source – One With Vino

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I’m not ready to throw in the towel or wave the white flag on this season. And even the though the towel might be white too, there’s no cause for alarm or concern. I love summer and want to celebrate forever. That means one more Rosé, and hopefully more to come. When I’m in the planning stages or lack thereof when piecing these posts together, I look at the seasons, the place I’m in, and my log of wines I’ve tried to see what fits and what I can save for later, if at all.

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But a return to the Wine Source, which will never get old, led to some curious searching. And I won’t confirm nor deny that this was a planned trip. Nothing just happens and there’s no such thing as coincidence. After my memorable visit two weeks ago, how would this one compare?

There doesn’t need to be a comparison. While every experience is different they’re also somewhat similar, and sometimes all the same? Make sense? Well it does and then it doesn’t to me, but that’s what makes this excursion so fun and unpredictable.

The night in question from last week had me running around circles. I was craving a Rosé but not just any. I wanted a label and a bottle that would evoke emotions of hope, love, spirit, and a journey that is forever going. One that tells us that not only are we going to be ok, but that we are ok.

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I shoul’ve realized they were reading my mind and knew why I was there. Without even knowing me they know my tastes and know their clientele. I had no idea I sprinted past the lovely Rosé in front of the store. I had just assumed walked around and dig to find a bottle within every nook and cranny of the shoppe. How did I not see this gorgeous display of Rosé wine in front of the store for me to appreciate, admire. and adore some more. And I was doing all of the three and that much more.

Now I was literally doing circles. There were so many beautiful choices that the only one that made sense is one with designs of our animal friends.

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So I saw one with a bird and didn’t think twice. The 2016 Guillaume Gonnet Cotes du Rhone ‘Le Reveur’ Rose, from Rhone, France had the most inviting label and energy. Yes a gorgeous looking robin on the label helps. But never judge a book by its something and same with a label. For all you know it covers the deficiencies of the wine itself, and overcompensating by having such beautiful artwork. I sound like such a novice but that’s the fun part.

No this is not the best wine you or I will ever have. It’s not even in the conversation, but what this one does is provide you with aspects with what make summer, wine drinking, and life in general so beautiful. It’s listed anywhere from $10-$13. I got mine for $11 (sale price from $13) and didn’t think twice about the price.

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It’s (depending on where you read) got notes and hints of grapefruit, apple, melon, and various citrus flavors. It may be what you smell, it may be what you taste, but what it does do for sure is add to an everyday wine that can be had with friends, in solitude, and with all types of food that make you happy.

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For me, I was in the mood for sushi. And I found the pairing to work in syncopation with the other. Now I mainly got rolls, but a couple pieces of sushi were necessary. And what a match made in pairing heaven. Not only did the colors mesh well but the wine itself went done smoothly with such hearty and filling rolls.

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I enjoyed plenty of sips without food and found it enjoyable either way.

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Like I said, this will not be the best wine you or I will ever have, but not all of them should be. If we kept saying everything was amazing or the best, actual wines that fit that old (to us) would lose its appeal. This is a good everyday wine and I’m going to assume this is all that it was ever meant to be.

But having our animal friends on a bottle always helps.

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For more on this wine, perhaps a message to the importers, Misa Imports, may be of assistance. Otherwise this is a wine I’ve seen sparingly in stores, one of course is the Wine Source in the great neighborhood of Hampden, in Baltimore. If you don’t live in the area, hopefully this link may be of assistance.

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Whatever Rosé you’ve been indulging in this summer (and before and beyond), I sincerely hope it’s been enjoyable, not only for you but with all the awesome people that you’ve been sharing it with. That’s what this is all about. I look forward to enjoying and sharing so many more of my stories with you guys.

Thanks so much.

Ideen

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This is one of those weeks where I wasn’t thrilled or convinced with my wine options, to write about. Some of it was timing, my intuition, and certain wines and stories being out-of-place (for now).

I thought the universe handed delivered me a sign yesterday, but then that quickly fizzled out. Little did I know was that sign led me to something else. It led me somewhere else. It led me to my favorite wine shoppe of them all, the Wine Source in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore.

As organic and authentic a wine, beer, cheese, and specialty foods experience as you’re going to get, the Wine Source has always had this amazing aura and great energy about it. It could be the neighborhood, it could be the selection, or it could be something bigger that is in no need of explanation.

But the choices of wines has always surpassed most other wine shoppes. This is where you go to fine wine that other stores aren’t going to carry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found a bottle here that I wasn’t even looking for but worked perfectly for the event or occasion I was going to attend. Here’s my original story from the Wine Source to illustrate that fact.

A meet up with a dear friend who I hadn’t seen in some time obviously led to some catching up. It was also a reintroduction into a neighborhood I’ve grown partial too, but also seen some changes that are disconcerting. The local element is still the majority but a chain here and there is a part of the sadness,.

But all roads lead to the Wine Source. Somehow we ended up in the area and as always I can’t not walk in. It’s one of those places that if I’m nearby, I’m walking in. It’s as simple as that.

And each time tells a different story.

I had no idea there was small bar set-up in one of the back corners of this massive space. But here you can sample wine, beer, spirits, and even have a full glass while you shop. Yes I said while you shop.

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I saw selected wines were only $4 a glass, which is a steal anywhere in the world. And the fun part is, if I want to drink a wine I purchase, and want to drink it there, they’ll open it for you there.

With all these enlightening and transforming information, I had to get a glass. And I want to thank Brook who was working the table for letting me sample the 2015 Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Charles Smith Wines.

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Now if that label looks familiar than is more than likely is.

For the most part, Riesling has never been one of those wines I sought out. It was always too sweet and sometimes too much to stomach. Knowing what I know now, I understand that not every Riesling is sweet. And considering this is from the great state of Washington, I learned that these are of the dry side. And it’s outstanding.

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This is one of the smoothest, crispest, and easily drinkable wines (let alone a Riesling) I’ve ever had. I mean that sincerely. It could have been the environment we were in, which was literally my friend and I sitting at the counter enjoying a sip (a few beers were sampled too, which is rare for me) and just enjoying life. It was at this pint I only learned we could walk around with our wines.

And you still get just enough sweet to make this a delightful Riesling. The taste of apples and lime, among various citrus flavors our perfect for Summer. I love that so much.

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I felt like I was in another dimension, outside of the city. And maybe I was. I’d like to believe that at least. Time felt like it stood still even though it’s always moving the same. And knowing I was at my favorite wine shoppe ever only accelerated something already so special, in that moment. It was one of those things that’s almost too good and too surreal to share, but why the heck not right?

The Kung Fu Grirl a great wine by the way. And in the price range of $9-13, you can’t go wrong. It’s an everyday wine that go with lots of fun foods. That’s my kind of varietal.

Chances are you’ve seen Charles Smith Wines at your local distributor. And more than likely this bottle for sure. I’ll get to that one soon enough.

I want to thank Brook (who is the beer guy ironically) at Wine Source for giving my glass of Kung Fu Girl Riesling on the house. I hope I don’t get him in trouble by saying that I’m grateful nevertheless.

If you’re in or close to the area I highly recommend a visit.

For more on Charles Smith Wines and where to find these most accessible of wines in your area, click here.

Here’s their story and more about the wines themselves.

I’m only just getting started with my admiration of The Wine Source.

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