A Great Cause

October 14, 2015October 14, 20151 Comment

When we have organizations close to home like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation that have good intentions, it makes most of us feel good. And thankfully this one is close to home.

I don’t pretend to know everything about CBF but I know the basics and I know what was naturally created should be naturally preserved. I strongly believe that.

So it was to my delight when I saw a display for wines that depict animals and the bay in all its splendor. My local wine shoppe, Wine World, always has a few wines that no one else around me seems to have. And literally the first thing I see when I walk in is a display for special made wines that support cleaner water for the Bay.

The winery behind it is Scheid Vineyards out of Napa Valley.

Now you might be wondering why this winery all the way across the country would help create a series of wines exclusive to only Maryland, Washington, DC, and Delaware? You could read their story off their site, or a more truncated version near the end of this page, and you see their stories are parallel. Helping the environment in any way possible is what it’s all about.

I don’t need to be preachy and say lets all do our part. I think many of us do at least that is our intentions.

So my little part this time was to purchase the 2012 Clear Water Cabernet. As it gets cooler, a lot more medium-to-full bodied reds will be written about. Cabs are great and there’ll always be a place in my heart for them.

Unfortunately this was not one of my favorite wines. Because of the circumstances I was really wanting to at worst, like this. I’d say it’s a little below average. I share the bottle with friends and they seemed to like it a bit more than me. Maybe it doesn’t match my palate and that is ok.

I sipped mine with some cheese, fruit, and crackers and that helped it go down easier a bit. The wine tasted a lot more bitter initially than I was prepared for. Actually I don’t know what I was expecting. There weren’t any fruits or spices of any kind listed on the back of the label. In a way I found that very refreshing. If you get the opportunity to try this bottle then let your imagination run free.

I’ve had plenty of California wines, especially Red Blends that I’ve adored. This one just didn’t work out. And that’s ok!

For the $9.99 price tag and part of my purchase going to a great cause, I can’t complain too much. I am grateful to be able to help out in any way I can.

I just posted a link on donating and in addition here is a link on doing even more. I know this a lot of information and this is a post I didn’t plan on making. As I’ve previously said, this wine seemed to have found me. It was right in front of me as I walked through the doors. And what the heck, I’ll write about it.

As you can see they have three others that I’d like to give a shot, and especially if that means more goes towards helping Save the Bay. I’m honored to give an assist.

Finally, what really resonates with me is the beautiful imagery. This is art that will just pull you in. The artist is from nearby in Annapolis, and his story can be found at the bottom of this link.

For only $9.99 you can do no wrong. Sure the wine wasn’t my favorite but they all can’t be. More to come as autumn is starting to really hit us.

If you get a chance to find one of these wines, I suggest giving it a try. At worst you’re bringing a little love and help to the universe as well.

All The Best,

Ideen

The Place To Be

October 7, 2015October 8, 20153 Comments

I’m taking it back to the Maryland Wine Festival one more time. It’s another local special with lots of flavor.

For my peers who have been to Linganore , we’re well aware they know how to throw good festivals, parties, and other various events.

The last of the major festivals takes place this weekend, which will be the Autumn Reggae Wine, Music, and Arts Festival. I will be unable to attend, however if you’re in the area I do recommend joining the fun.

I was at the Crush Wine Festival at this same venue a few years back and enjoyed my time. It was my one and only visit and loved the view, the company, and the festivities. However, the wine was not up there with my favorites. The vast majority of what was being poured was sweet and I didn’t find it enjoyable. I felt like I was drinking way too much sugar-water and got headaches quickly.

Otherwise the employees and volunteers at the event were friendly and approachable. The gentleman giving the tour of the winery was inspiring. He said enjoy the journey, in reference to the abundance of grapes and choices.

So the wines you see below I was happy to skip.

We move ahead to last months wine fest and Linganore was among the many I got to try once again. You may be asking why would I try the sweet ones if I didn’t like them before? Well I avoided them but saw a few others that caught my eye and was looking forward to trying.

This past June I attended the Baltimore Wine Festival where they also sent staff and volunteers, and this is where I first noticed the winery made dry reds. Where have I been?

