March Featured Wines – 2012 DeLoach Chardonnay & 2012 DeLoach Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, California

March 1, 2015 · by BishopsStock ·

2012 DeLoach Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California $19

Chardonnay fans will love this California style version of the variety. It’s wonderfully fruity, with ripe pineapples, tangerines and papayas, and a rich, sweet taste, like bananas sautéed in butter and drizzled with honey. The acidity is perfect. This is a fruity, smooth Chardonnay that received 91 from Wine Enthusiast. Alcohol: 14.5%

2012 DeLoach Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, California $19

This wine opens aromatically with enticing notes full of boysenberry and blackberry accentuated with hints of dust and violet. Dark red, almost purplish, this wine is medium to full-bodied with excellent balance and great structure. True to its varietal, DeLoach’s Russian River Valley Zinfandel has nice acidity, just a touch of toast on the palate and is ready to be enjoyed upon release. Wine & Spirits gives this big and bold Zinfandel a 93. Alcohol: 15%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: California, Chardonnay, DeLoach, Featured wine, Zinfandel

December Featured Wines – Toad Hollow Risque French Sparkling Wine, Languedoc, France & 2012 Boneshaker Red Blend, Lodi, California

December 1, 2014 · by BishopsStock ·

Toad Hollow Winery Risque French Sparkling Wine, Langue Doc, France $17

The white selection for the month is Toad Hollow’s Risqué French Sparkling Wine. While Toad Hollow is a California producer, they like adding wines not from California to their portfolio. This sparkling wine uses Mauzac grapes from Languedoc, France. It is made with the Methode Ancestrale style which is different from most sparkling wines since there is no second fermentation. The wine is bottled before the first fermentation is completed. This is a softer sparkling wine with less bubbles and just 6% alcohol. It is just slightly sweet with tastes of apricots and pears. Consider this an appetif or an after dinner sipper. Great packaging!

2012 Boneshaker Red Blend, Lodi, California $17

The red selection is a new wine produced by California’s Hahn Family Wines under their Boneshaker label. 2012 Boneshaker Red Blend uses 43% Zinfandel for which they are known but adds 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% petite Sirah to give a rich blend of dark fruit with dark chocolate and espresso. This wine is smooth on the palate and may make you think of blackberry cobbler. As you settle into rich chili for the New Year football games, pull out this wine.

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Boneshaker Red Blend, California, Featured wine, France, Risque French Sparkling Wine, Toad Hollow

Wines of the Month – 2012 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rose, Germany & 2011 Sledgehammer Zinfandel, California

May 1, 2014 · by BishopsStock ·

2012 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rose, Pfalz, Germany $12

The Villa Wolf Rosé de Pinot Noir is a true rosé, made with a brief maceration before pressing to extract a lovely salmon color. It is light and refreshing, with bright berry and fruit flavors and a clean, zippy finish. This is a lovely wine for sipping as the weather warms plus it is a great wine to pair with the season’s fresh seafood. Alcohol 11.5%

2011 Sledgehammer Zinfandel, California North Coast $13

This is a big, bold, spicy and as the producer says “loud” wine. It pairs perfectly with grilled beef and all hearty meats hot off the grill. It has an abundance of raspberry and sweet baking spices, chocolate and espresso aromas lead to a secondary layer of fruit – blueberry and black cherry with vanilla. The palate reflects the nose – it supplies generous fruit, has a supple texture and fine cocoa tannins lingering on the finish. Alcohol: 14.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: California, Featured wine, Germany, Pinot Noir Rose, Sledgehammer, Villa Wolf, Zinfandel

Wines of the Month – 2012 Quady Essensia Orange Muscat, California & NVTrentadue Chocolate Amore, CaliforniaCalifornia

December 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

2012 Quady Essensia Orange Muscat, California $17

To celebrate the holiday season Bishop’s Stock has selected dessert wines as our features. Essensia may accompany dessert or be a dessert on its own. It is made from 100% Orange Muscat, a grape variety that is little known. Essensia has an aroma reminiscent of orange blossom and apricot. The wine is lightly fortified to about 15% alcohol and aged for 3 months in French Oak. On the palate Essensia tastes like fresh fruit with a nice balance. This is a great pairing for chocolate and desserts with almonds, peaches, apples or apricots. Add to sparkling wine to make Essensia Royale. Alcohol: 15%

NV Trentadue Chocolate Amore, California $22

This is a Merlot-based, port-styled chocolate flavored dessert wine. Using traditions for port making, neutral grape spirits are used to stop fermentation to trap a percentage of sugar in the wine. Once Chocolate Amore is finished aging and is ready for bottling and a tiny amount of natural chocolate extract is infused to the final blend. This creates the perfect marriage to pair with something as simple as vanilla ice cream or as a stand-alone dessert. Alcohol: 18.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: California, dessert, Featured wine, Merlot, port

Wines of the Month – 2012 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc & 2011 Baileyana Firepeak Pinot Noir

November 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

2012 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc, Russina River Valley, California $13

Angeline 2012 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc is produced from three different Russian River Valley vineyards: Dempel, Herrick and Ricioli. The Russian River Valley is known for a coastal influence that often brings fog to the area. One vineyard is located in a slightly warmer part of the appellation which offers rich, ripe fruit character. The other vineyard is in a cooler area which brings nice acidity and a really intense varietal character to the wine. Angeline has a track record for producing savory, delicious Sauvignon Blanc at an inexpensive price. The wine is dry, but rich in honey, papaya and gooseberry flavors, brightened by brisk acidity. This wine received 89 points from Wine Enthusiast. We paired this with halibut baked with light garlic cream for a delicious combination. Alcohol: 13.9%

2011 Baileyana Firepeak Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, California $22

This is a story about how a family’s involvement in the wine industry has grown over the years. Jack Nivens founded Paragon Vineyard, the family wine business, in the 1970’s in the Edna Valley. His wife Catharine caught the bug from him, and planted a few acres in their front yard. Her project grew into what is now Baileyana Winery. Her sons bought more acreage for their Firepeak Vineyard. The wine being featured is a perfect example of Grand Firepeak Cuvee. This is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with loads of flavor with aromas of dark chocolate, raspberry, dark cherry, blueberry, root beer and a touch of anise following straight through to the palate. Hints of white pepper and spice round it out nicely. The finish is long and filled with bright red fruits. The yield for this 2011 vintage was light but the rich quality of the grapes make this a lovely wine. This is a great holiday wine since it pairs with everything – turkey, salmon, pork. Alcohol: 14.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: California, Edna Valley, Featured wine, Pinot Noir, Russian River, Sauvignon Blanc

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