Eve's Wine 101

What I Hate Most About The Wine Industry

by

A few years back in my book, Wine Etiquette For Everyone: How To Feel Like a Pro In Any Situation Involving Wine, I touched on several situations where a lay person could – and has many times – been treated poorly by those in the wine industry. Those situations still exist: Snobby wine store personnel, uneducated wine store personnel, snobby sommeliers in restaurants, snobby wine representatives (or even winemakers) at events, snobby wine journalists, and so on. I gave readers information to help them navigate these situations, to feel comfortable about wine, no matter what degree of wine education they have. Making wine inaccessible – due to treatment like this – remains my biggest pet peeve in the industry. 

Over the years, I’ve seen much more, and learned more. So today I’m sharing those thoughts.

How Sommeliers and Bartenders Are Treated

I turned on somms in my article on corkage, when I had a front row seat to their thoughts about their customers and shared it in my article Corkage: Do You Want To Hear From The Professional’s Point of View?

However, as we’re making the move to Las Vegas, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many more somms and bartenders, and also have had the privilege to socialize and dine with some. So there is another side I’ve since learned about, and that’s how many are badly treated in the industry.

Some of the somms I’ve met have complained that while wait staff may share their tips with others in the front of house (think busboys) they don’t always share with the sommeliers – when a somm was responsible for selling a bottle (or more) to a table. Imagine selling a $500 bottle of wine and not getting a share of the tip. If anything, if the customer tips 20% I would hope that somm would get a percentage, factored out for just the wine or the entire check.

The only way a bartender may see a tip from drinks might be if you order from the bar, close out your check and pay the tip there before going to the table. Now I’ve gotten into the habit of giving a somm or bartender cash directly. (And this is not to place blame on the servers, it’s management that makes the rules about how to divide tips. If you aren’t sure you can ask your server. Also of note: if your somm is the head somm and responsible for buying wine for their list, training, etc., he will be paid much more than wait staff.)

One bartender pal, who moved from West Los Angeles to Las Vegas for better pay, ended up waiting tables instead. The money he makes in tips far outweighs the glamor – and the back-breaking work behind the bar.

Having to Pay For Wine Scores

One nationwide wine publication, that shall not be named, charges $500 to publish a review and scores. This information came from more than one winemaker that asked me my opinion of the practice. Their score would be available online, but if they wanted the scant few sentences and the score printed in the magazine publication they had to pay the fee. I get that a magazine has to make money, and I also get that wineries know how much the public relies on scores, so I advised the winemakers to pay the $500. But that doesn’t make it right. Another publication, also nationwide, receives annual checks from wineries, but doesn’t always review their wines. I find all of this bordering on criminal. One wine critic, who was accused of charging for wine scores, was shamed in the wine community, however, I didn’t see her crime any worse than that of these large publications. (Also, some wine publications and critics are also known for charging just to review a wine. Egads.)

The only way I see out of this pay-for-scores misuse is for consumers to be educated about it, by people like me and those that carry much more weight, and to stop chasing critics’ scores. Trust your own palate, or that of a sommelier or retailer that knows your palate.

Laws in Different States

In my studies, particularly my American Wine Specialist certification, I learned different states have different laws in regards to importing wine and spirits. While I’m not an expert on any one state law, it seems pretty unfair that some wine lovers have to jump through a lot more hoops than others to get their wine. Not to mention all of the wine clubs that aren’t allowed to deliver to a particular state. States that want to help wine lovers need to find another way to regulate liquor sales

In closing, I hope readers don’t think that the things I hate about the industry comes even slightly close to all of the things I love about it. I just like to give the insider’s view that it’s not all glitz and glamour!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Sippd Launches Bottle Label Scanner

by

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) – Sippd, the wine recommender that uses artificial intelligence to provide users with personalized wine scores, has released a bottle label scanner offering app users an easy way to review, track, and purchase bottles.

Using an advanced label-recognition algorithm coupled with its existing AI-powered technology, Sippd users can now snap a photo of a bottle label to generate a digital display of wine information along with a personalized 1-100% wine score representing how much the wine aligns to a user’s unique palate. The release of the bottle label scanner, which is an expansion to the app’s visual search capabilities, is the next step in Sippd’s goal to simplify wine selection and purchasing for the average consumer.

View Detailed Wine Information
Tap to scan and in four to nine seconds, see a bottle’s tasting notes, suggested food pairings, community ratings, vineyard information, and more.