Was I sucked into the tunnel vision of assuming all Maryland Wine is sweet? Not good but now I know better. The Baltimore version was too crowded that I didn’t actually get a chance to try their wines. It was my first realization that this winery is stepping up their game, or maybe they always have and I was ignorant of that fact.

The two dry reds I got to try were so wonderful. They were so similar yet had subtle differences.

The 2012 Bacioni is a mix of all my favorites. We have Cabernet Franc which is automatic in terms of being awesome, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, and Chambourcin. The latter especially is always a welcome staple to my palate. When you throw in pepper and oak you have a massive winner. And at only $15.00 a bottle, this is worth its weight and then some. This was an absolute joy to sip.

And we have the Retriever Red with its wondrous label and just as wondrous flavors. It’s just Chambourcin and Cab Sauv which doesn’t mean it’s any less of a wine. It’s a little sweeter but not fruit forward if that makes sense. It’s not as pronounced as the Bacioni but definitely a welcome addition to any collection.

I’d say the former could be better suited for special occasions and the Retriever can be opened at any time. And take my word for it, I’m giving high praise to both.

At the wine festival I had repeated samples of both without any shame.

I don’t recall the price of the Retriever Red and don’t see it listed in online sales. However most of their other wines are available and hopefully your state is on there!

Here’s a list of their remaining appearances outside of the winery

And if you’re headed to the Reggae Festival, enjoy yourselves!

For the last two recaps from the wine festival, you can go here and here, respectively.

I have at least half-dozen local wineries I could write about and I hope to get to them all. I’d also like a corresponding visit or return to go hand-in-hand in addition to a recap of their appearance at the Maryland Festival. So I may consider doing a few bonus posts outside of my weekly Wednesday post.

We shall see what next week or the next post brings.

Salud.

Ideen

Frog Splash

September 23, 2015September 23, 20155 Comments

The Maryland Wine Festival took place this past weekend and there was no way I was missing this. I have months worth of material to write about and I will attempt to space it out accordingly. It’s also possible I’ll just give you a half-dozen posts in a row of the best and worst that Maryland Wineries have to offer! This post will be about the former.

The site was the visually stunning Carroll County Farm Museum. And for many this is the one time a year they visit Westminster.

In addition, this is the one time a year I get to meet up with certain friends, either because our schedules are conflicting, friends are busy raising a new family, or the near distance of an hour is too much for some. I love the drive and find myself in the area at least several times a year.

I got to the festival at opening time so I can could beat some of the crowd and get all the tasting and note-taking in that I could.Fortunately, it was never a struggle to do a tasting any time of the day and the weather was dazzling and awe-inspiring.

I got in, grabbed my tasting glass, and if I’m going to attempt to go by chronological order, got to my first winery, Great Frogs of Annapolis, MD.

I’ll give a brief back story on this place. A little over a year ago, I dropped someone off in a remote and beautiful part of our state capital. I didn’t know these homes and this area existed but, the houses looked like they were in the millions and right next door to where I sat, was Great Frogs Winery with perfectly cut grass and bushes. I had never heard or seen of them until this day. It looked so intimidating. I almost felt like I didn’t belong in the area and that someone would ask me to leave momentarily.

The signs read that the visits were by appointment only. I was intimidated but that was all my creation. If i had only known now what I had known the, there would be pictures and I could show you what a thing of beauty this was, from the outside looking in.

I had been hoping that one day I would get to try their wines, as the enigma I created intrigued me.

And the universe looked out for me.

The staff and volunteers pouring the wine were all so friendly and were happy to ask any questions I may have had. They also loved that I was taking so many photos. I think I explained to a few wineries that I write about this beautiful subject.

The wines itself and the labels are very charming. They range in price from $15 to $40 so some of these can get a bit pricey and not within many people’s budget. That’s the fun of these festivals and tastings. We can at least get to try some new wines and even if we’re not in a position to buy today. We now have a lasting memory and can always purchase at a later time.

My favorites were the 2012 Watermen and the 2012 Meritage. Yes, off the top I went with the dry reds and they were the perfect start to a warm and beautiful Summer event. The descriptions are listed in the links above but to me they both represent the greatness of Maryland wines.

