I feel like I owe you an explanation as to why I ended my last post so abruptly without including the big wine review.  As mentioned, I did conduct the tasting event and took a few notes about the wine, but I had to get the cycling related stuff written first.  After all, this is a cycle-touring website, not a wine lover's website.

So I was typing away at my picnic table, in the warm sunshine, occasionally taking a deep breath of the pine tree scent for inspiration, and getting into a good groove, when I heard a distant roll of thunder.  Then another one.  Within minutes I heard a disturbance on the other side of the campground.  It was sort of a shshshshshshshsh sound, and it was quickly moving closer and closer.

I heard some kids shriek loudly from a couple sites away, and suddenly the shshshshsh sound was more of a SHSHSHSHSHSH sound--loud and wet.  I was in the middle of a heavy downpour.

The table was scattered with my usual gear mess.  I quickly scrambled to get everything into the tent and then I threw myself in there too.  I changed out of my wet clothing, laid down to wait out the storm, made a video, and promptly fell asleep.

Enough with the excuses!  It's time to start the wine review.

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The first thing I do when preparing for a wine tasting is to read the label.  Usually the wine maker will offer hints as to the various flavors I'll probably be tasting.  Alexis Bailly didn't do that, so I will have to rely on my own taste buds being at a heightened level of sensitivity and creativity.

Another thing I like about labels is that they often offer food pairings and other ideas for enjoying their product to its fullest extent.  Alexis Bailly did meet that standard by suggesting, among other things, chocolate and a favorite book.

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Scott AndersonWe’ll we’ve been needing to come back to Minnesota, and the Surly Assertive Bastard has always been a top drawer for me. It sadly looks like it’s no longer offered, but this fortified wine looks like an excellent substitute.
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1 year ago

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So I got my chocolate and my favorite book ready and proceeded to the uncorking ceremony.

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Scott AndersonLooks like the perfect pairing.
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Gregory GarceauTo Scott AndersonA match made in heaven. The best part is sipping the wine and letting it seep through the gooey Tootsie Roll lodged in your teeth.
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1 year ago

Ron SuchanekLooks like my kind of wine tasting- an REI mug and Tootsie roll.
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1 year ago

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I must say, the wine did have a beautiful ruby red hue.  Even better was the flavor.  I detected hints of lemon, sandstone and chickenskin.  And I definitely sensed the Minnesota soil in those vitas riparia grapes.  Clearly they had endured some serious suffering, which, I guess, is a good thing.

And boy, oh boy, like an actual port, it packed a powerfully intoxicating punch--a 19% punch.

All in all, it was a fine wine.  I enjoyed it a lot . . . maybe too much.  Congratulations to my hometown winery.