The Different Bubbles

Prosecco has been a huge hit for us at Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville. Prosecco is Italian "Champagne". Prosecco has a great advantage over Champagne, the price. Don't be misled by the price tag. Some of the top quality Prosecco is about half the price of champagne. But that's not the only reason to enjoy these Italian bubbles. Prosecco has generated a huge following in the recent years. Here's a quick guide to picking a better Prosecco.

WHY D.O.C. IS BETTER 
The Prosecco is a variety of grape that historically has been cultivated in the lands of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano in the region of Veneto in northern Italy.

Its success certainly started in the areas around Veneto and from the historical wineries that have believed in the Prosecco grape. Only from the lands of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano the Prosecco D.O.C (Denomination of Controlled Origin) is produced, that is the highest quality of Prosecco. In the last 20 years the success of Prosecco has increased enormously. Such a success has been noticed by others producers of Prosecco who are in others areas different from Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. These kind of prosecchi (plural for prosecco) cannot of course have the D.O.C trademark and have to have the IGT (Indication Geographical Typical). The quality and cost of these prosecchi is much lower compared from the D.O.C. for two reasons:

The Prosecco D.O.C. of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano has its origin only on the hills, and some are very steep hills, where all the cropping, irrigation, grape harvest and the upkeep of the vineyard must be carried out by hand, whilst in lands where the IGT is cultivated the land is mostly flat, and machinery are utilized therefore the costs are less.

The Prosecco D.O.C. of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano is subject to a very strict production disciplinary, that does not allow a production of more than 135 quintals per hectare of vineyard. IGT production allows for 250 quintals per hectare.

Duckhorn Wine Dinner

Duckhorn Wine Dinner

October 23^rd 2009

$85 per person RSVP 845 647 3000

Duck & Duck!!!

We are featuring local artisanal Duck from New Paltz with

Duckhorn Wines from Napa Valley.

Sauvignon Blanc

Seafood Cake

Butternut Squash

The Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc has fruit sourced from various appellations throughout the Napa Valley creating a blend of several individual vineyard lots. We choose warmer vineyard sites, manage the leaf canopy and focus on specific clones and soil types to get ideal characteristics out of the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon varietals. Whole cluster pressing emphasizes the bright fruit characteristics in the finished wine. While in barrel, spent yeast cells are stirred up several times, building a complex flavor and rich texture. It is then rotated through oak barrels until the ideal balance between oak and fruit is accomplished. To finish the wine, it is blended with wine fermented in stainless steel tanks. This wine offers versatility when it comes to culinary pairings because of its incredible roundness and fullness of texture and traditionally has short-term aging potential.

Napa Valley Merlot 2005

Creamy Poached Duck Egg

Roasted Autumn Vegetable

Napa Valley Merlot 2004

Confit Duck Leg

To make a Merlot that could compete with the great Merlot-based wines of the right bank of Bordeaux, we began by sourcing fruit grown primarily in alluvial soils, those with high water drainage and little topsoil. This type of soil produces intense fruit that translates into aromatic and complex wines. Our Napa Valley Merlot is a blend of several individual vineyard lots. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and occasionally Petit Verdot make up the final blend. We keep each individual vineyard lot separate through the fermentation and barrel-aging process. After roughly 16 months in oak, the various lots are evaluated and blended, then put back in the barrel to marry for an additional two months. The bright fruit and forward nature of our Napa Valley Merlot pairs well with grilled meats and wild game, wild berry sauces, hearty pasta dishes and Pacific Northwest salmon.

Napa Valley Cabernet

Pan Roasted Duck Breast

Our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has consistently been ranked as one of the top California Cabernets. Perhaps more than any other wine in our portfolio, the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon defines our past 20 years of vintages.

Paraduxx Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Local Farmhouse Cheeses

Seasonal Jams & Purees

Paraduxx is a unique Napa Valley red wine with its foundation in Zinfandel, California's resident grape, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Created in 1994 to provide the winemaking team with the opportunity to explore other varietals, Paraduxx was quickly recognized as having its own personality and style. Blended with Napa Valley mountain fruit as well as valley floor grapes from Estate vineyards, Paraduxx has rich, full fruit flavors and soft, integrated tannins, making it a natural complement to a wide array of foods. For each vintage, an artist's interpretation of a pair of ducks native to the Pacific Flyway is featured on the label.

