An Organic Experience

January 18, 2017January 18, 2017Leave a comment

oneelevenwine6

Leave it to near where I live to have a wining and dining excursion that wasn’t just authentic but felt as spontaneous as any night out I’ve had in some time. Based on that picture above, I would say that’s quite the understatement.

oneelevenfront

One Eleven Main Street, in well, Main Street, Bel Air, MD has been open for several months. I’m slightly embarrassed to have not this restaurant even existed. I live minutes away from historic Main Street and had passed through recently. I guess I just never noticed it. Shame on me but this is why you have good friends to steer you in the right direction.

In terms of unplanned, I had a peaceful night of doing nothing at home. Sometimes we need that. I had zero intention of going out. I was at peace with watching a cinema, eating some processed food, and calling it a night.

But you know, when you’re at peace with yourself and your plans for the evening, that’s when your friends want to hang out. And this is from one the more unlikely folks. It made my night.

I have a few friends who live near me, and when I do get a chance to hang out with them, I take full advantage. I initially met them at a one locale and thought this was perfect. It was a beautiful and brief encounter of dear friends I don’t see enough. I thought a good hour was just right. They had started earlier and looked like they were ready go to home.

This was organic in its own right. So many of our plans are constructed via invites and messaging feeds that this was a rarity that I missed. I was at peace. Fortunately, they wanted more and I was along for the ride. One Eleven Main was an inspired choice.

oneelevenwine8

I just figured a glass of wine and small plate would do the job. So much for that. We got a little carried away. But it was a celebration of sorts. My dear friends’ were celebrating a wedding anniversary all week and I’m grateful to have been able to be a part of that.

oneelevenwine1

After trying one or two wines, there was some hesitation on where to go. We all were in the mood for something medium bodied, and I noticed the Don David Reserve Malbec 2015.

Over a year ago, I reviewed the 2013 version and loved it.

After a bit of deliberation and sampling that’s what we went with. But as you can see, that’s not all that we went with.

oneelevenfood3

The cheese and charcuterie board looked like it was good for six people. It took three of us to finish it. But we took our time. We savored this thing. Aside from taking few pictures, we enjoyed this moment for what it was, an organic experience.

In this instance, like many others, it doesn’t matter what was in the mind. You may get your darker fruits and earthy undertones, but none of this mattered. To me it tasted like a full on Malbec, and a full on great wine. For under $30 this was fantastic, but you can’t put a dollar amount on a great adventure.

oneelevenwine3

I was blown away. This is a restaurant I may have not encountered for a long time, if it wasn’t for my friends. It’s good to have good friends. But it’s not about me. It was about all of us. It was an experience that will resonate with me for a long time.

And the staff was incredible. The cozy atmosphere lends itself to a sense of community, a sense of love, and a sense of friendship.

oneelevenwine5

We were the only three people at the front bar. For a few moments it felt like we were the only people on Earth. I’m not exaggerating at all, but that’s the feeling I got at times. That’s when you know everything is going right and nothing can bring down this natural high.

For more on Don David, click here. I wish I could find a list of stores that carry the wine, but perhaps online ordering may work as well. Here’s one link where the price is listed at $17, which is a solid value, or maybe this link at $15, even better.

If you’re in the area or planning on travelling to the Harford County and Bel Air, MD area, here is One Eleven Main Street’s location and menus.

I will be back but this evening will be hard to top. You know when you have a great meal and vino that you’ll be talking about for a long time? Yeah this is that. I’ve had a few of those and I’m thrilled to have this join the list. I could talk about this forever but you know, some parts of an amazing memory should be kept internal.

How do I top this? No need to top it. More awesome experiences to come.

Ideen

Wonderful, Incredible

January 11, 2017January 11, 20172 Comments

909wineapp2

I adore Vin 909. I was in love with it before I even set foot into the building. For the past couple of years I would take the drive past Downtown Annapolis into Eastport, and would always stare in awe of the building the wine cafe is housed in. It was one of those things that I romanticized without ever getting out of the car and having a glass of wine myself.

