William Hill Estate: Napa Valley Bench Blend Chardonnay. Wine On Line Rating: A Major

William Hill Estate : Napa Valley

Wine On Line Rating: A Major

 

 

 

 

 

2007 Bench Blend Chardonnay

Astounding example of what California CAN do with this so often maligned grape. Exquisite elegance, finesse, balance, subtle fruit and what a finish. Lovely with anything, from Pea Soup to Sausage to Salmon to Triple Crème Cheese or solo. A Personal favorite.

 

Varietal Origin: Napa Valley: 100% Weimer Clone from Carneros
Titratable Acidity: 0.56 g/100ml
pH: 3.35
Residual Sugar: 0.55 g/100ml
Alcohol Level: 14.2%
Harvest Dates: September 12, 2008

Wine Tasting Notes

The 2007 Reserve Chardonnay is creamy and complex displaying intense fruit aromas and flavors of white peach and ripe pear. The stone fruit combine with toasty oak, vanilla and coconut notes that extend through the rich, lingering finish.

Viticulture Notes

A dry winter and warm, dry spring initiated an early start to the 2007 growing season. The weather remained fairly mild through the harvest months with the only heat spike occurring in early September. Temperatures cooled throughout the remainder of September which slowed the ripening of certain varietals and set a good pace for the rest of harvest. This allowed winemakers to focus on bringing in and crushing one variety at a time. Many wineries waited until the very end of harvest to pick some of the later-ripening varieties, and were rewarded with a very high quality crop. Overall, the 2007 crop was much smaller and produced lower alcohol levels in the wines than in 2005 and 2006, but quality is exceptional.

Winemaker Notes

The Chardonnay grapes were hand harvested at night and then gently pressed as whole clusters prior to fermentation to maintain varietal aromas and flavors. The must was inoculated with the QA 23 yeast strain to initiate primary fermentation. Grape solids were left in the fermenting juice to add complexity and style. After primary fermentation was complete, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel in order to enrich the mouthfeel and further add complexity to the finished wine. The Chardonnay wine was aged in new and one-year old French oak barrels. The wine was filtered and fined and bottle aged 6 months prior to release

            Wine On Line Rating: A Major

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Copyright 2011http://www.culinarygourmet.com/disclosure By Nancy Walman Copyright 2010 By Punch In International. All Rights Reserved Disclosure By Punch In International. All Rights Reserved Disclosure

KELLARI PAREA BISTRO

Location: 36th East 20th Street, New York NY 10003 (between Park Avenue & Broadway)
Phone: 212.777.8448 Fax: 212.777.3251
General Information : info@kellari-parea.com
Events: events@kellari-parea.com
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 3:00pm
Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:00pm - 11:00am - Friday - Saturday: 5:00pm - 12:00 Midnight
Sunday Dinner: 5:00pm - 11:00pm
Brunch - Friday-Saturday: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Seating Capacity: 135, with a private rooms for up to 50 people, including A/V capabilities.
Cuisine: Traditional Rustic Greek food
Signature Dishes: Yesterday's Lamb
Appetizers: Variety of Savory traditional Mezedes (small plates or starters)
Neighborhood: New York City - Gramercy / Flatiron
Owner: Stavros Aktipis
Director of Operations : Stathis Antonakopoulos
Corporate Executive Chef: Gregory Zapantis
Restaurant Interior Design: Kellari Design Group
Graphic Design and Web Design: GiellaDesign
SUBWAY DIRECTIONS

LINE STATION 6
23rd Street 4 & 5
14th Street N & R
23rd ST -Broadway

Parking Directions: Street after 7:00 pm
In door parking: 21st street between park and broadway

http://www.kellari-parea.com/index.php

Reserve Online

Kellari means cellar and is a gathering place where the ancient Greeks experimented and aged their wines and their precious foods. Parea is a gathering of friends and strangers.

Kellari Parea Greek Bistro, located at 36 East 20th Street between Park Avenue South and Broadway is a traditional Greek restaurant, a Greek bistro that extends the restaurant group’s reputation for hospitality in a warm, welcoming and relaxed setting. As the name suggests (parea means group of friends in Greek),Kellari Parea Greek Bistro is an ideal place for friends to gather for a casual meal, to share mezedes (small plates) Greek appetizers along with an excellent selection of Greek wines, all in a homey neighborhood place.

In addition,Kellari Parea Greek Bistro is a green restaurant. The interior design makes use of recycled and reclaimed wood, recycled paper is used for the menus and business cards, and the cooking oil is repurposed into biodiesel. Everything in the restaurant, from the physical environment to the food, is natural and organic.

The Greek Pizza (Above) 

The design pays subtle tribute to the Kellari name  and wine cellar theme with American oak wine barrels, displays of wine, and wood-beamed ceilings. The rustic design replicates the feeling of a country house on an Ionian island, warm with earth tones of beige and brown, cozy, comfortable, yet still elegant. The honey-toned floors and terracotta red ceiling wrap guests in a warm embrace

The Killer Lamb Shank, Roasted 24 Hours (Above)

Kellari Parea Bistro, located in Downtown Manhattan, is a little sister restaurant with a big personality. The second Greek Mediterranean concept from the Kellari Hospitality Group, the first being the wildly successful, upscale Kellari Taverna in Manhattan’s theater district, has become a favorite of New York locals since it’s opening in November of 2007.