Buy with Confidence
The higher the Taste Match score is to 100%, the more the wine aligns to a user’s palate – instilling confidence in the consumer’s decision to purchase the bottle. Simply scan a label at a grocery store to determine which bottle to purchase or get it delivered from one of our connected online retail partners.

Track As You Taste
Users can scan and rate each bottle on a one to five-star scale after tasting, helping Sippd learn more about their unique taste preferences. All rated wines are saved to a user’s Profile for easy tracking and reordering of their favorites.

Refine Your Taste Profile
After scanning, users can save private notes and take note of four main wine characteristics as they taste, helping them learn about and build on their unique wine profile.

How to scan a bottle label on the Sippd app:

  • Open the app and tap the Camera icon
  • Tap the Bottle Label icon when you’re ready to snap a pic of the bottle
  • View the wine information, rate the bottle, or jot down notes on your tasting experience

“Our users often express feelings of confusion and intimidation when tasked with selecting a bottle off a crowded shelf at a grocery store or their local wine shop,” says Blake Hershey, Co-Founder and CEO of Sippd. “The release of Sippd’s newest visual search tool helps our community members make more informed purchasing decisions while also learning about and refining their taste preferences.”

Users can also toggle the scanner to Wine List to scan any physical restaurant wine list and see every wine’s tasting notes, food pairings, community rating, and more to select the best wine for their preferences and the occasion. Ordering a bottle for a group? Be sure to use our Combine Taste Match feature to combine taste profiles with up to three friends and select a bottle for the table.

Download the Sippd app on mobile devices for free on the Apple and Google Play stores. For retailers that would like to learn more about featuring your products on Sippd, please email our team at partnerships@sippd.com.

About Sippd
Sippd empowers people to focus on enjoying their wine, not ordering it. Combining artificial intelligence and wine, Sippd helps wine lovers find and order wines that match their tastes. With our Taste Match capabilities, we’re able to provide you with personalized wine recommendations that continually evolves with your preferences, so you can effortlessly order the perfect bottle every time. Stop wasting your money on bottles you don’t like and instead, simplify and transform your online wine experience with Sippd, the AI-powered personal sommelier that knows your palate. Sippd’s free mobile app is available for download on the Apple and Google Play stores. For more information, visit sippd.com.

You can find us on:
» Instagram
» Facebook
» YouTube

Eve Reviews the Aromatic and Flavorful Jetway Hard Seltzer

by

Apparently I’ve opened the floodgates to review canned beverages, lol, it only seems that way. The truth is I’ve only reviewed two canned alcoholic beverages this summer and it’s probably because I can’t accept any wine delivered for review until mid-October due to the heat. Moving on, today it’s Jetway Hard Seltzers up for review because this information titillated my taste buds:

About Jetway

This is JETWAY, a newly launched wine brand founded by Albert Hammond Jr (The Strokes lead guitarist) and veteran winemaker Ben Parsons (Infinite Monkey Theorem founder). They partnered to create JETWAY, an ultra-premium canned wine seltzer. Jetway flavors are inspired by Albert’s global travels as a musician and the quality reflects canned wine pioneer Ben Parson’s winemaking expertise. McNary Vineyard, overlooking the Columbia River, in Washington state provides the wine varietals.

Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Robert Schwartzman, Nick Hoult, Owen Wilson and Zoey Grossman are among the investors.

Available in cans and on tap, JETWAY is now being served by the key at Coachella and Disneyland – the first time a wine seltzer is being served this way! Wine is sold in a 250-ml 4-pack for $20.

Eve’s Review

Rose Wine Seltzer

“Syrah and Cab blend Rosé wine infused with white peach, Fijian ginger, yerba mate, and orange peel.” Back label also states that it’s made with Rose wine and sparkling water, and other ingredients include lemon peel and grapefruit. They come in 8.4-ounce cans, with a 5% alcohol percentage and the calories are 110 per can.

Chilled in an ice bath and poured over a small amount of ice, the aromas reminded me of hard peach candy (think Jolly Roger’s brand), as well as the ginger, lemon and grapefruit mentioned in the ingredient’s list, very mild. The flavor was refreshing, not as sweet as I expected, and went well with a hot summer day spent in the pool just before dinner. A bit of a palate cleanser and aperitif in one.

White Wine Seltzer

“Sauvignon Blanc infused with yuzu, Fijian ginger, elderflower and yerba mate.” Back label also states that it’s made with white wine and sparkling water, and other ingredients include lemon peel, Burdock root, wormwood and grapefruit.  Same alcohol as the white seltzer and 100 calories per can.

