Category: wine

Beaulieu – A Great Taste of Napa

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I’ve never been to Napa, but I have indulged in a few of their selections.   And it’s usually been a good experience.

I don’t believe in accidents or coincidence, so coming back from a recent ski trip a couple of Saturdays ago (1/24/15), I find myself at one of my favorite wine stores, College Square Liquors, in Westminster, MD.

I’ve been fortunate to attend a few of their Saturday tastings and the diversity of their choices is fantastic.    Napa Valley, and California in general, have usually been the most represented, among other wines from around the world.   But on this day, I discovered a beautiful bottle…

The 2010 BeauRouge from Beaulieu Vineyard is a delicious mix of eight grapes.  Cabernet Sauvignon is most prominent, maybe because it’s the fullest of the reds included.  The other seven are : Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Tempranillo, Petit Sirah, and two new ones for me – Touriga and Charbono.  The latter two I will need to do more research on.

This is a full bodied wine that hits you hard and pulls no punches.  The tannins are omnipresent and feel so good on my tongue, and on the inside of my mouth.   I know I’m drinking something special.  There is the peppery flavor that is so agreeable to my palate.  The description states there’s blackberry, chocolate, and cassis, which I could detect, if I try hard enough. Or maybe not at all

In the indoctrination process of Napa Wines, or more complicated blends, maybe this isn’t one of the early ones I should be drinking.  But as the old cliche goes, you gotta start somewhere.  So I welcome the simple ones and the even more intense blends to come.

When it comes to California wines, it’s a lifelong learning process that I look forward to.    I may never learn everything, but I am looking forward to gaining all the knowledge I can.  This is going to be a fun ride.

One of the most important things to note is, I got this bottle for only $16.99.  This is a good deal. The vineyard’s own website lists it at $32.00.   Most retailers, I have looked at online, have it around the $20.00 mark give or take.

I cannot tell you how many great wines I have bought at below cost, that are worth what they are regularly priced.  My preference is to buy all my bottles at under $20.00 if I can, with exceptions to the rule.   This would be one of those exceptions.  I look forward to trying more from Beaulieu.    And one day, it will hopefully be a memorable stop when I tour Napa.

Maybe someday…

Best,

Ideen

Anything But

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inspired

In nearly all instances, it’s better to focus on the positives.   I’ll try to do so here. However, it saddens me that a wine such a powerful name, could be so disappointing.

I love throwing around powerful words, such as inspiration and emotion.  It feels good just writing about it. So when I stumble upon a wine entitled, Inspired, I take notice.  And I was making, what I thought at time time, was an impassioned and life altering purchase.  This should have been my destiny.  I could not be more wrong.

I was all set to write a, dare I say, inspired post.   I was all jazzed up to bring forth some positive energy, that would make you look in the mirror and say, I am awesome and I am here to inspire!   No.  Not this post.  This wine did not live up to these unrealistic expectations.   See how I built this up all for nothing?

I was sending friends pictures of this bottle and they all knew, this was a wine hand crafted for me, and it was going to be delicious.  A wine for the ages.  Absolutely not.

Now it’s not terrible.  It’s just not very good.  I had a hard time finishing my glass.   I’ve had much worse wines but this was a touch below mediocre.  I am a fan of Meritage wines and red blends, but this was a bogey.    Perhaps their combination of Merlot, Zinfandel, and Petit Verdot doesn’t mesh well.   And because I hyped it up so much in my head, it’s plausible that it tastes worse than it really is.   This is all a matter of taste and in my mind, but it makes me sad it didn’t live up to my (unrealistic?) expectations.

I had tunnel vision. I saw the label.  I saw the word ‘Inspired’, and was sold.   If a wine has a cool label, like this one does, I will be extra curious.  But just like a book, don’t judge a wine by it’s label.   Some of my favorite bottles have the most basic labels.  But a pretty one is hard to resist.  And the nerd in me really wanted to like this wine.

Looking through the incomplete website, you see spine chilling images, of folks doing  and quotes that get cut off across the homepage.   Just another line in a comedy of errors.

