Wine Tasting Notes & Your Local Wine Shop
Lets face it – other than a small percentage of us the reality is that we need some help when picking up the right bottle or case of wine for that special occasion or everyday enjoyment.
Unless you are lucky enough to be related to a sommelier or wine grower you are faced with doing a lot of research to pick the right vintage or depend on your local wine store to make a solid collection. We have found that tasting note recommendations normally start and end with what is your budget and do your like red or white – this precludes so many possibilities that can make a wine enthusiast more adventurous or encourage a new wine drinker into what could be the hobby of a lifetime.
We are extremely lucky in Southwest Connecticut to have several amazing wine shops owned by local families who bring in an ever-changing inventory to challenge their clientele while also stocking the tried and true bottles that will appeal to the infrequent drinker. If you are familiar with our story at all you will know that one of us is the primary drinker/note taker in the relationship and I seek out the needles in a haystack that will thrill/challenge but also be accessible for everyday use.
This journey started at a Christmas present – build a small wine cellar that can be enjoyed now (40%) and add vintage bottles that can age 10, 20, 30 years (60%). Our cellar has some amazing finds from Hundred Acre & Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot to Jonata, Vintage Dom Perignon and other limited release vintages. What has helped us more than anything – even more than wine.com and other online reviewers is clear, expansive wine notes from the wine shop we are visiting.
While most shops will do this for highly rated vintages with higher price tags – one of our local shops provides tasting notes for almost every bottle they carry. Castle Wine and Spirits in Westport, CT does an amazing job with educating their customers. Their wine notes are legible, credible and honest. This allows us to use the notes as a jumping off point for questions or to peruse the aisles doing our own research as time permits. A bonus is one whole aisle when you enter the store that is dedicated to best buys under $15USD. Most of these selections are for everyday drinking but there are always the all-stars with ratings in the high 80’s or low 90’s.
Castle offers shipping nationwide and also has a wine club with two levels: Knight and King with two selections each month. It truly adds meaning to the Shop Local Mantra!