I’m a fan of elderflower liqueur (St. Germain is the brand I like) and the wormwood flavor in Absinthe so I was looking forward to trying this one. On the nose I did notice both so I dove right in for a taste! Yummy! Not sweet, very refreshing, and the flavors I was looking for were there along with the lemon and grapefruit. Of the two, I expected the Rose to be my favorite but it was this one for its uniqueness.

More information is available at https://drinkjetway.com/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Milam And Greene Whiskey Releases Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey

by

BLANCO, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Milam & Greene Whiskey is releasing its third annual grain-to-glass bourbon, Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a Certified Texas Whiskey produced in Blanco, Texas. Like previous batches, it is pot-distilled by master distiller, Marlene Holmes, in a 300-gallon copper still, is non-chill filtered, and bottled at barrel proof. This extremely limited-edition bourbon is a batch of only four barrels. The Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey is now available exclusively at the Milam & Greene Whiskey distillery and select retailers in Texas while supplies last.

“Our Distillery Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made with Texas-grown corn, and the entire process from mashing, fermenting, distilling, to aging is done on-site to create a Certified Texas Whiskey,” says Marlene Holmes, master distiller, Milam & Greene Whiskey. “We want to create a whiskey with an exuberant character that appeals to adventurous whiskey drinkers while retaining the classic bourbon personality of sweetness and spice. We are meticulous with our distilling techniques to achieve that balance.”

The mash bill for Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey of 70 percent corn, 22 percent malted rye, and eight percent malted barley and proprietary yeast recipe has remained consistent for each of the three batches. What sets Batch Three apart is the impact of the Texan terroir on the barrels as they age for three years with the final months of aging in 2022 punctuated by exceptional heat. The resulting whiskey is the most vigorous, spicy, and lively spirit of the Milam & Greene portfolio. It is hand-bottled at barrel proof (56.94% ABV / 113.88 Proof) to show off the intricacies that the distilling team painstakingly nurtured along the whiskey-making process.

“While we age and batch whiskies from various states together with our own Texas whiskey to make our Triple Cask Bourbon, we create our Distillery Edition Straight Bourbon to be an expression of Texas,” says Milam & Greene Whiskey CEO and blender Heather Greene. “Our Batch Three is certainly a reflection of the unique environment in Texas. Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three conveys the qualities that the hot and dry Texas Hill Country climate drives into the spirit under the care of skilled whiskey makers. The past hot two months of extreme heat really added something unusual to it. It’s a “Texas heat finished” whiskey and this is our most robust and feisty Distillery Edition yet.”

Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Glowing deep amber in the glass, Distillery Edition Batch Three is non-chill filtered for weight and viscosity. It has rich aromas of honey-baked grain, vanilla, fresh tobacco, and black tea with a hint of citrus that is brought out even more when served with ice. The palate is robust and piquant, with peppers and spice layered with cinnamon, caramel, and clove. The finish is cozy warm and lingers like a Hill Country sunset. It is a complex, high-proof banger of a whiskey. Enjoy Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon sipped over ice in the shade protected from the hot Texas sun.

Pricing and Availability
Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available at the distillery in Blanco, Texas, and at select retailers in Texas for $119.99. This whiskey is extremely limited. Please call your local retailer to determine availability.

About Milam & Greene
Milam & Greene Whiskey is made by some of the world’s most experienced whiskey professionals, including CEO, master blender, and author, Heather Greene and 30-year veteran and master distiller, Marlene Holmes. The Milam & Greene team distills in Blanco, Texas on small 300- and 1,000-gallon pot stills as well as in Kentucky on classic column stills, using its proprietary yeast and grain recipes. Aging takes place in rickhouses located in four states in different casks for a variety of flavors resulting in the most thorough array of casks made and collected by any craft distiller. These casks become the ingredients from which its award-winning American whiskey range is batched to create perfection. Milam & Greene Whiskey believes in using the best people and ingredients to create delicious, award-winning whiskey for whiskey lovers. For more information visit: milamandgreenewhiskey.com. Connect with Milam & Greene Whiskey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Meet the White Portuguese Grapes from Alentejo

by

A few weeks ago I was sent six white wines from Portugal for review. Below is some of the information regarding the density of the grapes grown in the area and warmth of the climate – in Alentejo – as well as useful varietal descriptions. Below that are my reviews of the wines I tasted. Being that I received these in the middle of a very hot summer, I welcomed reviewing so many white wines, most of which I was unfamiliar.