909sign2

Well one time last Summer I actually got out and was all set to walk in. You know what happened though? It was in between the hours of lunch and dinner. Of course it was closed. Of course it wasn’t supposed to happen then. Was it ever going to happen? You know I could just plan ahead, make reservations, and make all the proper arrangements to walk in. But isn’t it more exciting for the spontaneous?

So I kept on making a few more drive sand remained enamored with the restaurant. And I’ll be honest many of those times was when business was opened. I just wanted to amuse myself, but also build anticipation for there would be day I walk in and hopefully it lived up to the immense sense of hype I’ve given this place.

Over two years later and the goofy build-up later all finally ended last Thursday.

And it was done in style.

This was a momentous occasion to be shared so thankfully I did have company. I was forewarned that it’s best to make reservations or otherwise the wait will be 30 minutes or more.

That’s about the amount of time we waited but no big deal. It gave time to peruse the menu. admire the bar, the two dining rooms, and the waiting area. It’s a sight to behold for sure. I didn’t picture the place be as big as it was either. Absolutely beautiful.

This is a wine blog first and foremost. There was wine had, as well as a nuts, olives, an incredible salad, and a world class pizza. More on the pizza later.

How was the vino? We went with a bottle based on name. We didn’t see a label but the name Incredible Red by Peachy Canyon was enough to win us over. This was without even reading over the grape. It’s a Zinfandel by the way. I haven’t written about many so this was a great opportunity to discover.

Traditionally this has not been one of my favorite grapes. The Zin’s I’ve had have been met with mixed reviews. Not this one…

The 2014 Incredible Red from Peachy Canyon is a break from that mold. Oh it tastes like a Zin alright. But the scents of blackberry and black cherry were immediate upon uncorking. I’m not that much of an expert to detect nutmeg and vanilla. Actually vanilla makes sense based on the theme of the day. (For more on that click here) The synopsis mentions a smoky aroma taking over. I did taste smoke. It was earthy to me as well. But that also could be the taste of pepper on the palate. There’s so much to this wine that if I have it again it’ll taste differently.

But the olives and nuts that were paired with this wine brought about new flavors, and also showed me that this wine was anything but a disappointing Zin. This was a grower.

909winesalad2

The salad that paired with the wine isn’t listed on the online menu but it was incredible. Are you detecting a theme? The title of this one says it all. The wine, the nuts, the olives, the salad, and that pizza were all shall you say, wonderful and incredible.

909winepizza3

I will get to more on that pizza later.

I neglected to mention there was tea and dessert. To read more about that part of the journey, click here.

When the food is this extraordinary, when the company is great, and the whole vibe of the evening is off-the-charts, this wine goes to a whole new level of awesome.

I haven’t seen this wine on my radar anywhere. If it’s been at sitting at a local wine shoppe it completely went overlooked.

That’s a topic for another day. There’s a plethora of wine that many of us walk right past not knowing, We don’t even think about it. We have our favorites, are willing to try new ones, but so many go unnoticed, or this is all part of the journey. Not every wine is going to be had but many wines are meant to be tried.

And at only $15 retail, this is as a good a deal as any. At Vin 909 it was only $28. To be less than twice the bottle price at any restaurant is a heck of a deal. Leave in it to Vin 909 to do it right.

For their seasonally changing food menu click here, for their beer and wine list click here, contact info, and more about them.

This is hopefully the first of many visits. Since this is wintertime and our dinner was at night, the outdoor dining area was unavailable. I intend for my next review and recap to take place during the warmer weather months. The romance continues.

And any place that supports a close friends’ organization, which is Anne Arundel County CASA, is deserving of all the praise and all the business.

For more on Peachy Canyon, click here, here is their wine list with options to purchase online, and a map and tracker on where to buy.

More to come on Friday.

vin909front

Thanks so much,

Ideen

Best of Both…

January 4, 2017January 4, 20175 Comments

penyaviognier

Happy New Year everyone. There’s so many posts that I let linger too long that they no longer become relevant. It could be because seasons have changed, too much time has passed, or the time of year would become compromised.

If I let the wines I tried from Red Red Wine Bar of Annapolis, MD remain uncorked and without the proper review, then I would ruin Christmas and the holidays forever. That was a joke by the way.