The former contains Cabernet Franc, along with Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, but the Cab Franc is really what makes this awesome. Call it local sentimentality or just what I like. But this was fantastic, albeit a little pricey for me now. I would love to grab this and hold onto it for a very special event or party down the line. Lots of oak and different fruits were detected to make this my kind of wine. There was a summer into fall feel to this one.

The Meritage is Half-Merlot and Half-Cab Sauv and just as awesome. I could taste a mix of chocolate, vanilla, and some more oak. Once again, not at my price point, just yet, but still wonderful nevertheless.

The Lollipop Red was a huge favorite to many, but that wasn’t for me on this day. I thought it was ok, but I wasn’t in the mood for anything too sweet.

I also got to try 2013 Chardonnay and White Squall. These were both a joy and so easy to drink. I could enjoy either with a meal or with nothing. One marvelous detail to both of these is that they were both 100% grown on the estate. So you’re getting the full local experience at the palm of your hands.

I didn’t get the opportunity to try the $1.00 premium samples. All the more reason to make a visit!

I’m pretty sure I tried others but there were so many throughout the day to get into all. I’ll try to be as concise and approachable as I could with these experiences, and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.

And speaking of approachable, this is exactly what this winery was on this day. I am so compelled to make a visit. And any reason to get back to Annapolis is a great one!

They have a dog here too! Yes! For more on the winemakers you can click here. And here’s their FAQ. Their online store can be found here. And for our pals local to the area, here are stores that carry it and restaurants that serve it.

Finally, a little more on the vineyard itself.

I cannot wait to make a visit!

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

Dinner Party Pals

September 2, 2015September 2, 2015Leave a comment

Sometimes you just need a great dinner with friends to get the week going. And when that means a good steak, of course you need to pair with it something stellar.

Considering the dinner party host, I knew the food was going to be good. So my hope was to find a bottle that would complement a hearty meat and vegetable dish.

My search led me back to Wine World and its massive collection of everything. The staff here is tremendous. They know right away when anyone as a question, and is always quick to give a great suggestion or two, or more!

The question about a selecting a wine with a hearty meat, has been going on forever. And while I have a few grapes in mind, I love hearing other people’s opinions. They pointed out some new ones to me the ranged from $16 to upwards of $40. Now like most folks, the preference is to go the lower end of the spectrum.

I got assistance from one more team member, and they suggested a brand I forgot about, Casillero del Diablo, distributed to the United States from Excelsior Wines. I surmise that many of us have had a bottle of two of theirs without realizing it. It’s a standard label that is sold in even the most simplest of wine shops. And this is no way discounting them. Of the few I’ve had, it’s a great value for under $10. And more times than not, it’s all we need for a simple dinner or to drink on its own.

But what was suggested was a new one to me. Right next to the collection of del Diablos, I was introduced to the Devil’s Collection Red, which is a trio of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Syrah. It’s like they read my mind.

Before I even walked in these three grapes, along with Petit Sirah are what were on my mind. So to get a bottle, and a new one for that matter, that contains a few of what I was seeking, only triples the fun and enhances my wine buying experience, along with hopefully making this meal fun.

So how did everything turn out? Well the meal was amazing and the wine was really good. My friend had a beautiful decanter to add to the atmosphere of our friendly feast. And the color on this wine really shines here.

The synopsis mentions flavors of plum and black cherry. Through the power of suggestion, the latter did seem noticeable. A small hint of chocolate? I was hoping to taste it and as my palate expands will hope to catch it next time.

This is a very good bottle at the price of $12.99. And with a mix of medium-to-full bodied wines mixed together, it tasted refreshingly lighter than what I was expecting. I’ll definitely give it a go again.

if you’re interested in reading more about these wines, you can go here, here, and here! Yes I know that’s a lot! 🙂

I will leave with a couple of fun pictures from our meal. I want to give a huge thank you to the host. The steak, with acorn squash, and peppers was a hit. The vegetables, especially, tasted organic, natural, and most importantly healthy. Well maybe I just used three all-too-similar synonyms to over-emphasize how great this was!

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

What’s in the Box?

August 19, 2015August 19, 20154 Comments

I was “looking” for inspiration for what to write about this week. As soon as I stopped looking and thinking, it found me.