From Alentejo

While many regions are still planning for climate change, Alentejo is already there, growing wines in a warmer world. Surprisingly to many, one-fifth of their production comprises exciting, aromatic whites.

Portugal has the highest density of native grapes per square mile of any country in the world. Alentejo growers and winemakers appreciate the native grape varieties, many of which are versatile, drought-resistant, have acidity to spare, and/or ripen early, making them well-suited to Alentejo’s hot climate.

Variety Information From Alentejo

(Note: I read the tasting notes on these grapes after I sampled the wines.)

Antão Vaz: Versatile, perfumed and shows great solo or blended, Antão Vaz is Alentejo’s white star. This hot-climate variety is highly resistant to drought and disease, producing consistently reliable yields, which ripen evenly.

Arinto: Alentejo’s best white blending variety, thanks to its exuberant acidity. Discreet aroma. Green apple, lemon and lime freshness and mineral notes favored by many wine lovers. Arinto has large leaves for shading and super-high acidity, making it well suited to the hot Alentejo climate.

Fernão Pires: Extremely aromatic (faintly reminiscent of Muscat), with distinctive peppery notes on nose and palate, Fernao Pires matures early and softens with oak aging. Suited to hot climates, the vine is susceptible to frost, so is not a match in cooler areas.

Roupeiro – aka Malvasia and Siria: Rouperio used to be the most widely planted white in Alentejo.  Often paired with Antao Vaz and Arinto, this grape is best enjoyed young, with its seductive citrus notes of orange and lemon, hints of peach, melon, laurel and forest flowers. Rouperio vines are resistant to regular grape diseases such as powdery mildew, which are severe in hot and dry climates like Alentejo.

Verdelho: An undervalued grape that over-delivers, Verdelho styles range from fresh and fruity when young, to rich and unctuous (an “oily” palate-coating trait like Riesling or Chenin) when older. Verdelho is early ripening and drought-tolerant variety, making it ideal for growing in the hot climates such as Alentejo. It ripens early avoiding spring frosts and mildew diseases. Verdelho originates from the Azores and is not linked to Spanish Verdejo.

The Tasting 

1. 2021 Torre de Palma

Grapes: Arinto and Alvarinho (SRP $40)

With a color of pale straw, aromas included fresh cut cantaloupe, honeydew melon, lemon-lime, white peach, a perfume with talcum powder, a tiny trace of smoke and recently rain-washed concrete. Very pleasant and inviting. Lots of bruised Yellow Delicious apple on the mouth, followed by a mild acidity, and more bruised fruit – Rainier cherry and plum – as well as lively lemon-lime and bracing minerality. (Also interesting to see the lemon-lime made their tasting notes for the Arinto grape as well.)

2. 2020 Adega de Redondo Porta da Ravessa Special Edition White (SRP $15)

Grapes: Roupeiro, Fernão Pires, Arinto.

A very pale gold color, with a nose full of yellow peach, white flowers, honey, and a cooling minerality. The mouth was a collection of that same peach and honey as well as Meyer lemon and sliced Naval oranges. A mild to medium acidity allowed the fruit to linger gracefully on the palate. I was unfamiliar with these grapes and I enjoyed tasting them in this wine. (I read the tasting notes on the Roupeiro after I tasted this wine, found it interesting to find the lemon, orange and peach in their notes as well.)

3. 2018 Conventual Reserva Branca

Grapes: Fernao Pires, Antao Vaz

This was the oldest wine offered in this group, made with Portuguese grapes I’m familiar with and the only Reserva, so I was looking forward to this one. I noted a pale yellow gold color to the wine, with white flower, cling peaches, a dusting of lemon and sea air on the nose. Going in for a taste this time I found those same cling peaches, a nut fruit like apricot, lemonade, and a medium acidity and crispness that allowed for a nice length. (Definitely aromatic as the Fernao Pires grape is described above.)

4. 2021 Herdade do Esporão Colheita Branco (SRP $18)

Grapes: Antao Vaz, Viosinho.

I was interested in trying this wine because I had reviewed the 2020 vintage of the same wine this past February. (My review of the Esporao Branco 2020:

http://evewine101.com/2022/02/11/tasting-sustainable-wines-with-herdade-do-esporao/) This time I noted a pale gold color with even paler pink brush strokes. The nose reminded me of crisp apple slices, pears, sweet butter and fine mineral water; while the flavors included that same apple and pear as well as juicy peach, lime soda and a nice acidity that made me want to go back for another taste.

5. 2020 Rocim Mariana White (SRP $16)

Grapes: Antão Vaz, Arinto, Alvarinho.