I was of course going to write about my experience a few weeks back, in conjunction with the fabulous pizzas we had, but all of the holiday everything took over. That might be me making excuses but it also gave me time to reflect a little more on this experience, and see if these wines I tasted resonated with me into the new year. And has it aged well with me.

A great wine ages well but so does an organically awesome experience.

And I always attempt to write about wine in a way that is approachable, relatable, and accessible to everyone.

Little did I know that I would get such a valuable lesson in New World Vs. Old World.

It’s one of those things we often taken for granted. When we sip wine we usually just want it to taste a certain way, and for us to feel good about what we’re drinking. How often do we think about where the wine is coming from?

For me I’d like to know the source. Knowledge is power. But knowledge when it comes to wine is even more invaluable. It opens so many doors and steers conversations in regards to food and beverage into magical places. I’ve found myself in riveting discussions because of what I’ve learned about wine and even more what my peers have taught me, whether directly or by happenstance.

So without getting any more long-winded I’m happy to write about a new world and an old world varietal.

The 2015 Penya Viognier is a treasure. And as much as it paired great with the pizza we had, I can only imagine how great this would be in the summer. With its inclusion of summer fruits like mango, pineapple, and peach this is perfect all year round. But when it’s warmer in climate I can only imagine how joyous this is with a less hearty meal.

And the novice in me also thinks of New World (which is what this wine is) is the addition of fruits, more oak, and more creativity than it’s Old World counterparts. I also think many New World wines want to please many people at once. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Wine is intended to make as many people happy as possible.

For more on this wine, which is distributed by Regal Wine, click here.

Now for the Old World.

villapuccini3

The 2012 Villa Puccini Toscana is what old world is all about. It’s a medium bodied wine that is easy to drink and easy to drink now. I found it just as light if not lighter than the Viognier. But that could be because of the heavy holiday eating going on at the time. And what else screams Old World more than Italy.

90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot seems simple enough.

However, I’ve had the Villa Puccini countless times in the past. It’s just one of those wines that I tend to see everywhere. I’ve had it at restaurants, seen it at parties, and swear I’ve seen it sold in many a wine shoppe. And it has always been reasonably priced and easy to drink, and to pair with everything. If that isn’t old world then I don’t know what is.

But what’s old world and new world to me may be different for you, and different or everyone else. And that’s the joy in wine drinking.

And more for on this wine which is distributed by HeyDay Corporation, click here.

I want to once again thank Bethany at Red Red Wine Bar for a world class experience that will forever stick with me as a great memory for this past holiday season.

I’ve seen both wines priced in stores anywhere from $9-$12. Both are bargains for what you’re getting.

This is only the beginning. Their wine list is loaded with goodness and an inspired collection of wines that I won’t be able to ever do in its entirety. But I can try a few. And I hope to revisit this within the next month or so.

One wine I forgot to mention was their Chardonnay on tap. I may have actually enjoyed it more than the others. Not for the fact that it was on tap (well maybe). But for the simple flavor. It’s my fault I didn’t investigate further. But it was wonderful. Just another in the many reasons I will be back.

To be continued. And this is likely the last holiday post for a while.

But for old times sake, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

redredwinebarelf

Ideen

Basement Party

November 16, 2016November 22, 20164 Comments

mulledwinewithcookies2

This was supposed to be the calm before all of the holiday themed posts. We’re way past the point of no return. And I’m glad. We got nearly two months of this and it’ll fly by. So this is all about embracing community, the ones you love, whether it be your friends, family, your pets, or all of the above. And we’re going to get all of the above and so much more.

Highlandtown is a a part of Baltimore that is near and dear to me. In a previous life I actually did leave here. But at the time it was just on the verge into becoming the flourishing and thriving neighborhood it has become today. And it seems like they’ve only just scratched the surface.

basementbartour

I’ve been a sucker and lover for festivals, community events, and neighborhood block parties for as long as I can remember. So it comes to my surprise that it took me this long to fully partake in their annual Basement Bar Tour. And what a beautiful congregation of people it has become.

