio.”
Well allrighty then.
The cocktail bar portion of the menu also aims high. Michael Rubel, who is crafting the drinks list, says SideBar will take “an artisanal approach to bartending,” eschewing premade mixes and syrups in favor of house-made bitters, grenadine syrup, ginger syrup and other ingredients.
Order a Manhattan here, Rubel says, and you’ll get one made with rye, not bourbon, with a dash of bitters and imported Maraschino cherries, Rubel said. There will even be multiple kinds of ice, Rubel said.
For his part, Jerardi promises a by-the-glass list of five whites and five reds that will rotate frequently and be served with minimal markups, along with an “outrageous” reserve list that will “reflect my passion for wine” with the likes of Penfolds Grange and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild.
SideBar’s owner is Brian Higgins of Dayton, who says he was attracted by the location’s large patio and central location.
“I have to believe there is more than a handful of people in Dayton who want a place with a great cocktail list and where they can get a nice glass of wine,” Higgins said.
SideBar will seat 50 people inside and 60 or more outside. It will also offer fine cigars. The wine bar and cocktail lounge will be open from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Friday, 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, and will be closed Sunday. There’s no phone number or web site yet, but stay tuned.
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A week awash in wine
Once again, we strap on the trusty ol’ drool cup and see what the local wine shops and wine bars and restaurants have in store for us … Lordy lordy, we are blessed, are we not? Drink in this list, which comes to Uncorked via a Dayton-based listserv that compiles the information….
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Aug 22, 2008 4-8 pm 2007 Ballentine Chenin Blanc 2003 Fratelli Revello Barolo 2004 Spring Mountain Cabernet 2002 Chateau Leoville-Barton 2007 Familia Deicas Botrytis Noble
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 1-6 pm 2006 William Fevre Premier Cru Chablis 2006 Chehalem 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003 La Spinetta Vigneto Starderi Barbaresco 2005 Chateau Fonbadet
RSVP 222-2892 for all Dinners and Luncheons
Saturday, September 27, 2008 Lobsterfest Luncheon 12:30 pm $65 Lobster-Ginger Bisque Lobster Risotto Cake with a Beet and Green Bean Salad Whole Steamed Maine Lobster with Local Corn and Roasted Redskin Potatoes Berry Basket
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 11-4 pm 2007 Mas Des Bressades Rose 2004 EOS Zinfandel 2003 Chateau De Serane L’Incone 2005 Bodega Numanthia Termes 2007 Cono Sur Pinot Noir
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Aug 22, 2008 6-8 pm Eymann ’06 Riesling Jacquelyn ’06 Cuvee Blanc Cavallotto ’05 Dolcetto d’Alba Ramirez de la Piscina ’98 Rioja Chateau de Serame ’04 Minervois Relagnes ’04 Chateauneuf du Pape Brown Bag
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 2-6 pm Hexamer ’06 Riesling Kabinett Vinum ’05 White Elephant Villa Calcinaia ’04 Chianti Classico Mauro Veglio ’99 Barolo Lagier Meredith ’03 Syrah Bonus Bottle
Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 5-8 Unibroue Beer Tasting - beers in the Belgian style!
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, July 31, 2008 5-8 pm 2005 Michel Claire et Fille Meursault “Les Pellans” 2005 Bouchard Aloxe Corton 2001 Chateau Saint Martin Coteaux de Languedoc 2005 Clos la Coutale Cahors 2005 Olabisi Syrah Encore Wine!
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 12-5 pm NV Jean Lallement Grand Cru Brut 2005 Novelty Hill Chardonnay 2005 Domaine Serene Evenstad Pinot Noir 2004 Culler Syrah 2003 Barnett Merlot 2005 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Encore Wine!
Thursday, August 28, 2008 5-8pm Wine tasting featuring the wines of Borra Vineyards with Stephen J. Borra, owner and winemaker. It is a three generation winery with roots to a small town in Italy. Fusion Red and White Zinfandel Merlot
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Aug 22, 2008 Mackus Molitor Riesling 2006 Drylands Pinot Noir 2006 Novlety Red 2004 Muga Reserva Rioja 2004 Mystery Wine
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 12-5 pm Baileyana Chardonnay 2006 Styring Vinyards Willamette Pinot Noir 2005 Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2003 Tignanello 2005
Friday, August 22, 2008 6-8 pm Flying Dog Brewery $20 Taste 8 to 10 craft beers paired with food. Director of Sales, Jim Lutz, will discuss the beers. Limited to 30. Each guest will receive a Flying Dog pint glass. Tickets should be purchased in advance at the store.
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161 Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Wines for Aug 22 - Aug 29, 2008 Bugay Long Stem Rose King Estate Reserve Pinot Gris Zmor Gewurztraminer Jelu Torrontes Compass Merlot Le Roc des Anges 1903 Assorted High End Reds
Beer: Pyramid Crystal Wheat Saturday Food: TBA
Arrow Centerville
937-433-6778/ 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Friday, Aug 22, 2008 5-7 pm… Beer Tasting Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye… Ringwood Old Thumper Extra Special Ale… Buckeye Beer… Samuel Smith Organic Lager
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2006 Cline Viognier… 2005 Petite Petite… 2006 Strong Arms Shiraz… 2004 Felix Callejo Rioja Crianza… 2005 Rombauer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon… 2006 Franz Karl Schmitt Niersteiner Hipping Spatlese
Thursday, August 21, 2008 5-8 pm Tasting of the wines of Chandon, California with Kent Retterer, Ohio Area Sales Manager for Moet Hennessy. Unoaked Chardonnay (still wine) Pinot Noir Carneros (still wine) Pinot Meunier Carneros (still wine) Rose of Pinot Noir (still wine) Blanc de Noirs (sparkling wine) Brut (sparkling wine)
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 5-7 pm Each wine selection is paired with a bite sized sampling from the kitchen. OMRAH Unoaked Chardonnay Western Australia, 2006 VERGET Chardonnay Macon-Villages, 2007 HENDRY Chardonnay Napa Valley Barrel Fermented, 2005
The Wine Gallery and Cafe , Corner of 3rd and Wayne Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 10 am to 2 pm Value wines from around the world.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 5:30-8:30 pm 2006 Colli Euganee Pinot Blanc 2005 Boffa Dolcetto d’Alba 2005 Il Ghizzano Toscana 2004 Laurus La Fiorita Toscana 2004 Don Tommaso Chianti Classico
Trader Joe’s in Kettering.
Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00. Feudo Zirtari Inzolia-Chardonnay (2005) IGT Sicilia, Italy. Tres Pinos White (2007) AVA Paso Robles, California. Tres Pinos Red (2006) AVA Paso Robles, California. Familia Sanchez Tempranillo-Syrah (2005) DO Valencia, Spain.
Extra tasting sessions Friday and Saturday for the two Tres Pinos wines
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org This week’s wines: Elk Creek - Kentucky Blue Pinot Grigio Paso A Paso - Verdejo Atteca Solnia Tempranillo Petite Petit Mandolin Cabernet Sauvignon
8/27 - Tessa’s Hope Fundraiser (Tessa is a 27 year old MOM who has been diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, normally found in much older patients.)
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 ROLLING Sauvignon Blanc, New South Wales Australia, 2006 Palacios-rimondo Red Wine, Rioja La Vendimia Spain, 2006 pine ridge Merlot, Carneros Crimson Creek, 2004 corison Cabernet, Napa Valley, 2000
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:30 pm Picnic Tapas and Wine 5 tapas courses with five wines for $45, including gratuity September 8, 2008 6:30 pm Sierra Nevada Beer Dinner
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 Castle Rock Winery Pinot Noir, Sonoma County Pinot Noir, Columbia Valley Merlot, Napa Valley Merlot, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Cork-N-Vine
White Flight Genesis Riesling- Domaine Lafragecote- Blackstone Reserve Chardonnay- DeLoach Russian River Chardonnay-
Red Flight Kim Crawford Pinot Noir- Seduction Red- Blackstone Sonoma Merlot- Two Tone Cabernet-
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com Friday, August 22, 2008 7 pm Little Sonoma presents: Beautifully Blended Wines
Friday August 22, 2008 5-9pm STONE BREWING - PRELUDE TO ALEFEST! 12th Anniversary Ale, the 08-08-08 Verticle Epic, Old Guardian Barleywine, and the ’07 and ’08 vintages of the Imperial Russian Stout with special guest Aaron Tyrell representing the brewery!