Wine number five had a color of pale hay, with aromas of fresh pineapple slices, lemon candy, buttery wafers and crushed dry leaves. For the taste I got fruit cocktail, bruised apple, a savory quality, acidity and a mild to medium salinity. The lemon, minerality and acidity I now know are common to the Arinto grape – see the grape descriptions above.

6. 2021 Marques de Borba Colheita White

Grapes: Arinto, Antão Vaz and Viognier.

My last Portuguese wine of the week to study, as I’d been savoring these one night at a time, so here goes: Colors of pale yellow with a hint of both green and rose. Bruised apple, toffee, lemon zest, peach and wet pebbles greeted me on the nose while I felt a mouth coating viscosity was filled with lemon, lime, acidity, minerals and a slight reminiscence of sea salt. Very refreshing. 

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Tasting pureCru Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine

by

What are the benefits of joining a Wine Club besides better pricing, supporting a winery or winemaker you love and club parties? How about member-only allocations? Wine that the public may get their hands on…or not. This is a one-bottle post on one of those special bottles: the first edition of a Brut Rose sparkling wine from winemaker Mitch Cosentino, and it’s already an award-winner! Here was the teaser:

A SURPRISE ALLOCATION JUST FOR YOU! 

Award-Winning Brut Rosé is available for a limited-time to our Members and Private Clients in this special allocation. 

There has been a lot of buzz about my new sparkling wine so thought I would share some updates. The pureCru Brut Rosé Cuvee XXI sparkling wine was made as a proof of concept and has been undergoing testing in all forms of the wine marketplace, where it is now proving to be extremely well received. I am honored to share that my first pureCru sparkling wine release took home “Best of Class”, a “Gold Medal”, and “98 Points” at the recent Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

Today, the first of its kind, pureCru Brut Rosé, will be offered as a special allocation to our members and private clients. We only made 200 cases of this limited-release non vintage sparkling and our members always get first-access….Cheers! Mitch.

Eve’s Tasting Notes

We joined Mitch’s club a year or so ago, happy to get our hands on any whites or reds they send our way. This is not only the first Rose of his for us to try, it’s also the first sparkling. Color me happy, and here goes:

The back label of the bottle revealed that the wine had 13.2% alcohol and is a Rosé of Sangiovese. We had Mitch’s Sangiovese before and had liked it too.

The color in itself was just lovely, and darker than what most people would expect; it was a deep raspberry with gold that especially dazzled as the bubbles raced to the top of the champagne flute that held my sample.

On the nose (once I poured my sample into a red wine glass to catch the aromas better than in a flute) I was excited to find stewed red fruits – lots of raspberry, white fleshy peach, pink grapefruit, cherries, biscuit, stems, wet gravel and a tiny hint of sea air.

When I tasted the wine I found an abundance of Red Delicious apple right at the start, then came waves of that same raspberry I was promised from the color and aroma, ripe Rainier cherries, red cherries and black cherries – wow, just a bushel of cherries – and the back palate revealed that same biscuit but this time with a little bit of Brie cheese during the finish. It was beautifully balanced.

What fun this would be in a pairing! I’m thinking of a salad with fruit and cheese, a rare sous vide steak with a cherry reduction sauce, Pork Wellington, dark chocolate (maybe even chocolate covered cherries) or with a strawberry cheesecake. Heck, this wine would be great with just plain popcorn! I was going to have it with a mildly spiced Jambalaya myself…in about 15 minutes!

Sounds good to you? Go to the website to see if the wine is now available to the public, or join the club! I got four bottles, err, now only three! I predict my bottles will all be gone by the end of the summer!

https://www.purecruwines.com/

https://www.instagram.com/purecru_wines/

https://www.facebook.com/PureCruWinesNapa

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits

Blue Run Spirits Unveils “Reflection I” Kentucky Straight Bourbon From Hall Of Famer Jim Rutledge

by

GEORGETOWN, KY. (PRWEB) – Blue Run Spirits announces its second whiskey release of the year with Blue Run “Reflection I” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, contract distilled by the company’s liquid advisor, Bourbon Hall of Fame member Jim Rutledge. Blue Run “Reflection I” is now available at select retailers in the U.S. and Canada, as well as online at BlueRunSpirits.com.

Blue Run “Reflection I” Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a small-batch whiskey which Rutledge distilled at Castle & Key Distillery in 2018. Just 200 carefully selected barrels were chosen for this bottling, each toasted to a #3 or #4 char and aged in Frankfort and Bardstown, KY. “Reflection I” is bottled at 95 proof.