In previous incarnations I only was able to make it to the tail end and only make a couple of the houses and the post party celebration at DiPasquales. Oh how I love DiPasquales. I wrote about them once. You can read that here.

But before I go on any more tangents, lets focus on the topic at hand. The basement tour was genuine and loaded with soul.

We all put down a relatively cheap $20 to participate in the tour and all the houses (not so much basements anymore) welcomed us with open arms.

Many had snacks, comfort food, beer, mixed drinks, and of course wine. Yes I need to talk about wine. That’s important to this post and to the integrity of this blog. Most important of all, there were friendly faces and friendly conversations with everyone.

I got to reconnect with friends I haven’t seen in a while. I got to bond with friends in a way that I ordinarily wouldn’t if we were at a crowded bar or party. Not that either is right or wrong. But there is something that much more authentic about a neighborhood of friends all gathering for the same reason. What it led to me is what is symbolic of what the holidays and what the true meaning of life is all about. I don’t know the exact words as to what life is all about. But the terms good, community, friendship, and family come to mind.

I’ll leave most of the houses to your imagination. Many of my experiences on this day are for my and my friends’ internal memories. But of course one house did that stand out that’s worth sharing…

mulledwinewithcookies

It’s never too soon for Mulled wine. Well it may taste funnier in the normal months but I think you catch my drift. But if not than that’s cool too.

This was house number, (hmm.. I forgot) on the tour. My friends and I were already in a good place based on the last few residencies. I kept wondering what surprises each house would bring next. At this house we got macaroni and cheese, chili, and pulled chicken.

mulledwinewithfood

Just when you think you’ve seen it all we get fresh baked cookies and that mulled wine. Oh my goodness. The host kept having to refill because it was going so fast.

He went over the recipe as he was replenishing the wine, but it has completely escaped my memory. That’s my fault and I take full responsibility for not being able to share that with you. I even saw the gentleman later on and thanked him for making such an awesome concoction. And of course I once again forgot to ask him what it contained.

mulledwinewithcookies

It’s safe to assume the Bota Box wine was used, since you can see it in some of these photos. And it was neighbors to that amazing contraption making the mull. I’m savoring some right now.

Which leads me to say I want to make some mulled wine. And I fully believe the possibilities on how to make it are endless. It’s to your discretion. The wine is readily available to you. All we have to do is throw in some fruit, spices, and anything else palpable till your hearts content.

mulledwinewithcookies3

This made my day and we were only around the halfway point. Four hours plus flew by. And with any fun event time doesn’t stand still. It accelerates at a scorching pace. And I fully intend to do my best to slow some of it down and appreciate all the moments. Not everything will be captured in my blogs but I’ll do my best to share some of the best. The Basement Bar Tour is some of that best.

In the spirit of community I’d like to promote some of the local businesses in the neighborhood. Some I’m proud to say are great friends of mine. Some I’m proud to say I support on at least a semi-regular basis. If you’re in and around the area, definitely check them out before the holidays and the year is out. And this will be edited to add more over time, so my humblest of apologies if I leave anyone out. That is not my intent.

Links will be listed where available :

Peak Performance Training

peak1

RoofTop Hot – Urban Farm & Sustainability Services

rooftophot

Highlandtown Gallery/Magnolia Designs/Night Owl Gallery

Rust-N-Shine

rustnshine

Y:Art

y-art

DiPasquales

dipasqualesside

A huge thanks to all the houses that welcomed us in and seemed genuine happy to be a part of this. And to DiPasquale’s for an amazing celebration by the fire, at the end. And of course the Highlandtown Community Association.

I’m ready for the holidays. Oh wait, they’re already here!

