Dan H @ Chez Mike, East Greenbush, NY, 3/11/2026

Dinner with Dan
Chez Mike, East Greenbush, NY, 3/11/2026

Dan Hammer was in town for his semiannual visit. A lot of the local winos were out of town. Fortunately, John & Linda and Mike & Sandra were able to join us.

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We met at Chez Mike, one of the best restaurants in the Albany area. It has a very unassuming exterior in a strip mall on NY Route 4 (Columbia Turnpike) in East Greenbush, NY. But don't let that fool you, the food and service here are top notch every time.

Starter
Littleneck Clams with Sherry wine, garlic, and herbs. So delicious.

2014 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco Cuvée delle Vigne Niche Calderara Sottana - Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
[Pop and pour from a magnum.] Lovely nose of citrus and stones. Full in the mouth with crisp citrus and minerals. Beautiful. (93 points)

Cali Cabs
Brick Roasted Chicken with Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach, Maple-Vinegar Pan Jus. So tasty!

2017 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
[Double-decanted it for an hour and a half at 1:30pm.] Muted nose of black fruit. Rich, thick, tart black fruit. A powerful wine that needs more time in the cellar. (93–?? points)
2016 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
[Pop and pour.] Dark chocolate and dark black fruit in the expressive nose. Stunning in the mouth. Big and rich, but with a great sense of harmony and elegance. Expansive and super long. A wow wine. (97 points)

Giacosa Barolo

1998 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted it for an hour and a half at 4pm.] Lovely nose of black berries and violets. Silky in the mouth with lots of black fruit. So elegant, but more mature than I think it should be. (94 points)

Better dead than red ;)

2023 Apothic Red - USA, California
[Pop and pour.] Sickly sweet nose of waxy red berries. Sweet without any balancing acidity. Kinda gross, but I could drink it if forced to, hence the 70 points. (70 points)

Mike came out to say hello at the end.

Conclusion

Another lovely evening of friends, food, and wine. So glad that Mike & Sandra and John & Linda could join us. The food at Chez Mike is superb. Michael Cohen is one of the best chefs in the Albany area. Moreover, the service is casual, but professional.

Notes posted from CellarTracker.