“’Reflection I’ is going to appeal to both the whiskey novice and the seasoned veteran,” said Mike Montgomery, CEO and cofounder of Blue Run Spirits. “This release blends barrels with medium to deep char levels allowing us to marry some very intriguing flavor differences. It is a full-flavored sipper that truly demonstrates Jim Rutledge’s finely honed skills as a distiller.”

The name “Reflection I” was chosen by two of Blue Run’s founders who faced personal challenges over the past two years, in the middle of the pandemic and while launching Blue Run Spirits. Pulled from existing aging stocks, this refined Bourbon, at this particular proof, is what they both enjoyed during this period, allowing them to reflect on what truly matters, starting first and foremost with family.

“Reflection I” exhibits Rainier cherries and creamy butterscotch on the nose, followed by fluffy pancakes and maple syrup on the front end, fresh rosemary on the mid palate and an invigorating nutmeg finish. This bottle features precious metal sliver ink and a sterling silver coating on the brand’s signature butterfly medallion.

The company’s previous release, High Rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 2 was also contract distilled by Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key and blended by recently appointed Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon. Batch 1 sold out in minutes and was recently included in Fred Minnick’s Top 100 list and named one of the top 25 bourbons of the 21st Century by Robb Report.

Blue Run “Reflection I” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available for $89.99 SRP.

Blue Run Spirits can be purchased in Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas (RNDC); Georgia (Savannah); South Carolina and Tennessee (Advintage); Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware (Prestige-Ledroit); California, Colorado, Illinois and Florida (Breakthru); New Jersey (Fedway Associates); Canada (Evergreen); and online through Seelbach’s at http://www.bluerunspirits.com/shop.

Find Blue Run Spirits online at http://www.bluerunspirits.com, and on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT BLUE RUN SPIRITS
Blue Run Spirits is a new kind of spirits company, creating a unique proposition by tapping into the deep heritage and craft that makes a truly great whiskey, then elevating the experience to reach a younger, broader and more diverse whiskey drinker.

Perlises Pick: Grand Cru Custom Crush

by

Custom crushes provide vital resources to boutique winemakers who don’t have their own winery facilities yet desire to have access to state of the art equipment and support. Grand Cru Custom Crush in Windsor, California takes this one step further by enabling their client wineries to offer their customers an opportunity for an amazing tasting experience.

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit with Nicole Yasinsac, Grand Cru’s Hospitality and Events Director. She gave us a tour of Grand Cru as well as providing tastes of a selection of their clients’ wines, all while sharing the story of the facility.

Robert Morris, former president of Punchdown Cellars in Santa Rosa (which was formerly Copain Custom Crush) and his wife Erin teamed up with Erin Brooks and Todd Gottula of Ernest Vineyards to open Grand Cru in 2017. The building design was inspired by the historic Boradorri Garage in Cayucos, with other touches paying homage to Robert being a reserve firefighter for the city of Healdsburg.

The production facility is 30,000 square feet with a capability of producing about 25,000 total cases annually. Winery clients are varied, which helps to ensure different picking and production schedules. Besides barrels, concrete eggs, sandstone amphorae and urns are also available, as are crush pads and bottling, as well as a lab.

We’ve been to custom crushes where tasting with the winemaker can be somewhat of an adventure, maybe just one step away from an OSHA report. The tasting salons at Grand Cru are stylish, with the bay doors available to be open to allow for as much fresh air as one would want. Gabriel Glas wine glasses help to maintain the elegance.

And the wines are no slouches either. Nicole guided us through a tasting of the following –

Edaphos by Ernest:  2021 Picpoul from Lodi’s Prie Vineyard.  Ernest Winery is owned by Todd and Erin Gottula, co-owners of Grand Cru and is named after Todd’s grandfather Ernest.  The Edaphos label focuses on small lots of lesser known grape varietals. The wine was subtle with an impression of a hint of sweetness and bright light citrus and a lengthy finish.

Ernest: 2019 Aligote from the Henry David Vineyard in Bennett Valley. The “other” white Burgundy, somewhat similar to Chardonnay.  Light with some grassy notes and hints of arugula.

Bucher: 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from the Bucher Estate vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The Buchers added vineyards to their 360 acre dairy farm starting in 1997. The wine was fresh and bright with tropical notes. Very classic Sauvignon Blanc.

Black Kite: 2018 Pinot Noir from the Gap’s Crown Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast.  The co-founders are Tom and Rebecca Birdsall along with Rebecca’s parents, Donald and Maureen Green. The label named after Rebecca’s father favorite bird.  Notes of dark cherry and a pleasing light finish, smooth and silky on palate.

