January | 2008 | chrisurban.com

Lake Champlain – Traditional Hot Chocolate

January 27, 2008 / 1 comment

If you’ve red enough of these entries by now, it’s fair to say I’m a little partial to Lake Champlain chcolates, and here is another good reason: their traditional hot chocolate mix. It’s freakin’ plain and simple good. This is how you imagine you remember the first time your mom made you hot chocolate from…

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Chuao Chocolatier: Spicy Maya Hot Chocolate

January 27, 2008 / 0 comments

Another freezing weekend, another opportunity to try hot chocolate mix… When you open this can of mix, the first thing that strikes you is the consistency of the mix itself. There’s nuggets of chocolate in the mix. Once you’ve made it – the instructions note to bring water to boil, add mix, keep boiling and…

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Lake Champlain Organic Bars: Dark Spicy Aztec

January 25, 2008 / 0 comments

Let’s begin with the reviews from the harshest critics we know – first from the four-year-old: “Darker brown, kind of little bit spicy, like it a tiny bit. When I try to bite it, it’s alittle hard – can I have some water?” Two-year-old: “More, more, good!” So this bar is real reason we’re here…

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Lake Champlain Organic Bars: Milk Sea Salt & Almonds

January 25, 2008 / 0 comments

As Lake Champlain Chocolates puts it, “let chocolate change your world,” and their organic bars are an excellent starting point for your chocolate travels. With a subtle touch of crunchy almonds, the gray sea salt adds just the right amount of savoriness to a creamy smooth milk chocolate bar. The label says 38% cocoa content,…

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Champagne: Veuve Clicquot NV Brut Cuvée

January 25, 2008 / 0 comments

The grand dame (widow, actually) of Champagne, this is one of our all-time favorites. Excellent with cheeses, spicy dishes and we’ll find any excuse to open a bottle. Exceptional bubble feel, very smooth, almost velvety, with complex blends of lemon, lime, pear, butter and honey. On the finish there’s ever so subtle suggestive notes of…

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Vosges – Aztec Elixir Couture Cocoa

January 20, 2008 / 0 comments

Mmmm… another hot chocolate mix! These is a premeasured packet for 4 oz of hot chocolate (is this enough to satisfy most people? I need at least 8 oz to make me happy…). On first taste, what really stands out is how well-rounded it is: not overly sweet, not over doing it with too much…

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La Crema 2006 Pinot Noir

January 19, 2008 / 0 comments

A very nice Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – beautiful ruby color, delicate blackberry, cherry and earthy notes, wonderfuly smooth. Mild tannins on the finish – very tolerable. Overall, I’d say this was an exceptionally smooth, well-rounded pinot. What I have a hard time discriminating is the bouquet – it’s either very simple and nonintrusive, or…

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The Crossings 2006 Unoaked Chardonnay

January 17, 2008 / 0 comments

This is a delightfully light and crisp New Zealand chardonnay. It starts with notes of pear and lemon, and develops into a nutty buttery almost olive-like finish. This would probably pair well with some sharp or full-flavored cheeses. If you like your chardonnays to be more fruity and less oaky, this is probably a good…

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Lake Champlain – Aztec Spicy Hot Chocolate

January 12, 2008 / 0 comments

This is one of six flavors of hot chocolate mix that the Lake Champlain Chocolate folks produce, and as you may expect, this is my favorite. Other flavors include Traditional, Raspberry, Mocha, Old World, Organic and Unsweetened Cocoa. This mix produces a nice creamy chocolate, with a hint of cinnamon and ample bite from the…

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Laughing Moon – Dark chocolate with chipotle and cinnamon

January 11, 2008 / 0 comments

First, a little mystery. This chocolate bar from Laughing Moon mysteriously appeared; from where I do not know. I set it aside for several minutes, providing ample opportunity for any rightful owners to appear, but alas, they did not, and thus this particular review appears…

Clos Mimi 2005 “petite rousse” Syrah

January 11, 2008 / 0 comments

Light, fruity syrah with simple bouquet. It has a light taste, ever so slightly spicy, and on the finish I could swear there’s a little mint – spearmint? This is a good afternoon before-the-barbecue red – this could go well with burgers but it’s a bit too light for the main course (or at least,…

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Black Opal Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

January 11, 2008 / 0 comments

label: “…packed with ripe black cherry characteristics and a smooth, soft taste…” This is a Cabernet that tastes very solid and mature – almost more plum than cherry. A little hint of pepper, as though there were a Cab Franc struggling to get out. Very smooth, great mouthfeel. This is a nice wine to enjoy…

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Champagne: Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry

January 1, 2008 / 0 comments

Lovely, lightest golden color. No ‘winey’ aftertaste. Overwhelming favorite from the group – complex nose with many fruits. Difficult to compare to bruts, a completely different style of champagne. Up next: comparison to other Ste. Michelles and a head-to-head with Veuve Clicquot, the heavyweight champ. Bubble taste not as refined as the Moët, larger, coarser…

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Champagne: Piper Heidsieck Brut

January 1, 2008 / 0 comments

Light gold color. On opening, tasted ‘funny’ – slight chemical or artificial odor? Sweetest tasting brut in the bunch, but also had strongest bitter aftertaste. Driest, crispest taste – sweet hints of apple on nose. Generally liked least from tasting group. Bubble taste: not nearly as refined feeling as the Moët. Overall: disappointingly bitter.

Champagne: Moet & Chandon White Star

January 1, 2008 / 0 comments

Medium-light golden color – dry lemon taste. Tasters had varying opinions, but generally fair. Slightly bitter aftertaste. Bubble taste (the bubbly version of mouth-feel) was much smoother, finer, refined feel. Overall: solid, well-crafted; a safe favorite.