More cheer to come,

Ideen

Free Spirit

October 12, 2016October 12, 20162 Comments

lavielleplatecupcakes

I love art, especially when it’s near my backyard. Baltimore has plenty of galleries and museums at little to no cost to you, for your viewing pleasure. How many of us take advantage of this? I can say with most certainty, I don’t give myself the opportunity to expose myself to more art and more culture than I really should.

art3year

The Alchemy of Art embodies what a passion and love for your craft is truly all about. The owner, Sheridan Costa, has made this one of the places to be in Fells Point, and Baltimore for that matter. Best of all, it’s free to attend. What else is best? Well there’s lots of arts, lots of crafts, and lots of gems that fit just about everyone’s budget.

artfront

And you know what else is cool? They throw lots of charming parties and events. And these are some of the most authentic and laid back parties I’ve attended in the city. There’s a great mix of people from all walks of life. And when we’re under this roof, we’re all here for the same reason, to appreciate art and to appreciate one another’s company.

Good parties usually means good food. And good food segues into good wine, and vice versa.

The longstanding sentiment for me with The Alchemy and anywhere that throws a soiree is to try to bring something. Never come empty handed. Luckily, there is a wine and spirits shop caddy-corner to the gallery.

It’s now become tradition for my friends and I to find affordable bottles of wine for purchase and take that short walk to gallery. If we run out, it’s just seconds away. And the store has extended hours compared to most shoppes, so we have no excuses!

Last Thursday was special. It was Alchemy’s third anniversary party. Time is flying. I don’t know how long I’ve been fortunate enough to visit. It hasn’t been the entire three years, but it’s been a significant part. And the gallery is getting better by the year, and better by each visit.

We were told there would be loads of cupcakes and foods. So vino is necessary. This time I was feeling sentimental (that tends to be every week) and wanted a wine with animals on the label. For no reason, other than I love animals and animals on a wine label. Yes, chickens!

The 2015 Vintage from La Vieille Ferme Rouge fits the bill as am everyday wine, for so many reasons. First of all, the price I was able to find it at was $9.00. That’s a no-brainer. You see a bottle like this at this rate, you grab it, you bring it to a party and everyone will love you. Actually if you were invited someone must love you anyways to some extent, so the wine will be an added bonus.

lavielledisplay

This Rhone Blend has some spice and some kick to it. There’s something dark about it. It’s almost akin to eating a piece of dark chocolate. Well in that similar vein, there were plenty of cupcakes at this party, so hopefully someone got to sip this wine with a chocolate or another enticing cupcake. My wine never had a chance. It was decimated in minutes.

Even though I didn’t harvest the grapes, or be involved in the fermentation or bottling process, it feels good when other friends and folks finish what you brought to a party. A little piece of me feels alright.

This wine will resonate. It has this distinct taste that separates itself from similar red and Rhone blends you would find at bargain prices. It’s a bitter taste but it’s a good one. There’s nothing extraordinary or life changing about this wine, but it brings much to the table, aside from the price.

And I’ve seen this wine everywhere. And as low as $7.00. So if any of you are interested, it’s a standard label that might be at your neighborhood store.

Here are the tasting notes. And even some more over here.

I look forward to their next party. There’s a good vibe, with good people, and plenty of awesome things on display and for purchase. I’ve included pictures throughout this post.

If you’re interested in learning more, the Alchemy of Art’s contact info can be found here.

They throw a good party near the holidays, so hopefully this will be revisited. And they deserve multiple visits.

artrecords

Support art and support local. Yes!

Ideen

Only In Olney

September 28, 2016September 28, 20161 Comment

olneythewines

Yes I’m now officially part of this exclusive club. I got my first ‘Get Stained’sticker from the fine folks at Olney Winery. And it only took my fourth visit to the Maryland Wine Festival to get there. Funny how I built something up so significantly for years, and it was all about a sticker. If you understand the sarcasm, you realize that anyone who wanted a sticker, got one. But it’s fun to pretend that this is an exclusive group of wine drinkers and lovers of life, that it’s the ultimate badge of honor, and no less than that. And maybe it is.

So here we go again. Last year I did three recaps of some of my favorite booth visits at this most exciting of fiestas. These posts can be found here, here, and finally this gem.

