Spring-Time Sippers

The month of April in Maryland is known for the showers that bring May flowers. It is the time to have a variety of wines for the changeable weather that comes with the month. This month I have reviewed wines from California that are all from one very small winery; Susan Fields. This winery makes wines of all types, but makes each very well and in very small quantities (no more than 250 cases per wine)! Susan Fields is focused on making wines that will be easy to drink alone, but also pair well with foods of all sorts. The three wines I have reviewed are all great values that have amazing flavor and show off the artistry of the winemaker; Jim Porter.
Jim Porter focuses on California’s Central Coast. He uses his knowledge and experience to create wines that truly show off the best of this area. The wines reviewed are all from the Paso Robles area, and each one is different from the others. The wines reviewed are the 2009 Rubekia White Blend, 2009 Pinot Noir, and 2007 Sumptuous Red Blend.

Rubekia White is a blend of (77%) Chardonnay, (20%) Muscat of Alexandria, (3%) Pinot Gris and retails for $13.99, this wine is a great everyday sipper. It pairs well with seafood, or a mild Thai meal. The wine has some sweet ripe pineapple and pear on the nose, with a touch of honey suckle, pollen and vanilla on the back. The flavors in the wine start with the ripe pineapple and are met with melons. It transitions into the mid-palate with pear and pollen which welcomes the vanilla back end. Rubekia has a good balance of acidity and sweet notes to make the flavors work very smoothly with each other.

Susan Fields Pinot Noir is a 2009 at $21.99 it is the epitome of a medium bodied wine. With the aromas of dark cherries, roses and raspberries and a hint of soft acidity, I consider serving this wine on any warm spring evening. The flavor of this wine explodes with cherries, rich raspberries and roses, followed by spices and a hint of black tea, providing a great tannic back end. Pair this wine with salmon, turkey or pork dishes. The biggest wine reviewed from Susan Fields was the 2007 Sumptuous Red blend at $13.99. This blend consists of (53%) Cabernet Sauvignon, (19%) Merlot, (10%) Malbec , (9%) Cabernet Franc, (9%) PetiteVerdot, and is a rich fruit forward wine that mellows and lingers on the palate for a good rich chocolaty finish. The Sumptuous Red starts out with the cherries and black fruits. With hints of elderberries and raspberries, this wine has a strong balance of mild tannins and herbs. The ending notes of this wine contain hints of white pepper and cocoa powder. This wine is ideal for cool spring evenings and is ideal to have with parmigiano reggiano, heavy roasted meat dishes and even pizzas.

Along the line of Spring Seasonal beers I personally am not a major fan. I feel that a malty lager is ideal for cooler nights, and a hoppy ale will be fun on a sun struck day. While reviewing beers I have reviewed a Oskar Blues Deviant Dale’s and Shipyard Export. These two beers are very different and will provide any drinker with the ideal flavor for the right part of their spring season!

Oskar Blues Brewery located in Colorado is known for their canned beers, in fact, they do not even bottle at all. Their flagship beer, Dales Pale Ale is highly regarded as a great American Pale Ale. The newer and bigger brother, Deviant Dales is known as an Imperial IPA and is rich and wild with a copper color, hints of citrus and berry notes and a hint of sappy notes from wood. This beer comes in a tall-boy can, 16oz, and is sold for about $18.99 per four-pack. This beer is great for a day with a lot of sun, or a clear warm evening. It will also pair very well with grilled chicken and sausages.

Shipyard brewery is located in Portland, Maine and has been around since 1992. This brewery is one of the largest producers of craft beer in the New England area. Their Shipyard Lager ($12.99, 6pk, is an ideal beer for those who do not focus on the over-hooped heavily bitter beers. This is a true lager that has rich malty notes, hints of melon and smooth flavor through the bottle. Shipyard’s Export is a beer that will work as a session beer for a meal, or a baseball game sipper.  Balanced with a hint of hops and a clean finish there is very few beers that hit the palate, and leave the palate with such a smooth and pleasant note.

With spring-time here, the grill getting cleaned off for this season, there are many different drinks to consume. Please consider what I have reviewed when hosting the next get together, or the next time you fancy a sip!