Wines of the Month – 2011 Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc & 2008 Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

February 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for February – 2011 Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, CA & 2009 Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, CA

2011 Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, California $12

Dry Creek Vineyard is one of the few remaining family owned wineries left in California. With more than 40 years of grape growing and winemaking experience, the Stare family efforts continue to focus on the quality of wine in the bottle. Dry Creek’s Chenin Blanc consistently receives “best buy” and exceptional reviews. In 2012 this wine was in the Top 10 of the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition. Winemaker Comments: ” The 2011 vintage perfectly represents our love for this wonderful grape variety. Fragrant aromas of pineapple, white peach, melon and citrus leap from the glass. A few swirls reveal an underlying minerality, even some chalky notes, which are an ode to the variety’s Loire Valley roots. The palate expresses soft apple characters, zesty citrus and a wonderful sense of balance and freshness.” This is certainly a lovely crisp, dry wine for warmer weather, but I find this the perfect wine for winter’s salty seaside oysters – raw, roasted, fried or stewed. Alcohol: 12.5%

2008 Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, California $25

Dry Creek produces a Bordeaux style blend that receives solid reviews from Wine Enthusiast– the 2007 received a 90 and the 2008 a 91. The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc – all produced from the Dry Creek Valley region. Winemaker Comments: “The 2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon displays elegant aromas of raspberry, sage and dried flowers. On the palate, the flavors intermingle with black cherry and chocolate creating a mouthful of silky, well-integrated tannins. With some airing, the wine fleshes out even more providing dimension, depth and length. The finish lingers on for more than a minute with fine tannins that are very elegant and structured. Simply delicious!” As a Baltimore Ravens fan I hope to let this wine breathe and enjoy it on Super Bowl Sunday. This is a wine for a special winter day! Alcohol: 14.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chenin Blanc, Dry Creek Vineyards, Featured wine, oysters, Ravens, Super Bowl

Wines of the Month – St. Kilda Chardonnay & Coriole Vineyards Sangiovese/Shiraz

December 31, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for January – 2011 St. Kilda Chardonnay, Southeast Australia & 2010 Coriole Sangiovese/Shiraz, McLaren Valley, Australia

2011 St. Kilda Chardonnay, Southeast Australia $10

St Kilda Chardonnay is named after a beachside suburb of Melbourne, Australia. St Kilda’s Chardonnay is crisp and fruity. This is not a California style Chardonnay (buttery and heavy.) The St. Kilda Chardonnay drinks well above the price point. This wine is light and tangy with notes of apple, lime, and apricot. It has a nice minerality, which follows closely with the nose. The finish is long for an inexpensive wine with a nice acidity. The St. Kilda Chardonnay pairs nicely with food, particularly chicken or game birds. Alcohol: 12.5%

2010 Coriole Vineyards Sangiovese/Shiraz, McLaren Valley, Australia $14

Coriole Vineyards was established by the Lloyd Family in 1967. The earliest vineyards date from 1919, in the “Seaview” sub-region of the McLaren Vale Wine Region in South Australia. The main variety is Shiraz, followed by Sangiovese and Chenin Blanc. In this this popular blend Shiraz adds an attractive warmth and richness to the leanness of Sangiovese. Both the Sangiovese and Shiraz for this wine are sourced from Coriole’s estate vineyards. This is a wine that shows the best characteristics of both varieties. Some richness and lushness comes from the Shiraz with the Sangiovese imparting a savory, structural edge. The nose shows red currant, cherry, dark chocolate and earthiness. Hints of licorice and spice lead into a medium bodied, juicy palate that displays dark berry and red fruit. This is a great wine for hearty pastas and other rich Italian dishes. Alcohol: 14%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Australia, Chardonnay, Coriole Vineyards, Featured wine, McLaren Valley, Sangiovese, Shiraz, St. KIlda

Wines of the Month – Dr. L Sparking Riesling & Made by G Sparkling Gamay

December 1, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for December – Dr. L Sparkling Riesling from Mosel, Germany & Made by G Sparkling Gamay, from Beaujolais, France

Dr. L Sparkling Riesling, Mosel, Germany $18

Dr. L Sparkling Riesling is 100% pure Riesling. It is made using the Charmat method, where the second fermentation is done in a pressurized tank to keep the bubbles in the wine. This method produces bright, clean sparkling wines in a more affordable way. As is usual with Riesling — especially from a cool climate like Germany’s — a juicy touch of sweetness was left in the wine to balance the naturally brisk acidity. What you end up with is a refreshing, fruit-driven sparkler that’s a pleasure to drink any time. Sparklers are always a great choice for sushi but this one is especially nice. Alcohol: 12.0%

Made by G Sparkling Gamay, Beaujolais, France $23

December’s red selection is Made by G, a sparkling Gamay from Beaujolais, France. This wine was produced from 25 year old Gamay vines. The color is very rich. While this wine is just a little off-dry, it has a natural sweetness that comes from the grapes being picked at top ripeness. There is no residual sugar. The nose is fresh and fruity with aromas of fresh grape. On the palate this sparkling bursts with startlingly bright, succulent, strawberry-like fruit. I was hesitant to select this for the wine club but after I tried it my mouth said “yes”! We served it as an aperitif at Thanksgiving and will likely serve it again at Christmas – if the supply lasts. The distributor gets an allocation of the wine so it is not always available.

