President’s Day Weekend Tasting
Event: This was a nice little tasting that featured some very nice wines and beers. My favorite was the Federalist Visionary Zinfandel. Full-bodied and very typical Zindanfel that doesn’t lack anything. The Charles & Charles Rosé is a nice little rosé that does live up to the motto from the winery “Yes, you can drink Rosé and still be bad ass.”
As for the brews Sam Adams has an excellent Spring seasonal. I had tried it several weeks ago at the World Beer Festival in Columbia. Their Alpine Spring is nice and citrusy. No lingering aftertaste.
I was quite surprised at the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat. I’ve had it before. I liked it but I think its a flavor that you got to be in the mood for and I was in the mood.
The RJ Rocker’s Bald Eagle Brown was interesting but the Chocolate and Black Malts were obvious at the finish. It seemed light at the start which is where I normally expect those flavors. The color wasn’t as dark as I expected either. I guess the beer world doesn’t really need another super dark brown beer with bold taste. This beer to me is one of those intro beers that might be light enough to introduce non-dark drinkers to darker brews.
Where: Vineyard Wine Market (map), 4414 Evans to Lock Road, Evans, GA. (706) 922-9463
When: Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. 4:30 to 6:30pm, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012. 1 to 6 pm.
Cost: Determined by Flight
Here are the wines to be presented (click to see more):
- Independent “La Bourgeoisie” Chardonnay
- Charles & Charles Rosé
- Liberty School Red Cuvee
- Independent Vineyard “La Bourgeoisie” Merlot
- Freedom Cellars Revolution Red
- The Federalist Visionary Red Zinfandel
The Beer Line Up:
- Sam Adams Alpine Spring
- Sam Adams Cherry Wheat
- R.J. Rockers Bald Eagle Brown
- 21st Amendment Bitter American Ale
Here are the detailed wine notes:
Independent “La Bourgeoisie” Chardonnay
What: Classic northern latitude west coast style. angular, sharp, and grown for food consumption. apple, flint, and stone round out the palette. a true place of origin wine. The House of independent producers is a project aimed at showcasing some of the best vineyard sites using single vitis vinifera grape varieties. The project is directed under Christophe Hedges, who feels that some of the larger, independently owned vineyards, need RECOGNITION in single vineyard wines. the house of independent producers is a catch-all phrase to describe the independent nature of the grower and the vintner. no advertising and no scores. Independent producers strives to save place of origin in wine. The new luxury model for wine definition is authenticity. When we can, this wine is always marked by a specific location, typically the size of a certain vineyard terroir, however, due to shortages of supply, it is not uncommon for us to produce a less specific wine, which focuses on AVA terroir.
La Bourgeoisie defined is the middle class. this is our target market. the armorial, is symbolic of the death of snobbery towards this ancient product.
From: Columbia Valley, Washington
Winery: The House of Independent Producer
Charles & Charles Rosé
From: Columbia Valley, Washington
Winery: Charles & Charles
Liberty School Red Cuvee
What: The Liberty School Cuvée displays bright red fruit flavors on the nose. With accents of smoke and pepper, the fruit-forward blend shows fine grain tannins which are reminiscent of wines from the southern Rhone Valley. The predominant grape, Syrah, shows off its jammy, strawberry and plum-like flavors. Petite Sirah adds deep ruby color and tannin structure. Smaller amounts of Grenache soften the wine and add needed balance. Mourvèdre brings an element of spice to the blend, while small amounts of Viognier add floral aromatics and color stabilization. Well balanced and full-bodied, this wine can be cellared for five to seven years.
From: Paso Robles, California
Winery: Liberty School
Independent Vineyard “La Bourgeoisie” Merlot
What: Classic northern latitude west coast style. Soft with some angularity, focused acid, disciplined, and picked early for food compatibility. blue fruits, pencil lead, dried herbs, cold metal spoon, and earth. An AVA / vineyard focused place of origin wine. the 2009 vintage is characteristic of the Goose Ridge Vineyard plot, not more than 5 miles south of the Red Mountain AVA, lying
on flat terroir.
From: Columbia Valley, Washington
Winery: The House of Independent Producer
Freedom Cellars Revolution Red
What: ark purple in color, with a nose of sweet spice box and white pepper, the wine coats the palate with fresh fruit – sweet red and black cherries, black currant, and blackberries. Smooth and integrated tannins in the finish contain abundant dried cherry, white pepper, cassis, and just a hint of brine and minerals.–From their Website
From: California
Winery: Freedom Cellars
The Federalist Visionary Red Zinfandel
From: California
: 2Sons WInery
Sam Adams Alpine Spring
What: Brewed especially for the season, this bright citrusy unfiltered lager is both satisfying and refreshing. It’s the perfect transition from winter’s heavier brews to the lighter beers of summer. Borne of our brewers’ many trips to Germany, Alpine Spring features a unique blend of lager attributes: the balanced maltiness and hoppiness of a Helles, the smoothness and slightly higher alcohol of a traditional spring bock, and the unfiltered appearance of a Kellerbier. The beer is brewed with Tettnang Noble hops to add a unique, bright orange-citrusy aroma and flavor.–From their Website
From: Boston, MA
Brewery: Sam Adams
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat
What: Ale brewed with cherries. Crisp and fruity with a hint of honey. Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat® follows the centuries old American tradition of brewing beer with native ingredients, in this case Michigan cherries. The sweet, fruitiness of the cherries is balanced against the crisp, cereal note from the malted wheat and the subtle citrus flavor from the Noble hops. A touch of honey is also added for sweetness. The end result is a sweet, refreshing beer that is light on the palate but long on complexity.–From their Website
From: Boston, MA
Brewery: Sam Adams
R.J. Rockers Bald Eagle Brown
What: A traditional English-style brown ale, but with more body. Its deep b–From their Websiterown color comes from a combination of Chocolate and Black malts. Tall, dark and smooth – the perfect cure for the domestic beer blahs.
From: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Brewery: RJ Rockers
21st Amendment Bitter American Ale
What: If you’d been rocketed into space against your will, you might be a little bitter too. Bitter American is our long-overdue tribute to unsung, unwitting heroes everywhere. This American session ale packs a lot of hop and malt flavor into a refreshingly lower-alcohol brew, making it the perfect beer to have on hand when you have a little history to make.–From their Website
From: San Francisco, California
Brewery: 21st Amendment
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