The Hedonistic Taster | № 38 | Beauregard Vineyards – Ben Lomond Mountain, CA.
by L.M. Archer, FWS | Bourgogne + Champagne ML
A Tasse de dégustiation, or tastevin, is a silver tasting cup used by vignerons and negociants in Burgundy to taste wines. Most are presented as christening gifts at birth.
" data-orig-size="289,175" sizes="(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px" data-image-title="tastevin" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg" style="border:0;height:auto;max-width:100%;clear:both;display:block;margin:5px auto 10px;border-radius:2px;vertical-align:middle;" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg?w=289" data-permalink="https://binnotes.com/2016/04/10/the-hedonistic-taster-%e2%84%96-1/imgres-4/" alt="Tastevin" srcset="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg 289w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg?w=150 150w" class="size-full wp-image-13244 aligncenter" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg?w=289" />“Wine should not be regarded simply as a beverage, but as an art of living, a pleasure.” – Henri Jayer
Welcome to The Hedonistic Taster, an intimate showcase of artisan winemaker trade samples. The title “Hedonistic Taster” derives from the term ‘hedonistic tasting,’ coined by legendary Burgundian vigneron Henri Jayer.
These tasting notes focus upon Burgundy, bubbles and beyond, including emerging pinot noir and bubbles producers worldwide.
Today’s Tasting: Beauregard Vineyards – Ben Lomond Mountain AVA
“My belief is that the Santa Cruz Mountains produce grapes of unparalleled quality and I have based my entire life’s work on this belief.”- Ryan Beauregard.
" data-orig-size="2048,2048" title="Beauregard Vineyards Montage" data-image-title="Beauregard Vineyards Montage" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/beauregard-montage.jpg" style="width: 764px; height: 764px;" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" height="764" width="764" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/beauregard-montage.jpg?w=300" data-original-height="764" alt="Ryan Beauregard, Beauregard Vineyards,Ben Lomond Mountain, CA. Images: ©L.M. Archer" data-original-width="764" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/beauregard-montage.jpg?w=768" /> Ryan Beauregard, Beauregard Vineyards,Ben Lomond Mountain, CA. Images: ©L.M. Archer“Here, balance it on your finger like this,” laughs Ryan Beauregard of Beauregard Vineyards. We’re in the parking lot behind the tasting room his family’s estate located on Ben Lomand Mountain AVA in Bonny Doon, CA., and the burly, bearded fourth-generation vineyard owner and second-generation water-witcher directs me towards an underground well while balancing a home-made metal wire ‘water-witcher’ atop my index finger. I’ll be darned if the wires don’t begin to voluntarily sway as I near the well.
Ryan’s great-grandfather Amos Beauregard purchased the site back in the 1940’s, a place first planted by the Quistorf family in 1875. Today, third-generation owner Jim Beauregard, creator of Ben Lomond Mountain AVA, and his winemaking son Ryan prove a formidable team. Their 13-acre vineyard slopes southwest at elevations between 1,700-1,850 feet, falling within the fog-line of nearby Monterey Bay. These marine influences, melded with the area’s silty loam and sandy soils, deliver wines of unmistakable minerality and snappy acidity.
Ryan Beauregard eschews chemical intervention in the field and cellar, preferring wines reflective of terroir and typicity – wines anchored in place, mindful of palate, but sometimes pushing the envelope. Part alchemist, part anarchist – Ryan changes up production technique with the ease of an improv artist, shifting between French oak, concrete eggs, and copper distillers to craft his wines and spirits. These wines reflect his creativity.
Note: All wines sampled proved both collector and cellar-worthy.
Ryan Beauregard seeks to produce wines respectful of place and palate, sourced from Ben Lomond Mountain AVA on California’s Monterey Coast.
" data-orig-size="3024,3024" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-image-title="Beauregard Estate CH15" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beauch15.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 7","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1518782701","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.99","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.16666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}" width="150" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beauch15.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://binnotes.com/2018/05/15/the-hedonistic-taster-%e2%84%96-38-beauregard-vineyards-ben-lomond-mountain/beauch15/" alt="" height="150" srcset="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beauch15.jpg?w=150&h;=150 150w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beauch15.jpg?w=300&h;=300 300w" class="wp-image-18517 size-thumbnail" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beauch15.jpg?w=768" />Beauregard 2015 Estate Chardonnay, Ben Lomond Mountain AVA, CA.Wine: Beauregard Chardonnay – Beauregard Ranch Estate Grown, Ben Lomond Mountain.
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol: 13.7%
Suggested Retail: $55
Producer Specs -“Harvested on August 26, 2015. Brix at harvest: 23.5. Bottled July 2016. 138 cases produced. Estate grown, produced and bottled.”
TASTING NOTES:
Robe: Clear straw robe.
Nose: Yellow apple, pear, hints of fleurs blanches.
Palate: Medium body, solid structure, lilting finish. Subtle notes of citrus, spice and oak.
Ryan Beauregard crafts old-world inspired wines reminiscent of cru-quality Bourgogne wines.
" data-orig-size="160,450" sizes="(max-width: 107px) 100vw, 107px" data-image-title="Beau15PNCGV" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beau15pncgv_hires.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" width="107" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beau15pncgv_hires.jpg?w=107&h;=300" data-permalink="https://binnotes.com/2018/05/15/the-hedonistic-taster-%e2%84%96-38-beauregard-vineyards-ben-lomond-mountain/beau15pncgv_hires/" alt="" height="300" srcset="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beau15pncgv_hires.jpg?w=107&h;=300 107w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beau15pncgv_hires.jpg?w=53&h;=150 53w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beau15pncgv_hires.jpg 160w" class="aligncenter wp-image-18509 size-medium" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beau15pncgv_hires.jpg?w=160" />Wine: Beauregard Coast Grade Vineyard Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Ben Lomond Mountain
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol: 13.4%
Suggested Retail: $60 – 309 cases made.
Link to Producer Specs
TASTING NOTES:
Robe: Dark ruby robe; discrete garnet rim.
Nose: Red fruit aromas cherry, strawberry, with a herbaceous backnote.
Palate: Medium body, elegantly balanced acids and tannins, thoughtful finish. Dark cherry, raspberry, sous bois bouche. Old world soul.
Beauregard sparkling wine follows the traditional Méthode Champenoise developed in the Champagne wine region of France, including hand riddling.
" data-orig-size="148,405" sizes="(max-width: 110px) 100vw, 110px" data-image-title="BeauBrut2010" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beaubrut2010.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" width="110" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beaubrut2010.jpg?w=110&h;=300" data-permalink="https://binnotes.com/2018/05/15/the-hedonistic-taster-%e2%84%96-38-beauregard-vineyards-ben-lomond-mountain/beaubrut2010/" alt="" height="300" srcset="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beaubrut2010.jpg?w=110&h;=300 110w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beaubrut2010.jpg 148w" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-18507" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/beaubrut2010.jpg?w=148" />Wine: Beauregard Brut Nature Rosé
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 12%
Suggested Retail: $80 – 3,400 bottles made.
Link to Producer Specs
TASTING NOTES:
Robe: Dusty rose petal robe, nuclear core.
Nose: Notes of brioche, toast, marzipan.
Palate: Creamy mousse. Rhubarb, golden apple bouche; bracing mineral core. Delightfully dry. Must-have unicorn wine with attitude worthy of a notable celebration.
More about Beauregard Vineyards here.
More of The Hedonistic Taster here.
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