Tasting Notes by Andy Chabot

We are celebrating our 2014 James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program by reviewing a few of Andy Chabot's Friends of the Farm articles that include his vast wine knowledge. Let us know what wine questions you would like Andy to address in future articles. Until then, enjoy this special selection of articles!

Biodynamic Wine
Spring is a perfect time to celebrate and focus on naturally crafted wines. One could argue that the most natural wines are those made following the Biodynamic farming methods. Biodynamic farming focuses on non-chemical agricultural. It traces its roots to the teachings and seminars of an Austrian man named Rudolf Steiner who wanted to focus on spiritual nourishment as well as physical nourishment on the farm.
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Champagne and French Fries
Champagne. The very word brings to mind celebrations. New Years Eve. Birthdays. Graduations. But Champagne is also the perfect beverage to pair with everyday foods. The very perfect pairing in my opinion for Champagne is the humble French Fry (fried chicken is a close second).
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Being Better through Wine
This past year at blackberry farm was a fun year of wine list evolution. One area of focus was Spanish wine. While we've always carried a number of incredible, small production wines from around Spain, there were a few classics that we had been missing.
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Give Champagne
Gifting wine can be a little tricky I’ve learned. Part of the reason is that the wines that I love aren’t necessarily the wines that the person receiving the gift will love. It’s really the same situation sommeliers find themselves in on a nightly basis. That is, recommending a wine to a person not based on what you like, but on what they like. Additionally, if the bottle is “too nice” it will likely not get opened. The giftee will save the bottle for an occasion special enough to warrant opening it and if they never open it, then they never really enjoy the gift you’ve given them. Quite an enigma.
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Stirrup Cup
Port is perfect for almost any occasion but tradition practically requires port at the beginning of a hunt. Port served at the beginning of the hunt is often served in a vessel called a “stirrup cup.” These vessels are designed in the shape of a horn, often decorated with the likenesses of different animals and cannot be put down without spilling their contents. Because of this, the beverage within must be completely consumed in one gulp while your feet are placed in their stirrups and you’re ready to depart. A quick gulp of liquid courage and a great way to celebrate.
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Drinking Good Wine with Friends
I don’t think of myself as a wine collector. My real joy in wine comes from sharing it with others. I’ve always loved the communal feel that comes from sharing good food and wine with friends. And I’m not alone; so much has happened around a dinner table throughout history, accompanied by food, wine and friends. Don’t waste these moments of yours waiting on another special occasion at some point in the undetermined future. When friends and family are kind enough to spend time with me, I love to share special wines with them. A moment is always elevated by a special wine.
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Tasting Primer-Basic Tasting
Tasting wine is a challenge. In fact, I’ve learned that tasting nearly anything and being able to break down and vocalize exactly what anything tastes like is a challenge. You might like one chef’s risotto more than another but when asked why, it could be a challenge to answer. Did that chef use a different stock, oil, butter, grain rice or seasonings? Unless you’ve practiced tasting different risotto’s it might be a big challenge to answer any of this without knowing the recipe. Yet, when we taste beverages and attempt to describe them, we are essentially doing just that.
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Growing Your Wine Collection
There comes a time when a person, as a wine drinker, becomes a wine collector. It happens nearly by accident. You have a few bottles of a wine that you always like to have on hand, then you get a few “special” bottles and before you know it you’ve outgrown your first wine fridge. It’s a slippery slope and without a plan, you can find yourself with a lot of wine and no clear direction for your purchasing. So, here are a few tips for those enthusiasts who are growing their own collections…
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Charcuterie and Wine
On a trip to Austria last February with a friend of mine who imports wine from that part of the world, I was treated to an eye-opening experience while visiting a Biodynamic winery.
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