Happy Monday...
It is now June. Let me first thank you for allowing me to take last week off from writing. Lately my days have become more like fleeting moments than actual periods of time in which to accomplish things. I'm sure many of you can relate...it just feels like time is either uber-compressed or maybe...just maybe...my duties, tasks, and responsibilities have finally achieved stasis with my ability to manage my time effectively.
Well, for some time, owing to the tendency for "end-of-school" to elicit celebrations of the accomplishments of one's progeny...one word has echoed in my mind more than any other, and that word is pride.
It goes without saying (does it now?) that June is a month where we celebrate pride. That pride is a different emotion than the one I'm expressing, but no less relevant. Actually...maybe not...
Maybe pride is about exactly what I'm feeling. My pride is based on watching my children accomplish. A lot. I'm talking scholastic awards and notices of advanced studies next year. Piano concerts. Sports...my son, and his team, showed such marked advancement (after some coaching up by several Dads, including me) that I was practically tearing up watching them. Nella's dance recital, and her help with making delicious ravioli for me to gobble up after conducting a wine seminar on Saturday night. And so much more.
I always used to think the "pride" we celebrate in June meant pride in oneself. Knowing who you are, and being proud about it. But now, as I get to my middle years, and am a parent, I realize that pride is a really open-ended emotion that extends outward. And part of that may include your kid, or friend, or whomever, telling you some things that may be hard to hear, or perhaps easy, but pride is saying "I hear you, and I'm here for you, because I'm proud of who you are, and excited to see who you will become." And that is true for everything. Pride feels good, too. Pride and confidence go hand-in-hand. It's a good thing to celebrate.
Speaking of celebrating...it's also my birthday month, and most of you know the drill...we celebrate the pink stuff 'round these parts during my birthday month. Well...all months. But this month especially, and I share a new rose with you below that I'm crushing on, wicked hahd.
Happy Summer everyone!
Current regular hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12-4.
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Please visit our website: www.bangorwineandcheese.com |
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Don't forget to catch Eric each Tuesday at 4:40pm on Downtown with Rich Kimball on WZON AM 620. Downtown airs weekdays from 4-6pm. |
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Domaine de Fenouillet
Ventoux Rosé
"This Rosé is vinified partially by direct press and partially by “saignée”, the juice is naturally clarified after a cold “débourbage” of 24 hours, the wine ferments at temperature that never exceeds 16 degrees Celsius and then it is aged on the fine lees for four to six months before bottling. It is a blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Grenache and 10% Syrah, all of which is planted to soils of clay, limestone and silex. Production is limited: we import approximately 6000 bottles per annum for the US market. Certified organic." - Neil Rosenthal, US Importer
The Ventoux is this amazingly beautiful part of Southern France, comprising much of the Southern Rhone and the surroundings...and, like other wines I've spoken of recently, is subject to massive winds and rather extreme weather conditions. Now, this bottle is mainly sourced from the famed Beaumes de Venise village, but it cannot be officially referred to as such, because the appellation (delimited zone of production, often limited to certain grapes, styles, etc) is indeed famous, but restricted to what I'd call a dessert wine...a natural, fortified wine that has centuries-old traditions, made of grapes grown in the shadow of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the jagged cliffs that resemble hounds' teeth...to me, anyhow. And the village does qualify as a Cotes du Rhone Villages, something we discussed a few weeks back with the Perrin CdRV. But the Soard family owns vineyards in several surrounding villages, and so crafts these wines using a selection of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Carignan from all of them, which bumps this wine down to, legally anyhow, the A.O.P. status which stands for Appellation d'Origine Protégée.
The Soard family works organically, actually biodynamically, and has pedigree dating back to great-grandfather, Casimir, winning awards for his wines. Today they hold vines in 7 different communes, and are highly respected for their wines, both table and dessert.
This delightful wine has a great, medium-bodied weight and a nice, spicy finish, which I assume results from their use of whole-cluster fermentation. Fresh, and perfect to line up with just about anything off a grill, this is another choice for a great, affordable summer sipper. Love it.
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Domaine de Fenouillet Ventoux Rosé
W.O.W. Price: $17.09
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Bangor Wine And Cheese
86 Hammond Street,
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 942 3338
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