We headed up as planned to Kennebunkport, Maine, this past weekend for an anniversary getaway. It’s been a good 10 years or so since we were there, and that was during a record cold spell on New Years day which meant we really didn’t see much. This was a chance to meander a bit around the village and get to know it more up close and personal. We tend to try and do that everywhere we go.
Our plans changed a bit on Friday when I was calling the inn to arrange for a rose in the room and noticed a new special on their website. In November if you stayed for two nights you got a third night free! Seemed like a good deal to me so I texted Cheri at work and she met me at home for a quick packing event, followed by an unexpected Friday night trip up to Kennebunkport. As expected the traffic on Rt 128 around Boston was terrible, and it took about 45 minutes longer to make the trip than it should have, but getting there a day early was great.
The trip was excellent, with some good food and drink, beautiful scenery and some serious shopping as well. There’s a more detailed account of the three day journey on the Travel Page here, as well as restaurant reviews on the Food page.
The wines we brought with us were:
1. 2001 Louis Martini Monte Rosso Cabernet
2. 2004 San Filippo Le Lucere Brunello di Montalcino
3. 2006 Falesco Pomele – a dessert wine.
We actually only got through the Monte Rosso, although there was plenty of other wine during the weekend. There are tasting notes here. We’ll also be doing a blog on a comparison of the Monte Rosso with the last bottle we opened in 2009. There was a big difference. I liked it better three years ago when it was perfect, absolutely the nectar of the gods. Now it is really good, but it seemed like I had lost something.
Accomodations were at the Maine Stay Inn, which was very good. One of three inns in the 
downtown area on the Select Registry of Distinguished Inns of North America, the Maine Stay is different in that it offers a full range of rooms from main inn to surrounding cottages, some luxurious and romantic, others with breakfast nooks and even a family cottage. The innkeepers, Judi and Walter Hauer, were fabulous and very welcoming. All of the staff is the same way. Breakfast can be delivered to your door if you’re in a cottage, and it comes warm in a basket. While we loved this option you can go to the main dining room and join the communal breakfast table for the B&B experience. We were too busy in our beautiful room enjoying the fireplace and jacuzzi.
Visit the Maine Stay’s website for more info.
Downtown Kennebunkport is quaint, with a lot of charm and a wide variety of shops, stores and restaurants. We really enjoyed it and learned a few things:
1. Maine is very dark at night – but the village is a jewel with all the lights on.
2. There are a LOT of coffee shops.
3. Pretty much every place has happy hour.
4. Just about everyone is really friendly.
If you’re interested check out the Travel page, the Tastings page and the Food page for more details.
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