Beer Tasting, Tuesday, July 26th

Beer Tasting!
Tuesday, June 26th
5:30-7:30pm
Hilton Garden Inn
(the Hilton is located just behind our store, on Park Street, between Bow and School Streets)

5 Park Street
Freeport, ME
$10/person
(please call the store at 865-3993 for reservations; if you call after 6pm on Monday, please call Eric on his cell phone at 730-0886)

We'll hit Germany, England/Scotland and Belgium!

One of Maine's best new wine and beer distributors (Wicked Wines), will be on hand to WOW you with some new and unusual beers. We will taste 12-13 beers - if you walk into a restaurant or bar and order a "flight" (a tasting selection of these beers), expect to pay $20-30! At $10, this is a screaming great value.

Remember - this is not a seminar. If you can't be there right at 5:30, come on down! If you have to leave before 7:30, come on down!

The Hilton Garden Inn has a wonderful bar and restaurant - on Tuesday nights, they also have live music featuring Maine's "Tony Boffa Trio, " featuring soulful jazz with people who can really play and sing!

By Maine law, restaurants and bars can't give away beer or wine, so we have to charge for these "off-site" tastings. Thanks to Jeanne Carpentier, General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn, we are able to do more of these "extra" tastings (it's illegal for us to have a beer tasting in the store).

The Beers:

The theme - It's summer. It's time to drink some good beer and enjoy the warm days with good friends!

Germany:

Leipziger Gose (25.4 oz. bottle - that's the size of a wine bottle) $14.99 - This is such a GREAT beer! It's also in the COOLEST bottle ever! Gose was first mentioned as a great beer in 1000 AD under Emperor Otto III! The beer originated in the small town of Goslar in Lower Saxony. It grew in popularity and spread to Leipzig (which, by 1900, had over 80 Gose houses). The spread of bottom-fermenting pilsner style beers as well as the economic disaster that was East Germany under the totalitarian regime ended Leipziger Gose, which was last brewed in the mid-1960's. On July 20th, 2000, Thomas Schneider (not related to the Schneider Weisse family) revived the brewing of the Original Leipziger Gose in the famours "Bayerische Bahnhof" in Leipzig. Leipziger Gose is a top-fermenting wheat beer {60% wheat, 40% barley malt} with coriander, salt, and lactic acid bacteria added in the boil. 4.5% alcohol. This resembles the famed Lambic/Geuze beers from Belgium.

Schneider Weisse (16.9oz bottles) - $3.99 OUTSTANDING! Gorgeous, cloudy dark amber color. Aromas of baking spices, vanilla, wheat and bread dough. Flavors of rich wheat, less citrusy than most wheat beers. Slight sweetness. Touch of spice. Refreshing! Little or no bitterness. Schneider Weisse is just such a GREAT beer! Perfect for summer days! Awards - "Might be regarded as the classic example of this category," Michael Jackson, Pocket Guide to Beer. Food pairings - Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Thai foods. Lightly spiced seafood. Food with mustard. Gouda, Comte or similar cheese. Brewed from 60% wheat malt and 40% barley malt. Hersbrucker and Hallertauer Hops. Unpasteurized, unfiltered and bottle-conditioned (fresh yeast and malt are added to the bottle to create a second fermentation which carbonates the beer in the bottle).

Kloster Ettal Dunkel (16.9oz bottles) - $3.99 Excellent, award winning beer from this Benedictine monastery. Rusty, amber color. Aromas of chocolate, caramel, toffee and spicy hops. Flavors of citrus, nuts, caramel, chocolate and coffee. Light-to-medium bodied...clean and fresh finish. Brewed since 1330 by the Benedictine monastery, "Kloster Ettal." The brewery and farm have sustained this monastery since 1609. One of the last remaining "monastery" beers from Germany. Food pairings - German food, smoked meat, grilled meat, fresh game, roasted chicken. Brewed from Munich, Vienna and Pilsner malts and Tettnanger hops. 5.0% alcohol.

Zum Uerige Sticke Dusseldorfer Altbier (11.2oz bottle) - $4.99 A GREAT Beer! Just a beautiful dark copper/amber color. Aromas of malt, nuts, caramel,, floral and grassy hops. Big flavors - caramel, nuts, slightly dry and malty. Clean and crisp. Reminiscent of a lager. Only brewed twice per year - the 3rd Thursday in January and November. The Uerige beers are classics! Awards - "the finest example of the style, and one of Germany's truly great beers," Michael Jackson, Pocket Guide to Beer. Food pairings - German food, smoked meats, fresh game, grilled meats, earthy cheese such as Chimay, Munster, Camembert, etc. Brewed from Pilsner, caramel and roasted malts and Spalt Spalter, Hallertauer and Spalt Hallertauer hops. 6% alcohol.