Saturday, August 23, 20098 6-8 pm Italian Pasta Party & Fine Italian Wines, $30 inclusive, reservations required
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Wine Spectator rises to the defense
Wine Spectator Executive Editor Thomas Matthews has presented in one of the magazine’s online forums a vigorous and spirited defense of its actions in giving an Award of Excellence to a fictitious Italian restaurant.
Matthews details the efforts of his magazine to check out the restaurant and points out that the inclusion of a handful of low-scoring wines represented only a small portion of the wine list that was submitted to the magazine. Here is how Matthews summarized what he called the “elaborate hoax” that led to the brouhaha:
It has now been demonstrated that an elaborate hoax can deceive Wine Spectator.
This act of malicious duplicity reminds us that no one is completely immune to fraud. It is sad that an unscrupulous person can attack a publication that has earned its reputation for integrity over the past 32 years. Wine Spectator will clearly have to be more vigilant in the future.
Most importantly, however, this scam does not tarnish the legitimate accomplishments of the thousands of real restaurants who currently hold Wine Spectator awards, a result of their skill, hard work and passion for wine.
In addition to the Spectator’s own forum linked to in the opening paragraph, the most robust discussion of the issues involved is occurring over on the Vinography wine blog.
What do you think of Wine Spectator’s defense?
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Sting operation uses fake wine list to expose Wine Spectator ‘restaurant awards’
I’ve written extensively about Wine Spectator’s so-called “Restaurant Awards,” including just last month, after the most recent WS restaurant guide was released. (And, of course, two years ago when Marvin Shanken himself weighed in on the matter …)
Now, Robin Goldstein, author of The Wine Trials, has taken things to a whole new level.
Goldstein essentially set up a sting operation — and it appears the Spectator was caught hook, line and sinker.
Goldstein submitted a fake wine list from a fake Italian restaurant, paid his $250 — and got a Wine Spectator award. And he even included a bunch of low-scoring wines on his list! Here’s how Goldstein tells it:
Lately, I’ve become curious about how Wine Spectator magazine determines its Awards of Excellence for the world’s best wine restaurants.
As part of the research for an academic paper I’m currently working on about standards for wine awards, I submitted an application for a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. I named the restaurant “Osteria L’Intrepido” (a play on the name of a restaurant guide series that I founded, Fearless Critic). I submitted the fee ($250), a cover letter, a copy of the restaurant’s menu (a fun amalgamation of somewhat bumbling nouvelle-Italian recipes), and a wine list.
Osteria L’Intrepido won the Award of Excellence, as published in print in the August 2008 issue of Wine Spectator.
It’s troubling, of course, that a restaurant that doesn’t exist could win an Award of Excellence. But it’s also troubling that the award doesn’t seem to be particularly tied to the quality of the wine list, even by Wine Spectator’s own standards. Although the main wine list that I submitted was made up of fairly standard Italian-focused selections, Osteria L’Intrepido’s “reserve wine list” was largely chosen from among the lowest-scoring Italian wines in Wine Spectator over the past 20 years.
This Wines & Vines story mentions the budding brouhaha, and says:
Wine Spectator executive editor Thomas Matthews was unaware of the apparent subtrefuge when Wines & Vines phoned today for comment. He declined to comment until the magazine had thoroughly investigated the apparent sting.
My hunch is, this is Mr. Matthews’ nightmare scenario. The credibility of the Spectator’s restaurant awards will almost certainly erode further, and may threaten to become a laughingstock. Safeguards will have to be put into place to guard against such embarrassment in the future, one would think.
That said, no one can argue with the list of Dayton-area restaurants that received the awards. The local recipients all have very fine wine lists.
If and when the Spectator responds to this story, we’ll bring it to you.
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Do beer and wine really mix? Here’s your chance to find out
It’s a debate that has raged since the discovery of fermentation: Do beer and wine really mix?
I can state unequivocally: Absolutely not.. Or, I can state unequivocally: Yes, absolutely.
We journalists are a wishy-washy bunch, aren’t we?
But with AleFest on tap for this weekend, and special beer tastings sandwiching the event, it’s a topic worth, um, further exploration.
In fact, the army of professionals who oversee the Dayton wine listserv noted so many such events that seem to have popped up in recent days, they sent out the following special “midweek wine and beer tastings list” for those who wish to explore the age-old question themselves. Click on “continue reading” to access the list, copied and pasted here with the kind permission of the listserv that compiles it…. Lots going on in just the next few days, on both the beer and wine fronts! (I even added a couple of my own that came in to the ol’ reliable DDN … they’re on top of the listserv’s list).
With the Alefest this weekend, here is a list of the midweek wine and beer tastings.
THAI 9 TO HOST HOPPIN’ FROG BREWMASTER Thai 9 at 11 Brown St., will host a beer dinner at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, featuring the beers of Hoppin’ Frog Brewery in Akron. The dinner will include a three-course meal and samples of eight Hoppin’ Frog brews. Hoppin’ Frog brewmaster Fred Karm will be the special guest. The cost is $30, and reservations are encouraged. For more information, call (937) 222-3227.
The Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., will host a luncheon featuring several bottlings of Jameson Irish Whiskey at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. The special guest will be International Jameson Ambassador Sean Noonan. Whiskeys to be served include Jameson, Jameson 12-year, Jameson 18-year, Jameson Gold and Redbreast Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Lunch will include selections of The Dublin Pub’s existing menu, and dessert will be an Irish Cream Cheesecake with an Irish Whiskey glaze. The cost is $25, and reservations are encouraged. For more information, call (937) 224-7822.
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 5-8 Unibroue Beer Tasting - beers in the Belgian style!
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 5-8 pm 2005 Michel Claire et Fille Meursault “Les Pellans” 2005 Bouchard Aloxe Corton 2001 Chateau Saint Martin Coteaux de Languedoc 2005 Clos la Coutale Cahors 2005 Olabisi Syrah
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, August 22, 2008 6-8 pm Flying Dog Brewery $20 Taste 8 to 10 craft beers paired with food. Director of Sales, Jim Lutz, will discuss the beers. Limited to 30. Each guest will receive a Flying Dog pint glass. Tickets should be purchased in advance at the store.
Jays Kitchen Door
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 7 pm $65 Wine Dinner Ragout of Shellfish in a White Wine-Herb Broth with 2005 Rose de Monbousquet Seared Rare Tuna with Arugula-Fennel Salad with Capers, Raisins and Pine Nuts 2005 Latour Montagny LaRoche Crusted Rack of Lamb with Cabernet Mashed Potatoes and Ratatouille with 2005 Smith Haut LaFitte Orange Panna Cotta NV Chateau “U” Creman and 2002 Le Tertre du Lys D’Or Sauterne
RSVP 222-2892 for all Dinners and Luncheons
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Thursday, August 21, 2008 5-8 pm Tasting of the wines of Chandon, California with Kent Retterer, Ohio Area Sales Manager for Moet Hennessy. Unoaked Chardonnay (still wine) Pinot Noir Carneros (still wine) Pinot Meunier Carneros (still wine) Rose of Pinot Noir (still wine) Blanc de Noirs (sparkling wine) Brut (sparkling wine)
The Wine Gallery and Cafe
Corner of 3rd and Wayne Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:30-8:30 pm 2006 Urban UCO Malbec 2007 Urban UCO Torrontes 2005 Compass Merlot 2006 Penley Condur Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Blend 2004 Stump Jump Red
Trader Joe’s in Kettering.
Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 Santa Barbara Landing Chardonnay (2005) AVA Santa Barbara County, California. Pacific Crest Chardonnay (2006) AVA Monterey, California. Pacific Crest Merlot (2005) AVA Paso Robles, California. Beringer Founder’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (2005) California.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 ROMBAUER Chardonnay, Carneros, 2006 J. & F. Lurton Red Wine, Douro Barco Negro Portugal, 2005 Panther creek Syrah, Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley, 2004 Rombauer Cabernet, Napa Valley, 2004
Little Sonoma
6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com Friday August 22, 2008 5-9pm STONE BREWING - PRELUDE TO ALEFEST! 12th Anniversary Ale, the 08-08-08 Verticle Epic, Old Guardian Barleywine, and the ’07 and ’08 vintages of the Imperial Russian Stout with special guest Aaron Tyrell representing the brewery!
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Napa cabs that aren’t behemoths? Who knew?
Okay, I’m kidding with the headline … a little. But it is quite refreshing to read Eric Asimov’s piece in the New York Times entitled “In Napa, Some Wineries Choose the Old Route”.
Let’s hope Napa winemakers don’t lurch from one extreme end of the extraction/alcohol/oak/ripeness spectrum to the other, or we’ll all be drinking green pepper cabs. But a move to the center, toward a more balanced approach, would certainly, certainly be welcome, don’t you think?
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Nikolai family gives thanks and praise to Dayton wine community
Last night’s benefit dinner at The Winds for Todd Nikolai was extraordinary on several levels.
First, there was the meal set out by Chef Kim Korkan, which was well-executed and delicious. Second, there was the way the dinner came together — with the cooperation and collaboration among The Winds and its suppliers and wine distributors leading to every penny of the dinner’s $100 ticket price to go directly to the Todd Nikolai Memorial Fund. Every penny.
More than 60 people attended the dinner, and several more donated the ticket price to the memorial fund with no intention of attending.
Todd’s family was there, including his wife Wendy and his siblings. Both family and friends stood to recount humorous anecdotes and to reminisce about Todd.
And at the end of the evening, Wendy rose to thank those in attendance. But she singled out for special praise and thanks the local wine community for all it has done to comfort her and Carina, their 3-year-old daughter. She spoke with power and eloquence, closing with, “I don’t know how we could have done it without you.”
Every reader of this page should be proud of the local wine community that you’re a part of — because that community’s cohesiveness and compassion were never better displayed than last night.
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Vote for your favorite Dayton-area wine bar
The folks at our ActiveDayton web site, as part of our “Best of Dayton” online reader surveys, began asking readers today to vote for their favorite wine bar.
The choices listed:
The Wine Gallery & Cafe in Dayton
Bella Vino in Springboro
Cork-n-Vine in Troy
A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg
Cuvee Wine Bar & Cellar in Bellbrook
Winans, Dayton Mall location
So … which is YOUR favorite? And more importantly: Why?
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Toast the Olympics with a glass of Chinese cabernet
Chinese wines have attracted the attention of the Toronto Globe and Mail, but you don’t have to travel to Toronto — or to China — to find a bottle.
The folks at Chin’s Ginger Grill in Tipp City dropped us a line to let us know they’ll be featuring wines grown and produced in China through the duration of the Olympics. The winery is called China Silk, and the wines come from the Tian Shan Mountain region of China along the fabled Silk Road, the “ancient crossroads where cultures mixed and traded exotic goods,” to quote the China Silk web site . In case you missed it in a comment to a previous entry, Uncorked reader “Chiefwino” reports that he found a couple of China Silk wines at a store on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He bought a bottle of “Dragon’s Kiss Riesling” and the “Emperor’s Delight Rose” for about $7. He reports that the rose he opened with sushi had “just a hint of sweetness, and an unusual orange tint in the glass. It paired nicely with a spicy tuna roll.”
Wines from China. It really is a global economy, eh?
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August thirst, and a September benefit down south
A wicked combination of computer problems and human error resulted in a delay in posting this tastings list, for which I apologize. While many of these tastings have already occurred, some of the other tastings and dinners are still to come, so I’ll post this even though I’m tardy (besides, this list may give you the name of that crisp little chardonnay you tasted and liked yesterday but can’t remember the name of).
This list comes to Uncorked courtesy of a Dayton-based wine listserv, which painstakingly compiles the information and delivered it to me in plenty of time.
Here’s one that isn’t on the list but is well worth considering, if you’re inclined for a road trip: My blogging colleague Michelle, author of My Wine Education, wants you to know about a special wine event at the Party Source that will benefit the Krystal Pepper Memorial Scholarship Fund, set up in memory of Michelle’s sister. The Sept. 11 tasting will focus on French Reds and winemakers from up and coming wine regions in France.
I don’t think I’ve been to the Party Source, just over the river in northern Kentucky, since David Schildknecht oversaw the store’s wine program — many years ago. Perhaps it’s time to migrate southward and check the place out again.
Meanwhile, here’s the list of Dayton-area wine tastings, dinners and other events to help slake your August thirst …
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Aug 15, 2008 4-8 pm 2004 Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2001 Catena Malbec 2002 Merryvale Reserve Merlot 2004 Duckhorn Cabernet 2004 St. Clement Oroppas
Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 1-6 pm 2004 Drouhin Chablis Fecher 2005 Drouhin Cote de Beaune Clos du Mouches 2004 Foppiano Petit Sirah 2005 Barnett Family Spring Mountain Cabernet
RSVP 222-2892 for all Dinners and Luncheons
RSVP 222-2892 for all Dinners and Luncheons
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 7 pm $65 Lake Sonoma Valley of the Moon Wine Dinner
Ragout of Shellfish in a White Wine-Herb Broth Seared Rare Tuna with Arugula-Fennel Salad with Capers, Raisins and Pine Nuts Crusted Rack of Lamb with Cabernet Mashed Potatoes and Ratatouille Orange Panna Cotta
Saturday, September 27, 2008 Lobsterfest Luncheon 12:30 pm $65
Lobster-Ginger Bisque Lobster Risotto Cake with a Beet and Green Bean Salad Whole Steamed Maine Lobster with Local Corn and Roasted Redskin Potatoes Berry Basket
Arrow Wine & Spirits Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 11-4 pm N.V. Jankriss Almond Sparkler 2005 Olivier Savary Chablis 2005 Ermitage Du Pic St Loup Coteaux du Languedoc 2006 Inkberry Shiraz-Cabernet 2007 Marquis Philips Grenache 2006 Solena Grand Cuvee Pinot Noir
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Aug 15, 2008 6-8 pm Omaka Springs ’06 Sauvignon Blanc Neyers ‘04 Thieriot Vineyard Chardonnay Swings and Roundabouts ’04 Shiraz Catena ’06 Malbec Chateau Gloria ’02 St. Julien Brown Bag
Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 2-6 pm Zardetto Prosecco Brut Coriole ’06 Chenin Bone Jolly ’04 Gamay Noir Swings and Roundabouts ’04 Cabernet Kokomo ’05 Zinfandel Damilano ’03 Barolo Bonus Bottle
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, July 31, 2008 5-8 pm 2006 Novellum Chardonnay 2005 Clerico Dolcetto 2006 Domaine la Garrigue Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2006 Coume del Nas Collioure Schistes 2004 Callejo Crianza Encore Wine!
Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 12-5 pm 2005 Three Saints Chardonnay 2006 Erath Estate Selection Pinot Noir 2005 Eden Stuart Korte Ranch Zinfandel 2004 Penya Cadella 2005 Merryvale Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Aug 15, 2008 Schafer Classic Riesling 2006 X Winery Chardonnay 2006 Swings & Roundabouts Cabernet 2004 Jaffur Syrah 2005 Mystery Wine 2 Microbrew Beers
Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 12-5 pm Jocelyn Lonen Chardonnay 2006 Domaine Anne Gros Bourgogne 2005 Swings & Roundabouts Shiraz 2004 Two Hands Max’s Garden Shiraz 2005 Chateau du Domaine de E’Glise Pomerol 2001 Bonus Bottle
Friday, August 22, 2008 6-8 pm Flying Dog Brewery $20 Taste 8 to 10 craft beers paired with food. Director of Sales, Jim Lutz, will discuss the beers. Limited to 30. Each guest will receive a Flying Dog pint glass. Tickets should be purchased in advance at the store.
