When I was at the Maryland Governor's Cup Wine Tasting in Frederick, I happen to meet Matthew and Jon'll Boyd of Boyd Cru Wines. A lovely, lovely couple. But more importantly, when I tasted their Vidal Blanc is was an instant head turner. Who were these folks?!
Boyd Cru Wines was founded by Matthew and Jon’ll Boyd. "The impetus to start our wine journey which led to Boyd Cru Wines came in the middle of the pandemic after losing two loved ones suddenly and way too soon: Matthew’s mother and Jon’ll’s nephew. Later, we lost Matthew’s dad as well. This made us realize that life is short." But Boyd Cru is about celebration. About family and community.
These are two accomplished people. Jon’ll has started businesses with six-figure sales, running her own event planning business for the last 12 years. She has an MBA in marketing. Matthew’s love for wine stems from his 12 years of pharmaceutical and chemistry knowledge. He has 15+ years of professional experience and an Executive MBA from Darden.
The tasting room is located in the New Weave Building, 8600 Foundry St, Savage, Maryland.
Vidal Blanc is a hardy, white grape variety known for its thick skin, cold tolerance, and high acidity, which makes it ideal for cool-climate viticulture. It makes for great ice wine and high-quality sweet or dry wines. I've had many Vidal Blancs in my life, but this one was a head turner. Boyd Cru Community Vidal Blanc 2022 explodes with a nose full of fresh pineapple, apricot, and pear with hints of exotic notes, like lemongrass and orange blossom. There's a lovely lemon-lime almost grapefruit citrusy finish to the back end. It finishes with a pucker, and then juicy fruit just keeps lingering. Not sweet not dry, this wine is aromatically exceptional and wonderful on the palate. An absolute head turner.
While I was there I also got a chance to taste the Boyd Cru Wines Rapture Red Blend 2023. This red wine is a blend of Maryland grown grapes - 36.32% Merlot, 34% Barbera, 29.34% Cab Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an easy drinking red wine with notes of dark stewed fruits - plums, dark cherries, black berry, black currant with complimentary notes of dark chocolate and slate and an attractive earthiness. A lovely accompaniment to pasta or roasted chicken or pork. A very nice little wine.
Boyd Cru Wines are turning heads - and deservedly so! A great addition to the Maryland wine scene.