England/Scotland:

Burton Bridge Empire India Pale Ale (16.9oz bottle) - $4.99 This is a great IPA - definitely the Benchmark of this classic British beer! Great combination of dry hoppiness and fruitiness. Complex flavors. The sulfur rich waters of River Trent enhance the clarity and bitterness (the bitterness is a nice one and typical for this style) of the ale. Burton Bridge Brewery is located in the famous beer town of Burton-on-Trent. IPA's (India Pale Ales) were originally brewed to preserve the beer for the long voyage to the Indian parts of the British Empire, so they upped the alcohol and the hops (both act as preservatives). Awards - Guardian Newspaper - "Bottle Conditioned Beer of the Year." Food Pairings - Indian & Cajun cuisine, steaks and roasted poultry, and dishes prepared with cream. Brewed with Pippin Pale and Crystal Malt and Challenger and Target whole hops. 7.5% alcohol.

Fraoch Heather Ale (11.2 oz bottles and 16.9 oz bottles) - $2.99 for the 11.2 oz bottle ($14.99/6-pack) and $4.49 for the 16.9oz bottle. This is a TRADITIONAL Scottish ale, that might just be the oldest style of ale produced in the world. First brewed in Scotland in 2000 BC - "Fraoch" means heather in Gaelic. It's an amber ale. Aromas of flowers, peat and herbs. Flavors of rich malt, spicy herbs and it has a dry finish. From an ancient Gaelic recipe, this has been revived and reintroduced to Scotland. And is now in Maine - thanks to the boys at Wicked! When boiling the malted barley, sweet gale and flowering heather are added to the "wort" (boiling stuff used to make beer and ale). After cooling a wee bit, the hot ale is poured into a vat of fresh heather flowers and left for an hour; then the liquid is fermented. Awards - 1996 and 1997 "World Beer Championships, Gold Medalist. I alternate between loving this brewery's website and occasionally being freaked out by its dark graphics! http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=nquqpbcab.0.z5ztpbcab.5lacw5bab.1&ts=S0262&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fraoch.com%2F Food pairing - rich and spicy foods. 5% alcohol.

Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted (16.9oz bottles) - $4.99 This is just a wonderful beer. On the pale side of a bitter. Golden in color. Sharp, beautiful blond beer with great, distinctive hop flavors -honey & grapefruit tang (from the Hersbrucker), a "twist" of lemon (from the Challenger hops), and subtle spiciness (from the Styrian hops). This Scottish Brewery is the original "new" microbrewery in Scotland - in the mid-to-late 20th century, microbreweries completed disappeared in Scotland - the nation was too poor to support more expensive "craft-brewed" beers. As money and jobs returned to Scotland, so did great beer! Crisp with a good head. Awards - Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 2003; Supreme Beer Champion of Scotland 2002; Champion Beer of Scotland (Bitter) 2001, 2003; Gold Medal & Champion, 2004 Brewing Industry International Awards, Champion Beer of Britain 2001. 4.2% alcohol.

RCH Brewery Old Slug Porter (16.9oz bottle) - $4.99 A delicious Porter with a full bodied taste of chocolate, coffee, blackcurrant and black cherry. It features a dark near black color with a good white head when served in a clear glass. Old Slug Porter is brewed with pale malt (86 %), crystal malt (6 %) and black malt (8 %) and Fuggles and Goldings whole hops. The original brewery was in the Royal Clarence Hotel - that's where the "RCH" comes from. They quickly outgrew the hotel's water supply and had to move. The old brewery site was also filled with slugs. Just as a slug leaves a trail behind, so does this Porter on your glass - hence the name, Old Slug." Lovely! Awards - Winner, "Porter, Stouts & Old Ale" at Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival, 2nd Place, "Stouts and Porters," Great British Beer Festival. Porters were originally brewed to give London workingmen ("porters") a hearty, but lower alcohol beer so that after their allotted 2 pints for lunch, they could still work! 4.5% alcohol.

We're adding a stout into here - have to pick it Monday!

Belgium:

St. Bernardus ABT 12 Strong Brown Ale - One of the WORLD'S GREAT beers! Traditional Trappist Monk-style Belgium ale. Dark in color. This is smooth, creamy and big - it's a full-bodied beer with a great feel, aroma and taste! Aromas of caramel, figs, raisins, bananas, toasted bread - it's a warming aroma! Flavors of figs, malt, baking spices, raisins, poached pears, a banana dessert torched in rum. Long, long finish. This is so complex it is hard to figure out! Blend of Alexis and Prisma malts, roasted malts and Target and Styrian Goldings hops. Awards - Gold Medal, 2006 World Beer Championships. Available in 11.2oz bottles ($3.99/bottle and $14.99/4-pack) and 750ml bottles ($9.99/bottle) - that's the same size as a wine bottle. 10% alcohol.