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar
4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161
www.cuveewinebar.net
Wines for Aug 15 - Aug 21, 2008 Bugay 2007 Long Stem Rosé Berger 2007 Gruner Veltliner Razor’s Edge Chardonnay Atrea 2006 The Choir Compass Merlot Atrea 2004 Old Soul Red Mt Eden 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Beer: Pyramid Crystal Wheat Saturday Food: Pate Maison and Brie with Cranberry Pecan Chutney
Arrow Centerville
937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville
Friday, Aug 15, 2008 5-7 pm… Beer Tasting Flying Dog Brewery Red Dog Scottish Porter… Flying Dog Brewery In Heat Wheat Hefeweizen… Flying Dog Brewery Tire Biter Golden Ale… Flying Dog Brewery Snakedog IPA… Flying Dog Brewery Old Scratch Amber Lager… Flying Dog Brewery Doggie Style Pale Ale
Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting
2007 St. Supery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc… 2006 Mer Soliel Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay… 2004 Terra Rosa Malbec… 2001 Chateau de Campuget Cuvee Prestige Costieres de Nimes… 2006 Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel… 2005 Treana Paso Robles Red Blend
Thursday, August 21, 2008 5-8 pm
Tasting of the wines of Chandon, California with Kent Retterer, Ohio Area Sales Manager for Moet Hennessy. Unoaked Chardonnay (still wine) Pinot Noir Carneros (still wine) Pinot Meunier Carneros (still wine) Rose of Pinot Noir (still wine) Blanc de Noirs (sparkling wine) Brut (sparkling wine)
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 5-7 pm Each wine selection is paired with a bite sized sampling from the kitchen.
Siduri Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Hawk’s View Vineyard 2006 Daniel Bocquenet Nuits-St.-Georges 2005 Veranda Pinot Noir Casablanca 2006
The Wine Gallery and Cafe
Corner of 3rd and Wayne Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 10 am to 2 pm Value wines from around the world.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:30-8:30 pm 2006 Urban UCO Malbec 2007 Urban UCO Torrontes 2005 Compass Merlot 2006 Penley Condur Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Blend 2004 Stump Jump Red
Trader Joe’s in Kettering. Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00. Santa Barbara Landing Chardonnay (2005) AVA Santa Barbara County, California. Pacific Crest Chardonnay (2006) AVA Monterey, California. Pacific Crest Merlot (2005) AVA Paso Robles, California. Beringer Founder’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (2005) California.
A Taste of Wine
90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org This week’s wines: Chateau Bonnet McMannis Chardonnay Vacceos Tempranillo Rosado Callejo Tempranillo Callejo Crianza Chono Cabernet Sauvignon de la Costa Sangria
8/15 Beers of Summer Tasting 8/27 - Tessa’s Hope Fundraiser (Tessa is a 27 year old MOM who has been diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, normally found in much older patients.)
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 ROMBAUER Chardonnay, Carneros, 2006 J. & F. Lurton Red Wine, Douro Barco Negro Portugal, 2005 Panther creek Syrah, Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley, 2004 Rombauer Cabernet, Napa Valley, 2004
The Winds Cafe
Todd Nikolai Memorial Dinner Monday, August 18, 2008 Monday 6:30 $100 by check Wines served with each course: Summer Risotto Choice of Halibut with Gazpacho Sauce or Tuscan Style Grilled Beef Tomato Herb Salad Cheese Selection Grilled Peaches with Macarpone and Pinolate Cookie
http://www.windscafe.com/events/todd-nikolai-memorial-dinner/
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar
Springboro
Thursday, Aug 14, 2008 Clos LaChance Hummingbird Series Un-Oaked Chardonnay Syrah Meritage Cabernet Sauvignon Zinfandel
Little Sonoma
6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com Friday, August 15, 2008 7 pm - Little Sonoma presents: A Tour of California Wine Country
August 16, 2008 3-6 pm - Four Washington State Favorites
Friday August 22, 2008 5-9pm STONE BREWING - PRELUDE TO ALEFEST! 12th Anniversary Ale, the 08-08-08 Verticle Epic, Old Guardian Barleywine, and the ’07 and ’08 vintages of the Imperial Russian Stout with special guest Aaron Tyrell representing the brewery!
La Petite France
RSVP for events 513-733-8383 www.lapetitefrance.biz http://www.lapetitefrance.biz/ Friday, August 15, 2008 6:30 pm $60 RSVP”South of the Equator”, featuring wines from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Chile. Aperitif - Matua, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 1st. Course - Chilled avocado soup with shrimp 2nd. Course - Eggplant rolls with spicy tomato sauce 3rd. Course - Sweet and sticky grilled chicken with Chilean potatoes 4th. Course - Raspberry truffle brownies
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Washington Twp. restaurant will open next week with emphasis on wine
The Melting Pot, a franchise of a national chain of fondue restaurants, will open a week from today, Aug. 20, on Ohio 725 in Washington Twp. For details, see this story that was just posted on our home page.
The restaurant has a particular emphasis on wine. The first thing diners will see upon entering is a glass-walled wine cellar. The restaurant’s wine list includes more than 200 wines by the bottle — including 21 California chardonnays and 11 Champagnes and other sparkling wines — and 26 wines by the glass.
The list runs the gamut from Beringer White Zinfandel ($18 a bottle) to Walter Hansel North Slope Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($74 a bottle) to Erath Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir ($30) to Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages ($110).
“We are planning to do a lot of wine dinners,” said Mike Nammari, the local restaurant franchise’s owner-opereator said.
To view the Dayton-area restaurant’s menu and wine list, click here.
Have you eaten at a Melting Pot elsewhere? What did you think?
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Spanish wine producer markets wine to drivers and pregnant women
Well now, here’s a new twist: Spanish wine producer Torres has released a wine that has 0.5 percent alcohol that a company spokeswoman acknowledges is targeted to drivers and pregnant women, according to this Decanter.com story.
No plans to expand distribution beyond Spain — yet.
Now how long will it take for a California wine producer to take the idea and run with it?
Can anyone come up with a marketing jingle?
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Restaurant Week shatters records
This year’s summer Restaurant Week shattered all previous records.
Diners ordered more than 12,000 meals through the Miami Valley Restaurant Association promotion in which participating restaurants donate to local charity $1 for each special three-course meal sold for $20.08.
“So many people have been cooking at home and eating in,” MVRA Executive Director Lisa Grigsby said. “Restaurant Week gave them a reason to go out and celebrate.”
The previous record for Restaurant Week meals served was set last summer at 8,752. Grigsby said final numbers are not yet in — she’s still waiting to hear from a couple of restauruants — but the total for this summer’s Restaurant Week has already exceeded 12,000.
This year’s response was boosted by several large, high-profile first-time participants, including Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Rue Dumaine and J. Alexanders. But Grigsby said several repeat participants set records as well.
And did I mention that next winter’s restaurant week is from Jan. 25-30?
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What would YOU name the wine that comes from the world’s most expensive grapes?
Check out this story from the Associated Press about the world’s most expensive grapes making their debut in Japan.
A Japanese hotel manager paid about $26 per grape — per grape — for a 1 1/2 pound bunch of Ruby Roman grapes.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking? That’s right. We all know grapes weren’t put here on earth for eating. What kind of wine would these grapes produce? .
A local agriculture official describes the grapes as “delicious — sweet but fresh at the same time, very well-balanced.” Jeez, sounds like the world’s most perfect wine in the making.
So, what would you name the wine that comes from the most expensive grapes in the world?
