Toggle sidebar

Isaaks of Salem's Dry Honey Wine

  • PATRONS: Did you know we've a chat function for you now? Look to the bottom of the screen, you can chat, set up rooms, talk to each other individually or in groups! Click 'Chat' at the right side of the chat window to open the chat up.
  • Love Gotmead and want to see it grow? Then consider supporting the site and becoming a Patron! If you're logged in, click on your username to the right of the menu to see how as little as $30/year can get you access to the patron areas and the patron Facebook group and to support Gotmead!
  • We now have a Patron-exclusive Facebook group! Patrons my join at The Gotmead Patron Group. You MUST answer the questions, providing your Patron membership, when you request to join so I can verify your Patron membership. If the questions aren't answered, the request will be turned down.
Barrel Char Wood Products
kc0dhb

kc0dhb

Registered Gotmeader
GotMead Patron
Oct 10, 2009
125
0
16
Fort Collins, CO
I've just had the pleasure of tasting one of Isaaks of Salem's meads. He's been posting some rather detailed information about his process on his blog, and on gotmead here (as IanB). So I bought a 6 pack of his meads. I'll be reviewing the other two in the next couple of weeks.

Served in a large red wine glass at 60F.

Aroma: floral, slight sweetness, with a fair bit of acidity. Over a few minutes the floral fades in intensity and the slight honey sweetness becomes the dominant aroma.

Appearance: Slightly carbonated, not quite petillant (altitude change probably?). Fades after 4-5 minutes. Pale Straw color, clear but not quite brilliant. Thin legs that drop slowly.

Flavor: Initial taste on the tounge is quite floral, almost like lavender but not quite. Ever so slightly sweet (near the top third of dry) with some acidity. When swallowing the floral character jumps out and slowly fades. The aftertaste leaves a nice light sweetness and hit of floral with a hint of acidity and alcohol to balance, There's an ever so slight bitterness in the tail end that is quite pleasant with the light lingering sweetness.

Overall: A very strong flavored dry mead. The strongness of the floral character pleasantly surprised me. I'm usually not one for extremely strong floral aromas in my meads, but this was quite enjoyable. This mead definitely gets better as it sits in the glass for a few minutes. I'm glad I bought two bottles and I'm looking forward to trying the other two meads in the near future.

Kyle
 
Thank you for the review

Kyle,
Thank you for your honest review. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and offering them up to the community here. I wanted to respond to a few points you layed out in your review so others can have a better tasting experience.

1. There are some bubbles, however this is NOT due to re-fermentation in the bottle. It is do to the S02 product I used to sulfate and it's ability to 'work like alka-seltzer' (fizzy) to disperse the S02 in the wine. When I did this in a cold batch of wine (45 degree's) quite a bit of the C02 from this effervescent product got trapped in the wine. Now, when the bottled wine is left in a 'warm' or room-temperature kitchen, this C02 expands and creates this slight carbonation that fades in the glass. (no you weren't seeing things)

2. The appearance is as you pointed out 'not quite brilliant'. We are working on that for next time.

3. I think your description of the flavor is spot on. My only point is that for me, some of that tail-end bitterness fades/disappears after the second sip, it may not for everyone.

4. We do make a BIG Floral wine, but it isn't like drinking flowers, the dry wine just has apple blossom and wild New England fields, which tend to be VERY floral after fermentation.

One last thing, is that I am extremely happy with the 'style' of this wine. It is amazing to have someone taste very much the same thing as I do and give such an accurate description of the wine. Glad you enjoyed the bottle.
 
cant wait until maryland passes the bill to let us get meads/wines shipped to our homes ... as of now were limited to what our liqour stores carry, but they are passing the bill soon and I will definetly order a few bottles
 
Kyle,

Where did you find Ian's stuff? Is it available locally, or did you order it from somewhere else? Since you know my fondness for dry meads, and my disappointment at the few choices available in local wine/liquor shops, inquiring minds want to know.... ;D
 
Ian,

Do you/have you always bottled in six packs? In one of your threads discussing the marketing of meads, I was on the side of "It's closer to wine, but you should market to beer drinkers."
 
Although a little off topic

We do make 6 packs, but they are usually referred to as 'half -cases'. I can ship to some states that allow shipping without any additional paperwork or fee's/licenses. Colorado happened to be one of them (wahoo!).

I have a license to ship out of Massachusetts, and if you are in one of these 'blue' states:

http://freethegrapes.com/

I can ship you wine. Although I need to check on licensing and paperwork. We will be launching a truly 'pro' wine website in the fall, and changing some of our business to have a FOCUS on online sales. Then you will be able to just click 'buy-it-now' and the wine will come to your door without the use of email. Until then, send your requests to Ian@isaaksofsalem.com

Ian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Barrel Char Wood Products

Viking Brew Vessels - Authentic Drinking Horns

Top Bottom