Chouffe Houblon Triple IPA - These little gnomes on the Chouffe bottles aren't playing around - they are helping make some of the world's best beer! Aromas of clean fruit, yeast, fresh bread, jalapeño, hops, citrus and malt. Flavors of grapefruit citrus, plus lemon. Tropical fruits such as pineapple, toast, minerals and baked apples. Nice balance to the bitterness. 9% alcohol gives this some warmth. Crisp, dry, fruity finish. Unfiltered, non-pasteurized, bottle-conditioned. Available in 11.2oz bottles and 750ml bottles - that's the same size as a wine bottle) - $3.99/11.2oz bottle ($14.99/4-pack) and $9.99/750ml bottle. Awards - Beer Advocate, 91 points.

Delerium Tremens - this has Pink Elephants and more on the label. It is one of the classics of Belgian-over-the-top brewing - packing over lots of alcohol (have a 6-pack of this and you will awaken to see Pink Elephants dancing in your room!). Aromas and flavors of yeast, dough, strawberries, spice, white grapes and pepper. Flavors that remind you of white wine, champagne, white pepper, cloves and citrus. This is a sipping beer! Awards - Gold Medal, 1998 World Beer Championships. Available in 11.2oz bottles and 750ml bottles - that's the same size as a wine bottle) - $3.99/11.2oz bottle ($14.99/4-pack) and $9.99/750ml bottle.

Brasserie Caracole Saxo Blonde - This is a wonderful, complex, lighter (well, as light as 8% alcohol beer can be) Wallonian style ale from Belgium! Aromas and flavors of hops, bitterness and hints of spice. Hints of bananas and cherries. Organically grown Pilsner and Munich malts, wheat and hops. Awards - Gold Medal, 2002 World Beer Championships, "Exceptional." Available in 11.2oz bottles and 750ml bottles - that's the same size as a wine bottle) - $3.69/11.2oz bottle ($12.99/4-pack) and $8.99/750ml bottle. 8% alcohol.

That's the list of beers!

These are some cool, unique, absolutely wonderful beers that you will not find everywhere!

We hope to see you Tuesday!

Please call the store (865-3993) for reservations!

June 2007 Wine Tasting

June Wine Tasting!
Friday, June 15th
3:30-7:30pm

Ned Swain, who is Devenish Wines, will be on hand with his usual eclectic assortment of delicious wines and his usual verve and enthusiasm. We always have fun with Ned and his wines.

The Wines:

The theme - Perfect wines for summer days and entertaining!

The Sparkling:
Avinyo Cava (Spain) $16.99 - Excellent sparkling wine from Spain! Aromas of green apples, citrus, fresh bread and minerals. Fresh and dry flavors of apples, fresh bread, pears and peaches. It's been aged on its "lees" for 18-22 months, adding a yeasty quality to the wine similar to many Champagnes. Minerally-driven dry finish. This shows as much complexity as many Champagnes at a fraction of the cost! Blend of Macabeo, Xarello, and Parellada. Aged on lees for 18-22 months. Non-vintage. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points; Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 88 points

The Whites:
D'Orsaria Pinot Grigio 2006 (Italy) $13.99 - Ned really wants to show off this new Pinot Grigio. Marco Cecchini is the winemaker - he dropped out of college in 1998 when he inherited his grandfather's 1 hectare (2.58 acres) vineyard to the dismay of his mother. He became a winemaker and he has never looked back! He always strives to make sure as little oxygen as possible contacts his wines - so, they are bright and fresh. This Pinot Grigio has more floral aromas than fruit. It's not too acidic - so, it drinks well without food. Clean finish. Flavors of dry fruit, tropical fruit, and subtle, subtle grapefruit. Brand New to Maine! Food pairing - Lighter foods, seafood, shellfish - drinks well on its own!

Chateau Bonhoste Bordeaux Blanc 2006 (France) $12.99 - One of our favorite white wines from an obscure little Chateau in Bordeaux. This is a FABULOUS wine! Soft, has a velvety, lush feel at the start and middle (that's the Semillon grape). Finishes clean and crisp (that's the Sauvignon Blanc)! Aromas of pineapples, freshly mown grass & green bananas. Nice minerality. Nicely balanced acidity and fruit. Blend of mostly Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc with a little Muscadelle. Organically farmed grapes. New Vintage! Food pairing - Goes great with lighter poultry and seafood dishes. Drinks real well on its own!

Echeverria Chardonnay 2006 (Chile) $12.99 - This is a wonderful Chardonnay and a GREAT value in an organically-farmed wine! Unoaked Chardonnay - so, this is bright, fresh and crisp. Aromas and flavors of peaches, bananas, green apples, citrus and honey. Small, family-owned winery in the Molina Valley. Hand-harvested grapes. Organically farmed. Partial malolactic fermentation so you get a little butter creaminess to the wine - especially at the finish. New Vintage! Food pairing - chicken, duck, pork, salmon, lobster, etc. Drinks nicely on its own!

Philippe Raimbault Apud Sariacum Sancerre2005 (France) $22.99 - A great Sancerre! Citrus nose with that great smell of freshly mown grass. Rich wine. Limestone minerality, lemon, peach & melon flavors. Juicy. Hints of earth & herbs. Good acidity. Long finish. The fossilized shell on the label pays tribute to the "terroir" producing this wine and the many fossils in the soil in Raimbault's vineyards, and tells us that this wine is IDEAL with shellfish and seafood. Fermented in old oak barrels. Apud Sariacum is the ancient name for this village, Sury-en-Vaux. Food pairing - GREAT with seafood and fresh goat cheese!

The Reds:

Crosby Merlot 2005 (California) $13.99 - Crosby is a private label from one of our favorite wine merchants, T. Edwards Wines. The Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon is also one of their "private label" wines. This is big, ripe and round with no hard edges to it. Notes of chocolate, mocha, dark berries and plums. It's dense and ripe. Stainless steel fermentation. Brand New to Maine! Food pairing - drinks well on its own. Pair with grilled chicken or pork, or roasted meats, a steak, lasagna, etc.

Pichon Pinot Noir 2005 (France) $14.99 - This is a ripe and juicy Pinot Noir from southwestern France - if you've had our Cinquante-Cinq wines (Viognier, Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc), you've had wines from the same winemaker! This is round and soft - not tannic, a nice touch of earth, loads of cherry, black cherry and red berry fruit and aromas and flavors. Nice weight to the wine. Stainless steel fermentation. Brand New to Maine! Food pairing - drinks well on its own. Pair with grilled chicken or pork, or roasted meats, a steak, lasagna, etc.

Matilda Plains Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2004 (Australia) Reg. $16.99 Sale $14.99 - This is an AWESOME Aussie Aussie Aussie blend! Killer wine! It's a deep rich color. Aromas of dark berry fruit, vanilla, peppery spice & mocha. Flavors of dark berry fruit, black cherries, white pepper spice & more - plus a long, lingering finish. Blend of Shiraz (34%), Cabernet (60%) & Merlot (6%). Female winemaker - unusual in the male-dominated wine world. Matilda is the family Border Collie - it's named in her honor. Each year the blend changes slightly. New Vintage! Food pairing - Great wine with beef, lamb, rich, aged cheeses such as 3- or 5-year gouda, Piave Vecchio, Parmesan, etc.

Trentadue Alexander Valley Petite Sirah 2002 (California) $29.99 - This is a beautiful wine! Tastes great & it's a beautiful blue/purple color. Blackberry, violet, herbal, and spicy aromas. Flavors of dark berries, spice, chocolate & cocoa with hints of minerality. Full-bodied. Big, massive wine, with substantial, but "soft" tannins. Well-balanced - lots more to it then just being a big, massive wine...it has grace & suppleness as well. This is a California "cult" wines, but not at cult wine prices. This is Trentadue's signature wine. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points; Eric Azimov, NY Times, "...our favorite..."

The Dessert:

Toro Albala La Noria* Pedro Ximènez 2003 (Spain) $22.99 - Superb dessert wine! Aromas and flavors of figs, caramel and toffee. Viscous, smooth, exotic texture! Nice acidity that keeps this sweet wine from being syrupy or cloying. Single vineyard. Organic winery. From the Montilla-Moriles region. Unfiltered. This will keep after opening for a month. Food pairing - great as a dessert wine...I'd pair it with a cheese course, but it will work well with a sweeter dessert. Serve COLD! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

Wines of the Month Club

Wines of the Month!

A Great way to try different wines!
A perfect gift for someone!

Here are the basics of our "Wines of the Month" club.

You should join, if you are not a member.

Why should you join?

• Try new wines you wouldn't otherwise taste.
• Learn about different winemaking regions and wineries.
• Have fun (after all, it's grape juice - the best way to learn and enjoy wine is to try new things!).
• Makes a great gift (maybe for yourself)!
• The more people we have at each level, the more likely we can bring wines into Maine that are not currently available!

We have Three Tiers (price levels) for our Wines of the Month Club (you may sign up for one, two or all three tiers - OR, you may sign up for reds only, whites only or just one wine - whatever works for you!....and you may change your choice each month!!!)....These will be interesting, tasty, unusual wines that you won't find everywhere and they'll represent great values! Some months, we'll offer an optional bottle (maybe a dessert wine or a sparkling wine or a dry rose).

At each Tier (price level), we'll pick 2 wines for you - 1 white & 1 red.

• Tier 1 - $9-15/bottle
• Tier 2 - $16-24/bottle
• Tier 3 - $25-45/bottle

Again, you can select from this list and choose what you want each month....or choose to take nothing in a month.

If you are from "away," we will hold these wines for when you return to Maine.

Maine has a quirky law - we must pay for wine the moment it arrives in the store - so, we ask that you give us a credit card number to bill for your "Wines of the Month." We don't bill it until Sunday evening of the 1st weekend in the month - and we never bill it until you have told us what you want.

K Vintners Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting!
featuring
The Wines of

K Vintners
&
Charles Smith, Winemaker
Monday, May 14th
5:30-7:00pm

I'm so psyched about this that I can't stand still!

These are some of the best and truly unique wines made in the US! These wines vary from vineyard-to-vineyard - exhibiting what the French call "terroir" - wines that taste of a place!

We are hosting a tasting for idiosyncratic winemaker, Charles Smith! Charles is one of Washington state's most distinctive and best winemakers.

These
"K Vintners rocks with Washington Syrah."Wine Spectator
"Top ten Syrah in America."Wine and Spirits
Jancis Robinson, one of the world's most esteemed wine reviewers and writers, said this about K Vintners,
"One of the most inspiring to have come my way was K Vintners, a modest ranch in Walla Walla, Washington's most prestigious red wine region - both the Cougar Hills 2002 and The Boy 2002 are truly stunning wines with a real sense of place that California would be hard-pushed to match at 30 to 35 dollars a bottle. This 4,000-case operation opened its doors only in 2001."

Some of you may remember my first encounter with Charles. To read it, please see my "blog" entry - I just posted the e-mail I sent 2 years ago after meeting Charles for the 1st time and tasting his wines. First Encounter of a Close Kind with Charles Smith


The Wines:

The K Vintners Wines are made in 108-1,200 case amounts. Doug & Cat at SOPO are receiving 7-10 cases of most of these wines. That's all of them we will see in Maine! They won't last long.

The Whites:

The Magnificent Wine Company House Wine White 2006 $10.99 - Fabulous wine! Yummy! Tasty! Fun-to-drink! If you are moving away from Chardonnay b/c you are tired of a lot of toasted oakiness, try this! If you love the bright flavors many Chards have, try this! Just a tasty white wine! Wonderful bright green apple and pear aromas and flavors. Notes of citrus. Wonderful clean minerality. Just a vibrant, refreshing wine! Fresher, crisper and cleaner than a big oaky Chardonnay. Food pairing - Great choice as a sipping wine, with lighter seafood & shellfish, lighter poultry dishes & more!
K Vintners Kung Fu Reisling 2006 $13.99 - This is brand-new to the state and to me....I've never tried it....I'm looking forward to trying it, though!
K Vintners Viognier 2006 $22.99 - Wow! What a wine! Absolutely a killer wine! I find this just a unique and stunning wine! The only thing bigger than this winemaker's ego are the flavors and aromas in his wines! Beautiful nose of pears, flowers, orange blossoms, anise and apples. Rich and velvety in the mouth. Huge, long finish of pears and minerals. 645 cases made. Food pairing - This will absolutely be smokin' with a roasted chicken dinner or roasted pork tenderloin with root vegetables. Great with salmon - grilled smoked or baked. Awesome shellfish wine!

The Reds:

· The Magnificent Wine Company House Wine Red 2005 $10.99 - This is a killer wine...a STEAL at this price! Cabernet Sauvignon (54%), Merlot (30%), Syrah (11%), Malbec (3%) and Cabernet Franc (1%). Big, bodacious, silky smooth, rich, chewy, substantial, long, lingering, pleasing finish. Put away the price tag & I guarantee you'll think you're drinking a more expensive wine. Please decant - it'll open up the fruit! Loads of big berries, smokiness, leather, pepper, earthiness, meaty bacon fat. Good acidity, well-integrated tannins. Food pairing - steak, pork tenderloin, big, robust tomato sauces, and it will also just sip well on your back deck on a sunny day or in front of a fire.
· K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah 2005 - $49.99 - Charles has only made this wine once before and he only made made 108 cases of it this time around! Velvety, elegant and full of flavor! Charles says of this wine, "It is so gorgeous, it is pure crushed velvet!"
· K Vintners Cougar Hills Syrah 2005 $44.99 - Aromas of baked or stewed fruits, salty air, minerals and olives. Flavors of dark berries, raspberries, minerals and more. Powerful wine that still has elegance! This grows the more you taste it! Nicely balanced tannins and fruit on the long finish. 580 cases made.
· K Vintners Morrison Lane Syrah 2003 $45.99 - Fabulous medium-to-full bodied Syrah that reminds me of a Cote Rotie. Aromas of dark berries, black currants, meat and more. Lots of complex flavors - dark and red berries, licorice, peppery spice, some stewed fruit and cassis. Long,long finish. This should hold up well through 2012-14. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 93 points.
· K Vintners Milbrandt Syrah 2004 $34.99 - This is a WOW wine! This is an elegant Syrah & a POWERHOUSE! Big, huge flavors & aromas, yet smooth & soft. Aromas of dark berries, bacon fat, smoked meats, espresso, pepper, minerals and rich dark earth. Similar flavors. Well-integrated tannins. Decant this - just pour it into a pitcher or large measuring cup and pour it back into the bottle - if you don't, you'll wish, while you're drinking that last glass, that you had! This wine will make you sing! WOW! An ULTIMATE date night wine! This wine Rocks! 1,200 cases made.
· K Vintners Lucky #7 Syrah 2003 $35.99 - This is just a really nice wine! Soft. Elegant. Intense. Smooth. Complex. Big, huge flavors & aromas. Mocha, cocoa and chocolate aromas and flavors mingling with dark and red berries and herbs and peppery spice! Long, rich smooth finish. This wine shows a lot of minerality and spice. From the Seven Hills. 800 cases made. Jancis Robinson, "Truly stunning wine!"