Terminim: 2018 Syrah from the Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino. This is a collaboration between François Villard of France’s Northern Rhone Valley and Donald Patz of Patz and Hall Winery in Sonoma fame. Very dark and rich with black olive notes. Delicious wine. 

Saxon Brown: 2017 Zinfandel, Stonewall Block, Sonoma County. Owner/winemaker Jeff Gaffner was with Chateau St Jean and started Saxon Brown in 1997.  Dense style but not overpowering, lush ripe fruit with lavender notes.

We want to thank Nicole so much for spending time with us. Please visit Grand Cru Custom Crush on your next visit to the Santa Rosa/Windsor/Healdsburg area.  It is a great multi-brand experience of the outstanding wines made at the facility – private, personal, relaxed and intimate, showcasing many varietals and AVAs.

Grand Cru Custom Crush

www.grandcrucustomcrush.com

1200 American Way, Windsor, CA 95492Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Discovering the White Wine Winery Acquiesce, a Lodi Treasure

by

In planning a recent Napa trip one of my friends suggested we spend a day in Lodi. The last time I visited Lodi was virtually, when several winemakers came to LA to present a seminar and tasting. It was so long ago, possibly ten years, that all I recall was tasting old vine Zinfandels, a wine the area was known for.

We visited four wineries that day. All had at least one or more wines that I enjoyed from whites to old vine Zinfandels. One winery stood out. First because they only make white Rhone varietals (some which were new to me) and one rose, but as I tasted through their lineup, and made my notations, it turned out that every single wine I tried I wanted to buy.

Fast forward to planning this trip. I went to the LA Wine Writers group on Facebook and asked my associates who I should visit. Then I reached out to Lodi.com to help me plan the trip. As I only had one day I wanted to focus on the wines alone, there would be no time for winery or vineyard tours. We also invited Steve and Vashti Roebuck (wine bloggers, collectors and admins of the popular Wine in the Glass Facebook group) to join us.

Acquiesce Winery

This is an excerpt from my upcoming article in SCV Elite Magazine, “The first on my list to try was a winery recommended to me by more than one wine loving pal: Acquiesce Winery. We were awestruck by all of the gorgeous white wines, and one Rose, during our “Elevated Tasting Experience” there. Many are award winners from respected competitions: 2020 Ingenue, 2021 Grenache Rose, 2020 Bourboulenc, 2020 Clairette Blanche, 2021 Picpoul Blanc, 2021 Viognier, 2020 and 2021 Grenache Blanc. Don’t miss these Chateauneuf du Pape inspired Rhônes by winemaker Susan Tipton.” Here is the link to the social media post that also includes notes and photos from Acquiesce and other Lodi wineries we visited that day.

To expand, the Elevated Tasting Experience, seen here in the photo by Steve Roebuck, was a great pairing! (Not every food and wine pairing is spot on but theirs was.) And for Steve Roebuck and me, as it’s our practice to sample wines without food, it was difficult not to sample those small bites. But the wine…oh how I wish I could have lingered there all day. Also of note: most of these wines were less than $30 each.

The Pairing

We began with the 2021 Picpoul Blanc paired with Italian salsa, Spenker Goat Ricotta Tartine. Next was their 2021 Grenache Rose alongside Radish Tartine with Butter (butter is always a good choice!) and Cracked Pepper. Our third was the 2020 Grenache Blanc with Asparagus (a hard vegetable to pair), Ricotta, Preserved Lemons on Pumpernickel and then our final pairing with the 2020 Clairette Blanche with a Dijon Tarragon Tuna, Tomato, Tartine on Rye. All pretty simple and simply delish. (Note: this was their April Pairing Menu, titled “We Love Tartines” and their May pairing was geared toward the recent Cinco de Mayo holiday. So know that you will most likely have a different menu when you visit – don’t forget to make reservations – but I would make a bet that it would be just as yum-worthy. And when I last checked their website for the price it was only $20!)

Tasting Notes Courtesy Steve Roebuck:

2021 Picpoul Blanc

Score: 92 Points

Location: Lodi, California

Blend: 100% Picpoul Blanc

Wafting from my glass was an elegant bouquet of fresh cut apples, pears, lemon curd, crushed seashells, wet river rocks and a touch of lemon grass. The wine had nice acidity with a crisp palate giving way to hints of green apple, pears, melon, citrus oil, lemon grass, crushed minerals, and a soft note of dill on the finish with a splash of lemon. The wine is beautifully balanced with fresh orchard fruits and crisp minerals that seamlessly intertwine together. 

