Month: July 2016

This One’s For The Girls

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FlyGirl7

And for the guys too.  Yet you may recognize this title from somewhere.   This is also meant to be uplifting, and more than just a wine review.  That’s the perpetual intention of what I’ve been doing here, since the onset.

The location brings us back to BistroRX and half-priced wine night on Tuesdays.  Yes, if you’re reading this on the day of posting, this bottle is from yesterday evening. Their wine list can be overwhelming, if you let it.  And can lead to indecision which has happened to me in many a restaurant or shopping excursion.

However, I’m learning to relax and agonize less over the simplest of things.  Going out to wine and dine is meant to be an enjoyable experience.  Work should be left to work.  And that shouldn’t be so daunting either if you think about it.

As opposed to going off the menu, in our previous visit, I spotted a name I liked and didn’t think twice.  Well maybe not.   I just can’t help myself.  I’m always looking for signs, for names, and for some sort of inspiration.  It’s not always outside myself. It can be from within.  So this leads us to..

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There’s so much to like about the 2014 Flygirl White from Airfield Estates.  Here is a more elaborate synopsis if you’re so inclined.

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The name drew me in.  I’m almost positive I’ve seen this label before.  Maybe it’s just the pretty girl.  But everything about this label is an artistic joy.  The vintage shown within the star is the kind of detail that’ll keep me coming back for more.   And I haven’t even touched upon the wine yet.

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I smelled some pear right away.  Any tropical and/or citrus fruits that may be there would have me guessing. I’m happy to swing and miss.  I’m also happy that it’s hot enough and sunny enough to be outside.   The view of Patterson Park and the streets of Baltimore make  this experience all the better.

My friend and I agreed the wine was smooth, easy to drink, and then even easier to drink. Pinot Gris and Viognier have never been favorite grapes of mine. Yet as a blend this is solid. Gewurztraminer will likely be revisited during the, umm, I won’t say it yet. No it’s not the best wine I’ve ever had, but as a whole package I would recommend this to anyone, girls along with guys.  I think the beauty of the design works on so many approachable and endearing levels.  And at around $15 retail price, I’m sold.

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The flatbread pizza that we paired with our wine,tasted just as magnificent as it looks. Bistro’s food has never disappointed.  You can read more about this pizza here.

To purchase vino from Airfield Estates, click here.  And here is their contact info.  I imagine their winery would be welcoming and then some.  Finally, here is their full wine list.  I’d love to try some more. Oh wait, one more finally, here is their list of distributors by locator.  This will hopefully lead you to finding their wines in your area.

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And thanks as always to BistroRx.  Visit them if you get the chance.

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Stop and Smell the Rose

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I came up with that all my own.  And I’ve been waiting to say that for the longest time. Well for this post it makes sense.   Yes I’ll be talking about a Rose and it’s a teaser for one of the best wine lists I’ve seen by a restaurant in quite some time.

LangermannsThat restaurant would be Langermann’s in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore, MD.

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I’ll talk about the wine we had first.  First of all, I didn’t even order it.  But I’m grateful for dear friends who wanted to share their bottle with a friend, either me or someone else. The wine I’m alluding to is the 2015 Roscato Toscana from Castello di Bossi.

We had a wonderful group of friends hanging out.  Some I consider my nearest and dearest, and some that I consider family.  When the weather is gorgeous, the atmosphere is strong, the energy radiates, and the company is all of the above, the day is going to be magnificent.   Notice how I’ve yet to talk about the wine?

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Even if the wine was half-way decent I’d be raving about it.   With that being said, I thought our Rose was tastier than I expected.  I don’t know if ‘tasty’ is a proper vino term and I don’t care.  I didn’t care at the time.  I did notice a tart or bitter taste that I haven’t grown accustomed to from Rose.  I thought the sour flavor might have been grapefruit. The tasting notes mentioned cranberry and cherry.  I could see that, especially the former.

But at the time none of that mattered.   I was admiring the label, the color of the wine, and how great our day was going.  I mean look at that salmon-like color.  Does it get any better?  It looks as beautiful as a cup of pink lemonade.   If I wasn’t careful, I would be drinking it just as quickly.  But that defeats the whole purpose.  A wine like this, or any other, is to be sipped slowly and savored with good company.  I was with some of my favorite.

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If you look in the distance, in some of these pics, you’ll see folks relaxing by fields of grass. I didn’t take the most obvious of photographs but it’s possible to spot a bocce court in the distance.  Yes they have free bocce!

Most importantly I was at Langermann’s to support a few friends that have ties to this restaurant, either from working there or from hanging out there for a significant period of time.  That to me is the most important part of all.  We need to look out and support each other whenever we can.

For those who have been, you know the interior is large but quite cozy concurrently. And the outside dining area has a tranquil vibe that can only be experienced to understand.

Aside from a few entrees, I haven’t explored the menu too much.   But that’s all going to change soon.  The few appetizers and bites we’ve shared have all been top notch.  I expect more of the same down the line.

However, their wine list is one for the books.  And speaking of which, I assume it’s been vastly expanded then what I just posted.  There is one I can’t wait to talk about.  I hope to get to it later this summer or by the latest, early fall.

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I’ve rambled on long enough.  Check out the place if you’re in the area.  I highly recommend it.   I do recommend the Roscato Toscana.   Personally, I haven’t seen it in a store.  My one time was here at Lang’s, so you’re getting an exclusive as well.

Hopefully this link or this one will help you locate this charming Rose.  Looks like it’s around $15.00 retail, which is a great value for what you’re getting.  Did I mention that immaculate shade?