We hope to see you Monday!

Eric Fullagar

First Encounter with K Vintners and winemaker, Charles Smith

I've pulled up an e-mail I sent on April 28th, 2005 after tasting many of the K Vintner Wines for the first time!

It was quite the night!

Hello,

One of the curses of my job is I have to taste wines. Yes, it's hard work...but, someone has to do it and keep you from tasting plonk. I wade through a lot of grape juice before I find the wines we want to carry (and a lot of this plonk is expensive stuff).

Occasionally, I get to taste some unique wines...even rarer I get to do it with the winemaker.

Well, Wednesday was one of those nights.

Doug Watts and Cat Oster, owners of South Portland Wine Company (Maine's newest and best wine distributor), called and said that Charles Smith from K Vintners would be in town and asked if I wanted to swing by and taste some wines (turns out that we tasted wine and then went and ate buckets of steamers, mussels, oysters and a lobster or two or twelve at J's in Portland and then caroused a bit - please keep that quiet...I told Aly it was a hard night's work!).

Twist my arm! I decided to take one for the team...it was tough...hard work...but, someone had to do it...and that someone was me...

Charles Smith is an iconoclast...he's a unique person (he's the Honorable Charles Smith - his brother is the president of a prestigious Cambridge College and a member of the House of Lords...so Charles is the "Honorable...")...former rock-and-roller...think Ozzy Osbourne, Neil Young and Bob Marley...full of bluster...full of opinions....full of a head of hair that the guys on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" would scream, "Product, product...needs hair product..." and full of ability to make great, unique, one-of-a-kind wines. Charles is not trying to make wines for the masses...he's making wines for people that love wines that "taste like they are from somewhere." We are lucky to have these wines in Maine. They are in extremely limited supply. They are powerhouses today (and, with decanting will drink well tonight) and they'll age well for 7-12 years.

What's unique about Charles' wines - they are not made for everyone. They are unique, complex, interesting...wines you sit around and drink over a long evening with great friends.

They are not simplistic...they are not summer-time "quaffing" wines. They are robust, complex...."Wow" wines!

This is what I tasted and like and is available:

The Boy 2003 - $44.99 (less than 6 bottles) - This is a Big Wine. Robust. It's not for the faint of heart. Mind-boggling intensity of flavors and aromas. This is single vineyard wine from the famous Cayuse "En Cerisse" Vineyard - famous for its stone and gravel makeup - remember, the best grapes often come from the worst land. It's a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo and more! Layers and layers of complexity. Wonderful fruit and spice. Crystal clear, but still a rich color. Deep. Rich. Well-integrated tannins. This is a wine you're friends will fight over to finish. By the way...it has the most unusual label on a bottle...period! The label is as plain as possible!

Milbrandt 2003 - $29.99 (less than 30 bottles) - This is an elegant Syrah. Wow! Big, huge flavors and aromas, but still soft and smooth. Notes of bacon fat and smoked meats. Espresso in the nose. Minerals and earth from the soil. Well-integrated, soft, fine-grained tannins. Silky, soft, long finish. From the Wahluke Slope Vineyard, Columbia Valley.

Cougar Hills Syrah 2003 - $44.99 (less than 12 bottles in Maine) - Ooooh, la...la...This is just a really nice wine. Mocha, cocoa and chocolate aromas and flavors. Soft. Elegant. Smooth. Complex. Huge variety of flavors and aromas. A whopping 1920 bottles made....worldwide.

These are just brilliant wines. They are not widely available. They are not for everyone.

But, if you like unique wines that taste like they are from somewhere...that taste like a unique person laid hands on them...then you should call us and ask us to set aside a bottle or two or so.

