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Old Moon – Old Vine Zinfandel 2010

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Hello Everyone;

As the weather starts to turn cold my taste buds long for complexity and I want something that will warm me to my toes. A Zinfandel is just the thing I need. Ok to be honest, I am a sucker for Zins and I can be caught drinking Zinfandels even in warm weather, but I love them the most when I am cold.

Yet Zinfandels tend to be out of my usual everyday budget. If you are like me, have no fear because Trader Joe’s has come to our rescue by offering the Old Moon (Old Vine) Zinfandel 2010 for 5.99.

This Zin is wonderful. It has all of boldness and complexity that a Zin, especially in this price range, has to offer. The deep tones of cherry and the dark notes of plum all balanced with more than a hint of vanilla, creates a great wine, I think you will agree. I enjoyed this wine with Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash & Creamed Spinach Gratin. But I believe it would complement any hardy dish. This Zin for only $5.99 (at our local) is a find, and as far as I am concerned, a new staple.

Thank you Trader Joes!

Thank you all for reading.

Cheers,

Dearly Beloved Forever Red 2009

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A Wine Moment with Delaina

Hello Trader Joe’s  & Living Trader Joe’s fans;

We have a fantastic wine to share with you.

Dearly Beloved, Forever Red 2009 from Mendocino County, California is just the treat to trick out your Halloween celebrations. The label features a beautiful Day of the Dead mask but it is the wine inside that will have you convinced you had died and gone to wine heaven.

The label on the bottle sells itself well, with chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon hints; as well as oak spice and dark fruits, but it is the bold Bing cherry flavors that will rock your wine pallet. Although cherry is not a flavor that I pursue, this wine is truly balanced with the warmer flavors. This wine would pair nicely with any meat or pasta dish.

In fact I am enjoying a glass by itself as I write.

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Now let’s rewind. The label is what attracted me to this wine in the first place. If you like the ornate beauty of the Day of the Dead “Death Mask” this wine bottle is worth the purchase on that alone. But seriously don’t waste the wine.

The wine was $6.99 at our Trader Joe’s and worth every cent. I would recommend buying a bottle to have as your own adult treat after all of the candy has been passed out on Halloween.

Enjoy,

Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator: A Review

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The Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator: A Review of a great Wine gadget!. Have you seen those funny looking Wine Aerators and wondered what they were all about?

We have been told by a many friends, family and fellow wine lovers that to get the full effect from a wine, you should make sure that the wine has had enough air. This makes sense on some level, as wine has been corked up in the bottle for who knows how many years.

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But the science behind how much “air” to give a glass of wine was a mystery to us before we got the Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator. This  cool wine gadget allows you to open up a bottle of wine, pour a glass throught the Aerator and then TaDa! The wine is fully “aired” and ready to drink.

No more waiting, no more guessing if the wine has been open long enough…before you get to drink! (OK seriously, who really wants to open a bottle of wine and then wait for an hour… or longer….grrrr… )

The real benefit? This Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator kinda “smooths” out some of the Trader Joe’s $3.99 wines… right from the first glass… yum!

In fact when we first bought this Aerator, we did an little taste -test where we opened up a bottle of red wine and poured a glass the regular way, and then poured a second glass using the Aerator. We were pleasantly surprised to actually taste a difference between the two glasses.  Without the aerator, the wine was dryer and lacked the full taste that eventually showed up later on that evening. The glass that we passed through the aerator: the wine was smooth and the flavors were more intense right from the first sip.

Here is a link if you want to read more about the Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator.  It would make a great gift for a friend and/or yourself…

What do you think?  Do you have a Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator? Share below or on Facebook ~Thanks!

Charles Shaw (2 Buck Chuck) Merlot 2009

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Hello Everyone;

As you all know I love a good red.

Merlot is considered one of the standards when it comes to red wine. But to be honest I was becoming a little burned out on Merlots. As a result I have not been buying them. But as I said a reader and friend bought me two red and this was one of them and boy I’m glad she did.

The 2 Buck Chuck Merlot 2009 is a reminder of all of the reasons Merlots are a staple in red wine world.   Charles Shaw’s Merlot does not try to be anything other than a Merlot.

From the moment I opened this bottle and took my first sip I was reminded of all of the reasons that I use to love Merlots. This Merlot’s complexity is subtle yet consistent, the berry and cherry flavors are a perfect marriage, and I found it hard to resist once it was open.

No it is true, just look closely at my picture…yes that is right! I barely managed to get a picture before the bottle was completely empty. (Don’t worry I did not drink it all in the same day).

This wine paired nicely with rice and sautéed vegetables. Yet this wine would complement any meat dish and would be awesome with salmon.

Cheers,

Are you a Merlot drinker? What is your favorite food to pair with Merlot?