Ball Square Fine Wines

Adventures on the Champagne Route: The Adventure Begins

It's funny how things can turn around. Four months ago if you'd asked me about drinking Champagne I would have sighed and replied "I love the taste but I'm afraid it gives me a headache". You see, earlier attempts at home consumption (usually on special occasion brunch-type Sundays) would start pleasantly enough but end up with a creeping pain between my temples and a general feeling of malaise before the bottle was half empty. Subsequently, fine bubbles were relegated to academic purposes only.

Evaluation at industry tastings or in the shop were my only contact. Turning point: I also have a mild allergic reaction to red wine (I know, mine is a tough life...) in that when I consume it on a regular basis I develop a slight rash and my Irish face gets redder than usual. This happened, as it is wont to do, during the busy holiday season when a good red and a hearty meal is the perfect antidote to a long day's retail. I had to get off the red juice for a bit but white wine was only part of the solution. In early January, when I saw that one of my favorite Champagnes I had tasted was down to its last bottle I saw it as a sign: I had to give it a try. I snatched up that lone surviving Gaston Chiquet Brut, threw it in the work cooler and took it home that night. Upon arriving home I popped the cork, poured a glass and settled in. I fully expected that after a few glasses (or even a few sips!) that the headache would arrive and the gig would be up. No such circumstance arose. I was really digging the creamy, toasty precision of my beverage and the wonderful feel of the bubbles purifying my palate. I took my sweet time and some three and half hours and a movie later I realized when I tipped the bottle that it was that last glass. I was polishing off the whole bottle all by my lonesome! I was not drunk, I was not bloated, I was not fatigued and I didn't have any adverse effects at that moment or in the A.M.. What a thrill!

The next week I retried the experiment with Domaine Ruinart Blanc de Blancs. Same deal, I'm cured! Thus began my happy exploration of every boutique Champagne in the Ball Square inventory....

Stay tuned for the next installment of "Adventures on the Champagne Route"! I'll be detailing my tried-and-true results of this most 'arduous' investigation.

Mar 22, 2012 at 1:35 AM

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New Arrivals! And how Facebook and Twitter can change your (BSFW-tastic) life.

"Do something you love and you never work a day in your life."

In case you didn't already know it or haven't asked one of us here at Ball Square Fine Wines for a recommendation, this is pretty much our Staff Slogan. The world of tasty treats is our very own giant playground - and we're always happy to have new "kids" come over and play in our sandbox.

On the WINE side, if you've been by the shop on Friday night for one of our tastings you know we're always uncorking wines that are new to us - mostly brand-spanking new additions, but occasionally new vintages of wines we're just as (if not more so?!) excited to share in their latest versions of themselves. These wines are carefully chosen. Very carefully chosen. (See our "Day in the Life of a Wine Buyer" episode on French Oak TV for the 'behind the scenes' on wine buying at BSFW!)

Our enthusiasm for finding exceptional wines at all price points has mandated we convert over our "Seasonal Picks" display section (in the upright wine boxes near the cigar case) into a "NEW ARRIVALS" Zone. We can only taste so many wines on Friday night to keep things humming along at a reasonable pace. So use this expanded selection to keep your wheels turning any day of the week!

Meanwhile, you may have noticed Joe continues to expand our GOURMET offerings. Truffle infused honey, Lavazza cofee, fancy German breads, stellar seafood from Captain Dave's down on the Cape.... His list of new arrivals is always evolving. Never hesitate to peruse every nook and cranny of our shop to discover Joe's latest additions. (He's also gifted at finding creative ways to expand - without Chris having to tear down another wall for more real estate.)

Of course it's hard to forget our deepening CRAFT BEER SELECTION. Beer Buyer John Drislane is ever pushing the envelope - including rearranging the cooler in order to unleash a new Cider door and give our domestic craft brew section a bit more elbow room. He will not stop innovating, networking and pounding the pavement to make BSFW Greater Boston's go-to for craft beer. Period.

The moral of this "New Arrivals" story?

Like Us on Facebook and/or Follow Us on Twitter. These accessible platforms continue to provide the real-time capacity to alert you to what's just landed at 716 Broadway - and when there might be a limited item you might want to scoop up!

Mar 6, 2012 at 1:21 AM

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