These wines are worth your hard-earned money. If you want any, let us know ASAP.

May 2007 Wines of the Month

May's Wines!

We are working with Ned Swain, of Devenish Wines, for this month. Ned helps run one of the smaller, truly specialized distributors in Maine.

As usual, Ned has some wonderful wines - from small producers....several of these wines are brand-new to Maine or they are brand-new vintages!

Tier 1 - $9-15/bottle

We love this tiny winery in France. It sits near Mont Ventoux (if you follow the Tour de France, you'll recognize Mont Ventoux as the home to one of that race's most difficult mountain stages - the race is often won or lost on this mountain). This is a desolate, arid, almost lunar landscape....remember, the best grapes come from vines grown in horrible areas in terms of soil quality. Vines under stress produce fewer, but better grapes than vines in fertile soil.

Mont Ventoux is in the Northern Rhone valley, so this wine is similar in style to many Rhone-wine blends. The volcanic soil and harsh climate in this area make the wines distinct.

Young winemaker Paul Vendran is putting his stamp on this region, making superb wines from Grenache and Syrah. These wines are fermented in stainless steel and you should drink them when they are young and fresh.

The rosé is actually made from the "first run" juice when Vendran makes his Côtes du Ventoux Rouge. The juice of most grapes runs "clear." The color comes from the skin. So, this rosé is a blend of Grenache and Syrah and it is faintly colored "pink" by the grape skins. Don't "freak" at the thought of drinking a "pink" wine. This is NOT a white zinfandel. This is a PERFECT wine for drinking with grilled foods!

The White: La Ferme Saint Pierre Côtes du Ventoux Rosé 2006 (France) $12.99 - This is a lovely, dry rosé. We just love it! Easy-drinking. Tastes great! Clean, dry, refreshing. Flavors of raspberry and strawberry. Crisp and vibrant acidity. Soft in the mouth. Nice weight to the wine. Vendran makes no more than 300 cases of his rosé each year....we always hope the "world" doesn't discover this....so that it will last through Thanksgiving! Food pairing - The perfect wine with grilled chicken, or chilled grilled chicken salad. Great with roasted poultry, salad nicoise, light seafood dishes including soups, duck, etc. Goes well with spicy Asian food. Put it this way - a dry rosé is one of the most food friendly wines made!.

The Red: La Ferme Saint Pierre Côtes du Ventoux Rouge 2005 (France) $12.99 - This is one of my favorite wines. This is just good drinking, right here! Similar in style to many Côtes du Rhones - loads of dark cherry & black berry fruit aromas & flavors. Full-bodied. Notes of rich earth from the volcanic soil that covers Mount Ventoux with a peppery, dry finish. Half Syrah and half Grenache. Food pairing - Great grilling wine. Great with roasts. Toss it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes on a hot day! (reds are best at 55-60 degrees, not at room temperature).

Tier 2 - $16-24/bottle

The White: Ameztoi Txakolina 2006 (Spain) $17.99 - A young importer, André Tamers, found this wine in the Basque part of Spain. André lives in my hometown, Chapel Hill, NC. His wine importing company is De Maison Selections. We carry several of their wines.

He found this unusual wine in San Sebastian. The Basques call the wine Txakolina (CHOC-oh-lee); it is made from an indigenous Basque grape called Hondaribbi Zurri. The Basque language sure is a mouthful!

The wine is also a mouthful! It is vibrant, fresh, zesty and has a mild spritzyness to it! It really explodes out of the glass and grabs your attention! Aromas of kiwi, green apples and citrus. It has flavors of fresh citrus, green apples and a nice salinity that tells you this is made for seafood! This is nice and juicy and fresh at the start and throughout; and, it finishes with a crisp acidity.
Food pairing - This just screams for seafood, shellfish and spicy food (spicy shrimp would be great). If you are a sushi fan, you must buy this! This would be great with sardines (they eat a lot of them in Spain).

The Red: Abando Rioja Crianza 2001 (Spain) $24.99 - This is a classic Rioja with just the right amount of age to it!

It's showing just a hint of brick color in the glass. Aromas of cherries, raspberries and roses. Lots of complexity and texture to the wine! Flavors that are packed with red berry fruit, dry earth, cedar, vanilla & tobacco (we're talking drying tobacco and not cigarette smoke....leaf tobacco drying is a very pleasant aroma and a classic aroma in red wine). Well-structured and integrated tannins and acidity.

Santiago Ijalba is the winemaker & one of Rioja's creative geniuses & pioneers who has helped lead the resurgence in Rioja! Most of his wines are organic & all are moving that way. Aged & fermented in American & French oak for 16 months. Bottled unfiltered. Food pairing - meat dishes, paella, grilled or roasted meats, Manchego cheese and similar harder cheeses.

