Product: Seyval Blanc Producer: Boyden Valley Winery Approximate Retail Value: $14.99 for 750ml Category: Wine Country of Origin: Vermont, USA Reviewer: D. Kearney Sparano The F Words: Flavor – Flowery, a little sweet. Feel – Dry, crisp. Finish – Clear, soft.

Rating:

Antiques and wine, not a typical combination certainly not one that I have seen often, but in Manchester, Vermont you will see a storefront displaying those two words. It was both my curiosity as well as my ever-increasing interest in wine that drew me into the little shop. The store delivered on the sign’s promise, as I was first greeted by the typical clutter of an antique shop, only to see beyond to the back wall where shelves housed bottle after bottle of wine organized by region and price.

Slowly, I walked back and forth perusing the wines. It quickly dawned on me that this was not a typical wine section, antiques notwithstanding. The stock, though limited, was quite diverse and boasted bottles from excellent regions (such as the Rhone area of France) but at affordable prices ($10 - $15). Eventually I was asked if I needed help, which prompted a wonderful conversation with the owner. As it turns out, she only buys wine that she has tasted. With this bit of knowledge, I explained a problem I had been having with American wines: often I would notice that the flavor would hit my tongue on one area and not touch others, unlike European wines that stimulate every area of the tongue. She then paused in thought, asked about my preferences and then made two recommendations from a local Vermont winery, one being Boyden Valley winery’s Seyval Blanc.

For those that might be wondering, the difference in white, rose and red wine lies not in the grapes but in process. Grapes processed with seeds, skins and stems produce red wine. When grapes are produced without them, the result is white. Boyden Valley’s website states they “produce wines that are clean to the palate and balanced.” They do this by picking the best grapes from the 8,000 vines and fermenting them in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and then aging them in French oak casks.

White wine is not my typical preference, but in the summer it can often be a delight. After chilling the wine sufficiently I poured myself a glass, hoping for the best. I was pleasantly assured by the proprietor’s decision. The first impression I got from the wine was its dryness, both in aroma and flavor, which is something I enjoy. The dryness of the wine is accompanied with subtle sweet floral notes. I do have issue with the flavor in that it could be a little more pronounced. What I really enjoyed though was the feel and finish of the wine. It was crisp and refreshing, with a clean soft finish that makes it a good accompaniment to a meal. Boyden Valley’s website has a food pairing page in which they recommend Cabbot Extra Sharp Cheddar, flaky white fish and Thai food.

As far as how the flavor moved over the tongue, it did it well. At no point did it just hit one section, the flavor moved smoothly along touching the front, middle and back of my tongue, something that I have been looking for for a while.

 Seyval Blanc is a good wine. It might be hard to find though and if you cannot you should certainly to go the website and order a bottle. It truly is a clean and balanced wine. Though I found the flavor to be a little too understated I am eager to try another glass with the site’s food recommendations. Perhaps the combinations will really spark my taste buds. The price is one other issue I have, $14.99 is affordable but I have tasted other wines of similar quality for less. I suppose the price though has more to do with locations and size of the winery than the actual product and paying it would help out a state in need of fiscal support. Nevertheless, I do feel it was a solid recommendation by the owner of the antique store and I am happy to pass it along.