As I’m taking a leisurely stroll around the beautiful Fells Point neighborhood in Baltimore, I see my friends working but also enjoying life at The Frame Room in the heart of the community.

When you’re your own boss and your own entity, you can be open and available whenever you want to be. And that also means you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.

I walk in and the first thing I see my pals doing is drinking some vino out of cups! Seems like my kind of party. So what was the drink of choice?

Black Box Wine is something almost all of us of drinking age have had at one time or another. You tend to see it at many parties over the course of the calendar year. I’ve probably had it over all four seasons and likely each month in some way, shape, or form. I’ve seen it served at outdoor parties and barbecues when it was nearly 100 degrees, holiday parties when the weather is perfect for it, and everything in between.

And for further verification on how it’s awesome all year round, here is their Seasonal Enjoyment Guide. I’m loving them even more as I write this.

This wine is not for the snobs and for the so-called experts. It’s a wine to enjoy with friends for any occasion you want. It’s to relax, enjoy life, eat some good food, and enjoy good company with. Actually that can be said for all wine.

But this has also been a wine of choice for my friends who otherwise wouldn’t drink wine. And that’s great. I’ve had a couple of my friends tell me that Black Box led them to try other wines and now they can appreciate where they started from, even more. That sounds wonderful!

But the wine is so much better than that. It has won many an award because there is a strong soul and spirit behind their varietals. I’ve had many of their grapes and thoroughly enjoyed them all.

The drink of choice was the Cabernet Sauvignon and it got the job done. It tasted as medium-to-full as a Cab should. Tasting notes can be found here. The oak was present and I’ve always sung the praises of oak. The more oak, the merrier. No fancy glasses today. Cups will do just fine.

You get the equivalent of four bottles of this, for the cost of one. I’ve seen them priced anywhere from $10-$15. How can you beat that? It’s a deal on top of deal!

And I took many pictures in and out of the shop itself for your viewing pleasure. It’s always important to local businesses, especially new ones. It’s this sense of community that has kept neighborhoods like Fells Point thriving. They even have a blog if you want to learn more about framing.

There’s great people behind the operation, so if you’re in the neighborhood or even living in the city, I would highly recommend them for your custom framing needs. Their specials can be found here and Contact information can be found here, as well as their location.

For more on where to find Black Box, you can click here.

Have a great one!

Best,

Ideen

Back To Boordy

August 12, 2015August 14, 20156 Comments

This past Friday, Boordy once again held their quarterly Landmark Club party. I am proud to say that I’m a member.

The wines you see above are a beautiful sight aren’t they? I am a three-bottle member. Per the synopsis you can have up to 6 to 12 (2 of each or 3 of each respectively), if you really want to add to your collection.

I did a recap of several of these wines earlier this year, and you can read about that here.

Events like this are more about a thank you and a time to enjoy the season. With this being Summer, the event moved outdoors, which was what I was expecting and grateful about.

Many of the pictures will reflect that. And the weather couldn’t be any more perfect.

When it’s been chillier, the party has been indoors in their second floor lounge area.

So how were the three bottles this time around? Well for one, I have written about their Landmark Reserve previously and loved it. I’m still holding onto that for something special.

I found the 2014 Pinot Grigio to be very easy to drink. They’re traditionally light to medium-bodied and this one fits the mold. I have really been into whites while the weather has been cooperative. I may open this within the next month. I found it refreshing and it’s fitting for a great for an evening involving a healthy meal of proteins and veggies.

Then we get to the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. I am thankful this was in the package. This wasn’t even available to be tasted by the time I arrived. I was informed they have so few cases left, that they are going to be holding off on it for now. Luckily, a friend of mine had a bottle for me to try some. This was also in the package back in February. So I have two bottles sitting and aging gracefully. It may be a while before I open either one. And you can see on their list of Landmark Wines, it’s nowhere to be found.

And speaking of nowhere to be found, their 2012 Cabernet Franc, (which I have raved about many versions of in the past) will soon be joining that list. As of Friday night, there were only 28 bottles left per a conversation with the staff. I knocked that down to 27. This was also part of the package in the Winter. I will be holding onto the two I have for a while.