Hope your Summer has been stellar.  More to come from one of the coolest hangouts in the city.

Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the, well you know.  Enjoy one another.  That’s the most important thing.

Best,

Ideen

 

Shining Star

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StarboroughWithFood

After last weeks stirring post on Sauvignon Blanc, I figure I’ll get as much mileage as I can, and while the weather cooperates.  No I’m not hitting the panic button yet.  We’ve got plenty of Summer to go.   And I’m going to enjoy squeeze every drop out of it I can.   Well, at least I’l enjoy some great vino in the process.

I’m working in reverse order here.  The meal and wine for this week actually took place before the 4th of July Holiday, which was written about a week ago to rave reviews.  Or maybe that’s all in my head, oops.  Well anyhoo, here we go!

A dear friend of mine, who has hosted dinner parties in the past, was preparing a decadent meal of chicken stir fry.   This always leads to great adventures in wine pairing.  After a brief discussion we both instinctively and in unison Sauvignon Blanc would complement this dish to its fullest.

Because a lot of green and vegetables were going to be used, the Blanc was the correct choice.   I did a bit of research as to why, which confirmed what we were thinking.  You want the wine to contain at least some of the herbs, greens, and potentially even some fruits that were being used in the dish.  This is simple enough and a user-friendy aspect of wine and food pairing.

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And to keep the simple theme going, the first bottle I spotted was an old reliable, the Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.  Try saying that a few times without getting tongue tied.  Admittedly, that label drew me in the first time I grabbed this bottle, going on 5+ years ago.

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The 2015 version tasted the same as I remember.  It’s smooth, easy to drink, and I tend to forget or not care about what might be in it.   But as my knowledge and curiosity gradually expands, I want to learn more.  At the time of our meal I didn’t care.   However, I did sense some grapefruit and to my pleasant surprise, I was right.   Summer fruits such as kiwi, guava, and passion fruit are mentioned but, I was hard pressed to detect those as I was sipping.  Maybe next time or maybe in the next life.  But fresh cut grass?  I got to sip on this again.

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As we had our dinner, I wasn’t doing any research.  That would be poor form and lacking in manners.  I did snag a few pictures before I ate just to get that out of that way.

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The meal was stellar as usual.

The wine pairing was spot on but it was almost too easy to drink.  It’s a discrepancy I’ll get into briefly.   I paid $13.99 for this bottle at a local wine shoppe.   I think it drinks for no more than a $10.00.  Why do I say that?  Because I’m so used to standard labels that you find in many stores, that cost $9.99 or less.  It’s just an observation and a few dollars in the grand scheme things is not the end of the world.  But it’s the principle.  I think that makes sense.

What makes absolute sense was the great company and great food prepared by my pal.   It’s the simple times with good people and good conversation that make this life worthwhile.  And it makes this one of the easier posts to do.

If you’re interesting in purchasing this wine, this link will be your friend.  The lower the price, the better.

More to come.

Best,

Ideen

 

Simply Delish

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DelishTable

I love bringing a bottle to any occasion, whether it be a party, smaller gathering, or no particular at all.   It always linger in the back of my mind whether it’s a wine I’ll end up writing about.  Sometimes they’re meant to be part of that memory, that event, and nothing else.  Sometimes I don’t think about it.  And then sometimes…

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The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc from Delish Wines is as simplistic and approachable as life should be. I won’t kid myself. That label drew me in above all else.  Does anything else seem more apropos for the Summer then perfectly scooped ice cream cones?

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This was reasonably priced at around $12.00.  I wouldn’t go much more than that.  Sites have it between that and $15.00.  This is just a personal opinion but I’ve never loved Sauv Blanc.  When I drink it I keep questioning why I don’t care for it or if my palate doesn’t coincide with what’s being presented to me.  No need to sweat the small stuff but it’s not my favorite grape.  That could re-evolve with time.

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With that negativity out of the way, I did find the good in the wine.  For me, the tart balanced with the sweet worked for me.  I’m always looking for a little bitterness balanced with berries, tropical, and citrus fruits whenever I can.   This only applies to whites.    The sour end comes from herbs and grapefruit.  I can never have enough of the latter.

When I’m at a laid back or even more frenzied party, I don’t tend to analyze the nose or notes as much.  I’m in the moment.  And obviously for this one I wasn’t, or I wouldn’t be taking all of these pictures and texting notes to myself about what I tasted.  I promise I’m not crazy. Well…

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I would recommend this bottle to anyone who likes fun.  If you want visual joy while sipping, this bottle is going to accomplish that.   The tint of the wine itself is a winner too. It may not look like ice cream but that would be gullible to the infinite power to think otherwise.

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This goes with anything and nothing.  I treated myself to a plate of meats and cheeses, and it was decimated in minutes.

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Either I’m reading way too much into this, or I love that this is the only wine they carry.  It gives them time give more and dedication to their harvesting and cultivating.  That sounds wonderful. Their website is easy to navigate.   This is only going to draw me back to their wine.  Yes, they did their job and perfectly.  I love Summer.

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Here is their contact info if you want to, well, get in contact.

This past weekend was the first time I’ve seen this bottle and I hope it’s not the last.  I suspect you can obtain this at multiple retailers. Myself, I found mine at Harbour Spirits of Severna Park, MD.

For more on this party I’ve referenced, click here.

As we roll on with the Summer (and we got a lot to go), I will hopefully find some great whites and other season fare to rave out.  I’m confident in that.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen