Connecticut Food and Wine

Las Rocas Garnacha 2007

Richard — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:34:50 +0000

Las Rocas Garnacha from San Alejandro Calatayud, is a decent Spanish wine. At 14.5% alcohol content, this spicy vino is sweet, has light tannins and a long finish. Although it is spicy, it is not peppery like some Oak aged wines tend to be. A nice blackberry flavor. 30% of the blend is aged in American and French oak barrels for six months, and in stainless steel tanks for four months. Final word: not bad. RP rated 90 points. $12.99

Chamard Vineyards

Richard — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:17:56 +0000

On 11/25 I decided to visit Chamard Vineyards, located at 115 Cow Hill Road in Clinton. I was in the market for a wine that would stand up to the rich thanksgiving meal and also have an interesting local wine to talk about. Although some of Chamard’s bottles are available around the state, I wanted to see the vines and taste a few varietals before selecting one. I was immediately impressed by the architecture of the building, which was completed in 1988. The wine tasting is a modest $5 and you get to try five wines.

The first one was their 2004 Chardonnay ($12.99), aged 40% in oak/60% steel barrels. I found it to be very light and almost watery. I was told that even though it is older, it is still pleasant and drinkable but then again so is water.

Next was the 2005 Chardonnay ($19.99), aged 60% in oak/40% steel. The flavor was lightly fruity, and a ripe melon flavor with an undeniably rich finish (attributed to the greater time spent in the oak barrels). I enjoyed this one and it is my pick if you are considering a bottle from Chamard.

The 2006 Cabernet Franc ($19.99)- I found this one to be smooth and creamy, a rich finish that was very grapey and berry-like and unique flavor, although not for everyone. This is the bottle that found it’s way to the thanksgiving table this year.

Chamard’s 2006 Merlot ($16.99) is a classic Merlot they describe as, “Light, bright and clean sour cherry flavor with good acidity”. On the dry side, I found the sour cherry flavor to be bitter and not as nice as the Cab Franc.

Lastly, their 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99) had a black berry aroma, and I could really taste the alcohol in this one. I found it to be alcoholic and generally unbalanced.

Chamard blends it’s grapes with grapes imported from growers on Long Island, standard practice in Connecticut wine-making. If you want to brag about a 100% Connecticut grown product, pick up any estate reserve which is made using only grapes from their vines. I was impressed by the operation and friendly staff, and at $5 for a tasting and a “complimentary tour” you can’t beat it, it’s worth a visit! For more information visit www.chamard.com

Francesco’s Ristorante

Richard — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:40:45 +0000

Dinner at Francesco’s Ristorante in Hartford was an event. This classic Italian restaurant is located on Franklin Avenue and has parking behind and to the side of the building. Walking into the main entrance you are immediately in the bar area where live music is played on Friday and Saturday nights. The dining area is classy, comfortable and overall has a pleasant atmosphere and lighting. The bathroom is clean and nicely remodeled (always a good sign). We ordered drinks from a friendly waitress, and appetizers- one traditional style calamari and one New York style calamari tossed in a spicy arrabiatta sauce. On this busy Saturday night we waited over twenty minutes after we finished the calamari for the main courses which was attributed to a Kitchen mishap. I had the special, beef tips in a red wine reduction served with vegetable risotto. This included mushrooms which I asked the waitress to leave out, although my meal was served with mushrooms. This was quickly resolved and the waitress was great about it even though they were very busy. The beef tips were tender, juicy, and the red wine reduction was sweet and just tangy enough, and went great with the root 1 cabernet sauvignon. The vegetable risotto was fresh and creamy, an excellent pair with the reduction sauce. Sometimes on busy nights restaurants rush you through your meal to maximize the customer flow or pester you too often about how things are going- it couldn’t be more different here- whether intentional or not. We had plenty of time to eat, chat, and enjoy the dining experience here (isn’t that what it’s all about?). Price range: Medium

Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Richard — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:01:54 +0000

I received this Chile Cab from a professor at Stony Brook University as a gift last July, which I saved for a while. A native of Chile, he insisted this Veramonte Reserva was a great wine from the fertile Colchagua Valley region, known for their reds (yet also producing whites) not far from his hometown of Santiago. I opened this red with a traditional Italian spaghetti bolognese and found it to be sweet at first taste with a semi-dry finish, a very smooth yet rich finish. This is a nice wine to pair with similar meals, wine news rated 92 points. Pick up a bottle if you get the chance.

Hello Connecticut!

Richard — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:53:05 +0000

Have you been looking for a good place to eat but can’t find a reliable source of information? Look no further, Connecticut Food and Wine is the definitive source for both fine and casual dining in Connecticut.