Whitecliff Awosting White Now Available by the glass

Aroma Thyme Bistro has brought back Whitecliff Awosting White and it is available by the glass. This wine has been a long time favorite by us her at the restaurant. So we decided to offer it by the glass.

Tasting notes:
Light, clean, fruity and refreshing with plenty of peach in the aroma. Awosting is a blend of Seyval Blanc and Vignoles grapes. This is the taste of the Hudson Valley!...and it won a Gold medal and best in class from the Hudson Valley Wine Competition.
Suggested foods to accompany this wine: poultry, pork, veal, cheeses or spicy dishes.

Organic Sunshine Vodka from Green Mountain Distillers

Aroma Thyme has just brought back Organic Sunshine Vodka from Green Mountain Distillers. We stock over 60 different types of vodka. A vodka has become a trendy business lately. It seems everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and coming out with their own vodka line from Donald Trump to Dan Aykroyd. Why have to tell you the vodka revolution is far more than movie stars, billionaires and advertising hounds like Grey Goose. The vodka revolution has sprouted up some incredible small boutique United States distillers. It's absolutely amazing the amount of well produced vodka coming from United States. And very seldom do you ever see big ads for these American gems. That's because most of these gems come from small privately owned companies. So there is no million-dollar advertising budget.

When it comes to Northeast distillers we immediately think of green mountain. These guys make a boutique organic grain vodka in Vermont.We just recently tasted their orange infused organic vodka. This is a crisp and clean orange infused vodka. most of us can relate to tasting flavored vodkas that tastes like and smell like perfume. It's the big companies adding a so-called natural flavoring to their straight vodka. To me a lot of these have a synthetic or a not so natural flavor profile. So if you're interested in trying a regional vodka jem just ask for Green Mountain next time you stop in.

source from http://greenmountaindistillers.com/
Vermont’s premiere organic spirit is quadruple distilled from 100% certified organic grain and pure Vermont spring water. Sunshine production begins with the highest quality grain supplied by our family, farmer owned co-op. All grain is Certified Organic and GMO free by Oregon Tilth. Sunshine Vodka is created using small batch fermentation and proprietary distillation processes that result in a spirit of the very highest quality. Our small staff selects the grain, distills the spirit and markets the finished product nationwide. This close integration of field to process to product gives Green Mountain Distillers an unparalleled level of integrity.

Production Process:

Sunshine Vodka begins with the purchase of the highest quality Certified Organic, GMO free grain. The grain comes from a family farmer owned co-op and is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers. The grain is used in a process called Saccharification, where starches are converted to fermentable sugars. These sugars are then combined with our proprietary yeast in a fermentation process to create alcohol. The yeast eats the sugar and gives off alcohol as a by product. The fermented liquid is then transferred to the still where distillation begins. Distillation is a method for the separation and removal of alcohol by means of evaporation. By keeping precise temperature parameters in the still only the finest alcohol is evaporated away. The pure alcohol vapors rise in the still until they are carried, by the lyne arm, thru the condenser where cooling temperatures cause them to return to a liquid form. The resulting liquid, which is at close to 190 proof, is then combined with the purest Vermont Spring Water to form the finest of distilled spirits. Because of the precise temperatures and the quality of the ingredients used, for us at Green Mountain Distillers, the production process ends here. We have no need for extraneous filtrations or additions to hide or mask unwanted flavors and impurities. We know you will enjoy the crisp aroma, clean flavor and ultra smooth finish of our Sunshine Vodka.

Mount Eden Vineyards 2004 Saratoga Cuvee

Wine of the Month was $59 now $49

Mount Eden Vineyards 2004 Saratoga Cuvee is our Wine of the Month for September 2009. Our regular price is $59. September’s price is $49 while inventory last.