I know wine is meant to be enjoyed, for the moment as well, but sometimes the sentimentality and realizing certain wines are scarce or now near non-existent, and you have a bottle of it or two in your possession, is an exciting feeling. There’s something to be said for that.

And speaking of that, the Chardonnay Reserve for 2013 is now sold out. I will be holding onto that from January as well. But the 2014 version in the first picture, had such an amazing finish, that the aftertaste really resonated with me. It’s a wine I will look to purchase in the future, as long as it doesn’t go fast. I suspect it will. It had so much more power than the Chardonnay to its left.

The 2014 Dry Rose was part of the package in the Spring, and I noticed it wasn’t for sale at this past event. Rose’s have also grown on me while the weather has been warm, even though they were never my favorite. The same goes for the 2012 Merlot Reserve.

As far as wine goes, I’ve never loved Merlot, but the blogging and experimenting has led me to appreciate them more. They were a part of the Winter and Spring package. When the time is right I will open those up two. In a sea of wonderful wines, by default they’re still near the bottom on my favorites list.

And looking to the future… Here is a teaser of some young wines, straight from the barrel. These will include the 2014 Landmark Reserve and 2014 Cab Francs, which I am so excited for.

I am happy to support local and support Mayland Wine.

For more on joining their Landmark Reserve Club, click here.

I will depart with some fun photos from the event.

For more on this pizza, click here!

Have a good one!

Best,

Ideen

Muffuletta Memories

July 29, 2015July 29, 20155 Comments

This post takes us to New Orleans, where I had the honor of visiting over a month ago. Even with all the wonderful foods and cocktails I got to try while I was there, I still had to make time for the inspiring bottles I love so much.

And I love this city so much too. I didn’t want to leave. And as a wanderer, I found myself at the French Market everyday I was there. It’s a small town feel within one of the greatest places I’ve ever visited.

It was a warm day and we heard some amazing jazz music up the street. This calls for cigars, relaxing, good food, and a bottle of red. The latter part may sound like an oxymoron, but this is a vacation!

The night before on a leisurely stroll towards Frenchmen Street I came upon the market as it was about to shut down for the night and saw the stand for Alberto’s Cheese and Wine Bistro.

And this place looked so quaint, cozy, and charming. I knew I had to at least come back the next day to see what this place (and the Market as a whole) is all about.

Coming back the next day, the Market was so alive and so vibrant. I have been to many local markets before with a similar sentiment, but not like this. This felt like home. I belonged here. And everyone was so friendly. It’s the type of love and comradery I can get used to.

Alberto’s had a very welcoming and small town feel, just like the rest of the French Market. I felt like something had to be wrong. The folks behind the counter were so accommodating and answered any questions about the menu that I had.

New Orleans is known for a lot of amazing things. I didn’t know the Muffuletta was one of them. So I ordered one and it was incredible. So what about a great wine to pair with it?

I grabbed the Banfi Tuscany Centine Rosso and it paired with my hearty sandwich perfectly.

The sandwich killed it. I could have had another. The meats and cheeses with this amazing sesame bread just made my day. The house made olive salad was a nice complement although I barely had room to finish it.

And the wine could have tasted like garbage and wouldn’t have mattered. And it didn’t. It was fantastic. And regardless, for the moment in time we were in, it was perfection. The mix of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot gelled perfectly. A nice mix of light and full-bodied to make it the right wine to pair up with a filling meal such as mine.

No fancy glasses were necessary today. And we can’t walk around with the streets with those anyways. But plastic cups will do just fine.

As a bonus, to make this day even more meaningful in hindsight, I am pulling this directly off their Facebook page : first winery in the world to be awarded international recognition for exceptional environmental, ethical and social responsibility. How amazing is that? When I looked at the back of the label at the time, All I read was first winery and didn’t think to read further. I am thrilled that my purchase represents something good and pure.

More information on this wine can be found here.

Everything about this setting was perfect. Great weather, wine, food, company, and people watching. This city is magical. I felt so at ease. I feel like I belonged there and after this trip was over, I was left to ponder what took me so long. That just means I need to come back soon!