Believe me, I really wanted to like this wine.  I wanted to crown it as an achievement in my tasting experience, but that won’t be happening.

As always, just because I wasn’t happy with it, doesn’t mean that you’ll yield the same results.   We all have different palates.  Our preferences evolve as we evolve. Maybe a few years ago, Inspired, would have done just that.  The raw emotion will have to wait another day, or the next uplifting moment could be just a post away.

Stay inspired.

Best,

Ideen

Boordy Brings It

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Boordy is the first winery I ever visited.  So I’m partial and nostalgic to them.    They know how to throw events, concerts, and festivals.   They were  my first tasting and  tour.   So the soft spots just keep on coming.  They are a big part of why I love wine so much.

In November, there was another first.  It’s the first time I joined an exclusive wine club.   And of course it was Boordy’s.  I don’t think any of these things are accidents.  It could be fate or destiny.  Or both.

Now the perks are mentioned in the link above.  Or I’ll link it to you again here.  And I am grateful to be a part of this thing. Even if I don’t continue on, I can say I was a part of a club.   I may look at other wineries to do the same.  But one step at a time.

* 2013 Dry Rose – It’s a charming, light bodied wine that isn’t something I usually like to have.  But at the tasting I enjoyed it. It was easy to drink and didn’t come off too sweet. The synopsis is very simple to understand.  It states it’s similar to the roses of Provence and combines saignee juices of their varietals grown on their property.  One thing that stands out is that their grapes are 100% grown in Maryland.  Not every Maryland winery can make that claim.  There is something to be said for keeping it local.  A lot of wine aficionados appreciate that fact alone.

* 2008 Ruby Port – Now I don’t seek out Ports.   It’s just not my glass of wine.   Now I appreciate that it’s a dessert wine, after a hearty meal.  We actually opened this bottle, this past Sunday, for a birthday celebration.  So my experience goes beyond the original tasting.   The description reads a mix of plums and chocolate.  Both, especially the latter are detectable. Or maybe, once again, I tell my mind there are plums in there.  But I think I got a taste.   We enjoyed this with some Dove Chocolates, Coconut Cake, and Chocolate Cupcakes.

* 2012 Landmark Reserve – What this package is named if honor of.  Or maybe I just think so.  Oh well.. My favorite combinations of some of my favorite grapes – Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.   Label mentions briar fruit and chocolate are detected.  I’l have to see if I can taste those flavors.  For now, this bottle is killer.  I think it’s incredible.  And though I only had it at the tasting, it was worth getting the package for this alone.  This will be opened for a special occasion.

More on this phenomenal series can be found here.

The next package comes in February, and it will be a pleasure to do a recap.   I have seen what will be included, and a couple of my favorites are involved.  I am elated.  I will also, in a future post, talk about these.

I will also do recaps of other future events I may attend here.

Boordy will always have a special place in my heart.   And I thank them, for being one of the catalysts, for my worship of wine.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

Sip Baltimore Style

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I was grateful to be invited to a friend’s birthday party last night, at Sip Kitchen & WIne Bar.  If you drive on Key Highway, you might miss it, but you wouldn’t want to. Barely open over a month, this place makes an already stellar wine drinking experience, all that much better. It may have been overwhelming at first, but that fear wore off instantaneously.

There is so much to like about Sip, that this will not be dedicated to one post.

How it works is simple.  I ordered a prepaid micro chipped card (up to any amount I want) from the bar, just as if I were ordering a drink.  I leave the bartender a great tip, as if I ordered a drink, and the the card is handed to me.   This is where the inspiration begins…

There are over 100 bottles from which to indulge from.    I wish I had taken more photos.    The card is inserted into the side and then the choices are abundant and you’re not trapped, because you can order a 1 oz. pour, a 3 oz. half glass, or the full 6 oz. pour.  So you’re not stuck with a wine you don’t like any time for too long. Very exciting stuff!   It’s like being a kid on a shopping spree or at the candy shoppe!