2021 Grenache Rose

Score: 92 Points

Location: Lodi, California

Blend: 100% Grenache Noir

This light salmon colored wine had a lovely bouquet of strawberries, melon, raspberries, Jolly Roger candy and dried hay bale. The wine had a nice level of acidity that brought balance to a palate painted with strawberries, watermelon, cherry, lemon zest and crushed gravel. The wine was refreshingly crisp with a beautiful layering of fruits and bright terroir notes. This wine is reminiscent of a French Provence rose wine; thus, an elegant and sophisticated style. 

2020 Grenache Blanc

Score:  93 Points

Location: Lodi, California

Blend:  100% Grenache Blanc

The wine had an expressive bouquet of cut apples, white peach, cut almonds, wet river rocks, chalky minerals and a note of marzipan. The wine is full bodied with a nice level of acidity, giving way to hints of green apple, white peach, wet slate, chalky minerals and a finish with softly brined apricots. This vivacious wine had lovely layers of fruit that harmoniously blended with the wonderful terroir notes. 

2020 Clairette Blanche

Score:  93 Points

Location:  Lodi, California

Blend: 100% Clairette Blanche

This rare beauty had an eloquent bouquet of poached pears, apricots, white tea, ginger cookie, marzipan, dried herbs, grapefruit and soft hints of yellow beeswax.  The wine is full-bodied with bright acidity that gives way to a palate painted with mixed orchard fruits, crisp minerals, light spice, fresh herbs and a touch of white fig on the finish. There is beauty here with a tapestry of fruit, exotic spice, and lovely terroir notes. 

2020 Ingenue

Score: 94 Points

Location: Lodi, California

Blend: 100% Ingenue

The wine had a floral bouquet of white flowers, poached pears, apple pie crust, kiwi, orange blossoms, cut almonds, dried herbs, lemon and crushed minerals. The wine was medium-bodied with lovely acidity that brightened the palate with hints of fresh apple, honeydew melon, vanilla, soft citrus oil, crushed gravel and a drop of honey on the finish. The wine is complex with beautiful layers of fruit and earth that harmonize wonderfully together. 

2020 Bourboulenc

Score: 91 Points

Location: Lodi, California

Blend: 100% Bourboulenc

This wine had a lovely bouquet of green apples, pears, white peach, lemon grass, chamomile tea and a splash of brine. The wine had nice acidity that gave way to hints of white peach, sliced apple, lime, beeswax, and white pepper. The wine is refreshing and crisp on the palate with soft notes of spice and orchard fruits. 

2021 Viognier

Score: 95 Points

Location: Lodi, California

Blend: 100% Viognier

The wine had an alluring bouquet of white flowers, lavender, jasmine, pears, peaches, honeysuckle, white pepper, crushed stone and a touch of pineapple. The wine is medium ++ in body with a beautiful level of acidity that gives way to hints of tropical and orchard fruits, honeysuckle, exotic spice, soft brine, river rocks, and a kiss of citrus. The wine is complex with harmonizing layers of fruit and earth that play beautifully together. The wine is reminiscent of a French Rhone, as it is showing in an old-world style. 

More

The winemaker and owner, Susan Tipton, led our tasting. She told us that they started ten years ago, after she fell in love with white Chateauneuf du Pape wines. Her vineyards are all estate-owned and are dedicated to white wine grapes alone. None are oaked. The area has a Mediterranean climate, warm days, cool nights and a Delta breeze.

We purchased a case of wine each, the Roebucks and us, and I’ve since been looking over the club membership: six bottles delivered twice a year, in April and October, 20% off any purchases, complimentary tastings at the winery and invitations to release parties and pick up events.

Read this to see how well their wines did at the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. (Short answer: They won four Best of Class Awards – and over 5,800 wines were judged.)

From the Winery

Do you love white wines? Located in the Lodi Appellation we offer estate grown, award-winning premium white and rosé wines lovingly created in small batches. We carefully craft these unique wines: Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Bourboulenc, Belle Blanc and Ingénue (white blends) and a Grenache Rosé. Join us by appointment, Thursday – Sunday 11-5 for our Elevated Tasting Experience

Elevated Tasting Experience reservations à https://www.exploretock.com/acquiescewinery

Homepage
https://www.facebook.com/AcquiesceWinery
https://www.instagram.com/acquiescewinery/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.