There’s going to be pictures all over this post. Many will revolve around the wine and the meal. And many as a tourist.

I didn’t expect to write as much as I did. Actions speak louder than words, as do photos. So here you go.

I am homesick from NOLA, because there I felt like I belonged there and been there for years, not days. Until the next visit…

Best,

Ideen

Maryland Has Some Great Ones

June 24, 2015June 24, 20151 Comment

This is part two of my recap of the events at the Great Grapes Wine & Food Festival. For all the fun of part one you can click on this link.

Whenever I come to a Maryland Wine event, Bordelau, is one of the first wineries I immediately look for. They have always been the most approachable, prolific, and endearing wineries at these events.

I was first introduced to them three years ago, at this exact event. When I was inquiring about something very smokey, very be full, and very dry. And I was introduced to their Chambourcin. This was the Lot 5 from 2006, which is exactly what I was looking for. Even on a hot day, it went down easy. Because of the climate, it felt fuller than it probably was. But that doesn’t diminish how amazing this bottle was.

From that point forward, I’ve been hooked. I’m disappointed that I had not heard of them or this grape before. But this is the lifelong journey of a wine lover.

I’ve had different variations. And that’s what so great about it. It can be used to make all kinds of great tasting gems. Many have been dry, but also the sweet and rose variations of it. It’s a relatively new grape at barely over 50 years. What I love the most about it, is that it’s prolific in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast parts of the United States. And I’ve had some great ones from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

My favorite and in my opinion, the standard-bearer still this one. So how did this years tasting turn out?

The Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 6 tasted like any good Cab should. It was medium to full and it was the bottle I almost bought. But since I had the 2007 still at home, I was looking to purchase something else this time.

The Malbec was perfect for this event. It tasted lighter than what I was expecting. But for this weather, it was perfect. The finish was so clean and if not too tannic. For an outdoor event, it wasn’t necessary. I got a whole bottle to share with friends but now wish I took one home for a future celebratory occasion.

The Petit Verdot was not as memorable. It was good but it didn’t linger with me. Now its a wine that seems that could get better with time. But that could be said for all of their selections.

Getting better with time is exactly right for the final two that we sampled.

The much-anticipated Chambourcin Lot 6 and Meritage, tasted very clean and went down as easy as anything I’ve had. But that means they both need time to marinate, flourish, and become the amazing tasting wines they’ve been known for.

I’m a massive fan of the Meritage blends as well. A future post on that grape is forthcoming. The Merlot was sold out at the time. And I really wanted to try that too. My love for them has grown exponentially.

We never got a chance to taste the whites. This just means that a visit is long overdue. And I’ve been saying this to myself for a couple of years now. A visit needs to happen. I love their wines and the folks behind it have been nothing but friendly.

For more on all their wines, and for purchasing click here and here.

We enjoyed our Malbec rather quickly with some salty snacks. We enjoyed ourselves. The pictures above are a tribute to an alma mater.

Lastly, I’ve included some more photos from the sites of the festival. The third and final post from this event comes next week!

Have a great one.

Best,

Ideen

Catching The Butterfly

June 3, 2015June 5, 20151 Comment

We had a nice a celebration earlier this week. I was enjoying my birthday and a dear friend was celebrating a raise at their job! And it’s good to honor and commemorate feeling good and being happy! So I wanted to get a wine that had an appealing label and hopefully one that tasted good. And we were in the mood for Cab! I’m happy to have succeeded on both counts.

I was having lunch with some family nearby and I found myself at a World Market in Chevy Chase, MD. If you’ve been, you know how the place can draw you in and has a wonderful aura about it. If you haven’t, I would strongly recommend checking them out.

But, I honestly had no idea they had an exciting wine section!

I’m a massive fan of labels with animals or nature on them. So after some relaxed canvassing of their wonderful bottles, one of my purchases was The Archivist Cabernet Sauvignon.

This was so smooth and easy to drink! And it had the right amount of oak in it. And I am a big proponent of oak in my red wine. It tasted more like a medium bodied red as opposed to the fuller ones I’ve had. But I’m not complaining.