The Vineyard
The Saratoga Cuvée Cabernet program features grapes from five different mountain vineyards situated in and around the town of Saratoga as well as occasional lots of estate fruit. This wine receives the same care and expertise lavished on the estate wines. The blend reflects the character and unique terroir of the fine Cabernet Sauvignons produced in the Santa Cruz Mountains since the 1880s.

The Wine
Fleshy and ripe, with flavors of black cherry, plum, cocoa and soil, the Saratoga Cuvée is softer and more accessible in its youth than the Estate Cabernet. It is blended with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdoux for complexity.

Cline Live Oak 2007 Zinfandel

Aroma Thyme Bistro just added Cline Live Oak 2007 Zinfandel to Wine Spectator Wine List.

About This Wine:

The Live Oak block has consistently produced our most complex and concentrated Zinfandel wine. One of California's historic vineyards, Cline has chosen to dry-farm the head-pruned vines, continuing a practice employed by the Italian immigrants who planted this vineyard before 1900. The 2007 Live Oak Zinfandel exemplifies the distinctive regional characteristics present in wines from Contra Costa County. Intense aromas of sweet berries, spice, coffee and notes of licorice burst forth from the glass. Enjoy this wine now or cellar for up to seven years.

Wine Profile:

Vintage:	2007
Wine Type:	Red Wine
Varietal:	Zinfandel
Appellation:	Contra Costa County
Harvest Date:	September 5
Acid:	.70g/100m
PH:	3.61
Aging:	11 months
Residual Sugar:	.42%
Alcohol %:	15.5%

Vineyard Notes:
Our Live Oak Zinfandel is named for Live Oak Road in Oakley to which the vineyards run adjacent. Cline Cellars has chosen to dry-farm the ancient, head-pruned vines, a practice employed by the Italian and Portuguese immigrants that planted this vineyard well before the turn of the century. The Oakley terroir is characterized by the hot sun, sand soil, and a unique band of air that flows from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. Sand soil is resistant to phylloxera.

Production Notes:
Grapes were harvested at natural high sugar levels and treated gently in the cellar to emphasize the explosive fruit characteristic of the vineyard block. The fruit was almost entirely de-stemmed and lightly crushed, with a large proportion of whole berries remaining in the must. Fermentation occurred at moderate temperatures in stainless steel tanks, using a selection of cultured yeasts. After eight days of gentle “pump-overs” and near dryness, we drained and pressed the wine from its skins. The Live Oak Zin was minimally handled before being put down to 40% new, medium –toasted, French oak barrels for 11 months.

Winemaker Notes:
The Live Oak Zin is known for its dimension of ripeness and individuality. This wine is a classic example of the big Zinfandels, for which Cline Cellars has become known. The 2007 Live Oak Zinfandel displays notes of sweet berries, spice, coffee and licorice. The wine has a firm, balanced structure of acid and fine-grained tannins.

Food Pairing:
Live Oak will pair well with peppercorn-encrusted filet mignon and grilled meats.

Haven's Merlot 2005, 89 from Robert Parker

Aroma Thyme Bistro now has Haven's Merlot 2005, 89 from Robert Parker, in stock. We just found out that Haven's is no longer in business. So we stocked up on this great Merlot.


winemaker's notes:

Our 2005 Napa Valley Merlot is now showing the potential of this vintage: bright fruit, layers of complexity, charming texture. It is a wine of texture, engaging the sense of depth on the palate. In the choice between immediacy and complexity, this wine leans ever so slightly to complexity, a tendency we are happy with. But you will enjoy it from the first taste, since 2005 gives us plenty of ripe fruit character to enjoy, even as it teases us with interesting notes we can’t quite name.

"Longer and richer than its predecessor, the 2005 Merlot Napa exhibits aromas of chocolate, berry fruit, underbrush and spice box." 89 Points,
Wine Advocate

"Good ruby-red. Reticent aromas of black cherry, redcurrant, licorice and tobacco leaf. Juicy, leanish and moderately concentrated, with a redcurrant flavor complicated by a floral element..." 88-89 Points
International Wine Cellar

In search of Fine Dining part 1