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The money is automatically deducted, which towards the end of the balances, lead to some funny situations.   It was surreal trying to track down wines that matched a 1 oz. pour of under $2, or whatever was close to the balance of the card.   Needless to say, there were final balances of $.40-$.90 or similar.

The selections are all over the spectrum.  Plenty of whites.  Plenty of reds.  Lots of light, medium, and full bodied selections.   What was drank was too much to name.  And these pictures will not do this complete justice.

The food and service were tremendous as well.   The staff seemed genuine and happy to help. The charcuterie and cheese plate was magnificent, as were the fries with various sauces.

The real charm comes from talking about all the wines from the pours.    The ritual of discussing each glass, made this experience so authentic.   It brings about a unique and positive social experience.  It felt like a race at times, but there is where the fun comes from.   At the same time, it’s a marathon to try every selection available.

The vibe was fantastic.  A lot of people enjoying themselves, their company, and the libations.  I felt like I was on vacation.  I can’t wait to be back.

More to come.

Best,

Ideen.

Williamsburg – Post Holidays

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I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and are enjoying the New Year.    It feels bittersweet for them to be over.  But onto another positive write up about wine!   In a previous post, I mentioned how the vibe and wines of the town of Williamsburg and their respective winery felt like Christmas.

So we enjoyed the Susan Constant Red, but this time we did have the 2011 Lord Botetourt Red.  It tasted even better than last spring.

I am glad we save special bottles like this for special occasions.  We have gone past Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have amazing wines with just as inspiring meals.

I had mentioned previously that there was a grass/straw component to the wine.   There is something different about this taste.  It tastes like this earth.  It tastes natural. It tastes heavenly.  Unless I am tricking myself, this could be it!    The toastiness is easily detectable and the medium tannins were a great complement.

We enjoyed this wine with a great London Broil, potatoes, broccoli, and fresh baked bread.  A hearty meal which gives justice to the meal and bottle itself.  Tremendous stuff.

To me, this isn’t the typical full bodied, peppery, oaky red wines I enjoy the most.  But, this is on par with some of the best wines I have drank.  The winery states that it’s a fuller bodies red but for me it tastes more medium bodies, and that’s cool. These will all taste different to us.

I look forward to finding more wines containing Petit Verdot and more with these ingredients of the earth.   Another intriguing bit is the description says there is a hint of veginess.   Where that is I don’t know. Maybe I’ll detect it in the future.

All I know is I cannot say enough good things about the 2011 Lord Botetourt Red.  This is an absolute gem.

I can’t wait to head back to Williamsburg.

Happy New Year.

Best,

Ideen

Williamsburg – Feeling Like Christmas

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I had the great fortune of visiting The Williamsburg Winery in April of this year.   The winery, in addition to the town feels very homey and Christmasy.  The town has a great energy that feels authentic.  It’s a town I would say I wish I was from or grew up nearby.   There is a strong sense of community and togetherness that happens, not just during the holidays, but all year round.  A template of Williamsburg; with its shops, restaurants, and year round festivals is the perfect blueprint for what all wonderful places are like.

Now their wine is wondrous too…

I wish I had taken photos of my visit here.  But the charm level is in full effect.

The two wines I purchased were the 2012 Susan Constant Red, which is a Sangiovese and the 2011 Lord Botetourt Red, which is a 7% Malbec and 93% Petit Verdot. The latter is a new one for me.

I gladly tasted both before purchase.

The Sangiovese is a simple everyday wine.  I drank it rather quickly compared to other Sangiovese’s I’ve had, or other lighter reds in general.   The synopsis reads that cherries and raspberries can be detected.  I tasted some berry or fruit flavors but wouldn’t be able to say that they were those berries for sure.   I did not discover the hints of cloves or tobacco. The suggested pairings were with grilled meats; such as lamb, ham or tuna.       I enjoyed it with a cheese and three cheese white pizza slice respectively.  I thought the duo tasted stupendously.

