Come one, come all! Colonial Spirits will be hosting its annual Summer Bash! Last year was a great time and we expect this year to be even better. June 25th from a marathon 1-5pm, we will be tasting beer, cider, wine, and spirits all at the same time. Weather permitting, we will set up the picnic area with a cornhole court and we’ll be grilling up hotdogs and hamburgers. On top of all that, we’ll be raffling off multiple summer beer swag. Coolers, beach chairs, and more will all be available for you to win. All you have to do is come down and join us. June 25th, 1-5pm.
Beers:
Victory Brewing
Harpoon
Jack’s Abby, Citizen Cider, Dogfish Head, Stone.
Notch, Castle Island, Far From the Tree, Captain Lawrence, Two Roads, Rising Tide.
Liquor:
Stolen Smoked Rum 1-3 PM
Avion Tequila, Glenlevit Scotch and more 3-5pm
Wine:
MatchVino w/ Stacey from 1-4 PM
Kono Sauvignon Blanc from 3-5 PM
With winter a distant memory and spring quickly turning into summer, you’ll notice more rosé in the store. I am a self-proclaimed rosé freak, and therefore I always buy plenty of it for the store. Rosé consumption and production is on the rise as people realize its potential. Depending on the style, it can pair with just about any summer fare and will stand up just as well if not better than any of your favorite white or red wines. Rosé works well in the heat and pairs indiscriminately with the wide range of foods we enjoy indoors and out (particularly out).
Over the past few years I’ve increasingly bought more rosé–and not just from Provence, but also places like the Languedoc, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Italy (both north and south), Spain, Portugal, South Africa…the list goes on. In France alone, production of rosé accounts for over a quarter of total wine produced (26%) which is a good deal more than white production (at around 17%). Production and quality have increased, so it’s only a matter of time before the style captures the full attention of all wine amateurs.
But why is it not taken more seriously now and by all? How much more will the derisive attitude towards this wonderful style of wine continue? When will it find its rightful place and no longer be considered some sort of enological half-breed? I’m not sure, but I believe it’s on the way to being accepted as serious wine. Continue reading Rosé is serious
I’ve really been getting into blends.’ A phrase I often hear, and I wonder why? Blending of various varietals has been a norm in winemaking since before the Greeks! 99.9% of Bordeaux wines are blends, and how about the Southern Rhone with its holy trinity of grenache, syrah and mourvèdre?! Yet why is it that I keep hearing this phrase. Why does the concept seem novel? Let’s take a quick look.
Don’t you wish this was what your child would ask instead of the baby question?!
You may have seen a surge of so-called “red blends” at liquor stores… if you shop here often then probably not, since I nit pick through the masses looking for what I believe are the very best. But if you don’t happen to shop here regularly, maybe you’ve noticed. Which begs the question: what does it all mean and where does it all come from? The short answer is extra juice. Fortunately, I’m not a believer in short answers, so here’s the low-down. Continue reading Where do Red Blends Come From?
One of the biggest misconceptions of our times is, newer is always better. In my line of work, along with most lines of work, this is both true and false. Not everyone is capable of change, and in some cases there are those who are resistant to it. But there are those who also accept it and follow the tides. Either way a decision has to be made whether the outcome is good or bad. What I don’t agree with is someone just giving in and letting the “tail wag the dog.” This has been the case in wine for quite some time, and I’m going to speak out about it.
In 1982, Bordeaux had what some would say is one of their best vintages ever. Around that time a man by the name of Robert Parker would hit the wine scene and be one of the most influential spokes persons for the 1982 Bordeaux. Needless to say, he was right about the vintage and the great wines that were produced from it, and from that point on the rest, as they say, became history. Continue reading What’s wrong with sticking to your guns?
Some of you may remember Bodegas Olivares’ Altos de la Hoya, the incredibly complex red from southern Spain that has gained a growing number of fans ever since we first wrote about it a few of autumns back.
Good news: Altos is back and is drinking well. As with the Mica, we made a substantial purchase that allowed us to offer it at the lowest price ever.
Colonial Spirits is the premier liquor store in the Greater Boston area. Visit the store on Rt 2A in Acton for the best selection of beer, liquor & wine in the area, or order online for shipping, delivery & in-store pickup. (Contact)
Over the past few years I’ve increasingly bought more rosé–and not just from Provence, but also places like the Languedoc, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Italy (both north and south), Spain, Portugal, South Africa…the list goes on. In France alone, production of rosé accounts for over a quarter of total wine produced (26%) which is a good deal more than white production (at around 17%). Production and quality have increased, so it’s only a matter of time before the style captures the full attention of all wine amateurs.