The more casual, yet cozy Kellari offers the same high-quality, whole-grilled Mediterranean fish as its predecessor, such as the signature Lavraki, a sensational White Snapper, whole Gigantic Shrimp, grilled in their shell and the most tender octopus this side of the Adriatic. There are some slightly more American dishes, like the Maryland Blue Crab cake burger with herbed fries, in an intimate setting that is idyllic for dates and close conversation. Don’t neglect perusing the fresh seafood display before ordering. That’s half the fun and the fish is priced by the pound.

We can’t resist enjoying the beautifully made cocktails (great Martinis and a house Mint Julep) with traditional Greek dips. The combination of our including a light yogurt-cucumber spread, taramasalata (salted and cured roe of cod or carp,dip), smoky eggplant puree and a spicy cheese concoction. The house-made pita bread is exceptional, as is the gratis bread assortment and accoutrements. Other not-to-be-missed starters include the best Spanakopita or Phyllo pies with spinach, leeks & feta we’ve ever tasted and a lovely  Zucchini Kefte (Squash, sage & mint fritters).

With our entrees, the exquisite White Snapper, which was perfectly filleted and served in a delicate lemon-butter-caper sauce and a  meat entree, whimsically called  Yesterdays Lamb, which was Roasted and marinated over 24 hours and served with oven oregano lemon potatoes, we enjoyed the perfect Greek Salad, a melange of tomatoes, cucumber, onions, feta (never lettuce).

A sturdy white, 2009 Domaine Tselepos Mantinia Moschofilero, was a bargain at $42. It came across with a slight petulance and viognier like fruit and worked beautifully throughout the meal.

Desserts are another surprise. A far cry from the soggy, overly sweet renditions seen around town, I have never had better Baklava, the traditional phyllo and walnut pastry with honey and rose-water syrup; Galaktoboureko, vanilla bean semolina custard with a phyllo crust and apple syrup and a terrific Yiaourti me meli or sheep’s milk yogurt with wild thyme honey and toasted walnuts. There is also a chocolate cake that is worth the short wait.

Kellari Parea Bistro doesn’t rest on its unique cuisine and décor alone. The restaurant delivers spectacular entertainment to its guests every Saturday night with Jazz performances in their underground Cava Room. This private space emulates the intimate feel of the main dining room with cabernet colored walls, plenty of wine on display and limited seating for around forty-five people.

The Bistro maintains its air of authentic Greek hospitality by celebrating guests’ most cherished events with complimentary champagne. The Kellari Friends and Family program provides a free bottle of champagne to registered members on their anniversary, birthday and Greek name day, every year. Guests simply provide their email and, like clockwork, two weeks before the big day, Kellari sends a reminder to let them know their champagne awaits them.

Seafood Entrees (Above)

In addition to free-flowing champagne, Kellari Parea Bistro and Kellari Taverna boast the largest Greek Wine lists in New York City and is a proud recipient of the prestigious Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for a well-balanced list that compliments the food and the Mediterranean region effortlessly.

Add to this warm, hospitable service and the feeling that you are really wanted as a customer and the commendable democratic practice of giving deuces the larger tables, until the restaurant gets too packed as it inevitably by 8 PM, because it is one of the best Greek restaurants in America. No mean feat.

 No Dinner Is Complete Without a Great Dessert (Above)

Copyright 2010 Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.

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CRUCEROS AUSTRALIS UNVEILS NEW SHIP

Adventure cruise specialist Cruceros Australis announces the unveiling of its new ship, the Stella Australis. Set to launch in December 2010, the Stella was commissioned in celebration of Cruceros Australis’ 20^th anniversary.

The Stella will have a capacity of 210 passengers luxuriating in 100 cabins, each 177 square feet. Guests can choose between cabins with a large double bed or two twin beds. For those seeking roomier accommodations and larger beds, superior cabins are available. Cabin highlights include picture windows, independent climate controls, private bathrooms and a satellite phone.

Travelers will enjoy five decks featuring three lounges, an exercise room and a dining room, as well as a spacious deck allowing for unobstructed views of the spectacular scenery.

The Patagonia Deck, the first deck, includes a galley and the Patagonia Dining Room, which has a number of tables that can accommodate groups of four, six and eight people.

The Magallanes Deck, the second deck, includes a reception area and a gift shop where guests can purchase a variety of equipment for expeditions. The cabins on this deck feature large picture windows that are more than three feet wide and four feet tall.

The Tierra del Fuego Deck, third deck, includes the Yamana Lounge that will have a bar and a game room. The cabins on this deck feature slightly larger picture windows that are nearly five feet wide and five feet tall.

The Cabo de Hornos Deck, fourth deck, includes the Sky Lounge. The cabins on this deck feature even larger picture windows that are more than five feet wide and nearly six feet tall.

The Darwin Deck, fifth deck, includes the Darwin Lounge, bar and fully-equipped gym. The gym has glass panels so that guests can enjoy incredible views while working up a sweat. The three lounges- the Sky Lounge, the Darwin Lounge and the Yamana Lounge- are equipped with modern audiovisual equipment for educational presentations throughout the voyage.