The synopsis reads that blackberry, cassis, and raspberry are found, along with vanilla and dried herbs. I honestly didn’t detect much fruit. I may have tasted some herbs, but that also could be the fact that the wine went great with our pizzas.

I’ve seen the wine listed anywhere from $11 to $17 online. I signed up to be an Explorer, so I got mine on the lower end. And I’d be happy spending any amount within those parameters for this great wine.

I forgot to mention we also celebrated by making our own homemade pies! You can see some of the ingredients we used below! No, wine was not used in the pie! But that might have been something.

And here are some of the pies we created.

This was a successful wine and pizza party! And I’m happy to have used a great bottle from an awesome store. I can’t wait to go back and get enthralled in all the beauty of World Market.

I’ll have much to say on this awesome store in the future.

Thanks so much!

Best,

Ideen

Only The Horses

April 29, 2015April 29, 20154 Comments

I have been waiting for over a month to write about this wine. And the time has arrived. The time is now. I shouldn’t be so melodramatic. But I’m having fun here.

Over the course of this blog I’ve really tried to hit home my love for blends. The triumvirate of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah for both wines I’m going to review are pieced together so well.

The 141st running of the Kentucky Derby takes place this Saturday, May 2nd, 2015. And on one fateful day in the end of March, I found one of the most beautiful bottles I have ever seen. I’m sometimes dazzled by the things I attract into my life.

The 2012 Kentucky Derby Red Blend from 14 Hands is brilliant. After I saw the label and built such anticipation for it, I wanted to like this wine badly. And thank goodness I do. There is so much good about it, aside from the pretty horses. And they sure are pretty.

There’s a lot to love about this. When I opened the bottled and poured my first glass, I detected some chocolate aromas from the nose. It smelled like a full-bodied wine and the oak was permeating. I was really looking forward to drinking it. But I let it breathe for a few minutes.

It tasted more like a medium, which was just fine by me. It was a pleasant surprise. I could taste a little chocolate or cocoa, as the synopsis described. There is mention of loganberries. I have no idea what those are. I attached a link for your edification and mine. I like a winemaker that gets creative with the flavor hints and aromas.

But I still have no idea what loganberries are! That’s me being humorous. But really… I didn’t detect any plums or white pepper. But once again, it’s all perspective and interpretation. I’m always sensing berries and cherries in most of the reds I drink. So that’s always been a starting point for me. This is a fantastic wine. I agree that it goes with more easygoing foods like pizza and burgers.

An hour before, I had a glass of the 2012 Hot To Trot Red Blend. This is a bottle I have had several times before, and is a seminal favorite of mine. This is the first bottle of theirs I purchased, and I’ve been a fan ever since. For that alone, this will always be my favorite of theirs. And because there’s hints of cinnamon and spices, it really complements this blend very well. This is a well put together wine. It’s not that it’s any better than the Kentucky Derby Blend. It just has another aura of sentimentality, that the Derby one will also give me, if it hasn’t already.

I enjoyed both with some grapes and walnuts. But as the fact sheet suggests, pork, mushrooms, or other heartier dishes can work as well. I’d say it’s a little more than a party bottle as opposed to the Derby. So I understand their foodie recommendations.

I’ll tell you something. These PDF’s I have linked in this post, are so user friendly and approachable. I’ve learned so much just by reading these details. This is so well done.

One final note on the Kentucky Derby Blend. You may have noticed that they are Out Of Stock though their website. I bought this back in late March at Cranbrook Liquors of Cockeysville, MD, at their Dollar Days. They had cases of them at the time. I’d seen them in many shops all over the Baltimore area as of a week ago. So you may be able to find them at your local wine store, wherever you may live.

I definitely recommend both bottles for this Saturday’s celebrations. They may both be Red Blends, there are noticeable differences and are definitely pleasing to many palates. The Hot To Trot can be drank all year round. And just because the race ends Saturday, I see no reason why the Derby wine would be rendered obsolete. It’s a great bottle as well.

I’ve had several more of their Varietals as well. I look forward to writing about those in a future message.

Enjoy the week, enjoy the weekend, and of course, enjoy the Derby.

Take good care.

Best,

Ideen

One With Vino

It's a spiritual thing.

Tag: Cabernet Sauvignon

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