Recent content by evan hansen

Regarding refrigeration, the spirit-based amari will hold up better on a shelf than wine-based. Fortunately, most of them are spirit-based and/or have a ton of sugar, so they last quite a while. Cardamaro sticks out as one example of a brand that is probably best refrigerated given the...

Ferrand's Ambre is one of two "entry level" Cognacs they make. It's the slightly richer, rounder of the two when compared to their other, the so-called 1840 bottling. I think the Ambre is a touch lower proof as well, with 1840 at 45%. I've never heard an official explanation of the difference...

Putnam's stint as a pizzaiolo was tasty but brief. I'm sure that he still makes a strong homemade "I'm 3 bottles deep and need a 2am snack" pie, but he's back in the wine game, currently at Western Market in Ferndale. Dave Mancini, owner and pie maker at Supino Pizzeria in Eastern Market...

Todd's recommendations are good -- and I'll second Forest in particular. The wine list is mostly standard Cali options, but there are generally plenty of other choices -- and more importantly, the food is great. Nick is a talented chef.

As to the description you pulled out... Poperings Hommel is not overly bitter despite the text. These are mostly established, common brands, and the bitterness is relative to those same brands 20 years ago before IPAs and hop bombs were all the rage. An underappreciated beer compared to some of...

This may be too late to be of any utility, but it might be interesting to see a merlot-dominant right bank like the Vieux Chateau Certan next to the cab-dominant Pichon Lalande both from 1989. Those both ought to be in a good drinking window and might provide an interesting contrast and point of...

He does buy fruit for the Beaujolais Villages and Charmes Eponym as I understand it. Maybe also for the Fleurie. But if one trusts the winemaker to be selecting the fruit and finding good old vine sites, that it's still well farmed and managed, that it's not a distraction, et cetera, I can't...

Ditto Shaya and Compere Lapin. We had a really outstanding meal at Shaya. Just lights out good -- server, wine, food, all totally on point. I would add: Peche - same restaurant group as Herbsaint and Cochon, but more seafood oriented La Petite Grocery - slower paced, quieter, more buttoned up...

Speaking only in terms of the US, I don't think he has a national importer anymore. I too have been a fan but they haven't been in Michigan for years. So I emailed the winery just to inquire and at the time, they seemed content with distribution in the few states where they direct relationships...

Regarding The Earle in Ann Arbor... I don't know him personally, but the guy who handles the wine there (Steve, I think?) and I have several mutual friends. The cellar there is absurd. Absurd. Lots of interesting Bordeaux, Barolo, Burgundy, Napa cabs going back quite a ways. I've never partaken...

Both A2 and Grand Rapids are about an hour away from Lansing. Detroit a bit more. If you don't want to go anywhere, the best spot in Lansing to eat is probably Red Haven, which is on the east side of East Lansing, just past the edge of the MSU campus. I haven't been anywhere else in years...

It's useful, I think. There's a section in the back that shows each vineyard broken down by who owns which parcel within said vineyard. So you can really see which producer is at what elevation, what exposure, etc within any vineyard in Barolo. At the very least, it's a good rabbit hole to crawl...

I'm in Detroit, not Chicago, but I've done a fair bit of shopping in town. And for buying wine, I'd say Red and White on Milwaukee would be a good spot given the places you mentioned. Lots of LDM, lots of "natural" wine, etc. Very good, friendly people. I stopped in a long time ago here and had...

Deliberate? As in a jury. Or "hash out" for something more colloquial?

I have never been accused of brevity. Hopefully it's helpful. Have a great trip!