Tier 3 - $25-45/bottle

The White: Zenato "Sergio" Lugana 2004 (Italy) $31.99 - this is the flagship wine from one of my favorite wineries from my favorite Italian importer, Winebow!

The Zenato family has long established the quality and INNOVATIVE standard in Lake Garda (northeastern Italy)....and this is their flagship wine! Founded by Sergio Zenato, his daughter, Nadia, now runs the winery.....that makes her an exception....a female head of a winery....and she happens to be the head of one of the best wineries in Italy!

Wine Spectator "only" drops 89 points on this wine....most reviewers don't know what to do with this wine....it's quirky 0 it's not Chardonnay, it's not Pinot Gris, it's not Sauvignon Blanc.....89 points is actually my favorite score....a score that lets you know it's a really good wine, but it doesn't cause a "feeding frenzy" like a 90+ point score does.

It's 100% Trebbiano di Lugana from Santa Cristina. Some Trebbiano is a "so-so" grape until you head into Zenato's vineyards and similar vineyards in northeastern Italy.....there you find this "clone" of Trebbiano (bear in mind, most grapes have many, even dozens of clones). Then, you see vineyard practices that are reminiscent of the best areas in Burgundy.....lots of hands-on attention, low-yield...."green harvesting" to get rid of grapes....and more....aged 6 months in oak and another 6 months in the bottle before releasing the wine. 1,250 cases made.

The wine!!!!

Pale straw color. Aromas of flowers, peaches, subtle oak....it is full-bodied and has a soft, smooth texture that is slightly viscous or oily. Flavors of ripe peaches, almonds, minerals and lemon. Long, long finish. Nice acidity and weight to this wine. Food pairing - poultry dishes, seafood, appetizers. Wine Spectator, 89 points

The Red: Jaffurs Santa Barbara County Syrah 2005 (California) $29.99 - We just love this Syrah! Craig Jaffurs is one of the best winemakers going in California! Deep, dark, almost inky garnet in color. Rich nose. Dark sweet berry aromas. Rich earth. Soft, supple texture. Flavors of fresh dark berries and plums, mineral and spice. Soft tannins. Powerful, rich, complex wine. Long, full finish.

100% Syrah. Thompson (28%), Larner (34%) and Melville-Verna's (38%) vineyards. Fruit was destemmed, but not crushed. Fermentation was with whole berries in small bins. Aged in less than 1/3 new oak barrels (half American, half French). Unfined and only lightly filtered. 1,164 cases made. Drink now through 2012. Food pairing - Enjoy with lamb, beef, etc. Great with a Syrah reduction sauce. Drinks well on its own! Wine Spectator, 90 points

Those are the wines.

As always, if something interests you, please call or e-mail and ask us to set some aside for you.

We can hold it for quite some time for you!

Wines of the Month Club

WINES of the Month Club

Freeport Cheese & Wine
27 Bow Street, Freeport, ME 04032

(207) 865-3993

efullagar@verizon.net

Each month we pick 3 sets of distinctive wines at a 3 different price levels.

Each month you will receive an e-mail describing this month's wines.

This is the perfect gift for a wine lover (or someone new to wine who wants to learn more!).

Why should you join? 3 reasons…

1. Selection. We carefully select distinctive, unusual and hard-to-find wines.
2. Education. Wine is as complicated as you want to make it. We want to make it simpler. It’s also a fun topic to study – I love the history and culture of wine areas. Being a part of our wine club will let you learn about wine gradually by trying different wines. The best way to learn is to taste different things. We’ll also include background information about the winery and area.
3. Support Small Family Wineries…the wines we pick will come from small, family-owned and operated wineries, many of which practice sustainable agriculture. Taste is most important – with the wealth of wines out there, it’s also nice to support small producers who are doing it the right way!
   

We will pick two wines for you – 1 white & 1 red. Some months, we'll offer an optional bottle, an "other" (say a dessert wine or a sparkling wine or a dry rosé).

We have Three Tiers for our Wines of the Month Club (you may sign-up for one, two or all three). You can pick-and-choose from the wines. The cost each month will fall roughly in the middle of each tier (for example, Tier 1 will have an average cost/bottle at about $12-13).

• Tier 1 - $9-15/bottle
• Tier 2 - $16-24/bottle
• Tier 3 - $25-45/bottle

This is a great way for you to try something new. This also makes a great gift - either for a wine lover or someone new to wine (the gift can be for a month, 2 or 3 months, a year, you decide).

How do you pay? Join the club and we will charge your credit card when the wines arrive.

The wines will be available within the 1st 7 days of each month; and, we will hold them in the store for you until you can pick them up.

You will receive an e-mail describing the wines.

Unfortunately, Maine law does not let us ship wine.