The Lord Botetourt tastes like all of my favorite wines.   The label reads that there is a nice straw/grass character to the bottle.   This is new to me and I am excited for that.  There mentions some red fruits and a hint of green apple.  I’ll see if I can detect that next time.  This is an incredible wine that deserves to be paired for celebratory occasions.  I drank this back in the late spring so a cold weather experience may give it a different taste.  So I will enjoy soon.   Christmas Eve dinner may sound about right.

I intend to make a return to Williamsburg in the near future.   A place with this much character, deserves a larger recap and plenty of photos.

What is most important, in the end, is to drink what makes you feel good.  If there is a wine and food pairing you want to try, then go for it.   Of course, certain bottles shall be reserved for special occasions.  But that special occasion is whatever you want it to be.  In the spirit of Christmas and the holidays, it’s even more of an incentive to have something that brings you joy.  This is what this time of year is all about.  That’s what this life is all about.   Have something that makes you feel inspired.

Have a great holiday.

Best,

Ideen

My Favorite

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The 2009/2010 Maryland Cabernet Franc from Harford Vineyard & Winery is the best wine I have tasted.   And I’ve stood by that for a couple of years now.  And I have enjoyed some pretty breathtaking stuff.

The regular going price is around $16.99 and to me that is a steal.    I discovered this bottle at one of the great local wine shops in Harford County, Friendship Wine & Liquor, at a bargain price of $9.99.   I grabbed a bunch, for the deal alone, and just to try something new.  I am so grateful I did…

To me, this is what I visualized what a wine would taste like, even before I had my first glass.    The description on the winery site says there’s flavors of raspberries and dried black cherries.  If I educated myself enough then I could detect that.  I do taste some dry fruit, but I also could easily trick my mind into believing as such.

However, what does stand out to me is the toasted french oak and the touch of black pepper.  I taste a lot of the latter and it’s a beautiful thing. Incredible. Slowly I have been drawn to red wines that are crafted with Oak.   It gives me a warm feeling and tastes even better as the cold weather approaches.  The more oak the better. The addition of pepper just complements this wine perfectly. This what a superb wine tastes like.

I have had this Cab Franc  with pizza and I have found the combination to be dynamite.   In talking with folks, some have said they like it with pepperoni pizza.  A few suggestions always help.  But, a wine with a little pepper and a pepperoni pizza sounds right to me.  That is a pairing that is understandable and approachable on all levels.    I have also drank this with meat and cheese platters.  Perfection.

I had the great fortune to visit Harford Winery this year and I tell you there is a great aura here.   I wish I had taken photos.   The staff is friendly and there is a fantastic presence all over the vineyard.    I was informed by one of their team members, that there’s only about 10 cases left as of two months ago.   I will have to get on this.

And through drinking other various Cab Franc’s, I am happy to say that this is my favorite grape as well.   My inaugural post had a picture of that grape.  And how beautiful is that?

In future posts, I will focus on that grape as well as other incredible bottles I have had.   There will be reviews on Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania Wineries that I have visited over the past year as well.

Thank you so much.

Best,

Ideen

Wine Is Fun

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I love wine.  I love drinking wine.  I love talking about wine.  And I love hearing about wine.   Wine culture is meant to feel genuine and meant to make us and the dearest people in our lives feel good.  This analogy can be applied to anything by the way. 

There is something so brilliant about going to a winery or to a wine festival.   People tend to feel good, as we are all there for the same reasons.  We want to enjoy wines and enjoy each other’s company.  It’s a bonding experience. And we may even get to learn something about wine that we didn’t know before.  Speaking of which…

I have delayed writing this blog for nearly a year.  Because I am still learning and didn’t feel as if I was qualified.  Not a justifiable excuse.  Thankfully, the posts will be commencing before the holidays.  I’ve had multiple blog ideas in mind, so this is just the beginning.

I am going to be writing about wine from a positive and spiritual place.  This is not coming from a place of snobbery and elitism.  That is not my intention.

With that being said, in my next post, I will be talking about my current favorite wine.  And it’s from Harford Vineyard & Winery.

Thanks so much.

Regards,

Ideen