Category Archives: Wine
In A Wine Slump
As you know wine is a passion of mine and I really enjoy finding wines that excite me and letting you know about them. I have been really eager to add some more wine reviews up here, but lately all of the … Continue reading
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A Worthy Organization
With the legislative session just around the corner here is an organization worthy of a look by readers of this blog: Marylanders For Better Beer and Wine Laws. As most of you know it is illegal to directly ship wine … Continue reading
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Black Ankle Vineyards
After all this time I finally got a chance to visit Black Ankle Vineyards. They have been open for about a year if I recall correctly and on my list of places to visit since I heard of their opening. So one … Continue reading
Filed under Booze, The Good Life, Wine
Reflections of a Wine Merchant
I just finished reading Neil Rosenthal’s book Reflections of a Wine Merchant (from FCPL). Mr. Rosenthal is a thirty year plus veteran of the wine importing business, dealing mainly in European wines and especially fine Burgundies. The book was so-so. I … Continue reading
Arroyo De La Vega Tempranillo Rose 2007
Another nice rose from Ye Old Spirit Shop on 7th Street. This one was around $10 as I recall so it’s a decent value. Made from 100% Tempranillo grapes. Had lots of nice strawberry flavors with a hint of pomegranate. … Continue reading
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Odds & Ends
Frederick Wine House is now on twitter. Their handle/user name/id/ whatever you call it (you can tell I’m not hip with Twitter) is FrederickWineHouse. In the email they sent they listed it as FredWineHo. What an awesome name. It’s a … Continue reading
2008 Estampa Rose
Now that warmer weather is upon us I usually turn to those lighter summer wines. Top of my list are rosé wines. Rosé wines have been making resurgence in recent years and if you seek out some good ones you’ll know why. These … Continue reading
Odds and Ends &The Candy Kitchen
With all that’s going on blogging is always a little light this time of year. Busy planning the menus! Just noticed that the Frederick Wine House is having the Willm Cremant d’Alsace available for tasting tomorrow (12/24) from 4pm -7 … Continue reading
Washington DC International Wine & Food Expo
Just noticed that the 10th annual Washington DC Wine & Food Expo is coming February 14th and 15th. Anyone ever been? I haven’t and am wondering if it is worth it. I like the fact that wine comes first in … Continue reading
Best Wine Store in Frederick County?
The other day I had about thirty minutes to kill in Urbana, so I went into the Urbana Liquors to check it out. I had never been there before, and to be blunt it didn’t impress me. Sometimes when you walk … Continue reading
Ahead of the Curve
A bit of tooting my own Fred horn, but loyal readers heard about it here first. In today’s food section of the WashPo guess what wine is listed as “excellent” and “a good value?” Why the one right below this post … Continue reading
Deck the Halls with Cremant d’Alsace
Saturday was putting up the Christmas tree day. Nothing but a real tree will do in the Fred household, so after a wonderful time of cutting down the tree in the falling snow and bringing it back home I … Continue reading
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Prohibition
Today, December 5th, is the 76th anniversary of the repeal of the 18th Amendment. The repeal took effect on this date when Utah became the final state to ratified the 21st Amendment. I’ll raise a glass to that! It brings to mind a quote that … Continue reading
Linganore Cellars
There was another nice article in today’s Frederick News Post about Linganore Winecellars. They must be paying them or something. Ostensibly it was about pairing the right wine with food, but all of the wines featured were from Linganore Winecellars. Honestly … Continue reading
Beaujolais Nouveau 2008
Long time readers will know my feelings on Beaujolais Nouveau. Its just something I feel compelled to try each year. I had kind of resolved that I was going to avoid the BN this year and try some of the better … Continue reading
Odds and Ends
1. Volt is having a truffle tasting night tomorrow. From their email: For one night only, on Friday, November 21, VOLT invites you to an evening of gastronomic indulgence. Welcoming guests into the Chef’s Dining Room, Chef will craft a … Continue reading
Filed under Food, Restaurant- misc., Wine
Frederick News Post Rant (Again)
I interrupt my planned series of anniversary posts to bring you the following rant. Maybe I am just feeling cranky today, but another FNP article about food and drink irritated me. As mentioned earlier the Beaujolais Nouveau season is almost upon … Continue reading
Cristallino- A Value Sparkler
Continuing in my never ending quest for good wine at a good price I want to pass on a decent value that I had the other day. Its a Spanish Non-Vintage Cava called Cristallino Cava Brut. Cava is Spanish sparkling wine and has … Continue reading
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Beaujolais Nouveau is nearly upon us
My general thoughts on Beaujolais can be found in my post here last year on the subject. In anticipation (is that really the right word?) of the Beaujolais Nouveau release date I have been reading I’ll Drink To That: Beaujolais and the French Peasant Who … Continue reading
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Quick Review- Rabbit Ridge Allure De Robles 2005
Had a bottle of this on Halloween. Picked it up at Frederick Wine House for $6.99. A rhone-syle blend (Grenache, Syrah & Mouvedre) OK- but too much oak for my taste. Not offensive with baked ziti, but nothing special. Worth what I … Continue reading
My Endorsement for November 4th!
I am quite frankly so sick of the election that every time I’m near a TV I want to run screaming for the peaceful serenity of my wine cellar and start cracking open bottles. Come to think of it I … Continue reading
Filed under Booze, The Good Life, Wine
A Good Value Wine
Times are tough (or so the media keeps telling us) and you know I love a good bargain so I though I’d share a wine that consistently delivers a good value and we enjoy at stately Fred Manor. It is Panarroz Jumilla … Continue reading
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An Interesting Wine Label
The French are usually pretty stuffy about their wine labels. By and large they have not succumbed to the cute creature/ quaint name mania that the Aussies seem particularly susceptible to (Red Bicyclette excepted). However, I came across and interesting label … Continue reading
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Yes I am a wine geek.
I keep a copy of this cartoon to ground me everytime I start geeking about nuances of cedar and leather.