**The first picture is all of the different wines we tried during the tasting. The second picture is of Elizabeth, Julie and I enjoying the tasting.**
The first wine we tried was a white called Afternoon Delight priced at $18 a bottle. "This lightly oaked dry Vidal Blanc has overtones of grapefruit and vanilla. Serving un-chilled presents a well rounded, full palate and a lingering finish. Afternoon Delight is well suited for pairing with seasoned pork, roasted poultry, heavy seafood such as salmon or mussels, peppermint, venison, lamb, and saged sausage. This wine really pulls out any Summer herbs, especially rosemary! Chilled it is a bright yet complex and crisp, refreshing white. Afternoon Delight is great with strong cheeses chilled or unchilled." I thought this wine was very sweet with a splash of smoked vanilla and citrusy lemon with a buttery aftertaste.
The third wine we tried was a white called Lovers Quest, priced at $15 a bottle. "A semi-sweet Vidal Blanc, Lover's Quest is perfect for those seeking a sweet, but not too sweet white. It pairs well with pork, quiche, pesto, and fresh fruits. The nose is fruit forward with hints of apple and peaches. This wine is a favorite of picnicking guests at Beliveau Estate." I thought this wine was sweeter than the other two, not very dry, and would be a great wine to sit outside and drink during a picnic. It tasted of lighter fruits, a pinch of mango and tart green apples.
The first red wine we tried was Silhouette, priced at $20 a bottle. "Our Cabernet Sauvignon is a cornucopia of light berry flavors topped with a spicy overtone. Medium body with nose to spare and a long finish. This "East Coast style" Cab pairs with steak, veal, and lamb, as well as chicken cordon bleu, pork with cranberry chutney, or your favorite ham & cheese. Strong enough to hold it's own, but delicate enough to not overpower your meal. Silhouette is also wonderful all by itself!" I thought this Cabernet Sauvignon was not like any other typical Cab Sav I had tried from California for example. It was lighter and fresh with a strong berry smell and taste, with a splash of spices.
The second red we tried was called Rainbow, priced at $24 a bottle. "Rainbow is our "peppery" old-vine Zin. Along with the traditional aspects of Zinfandel, you will find that Rainbow is not too bold and will not overpower your food pairings. It pairs best with beef, lasagna, Italian sausage, stroganoff, red sauces, and burgers! One thing to keep in mind is that Rainbow will strongly enhance "saltiness" and "pepperiness", so it is especially great for folks who are cutting back on their sodium intake!" This Zinfandel was VERY peppery, almost overwhelming. Medium to full bodied, dark ruby in color with a berry aftertaste.
The third red we tried was called Sunset Sipper, priced at $24 a bottle. "Sunset Sipper is a fabulous, full body experience Zinfandel. From your head to your toes, there is enjoyment to be had from this wine! Sunset has a full nose with ripe dark berries and fig. The palate is complete, covering the whole mouth and throat with rich flavors, velvety texture, and a smooth finish. Even with 16.1 % alcohol, this wine is well balanced due to the presence of 4% residual sugar. It is a "sweet" wine that drinks as if it were dry! Perfect for beef, strong cheeses, tomato sauces, and sitting by the fireplace or watching the sun set." I thought this wine was also too peppery for my palate, yet not as peppery as Rainbow. It was very rich and tasted of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.
The fourth red we tried was called A Cappella, priced at $16 a bottle. "A Capella is 100 % Landot Noir, a French-American hybrid known for wonderful fruit-forward arromatics and a rich color. A Capella delivers this with blousy Summer fruits - blueberries, strawberries, and goose berries. Deceptively sweet-smelling, it is a Semi-sweet wine with medium body. While A Capella is a great sipping wine warm or chilled, it pairs well with mushrooms, pork, chicken marsala, blueberry cobbler, sundried tomatoes, feta cheese, and vanilla ice cream." This Landot Noir was very dark red in color, had some leftover sediment in the bottle, extremely sweet, not very acidic and tasted more like grape juice than the other reds.
The fifth red we tried was called Warm Glow, priced at $20 a bottle. Our semi sweet Chambourcin is rich in flavors of plum, dark cherries, almond, and succulent pear. This is velvet to the palate! BRONZE MEDALIST". This was my favorite red of the day along with Summer Rose. It had a soft velvety touch to the tongue, with bold flavors of cherry, plum and chocolate.
The sixth red we tried was Summer Rose, 50% Chambourcin and 50% Leon Millot, priced at $15. "A sweet wine of blended reds. YUMMY!" It was a light plum color with spices of cinnamon sticks and dark red berries. This was my favorite red wine when I visited Beliveau Estates in October 2012.
The last wine we tried of the day was Serenity, priced at $19 a bottle. "Serenity, dubbed our "Friendship wine", is famous for it's rich color and distinctive Chambourcin nose. A true after-dinner wine with 5% sugar. Serenity pairs memorably with coffee, chocolate, cobblers, ice creams, or even your favorite cigar! It also makes a fabulous reduction sauce to pour over any fitting desert. Mellow, warm, and not too sweet. Serenity is a head to toe crowd pleaser." This wine was the sweetest of the day (that is why is comes in such a small bottle). It was smooth with some sediment, and tasted really good when you let chocolate melt in your mouth while drinking it.
After the wine tasting we decided buy two wines; Destiny and Warm Glow, and a cheese and grape plate to eat with it. We walked around Beliveau's grounds while enjoying our wine. It was an amazing environment to relax and catch up.
Then we were given a tour of where/how they produce the wine.
It was an amazing day at Beliveau Estates and we did not want the day to be over. So we all went downtown to the Cellar for dinner and had a couple of light German beers.
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