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If wine were an Olympic sport …
I know, I know, we’re not supposed to have fun on a Monday. But ….
If wine were an Olympic Sport, what events would you create for it?
I’ve got an idea or two:
The cork pull: Similar to the clean-and-jerk of weightlifting, contestants would be given a standard waiter-style corkscrew and a case of wine closed by those nasty, fused-to-the-inside-of-the-bottle-neck artificial corks. First one to get all the bottles open without destroying the corkscrew wins the gold.
The wine marathon: No, this wouldn’t be a how-much-can-you-drink contest. Athletes would, however, have to taste, evaluate and describe the finer points of 30 Australian Shiraz — then read an issue of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate cover-to-cover.
The grape stomp: Place two athletes — say, the winner of the men’s 100 meters and the Greco-Roman wrestling heavyweight champion — into two separate vats half-full of freshly harvested wine grapes. The first to stomp enough grapes to release five gallons of free-run juice wins the gold. Which would win?
The wine disguise: What would the Olympics be without an event that blends artistry with the foibles of human judges, a la gymnastics or figure skating? Each contestant would be given the contents of a standard travel suitcase and two bottles of wine. The contestant that uses the most creativity in disguising the bottles to get them through airport security wins the gold. Judges would be TSA agents.
How about you? What wine-themed Olympic events would you like to see?
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Nikolai benefit and much more highlight wine tastings list
Looking for the Restaurant Week entry? Click here, or just scroll down.
Several local restaurants, grocers and wine shops have held or are planning events to benefit the surviving family of Todd Nikolai. Jay’s Restaurant hosted a luncheon, and Dorothy Lane Market, where Nikolai worked many years back, held a wine auction that raised several thousand dollars for Todd’s family. And Cuvee is planning an event in October.
But this week’s incredibly robust wine-tastings list — which comes to Uncorked via a Dayton-based wine listserv — includes a mention of another event worthy of note. It’s the Todd Nikolai Memorial Dinner at The Winds on Aug. 18. What’s notable about this dinner is that several wineries, wine distributors, food producers and The Winds are donating food and wines and labor to the dinner, so that the entire $100 cost of the dinner goes to Todd’s family — in fact, checks are made out not to the restaurant, but directly to the Todd Nikolai Memorial Fund.
That’s extraordinary. What a testament to Todd, to those who knew him, to those who put this dinner together, and to the local wine community.
The breadth of the following wine-tasting list also speaks eloquently to the dynamic, thriving nature of the Dayton-area wine scene. Just look at what we have in store for us:
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Aug 8, 2008 4-8 pm
2006 Adelsheim Pinot Gris 2006 Clos de L’oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf de Pape 2003 Argiano Brunello di Monticello 2005 Viader Syrah 2005 Sebastiani Seolo
Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 1-6 pm Crabfest Wine Tasting with Lisa Sweeney!
RSVP 222-2892 for all Dinners and Luncheons
Saturday, August 9, 2008 Crabfest Luncheon 12:30 pm $70 Dungeness Crab Vichyssoise Jonah Crab Wrapped in Crispy Phyllo Dough with Boursin Cheese over Field Greens with Vinaigrette Trio of Steamed Crab - Dungeness crab, Blue Crab, King Crab Nectarine Semi-Freddo
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 7 pm $65 Lake Sonoma Valley of the Moon Wine Dinner Ragout of Shellfish in a White Wine-Herb Broth Seared Rare Tuna with Arugula-Fennel Salad with Capers, Raisins and Pine Nuts Crusted Rack of Lamb with Cabernet Mashed Potatoes and Ratatouille Orange Panna Cotta
Saturday, September 27, 2008 Lobsterfest Luncheon 12:30 pm $65 Lobster-Ginger Bisque Lobster Risotto Cake with a Beet and Green Bean Salad Whole Steamed Maine Lobster with Local Corn and Roasted Redskin Potatoes Berry Basket
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 11-4 pm 2004 Casa Silva Grand Reserva Carmenere 2006 Regis Minet Pouilly Fume 2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2001 Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz 2006 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Pinot Noir
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Aug 8, 2008 6-8 pm Elizabeth Spencer ‘07 Sauvignon Blanc Schug ‘06 Chardonnay Kenwood ‘05 Merlot Peter Franus ‘05 Zinfandel Spann ‘04 MoJo Brown Bag
Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 2-6 pm Piper Sonoma Blanc de Noir Guardiola ‘07 Bianco Calera ‘06 Pinot Noir Villa Cafaggio ‘04 Chianti Classico Quivira ‘05 Zinfandel Provenance ‘05 Cabernet Bonus Bottle
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, July 31, 2008 5-8 pm 2005 Mesmer Riesling Kabinett Riesling 2005 Joseph Drouhin Domaine de Vaudin Chablis 2005 Conti Degli Azzoni Rosso Piceno 2006 Tres Picos Garnacha 2006 Domaine de Montbayon Vacqueyras Encore Wine!
Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 12-5 pm 2007 Chateau de Campuget Blanc 2006 Definitive Chardonnay 2006 Nita Priorat 2007 High Note Malbec 2005 Peter Franus Brandlin Zinfandel 2006 John Duval Entity Shiraz Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Aug 8, 2008 Regis Minet Pouilly Ffume 2006 Francios Raquillet Mercurey 1er Cru “Les Naugard” 2003 Quivira Dry Creek Zinfandel 2005 Cloud View Cabernet 2003 Mystery Beer TBA
Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 12-5 pm Dierberg Chardonnay 2005 Villa Mt Eden Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004 Callejo Meses en Barrica 2005 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2002 Anderson Conn Valley Reserve Cabernet 1999 Bonus Bottle
Friday, August 22, 2008 6-8 pm Flying Dog Brewery $20 Taste 8 to 10 craft beers paired with food. Director of Sales, Jim Lutz, will discuss the beers. Limited to 30. Each guest will receive a Flying Dog pint glass. Tickets should be purchased in advance at the store.
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar,
4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161 Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Wines for Aug 8 - Aug 14, 2008 Fifth Leg Sauvignon Blanc Il Follo Cuvee Rose Brut Clyde’s White Punk Dog Red Yarddog Red Frem Barbera Fred’s Red
Beer: Wild Blue, Blue Dog Brewery Company Saturday Food: TBA
August 10, 2008 4-7:00 PM $25 per person/wines a la carte RSVP Krupp Brothers Wines with Proprietor Jan Krupp to include: Black Bart Marsanne Black Bart’s Bride The Doctor The Advocate-Stagecoach Vineyard Hors d’oeuvres Buffet to include lamb chops, veggie bruschetta, shrimp, cheeses and more.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 5-7 pm Pay as you go Winemaker Chad Johnson, from Dusted Valley Vintners in Walla Walla, WA. Boomtown Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, Dusted Valley Chardonnay and Viognier, Boomtown Syrah and Merlot, and Dusted Valley Cabernet.
Arrow Centerville
937-433-6778
615 Lyons Rd Centerville Friday, Aug 8, 2008 5-7 pm… Beer Tasting Cisk Lager Cisk Extra Strong Lager Farson’s Traditional Summer Shandy O’Hara’s Celebration Irish Stout Anchor Summer Brew
Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2007 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois White. 2006 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Red. 2006 Toasted Head Pinot Noir Reserve. 2005 Clos du Bois Alexander Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. 2005 Groth Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. 2007 Castello del Poggio Moscato d’Asti
Rue Dumaine
www.ruedumainerestaurant.com Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 5-7 pm Each wine selection is paired with a bite sized sampling from the kitchen. DE-FIN-I-TIVE Syrah Napa Valley, 2004 CHAVE Crozes-Hermitage, 2006 BARREL MONKEY Shiraz McLaren Vale, 2005
Savona (Centerville)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 5 - 8pm Monthly wine tasting. Appetizers are paired with the wines. Mossback chardonnay (Russian river valley) Waterbrook Melange (Columbia valley) Pietra Santa Sacred Stone (Rhone style blend-California) Mark West Pinot Noir (California), Falesco Sangiovese (Umbria), Saintsbury Vin Gris Rose (Carneros)
The Wine Gallery and Cafe
Corner of 3rd and Wayne Saturday, Aug 9, 2008 10 am to 2 pm Animus Douro, Portugal Finca Flichman Malbec, Argentina Finca Flichman Reserve Shiraz, Argentina Ventana Rose, California Veranda Chardonnay, Chile
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 5:30-8:30 pm Susan Curtis, Proprietor of Jocelyn Lonen will be sampling: 2006 Carneros Chardonnay 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Founder’s Blend
Trader Joe’s in Kettering.
Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00. Trader Joe’s French Market Sauvignon Blanc (2006) Vin de Pays d’Oc, France Trader Joe’s French Market Merlot (2006) Vin de Pays d’Oc, France Trader Joe’s French Market Cabernet Sauvignon (2006) Vin de Pays d’Oc, France Hess Allomi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (2005) AVA Napa Valley, California.
Therapy Cafe
East Third Street and Wayne Avenue
with Bella Vino Sunday, Aug 10, 2008 5-8pm Wines from Chile Casa Silva Reserva Viognier, 2005 Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris, 2006 Yali Sauvignon Blanc Ventisquero Reserva Pinot Noir, 2006 Ventisquero Reserva Carmenere, 2006 Yali Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere, 2006 Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
A Taste of Wine
90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org This week’s wines: August 7 - Elvis Wine Tasting
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 Moet and Chandon Nectar Imperial Leonard Kreusch Riesling Louis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Crocker and Starr Cabernet/Merlot
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
Aug 12, 2008 6:30 1 Year Anniversary Dinner teaming with Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar to pair with Sparkling Wines from all over the world! Five courses with Four (4) Sparkling Wines and One (1) Champagne - $125 (includes gratuity) RSVP Stephanie Clemens (937) 431-976 Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut The Scallop, Brulee Apple PureeChocolate Chili Fried Lobster Tail, Spoon Fish Caviar Cream Sesame Braised Short Ribs, Vanilla Whipped Parsnips Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Strawberry
The Winds Cafe
Todd Nikolai Memorial Dinner Monday, August 18, 2008 Monday 6:30 $100 by check Wines served with each course: Summer Risotto Choice of Halibut with Gazpacho Sauce or Tuscan Style Grilled Beef Tomato Herb Salad Cheese Selection Grilled Peaches with Macarpone and Pinolate Cookie
http://www.windscafe.com/events/todd-nikolai-memorial-dinner/
Bruning’s Wine Cellar
M.-F. 10-6, Sat. 10-5 www.brunings.com Friday, August 8,2008 5-8 pm Beer Tasting Plank, Hefeweizen Plank, Heller Weizenbock Plank, Dunkler Weizenbock Flying Dog, Double Dog Flying Dog, Gonzo Imperial Porter and… A Mystery Pour
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 5-8 pm Femega vinho verde Yali cabernet/carmenere Chili 2003 Farina Amarone della Valipollicella Classico 2004 Trescone IGT 2005 Terlano Suavigon Quarz LS
Cork-n-Vine Wine Cellar in Troy, Ohio
Aug 8, 2008 at 5 pm - Aug 15, 2008 White Flight Hogue Late Harvest Riesling- Chiaretto Classico Rose- Franciscan Sauv. Blanc- Sbragia Home Ranch Chardonnay- Red Flight Wyndham Shiraz Bin 555- Cellar 8 Cabernet- Blackstone Pinot Noir- Raymond Reserve Cabernet-
Friday August 8, 2008 Dagwoods Deli & Pub 6-9pm Great Lakes Brewing Company beer tasting
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar
Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 Clos LaChance Hummingbird Series Un-Oaked Chardonnay Syrah Meritage Cabernet Sauvignon Zinfandel
Little Sonoma
6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com
Miami Valley Wine
Friday, August 8, 2008 6-9pm Wine Tasting Wines of Argentina BODEGA TITTARELLI Tempranillo Reserve, Malbec Reserve, Torrontes Reserve, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
Friday August 22, 2008 5-9pm STONE BREWING - PRELUDE TO ALEFEST! 12th Anniversary Ale, the 08-08-08 Verticle Epic, Old Guardian Barleywine, and the ’07 and ’08 vintages of the Imperial Russian Stout with special guest Aaron Tyrell representing the brewery!
La Petite France
RSVP for events 513-733-8383 www.lapetitefrance.biz http://www.lapetitefrance.biz/ Friday, August 15, 2008 6:30 pm $60 RSVP”South of the Equator”, featuring wines from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Chile. Aperitif - Matua, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 1st. Course - Chilled avocado soup with shrimp 2nd. Course - Eggplant rolls with spicy tomato sauce 3rd. Course - Sweet and sticky grilled chicken with Chilean potatoes 4th. Course - Raspberry truffle brownies
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UPDATED Restaurant Week — your reviews and mine
We’re now five nights into Restaurant Week, and the more familiar I become with this Miami Valley Restaurant Association promotion, the more I like it.
And I’m not alone, based on the throngs of diners I’ve encountered Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at five restaurants that are first-time participants in Restaurant Week this time around.
What’s not to like about this promotion? A three-course meal for a scant $20.08, with each of the 41 participating restaurants donating $1 from each meal to local charity.
I’d like to hear about your Restaurant Week experiences. Please click on “Post your comment” below and let us know. I’ll likely compile your comments for a story that will appear in the Dayton Daily News Go section, perhaps on Aug. 15.
Okay, I’ll go first. (Please click on “continue reading”)
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Fleming’s jumped into the Restaurant Week pool with quite a splash, offering a choice of two salads (Wedge or Caesar), entrees (Filet Oscar or Chicken Saltimbocca), sides (“Fleming’s” potatoes with cream and cheese or Grilled Asparagus) and desserts (“Individual-size” Creme Brulee or Peach Cobbler).
For twenty bucks — especially compared to Fleming’s regular menu prices — the meal was a bargain, and the restaurant, for the most part, executed it well.
The wedge salad, served with halved grape tomatoes and red onions, is slathered with a creamy and pleasantly pungent blue cheese dressing, and is a better and more substantial choice than the Caesar.
The filet mignon was properly cooked to order and topped with lump crab and bearnaise sauce, which added flavor to a cut that came to the table fork-tender but with little beefy flavor. The chicken was well-seasoned with tarragon, Parmesan cheese and lemon sauce, seared to just-done so it retained a moist interior.
The potatoes seemed to be missing their menu-promised jalapenos, probably due to the latest pepper panic and FDA warnings, but the cream and cheese made the dish decadent. Asparagus — four large spears sprinkled liberally with salt and pepper — were a bit overcooked, their tips mushy.
The creme brulee was small and forgettable, lacking the crunchy crust. The delicious peach cobbler was the better choice: sliced peaches marinated in Peach Schnapps, cinnamon and nutmeg, served in a warm brown-sugar streusel.
Overall, this was an impressive Restaurant Week debut from one of The Greene’s flagship restaurants.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
The bargain nature of Restaurant Week was on full display at McCormick & Schmick’s at The Greene.
That’s because one of the Restaurant Week entree choices — Parmesan Crusted Tilapia with Lemon Caper Butter — is on the restaurant’s “regular” menu for $20.95 — more than the $20.08 cost of the three-course Restaurant Week meal that included the identical entree plus a first-course choice of salad or garlic hummus with toasted pita, and a third-course choice of bread pudding or creme brulee.
It’s no wonder diners flock to this special promotion — and why more restaurants are showing an interest in participating.
The Tilapia was well-prepared, with the capers adding a burst of flavor to the mild fish. Another entree choice, Pecan-Breaded Catfish with Jalapeno Mango Chutney, benefitted from the tame and slightly sweet chutney. The creme brulee had no crackle to its crust; the bread pudding was a more substantial and satisfying choice.
