A little over a month ago, I took a long (25 minute) drive to Hydes, MD to DeJon.

I have been here several times and always get a good vibe.    At only 4 1/2 years old they are really bringing some great wines to a flourishing Maryland Wine industry.    This was a farm at one point in which the barn has been converted to a tasting room.  The feel is very authentic.

I have the privilege of trying 7 wines and a couple really stood out.

The Chardonnay was said to have flavors of apple, vanilla, pear, and a hint of honey.   I could detect the apple and honey but not much else.    This would be better appreciated when the weather gets warmer.

The Vidal Blanc description mentioned hints of grapefruit, I really I could have found that.   I couldn’t even trick my mind into doing so.   I like the idea of many different fruits, spices, and sweet foods (such as honey) being an integral part of wines.

The Sweet Denise with orange and grapefruit was my least favorite.   For some pallet’s this would be perfect.  Maybe again better suited for warmer climates.

The Malbec was tremendous.   I have stated my love for pepper in wine and this could easily be discovered in this bottle.    This was one of the bottles I considered purchasing.

I also liked the Merlot.  It tasted lighter than your usual.  My interest for Merlot’s has gone up recently and I will be giving more positive opinions on the grape in future posts.

Perfect for the holidays, the Festivus, already has the most charming wine name award locked.   I am a huge fan of Chambourcin, but this one is a tad sweeter for my taste buds.   The snyopsis mentions hints of blueberries and cinnamon.   I might have detected some of the latter.

And finally, the Dragonfly, was by far the stand out wine.    I sometimes over react to how good a wine may be.  But if you ever go to a wine tasting or a festival, you may see folks show a genuine reaction on their face or body movement to how incredible something tastes.   Words don’t do this one justice.    I love that, once again, the Cabernet Franc is involved.  It’s a hyrid of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Chambourcin.  Absolutely charming.   The fact that you can put these three grapes together and concoct this word of genius, is endearing.     I am seeing that the blackberries are a great complement to these full bodied blends. This is an absolute winner.   And at $25 a bottle, a bargain.

This is the kind of wine that makes me feel good and happy to write about it.  And to talk about it.   It feels good blogging about it.     More to come.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen