2024 Enlightenment 'Nought' Dry Mead, 750ml

Enlightenment Wines specialize in small-scale mead production made entirely of locally sourced ingredients including NY state honey, regional fruits, as well as foraged herbs and other botanicals. Their home is in Bushwick, where you will find the place of production, as well as their cozy and chic tasting room right next door, Honey’s. The bar features a long list of some of their seasonal meads to enjoy by the glass or in a flight, as well as some tasteful specialty cocktails. 

Made with nothing but New York State wildflower honey and water, ‘Nought’ is the ideal introduction to mead. The exclusivity of ingredients allows the perfect demonstration of the complexity that mead can develop, even without the addition of fruits and botanicals. All of their wines spend 1 year aging prior to release, this one in oak barrels that had been previously used to age red wine. The nose welcomes you with aromas of dried dandelion, and that intoxicating toasted leesy smell that reminds me of aged white burgundy or a weighty white wine from Lazio. The palette is filled with notes of white flowers, crunchy pear, whipped honey, and buttered wafer. While there is generosity of flavor, this wine is absolutely dry, tart, and refreshing. Perfect for those looking to expand their palette and interactions with flavor, as well as those just looking for a thoughtful and engaging treat.