I had no set plan. I never do. I could have written two months worth of material from the event but certain scenarios, wine and dinner parties, and holidays steered course. I love that. Once again I have material to last me a couple of months but I don’t see it happening on consecutive weeks. We shall see. It’s what makes this blog fun. So before I go on another tangent, I will go with the very first tent I stopped by, the aforementioned, Olney.

olneycabwinefest At the event itself they only had two wines I had interest in trying, their For Your Eyes Only Cabernet Sauvignon and their X Brothers Pinot Noir. The former I’ve had before and on a very first taste at their tasting room (more on that shortly) I was floored. I bought a bottle immediately. I may have had other wines but this was the standard bearer at the time.

Since then I’ve purchased this same wine at various retailers with mixed results. Maybe it was a bad batch, bad cork, waiting too long, or the universe telling me not to try it again, but it’s not the wine I remember. But on this day the recipe seemed different (as every vintage should be) but my palate was rejoicing once again. This is the Cab I remembered. I see more tannins were added, that oak I remember, and my favorite inclusion of all, pepper was back and with a vengeance. Oh how I love thee.

olneypinotwinefest

But just when I thought it could’t get any better, the X Brothers Pinot Noir really wowed me. I almost thing it’s truly difficult to butcher Pinot. And most are simple, easy to drink, and get the job done. But this is on another level. It’s still warm enough outside to have something light yet slightly cooler to appreciate this same bottle all the same. This is a wine for right now, in this moment. The teases of fruit and spice are a nice segue into fall. If you like fall. I have mixed feelings but will make the most of the season where I can.

I would say that we’re done and this was a great first stop at the festival. I got my sticker and went about my merry way. Yet I had an inspired thought. If the opportunity presented itself I would stop by the tasting room, which is near where I grew up and only about an hour away from me now. I wanted to enhance this post and say thanks in person.

olneysign

My one and only (Olney?!) visit was a couple of years ago by pure happenstance, or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe all roads led to this.

olneysign2

Funny because Olney has changed so much since I was a kid. You can still see the original footprints of a town that has now evolved. Mom and pops are now chains, more chains are moving in, and the quaintness is there but not like before. But the tasting room puts gives this town something bold, unique, and inspiring. Not many places can say they have a winery within a shopping district. Pretty cool I know.

olneylight

So what do you know? One scenario into another brought me here, and just in the nick of time to put this post up.

A major thank you goes to Bryan who helped conduct the tasting and gave me a few extra pours for free.

olneypinot And instead of recapping every wine I had I will expound on another one that blew me away as well. Yes I was all set to get the Pinot Noir but then the Tuscan Sunset Sangiovese had to rear its beautiful head. Oh my goodness. The no-so-subtle hints of strawberry and white pepper were more than enough to make which bottle to purchase a much more agonizing decision than it really needed to be. But they’re both equal in quality and superiority.

olneysangiovese

So what did any irrational and indecisive person do? I went with both. This is one of those times I decided to treat myself. We need to treat ourselves more, within reason of course.

olneysangiovese2

The Pinot at $19.95 and the Sangiovese at $17.95 will likely be the most expensive bottles I’ll buy this year and for a while. I’ve always said around $20.00 is where my cut off will be, unless I’m feeling really ambitious. And the wine has to be immaculate. Both of these fall under that category at a reasonable price. As an unexpected bonus, my $7.00 tasting fee was waived. I hope I don’t get anyone in trouble for mentioning that.

olneymillwhite

Honorable mention goes to the Olney Mill White Chenin Blanc, which tasted like the tropics with some apple thrown in.

With a couple of exceptions, every wine I sipped went from good to magnificent. And again, it’s all based on your palate and what you like. It looks like mine is resuming back to my preference for the dry reds, even if the two I purchased were on the lighter end. As we progress through the year, the full bodies is the likely scenario.

Bryan also gave me a tour of the winery and showed me the fermentation process up close. There’s a strong possibility that this will be revisited in a post late this year/early next year. I won’t hint at much more than that. But I may be taking part in something special.

This is a not your typical winery. There’s no vines or even an outside. Everything is done in-house and it’s a concept that I could see becoming much more popular as time goes on. Yet many of of us, including myself, like tradition. We like seeing grapes grown and an inspirational patio/backyard set up when we go to a tasting. I like both, there’s room for both, and there’s room for everyone. Here’s more information on their concept, their mission, and a brief synopsis of their history.