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Beaujolais, Domaine Des Nuges, Dr. L, Featured wine, France, Germany, Made by G, Mosel, Sparkling Gamay, Sparkling Riesling

Artist of the Month Scot Dolby

October 31, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Scot Dolby

This month Bishop’s Stock will be featuring one of our very first artists we represented in 2003, Scot Dolby. It seems perfect to have Scot’s work as show 101 as we move into year 10. Scot is known for his tonal palette and linear compositions. This particular selection of paintings includes Eastern Shore architectural icons and landscapes. Scot’s love of fly fishing also is also showing in this work. Those familiar with his mixed media presentations painted on cigar box tops will enjoy seeing some new work as well. This is Scot’s 3rd show with us. His work is always in our inventory.

Filed Under: Art · Tagged: acrylic, contemporary art, Featured Artist, tonal

Wines of the Month – 2010 Shaya Verdejo & 2010 Rio Madre Graciano

October 25, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured wines for November are 2010 Shaya Verdejo from Rueda, Spain and 2010 Rio Madre Graciano from Rioja, Spain

2010 Shaya Verdejo Old Vines $16

This is a bright, green-tinged straw colored wine. Intense green apple, pear skin and lime aromas are complimented by white pepper and herbs. On the palate the wine is taut and refreshingly bitter, with attractive herbal and mineral accents to the ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors. Finishes clean and long, with an echoing peppery note. Alcohol 13.5%

2010 Rio Madre Graciano $13

Rioja winemakers use Graciano grapes to add a floral bouquet to many blends. Rarely has it been used on its own. It was discovered several years ago Bodegas y Llurce Rio Madre was producing estate owned grapes on 20 year old vines that could stand on their own. This wine is rich, savory and luscious and tastes like a cross between Grenache and Tempranillo. The palate starts sweet and sappy with juicy red currant and blackberry fruit, good acidity then ends with a dash of spice sprinkled over the finish. Alcohol: 14%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Featured wine, Graciano, Rio Madre, Rioja, Rueda, Shaya, Spain, Verdejo

Artist of the Month Ann Hayden

October 2, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Ann Hayden

In 2009, Ann Hayden waved goodbye to midtown Manhattan and a creative director career in advertising, to paint full time on Virginia’s eastern shore. As featured artist at Bishop’s Stock for October, Ann’s new work, a collection named Flyby, focuses on birds in flight.
“Lately, I’m caught up with the sculptural quality of the birds I see around our house. Osprey, heron, gulls…as well as enormous flocks of geese, blackbirds, etc. They can be so sleek, other times so heavy. Their shapes are endlessly fun to paint, full of curves and surprises.”

Ann grew up in Buffalo, New York, where the nearby Albright Knox Art Gallery was full of American abstract art. Experiences of running through that gallery as a kid, with huge Klein’s and Motherwell’s and Clifford Stills, are creeping into her painting, especially evident in the use of black, strong colors, and plenty of open air.

This will be her Ann’s fifth featured show since 2009, and her debut at Bishop’s Stock.

Filed Under: Art · Tagged: contemporary art, Featured Artist, large format, oil on canvas

Wines of the Month – 2010 L’Ecole No. 41 Semillon & 2009 Milbrandt Traditions Merlot

October 2, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured wines for October are 2010 L’Ecole No. 41 Semillon and 2009 Milbrandt Traditions Merlot from the Columbia Valley, Washington State

2010 L’Ecole No. 41 Semillon $18

Remarkably brilliant with vibrant fruit and balanced acidity, this wine shows fragrant citrus blossom and honey aromas, with pretty layers of lemon bar, apricot and key lime expanding on a balanced finish. Few Semillons show their richness and complexity as those produced in Washington State. Our cool harvest nights help to ensure crisp natural acidity, making this a wonderful food pairing wine. This wine received 89 points from Wine Advocate. Alcohol: 14.5%

2009 Milbrandt Traditions Merlot $17

Eastern Washington is known for producing some of the best Merlot in the world. Traditions Merlot is a deep garnet red featuring aromas of ripe stone fruit and rich notes of vanilla, mocha and caramel. The flavors are ripe and generous with berries, cocoa and vanilla. On the palate the wine is fresh and vital, playing out its blackberry and floral flavors on an open-weave bed of refined tannins. This wine is very approachable and polished with velvety tannins. Alcohol: 13.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Columbia Valley, Featured wine, L'Ecole No. 41, Merlot, Milbrant Vineyards, Semillon, Washington State

Artist of the Month Leslie Belloso

August 9, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Leslie Belloso

Leslie Belloso was born in the Philippines and moved to Crisfield on Maryland’s Eastern Shore during middle school. Her aptitude in art, particularly painting and drawing, was evident in high school. However she put art aside during college to pursue a career in medicine.

It was not until her second year of internal medicine residency in 2001 that she began to take art classes at the Maryland Institute and College of Art in Baltimore. The classes reawakened her passion for painting. Since then she has felt a persistent pull to create art. She has since taken workshops from top artists around the U.S.

However the turning point came in the summer of 2009 when the incredible opportunity arose for her to study with the master painter and brilliant colorist Louis Escobedo in Easton, Maryland. In the fall of 2009, she decided to take the leap into a career in art. She has taken time off from her medical career to concentrate on painting (and on her family.)

Currently she paints almost exclusively from life. She paints still lifes, portraits, figures, and landscapes. Striving to get the feeling and the gesture of a subject through her brushstrokes and color, she is an abstract artist at heart.

Leslie has made a commitment to art and is beginning to get recognition and awards for her paintings. Her most recent awards include Honorable Mentions in both “Paint Annapolis”, and “Dueling Brushes” in 2010, as well as “Best In Show” in Easton’s Local Color Competition in July 2011.

Filed Under: Art · Tagged: Featured Artist, Leslie Belloso, painting, Still Life