Wine & Beer of the Week

Alright, I am back from Minnesota and ready to get back on the horse. Lots of goodies to tell you about this week, but let's start with these.

Beer of the Week:

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Fritz and Ken's Ale

Since I was out of town this beer simply came in and went right into backstock. I wanted to be here to sell every bottle of this special brew. This is the first in a series of beers celebrating Sierra Nevada's 30 years of brewing. The first collaboration brings Fritz Maytag into the mix. Fritz is widely regarded as the father of modern American craft brewing. The heir to the Maytag fortune, he purchased a small San Francisco based microbrewery (Anchor Brewing) back in 1965 that was going out of business. 35 years later he is still at the helm, and has worked tirelessly to promote craft brewing in the U.S.

This is one big and impressive stout, with ability to age. A big malty sweet palate, with dark chocolate, dates, coffee, light smokiness and a touch of resin-y floral hops to round it out. Do not miss out on this beer, it will not last long!

Wine(ry) of the Week:

Baileyana Winery

This winery has easily been one of the biggest suprises for me this year. All three of their wines are under $21, and great values for their price point. All three are also certified sustainable. Here is just a quick blip about all three.

Chardonnay
"This wonderful union of winemaking and viticulture brings a Chardonnay of tremendous concentration. Bright flavors of pear, pineapple, and citrus marry with a nuance of minerality. Our first unfiltered effort has given us a wine that is intense and full with classic cool climate characteristics."
Winemaker, Christian Roguenant

Syrah
"Wow, what a wine! Cool climate Syrah is a whole different monster from the norm. There is not a lot of it in the ground and when grown right, it makes a wine that I believe will define Syrah in California. Lavender and blueberry jump out of the glass and are complimented by hints of white pepper on the palate."
Winemaker, Christian Roguenant

Pinot Noir
"Fruitier and fresher than many Pinot Noirs, this wine is intensely characteristic of its varietal. It is packed with flavors of rich black cherries and luscious black raspberry jam, with a hint of spice in the background. Smooth tannins and a velvety texture finish off nicely, leaving the palate asking for more."
Winemaker, Christian Roguenant

All three wines have scored 90 plus points in at least one major wine publication or another. My Favorite was the Chardonnay at $19, although it is tough to argue with a $21 Pinot Noir with this much depth and complexity. Give all three a try and decide for yourself.