A creative drinks menu rounds out the experience.
Rue Dumaine
Rue Dumaine offered a single Restaurant Week menu — no choices — that started with a brightly colored and flavorful Local Tomato & Basil Soup.
The entree was Chicken Ballontine over Haricot Vert and Carrot Julienne, which chef-owner Anne Kearney helpfully described as “boneless chicken thigh that has been stuffed with chicken forcemeat flecked with French ham … tied into a bundle, gently poached in duck fat, then roasted for service. Absolutely a wonderful salute to the French-influenced cuisine of Rue Dumaine.” (Forcemeat is a finely-ground mix of meat and other ingredients that can be easily formed into molds.) The dish was interesting, but didn’t capture Rue Dumaine’s magic, despite the perfectly cooked, almost sweet, green beans served alongside.
This was the third consecutive night creme brulee was on my Restaurant Week menu, and Rue Dumaine’s version blew everyone else’s out of the water, with its perfectly fired, crackling crust and creamy, rich-yet-light-tasting interior.
A broad, reasonably priced, well-selected wines-by-the-glass list adds a welcome dimension to every meal here.
Rudy’s Churrascaria
This Germantown restaurant, which serves a Brazilian steakhouse-style menu, has been open for only a few weeks. During our visit, it didn’t seem quite ready for the Restaurant Week crunch — the kitchen and service staff appeared overwhelmed by the Wednesday night crowds. Still, the meats were flavorful and cooked properly, the pork-studded black beans were satisfying, and the atmosphere — the restaurant is located in part of the historical Germantown Opera House — has great potential. Prices are reasonable, too.
J. Alexander’s
This large and bustling chain restaurant off of Ohio 725 just east of I-675 got just about everything right in its Restaurant Week debut.
For starters, it offered one of its Restaurant Week menus for less than the $20.08 price point of other restaurants. The 10-ounce cut of prime rib — served with smashed potatoes, choice of house or Caesar salad and dessert — cost just $19. There was no explanation for the curious price break, which was advertised on the menu along with two other $20.08 choices. Perhaps it was because $19 is the regular price (though without dessert) for the same dinner on J. Alexander’s regular menu.
The prime rib was, in fact, tender and delicious, and cooked as ordered. So was the smallish, smoky filet mignon that was covered with a zesty horseradish-bread crumb mixture and served alongside a gigantic and loaded baked potato. Both the house and Caesar salads were substantial and fresh, although we had only a very short time to focus exclusively on them before the entrees arrived.
The restaurant also ran out of the carrot cake listed as the only dessert choice for all Restaurant Week, but the server offered a chocolate cake and ice cream alternative. When one of us balked at that choice, a second alternative — a large, thick milk shake — was cheerfully offered.
If you haven’t made reservations yet for the last night of Restaurant Week tonight, it is entirely possible you’ll be shut out. But look at the Restaurant Week menus and try your luck.
Because as they say, these prices won’t last.
What did you think of the restaurant where you dined?
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UPDATED: ‘Bottle Shock’: the reviews are in. Will you go see it?
Update: My wine-blogging colleague Michelle, of My Wine Education fame, checked to see when Bottle Shock was coming to Cincinnati — and so far, it’s not scheduled to. But she did find out that it’s booked at the Regal Hollywood 20 at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, starting on Aug. 22, and passed the information along to me. Thank you Michelle!
The movie Bottle Shock was released yesterday, and the LA Times’ restaurant critic writes about the movie in an online story.
The Times notes that the movie is “very loosely” based on the famous 1976 “Judgment in Paris” tasting in which two California wines beat out many supposedly more prestigious French bottlings in the opinion of a French panel of wine tasters. And it certainly appears the scriptwriters have taken some liberties with the storyline.
The Times story also points out: “Hold on: There’s yet another film based on the historic tasting in the works. It’s titled “Judgment of Paris” from Clear Pictures Entertainment, and is based on Time journalist George M. Taber’s 2005 book of the same name, with a screenplay by veteran screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen, who owns Kamen Estate Wines in Sonoma. Reached by phone, Elizabeth Fowler, who is producing the film with Clark Peterson, said the film has not been cast.”
The recent purchase of one of the 1976 winning wineries, Chateau Montelena, by venerable Bordeaux producer Cos d’Estournel, adds a certain irony as well as timeliness to the movie’s release.
As for reviews, here’s one from USA Today entitled “‘Bottle Shock’ uncorks a good story of California wine” … a fairly positive review that concludes the movie is “a watchable crowd-pleaser with an intriguing story to tell.” The Detroit News film critic is somewhat less enthusiastic.
So whaddaya think: Will you go see it? Why or why not?
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Would YOU be able to tell the difference between a $15 and a $150 wine?
Check out the book entitled “The Wine Trials: 100 Everyday Wines Under $15 that Beat $50 to $150 Wines in Brown-Bag Blind Tastings.” and the Reuters story entitled “Psssst - Have I got a cheap red wine for you!” that explores the issues raised in the book.
In the story, author Robin Goldstein declares expensive wine all but a sham:
“Most wine in the world is cheap wine. It’s only in the last 10 years or so that wines over $50 have taken off. It’s really a success of marketing, not taste,” Golstein told Reuters. “There have always been good wines and better wines, but the luxury products manufacturers and the mass brands got really smart about marketing their products. They created this niche out of thin air.”
Goldstein reaches this conclusion because when he and his editor hand-picked more than 500 of their friends of varying degrees of experience with wine to blind-taste a bunch of wines, they overall preferred cheaper to more expensive: they preferred the taste of a $9 Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon to a $120 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, and liked Domaine Ste. Michelle Cuvee Brut ($12) over Dom Perignon Champagne, ($150).
Never mind that the Beringer Private Reserve was probably not meant to be drunk for many more years and still had its youthful, tannic bite, or that when any two wines are tasted side by side and the general population (including many wine experts) is asked which they prefer, they’re almost always going to choose the one that has more sweetness to it. Those inconvenient truths get in the way of the screaming headline and the desire to poke fun at all the wine snobs who spend money on more expensive wines just because they’re seeking status and not because the wine actually tastes better.
The story does point out that wine experts — let’s assume they’re talking about those who have more experience with and enthusiasm for wines than average — “preferred the more expensive wines, not surprisingly …”
If that’s the case, gee, maybe that marketing niche that Goldstein was talking about wasn’t created “out of thin air” after all, eh?
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France’s wine terrorists use bombs to ‘protect’ their vineyards from competition
Yet more astonishing news out of France, this in the form of a Time Magazine story headlined “France’s Wine Terrorists.”
The story details the capture and apparent confession of a man who was using bombs as a means to protect his region’s vineyards from global competition — until his tactics apparently blew up in his face. Literally.
The French: Love their wines. Hate their wine laws. And sure don’t understand their politics — or the penchant for domestic terrorism among a handful of their countrymen.
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Here’s a twist: a SCOTCH dinner
I’m a bit tardy in pointing this one out, but I thought it was unusual enough to spotlight: a Scotch dinner, Tuesday night. Hope they’re still taking reservations. Here’s the deal:
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at The Greene in Beavercreek will host a Johnny Walker Scotch dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5. The guest will be Robert Sickler, master of whisky for Johnnie Walker and the Classic Malts of Scotland. The menu includes Sweet Chili Calamari, Seared Ahi Tuna on a vegetable salad with spicy mustard sauce, Peppercorn Filet with blue cheese butter sauce and Fleming’s potatoes, Dark Chocolate Ganache with a whisky caramel sauce, and Chef’s Charcuturie Plate. Each course will be served with a different Johnnie Walker Scotch. The cost is $85, not including tax and tip, and reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, call (937) 320-9548.
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Hottest wine (and beer) tastings in town
They’re all here, courtesy of the Dayton-based wine listserv that compiles the hottest list of the hottest wine tastings and hottest wine dinners in town — and they all start on the hottest weekend of the year. Heck, even those beer tastings tonight at Arrow and Miami Valley Wine are looking mighty appealing.
Let us hope the wines are cool …. Click on “continue reading” to see the list, and enjoy!
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Aug 1, 2008 4-8 pm The regular Jay’s Friday tasting with great wines! Call Joe, 222-2892 for details!
Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 1-6 pm And Jay’s Saturday menu! Call Joe, 222-2892 for details!
RSVP 222-2892 for all Dinners and Luncheons Saturday, August 9, 2008 Crabfest Luncheon $65 Saturday, September 27, 2008 Lobsterfest Luncheon $65
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 11-4 pm 2007 Chateau Grande Cassagne Rose 2006 Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Chateau Guirard Bordeaux Blanc 2007 Elsa Bianchi Bonarda 2005 Field Stone “Convivio” 2006 K Vintners “The Deal” Shiraz
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Aug 1, 2008 6-8 pm Fat Bastard ‘07 Rose Pomelo ‘07 Sauvignon Blanc Alisos Hills ‘05 Syrah Felsina Berardenga ‘06 Chianti Classico Peacock ‘05 Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Bag
Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 2-6 pm Robert Pecota ‘07 Sauvignon Blanc Four sisters ‘06 Chardonnay Siduri ‘06 Pinot Noir Il Buciato ‘06 Bolgheri La Petite Eglise ‘03 Pomerol
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, July 31, 2008 5-8 pm 2007 Ercavio Blanco 2006 Georges Du Boeuf Pouilly Fuisse 2006 Chateau Noel Saint Laurent Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2006 Ercavio Tempranillo 2005 Definitive Syrah Encore Wine!
Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 12-5 pm NV Gramona Gran Cuvee Cava Brut 2007 Robert Pecota Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Chateau Saint Laurent Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006 Seifried Pinot Noir 2005 Clos la Chance Meritage 2006 Orren Swift “The Prisoner” Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Aug 1, 2008 George Albrecht Schneider Riesling Kabinett 2006 Georges Deboeuf Pouilly Fuisse 2006 Dugat-Py Bourgogne 2005 Chateau D’Issan Margaux 2004 Mystery
Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 12-5 pm Joseph Drouhin Domaine de Vaudon Chablis 2005 Chateau Roquefort 1999 Dugat-Py Cuvee Halinad 2005 Selene Merlot 2006 Plus another BIG wine! Bonus Bottle
Friday, August 22, 2008 6-8 pm Flying Dog Brewery $20 Taste 8 to 10 craft beers paired with food. Director of Sales, Jim Lutz, will discuss the beers. Limited to 30. Each guest will receive a Flying Dog pint glass. Tickets should be purchased in advance at the store.
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook
Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Wines for Aug 1 - Aug 7, 2008 Fifth Leg Sauvignon Blanc Yarddog White Clyde’s White Punk Dog Red Yarddog Red Frem Barbera Fred’s Red
Beer: Wild Blue, Blue Dog Brewery Company Saturday Food: No Food, Bring your own doggy treats or picnic lunch!
Saturday - Cuvee’s Grapeful Dawg Daze- A day filled with dogs, Grateful Dead music, and fun! Bring your dog(s) and raise money and supplies for SICSA.
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778
615 Lyons Rd Centerville
Friday, Aug 1, 2008 5-7 pm… Beer Tasting Sierra Nevada Stout. Sierra Nevada Porter. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale. Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale
Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting Non-Vintage Eola Hills Pacific Blanc. 2006 Tortoise Creek Chardonnay. 2005 Jean-Marc Brocard Sauvignon Saint-Bris. 2006 Eola Hills Pinor Noir. 2006 Plungerhead Zinfandel. 2006 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon. 2005 Chateau Cantenac St. Emilion Grand Cru
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5-7 pm
Each wine selections is paired with bite sized sampling from the kitchen CHATEAU DAGUENEAU Pouilly-Fume, 2007 DRYLANDS Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, 2007 MERRY EDWARDS Sauvignon Blanc Russian River , 2007
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Wednesday, August 6, 2008 5:30-8:30 pm Wine tasting featuring Lapis Luna Zinfandel and Lapis Luna Meritage.
Market Wine Imports, Second Street Public Market Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 8AM to 1PM. LAST WEEKEND, special tasting!
Trader Joe’s in Kettering.
Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00.
Blue Fin Chardonnay (2005) California. Tres Pinos White (2007) AVA Paso Robles, California. Tres Pinos Red (2006) AVA Paso Robles, California. Echelon Pinot Noir (2006) Vin de Pays de l’Ile de Beaute, France.
Therapy Cafe, East Third Street and Wayne Avenue
with Bella Vino Sunday, Aug 3, 2008 5-8pm Organic Wines Domaine de Petit Coteau Vouvray Sparkling Lady Bug White Periage Pinot Grigio Cote Chalonnaise Bourgogne Lady Bug Red Kunde Estate Merlot
Kunde Estate Cabernet Sauvignon A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org This week’s wines: Joseph Drouhin Domaine de Vaudon Chablis Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Tiz Red Sediento Malbec Bonardo Mandolin Cabernet Sauvignon
July 31 - Barefoot Wine Tasting & LIVE Music with Larry Goodwin 7pm Autust 7 - Elvis Wine Tasting
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
1 Year Anniversary Dinner teaming with Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar to pair with Sparkling Wines from all over the world! Five courses with Four (4) Sparkling Wines and One (1) Champagne - $125 (includes gratuity) RSVP Stephanie Clemens (937) 431-976 Macadamia Nut Crusted HalibutThe Scallop, Brulee Apple PureeChocolate Chili Fried Lobster Tail, Spoon Fish Caviar Cream Sesame Braised Short Ribs, Vanilla Whipped Parsnips Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Strawberry
The Winds Cafe
Todd Nikolai Memorial Dinner Monday, August 18, 2008 Monday 6:30 $100 by check Wines served with each course: Summer Risotto Choice of Halibut with Gazpacho Sauce or Tuscan Style Grilled Beef Tomato Herb Salad Cheese Selection Grilled Peaches with Macarpone and Pinolate Cookie
http://www.windscafe.com/events/todd-nikolai-memorial-dinner/
Bruning’s Wine Cellar GRAND OPENING!
1481 North Fairfield Road, Beavercreek 937.426.4950 M.-F. 10-6, Sat. 10-5 www.brunings.com Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 5-8 pm Woop Woop Chardonnay Stickleback Red Kaesler Stone Horse GSM Langmeil Hanging Snakes Shiraz/Vio Heartland Directors Cut Shiraz
Cork-n-Vine Wine Cellar in Troy, Ohio Aug 1, 2008 at 5 pm - Aug 1, 2008
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar , Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday, July 31, 2008 Tasting of 5 Italian Wines from Banfi and Antinori
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com Friday, August 1, 2008 5-8 pm “Super Summer Sippers” Solex Chardonnay Russian River Valley & Santa Lucia Highlands Feudo d’Elimi Grillo Sicily Clos La Chance Zinfandel CA Hob Nob Pinot Noir France Stickleback Red Australia Clos La Chance Cabernet Sauvignon
Saturday, August 2nd, 3-6 pm: Ten Buck Bargain Wines
Miami Valley Wine
Friday, August 1, 2008 5-9pm BEER TASTING! Mendocino Summer Seasonal White Ale Founder’s Rubeaus Two Brothers Dog Days Summer Lager Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale Sea Dog Hazelnut Porter Heavy Seas Hang Ten Weizen Doppelbock Lakefront India Pale Ale Green Flash Hop Head Red Ale
Friday August 8, 2008 6-9pm A Taste of Argentina! 5 wines from Argentina
Friday August 22, 2008 5-9pm STONE BREWING - PRELUDE TO ALEFEST! 12th Anniversary Ale, the 08-08-08 Verticle Epic, Old Guardian Barleywine, and the ’07 and ’08 vintages of the Imperial Russian Stout with special guest Aaron Tyrell representing the brewery!
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