December 14, 2017

Brady – Brady’s Blend Red Wine

I finished (almost) all my shopping this morning!  Serious bonus points for me.  I’m usually looking for gifts the week before Christmas.  I still need to stop at my local liquor store (Craft Beer run for my bother-in-law) and I need to head out to my favorite wine shop (Talk of the Table) for a couple of adult gifts.  But then I’m done.

Well, except for the baking of Christmas cookies.  I’ve started, but I bake several hundred cookies to give to co-workers, students, and family.  It’s my stress reliever of the holiday, believe it or not.  I love to cook, I love to bake.  Right now in the oven?  A batch of English Toffee cookies.

Since my shopping is done, I’ve started looking for my Christmas Eve wine. 

Christmas Eve is special in my house.  Many years ago, my husband and I decide Christmas Eve is for us.  We don’t invite family or friends over.  We go open our gifts and make a special meal. I try to make sure I have a wine that’s extra special.

This bottle was a gift from a very special group of ladies in my life for my most recent birthday.  I skipped over my birthday in this blog.  Needless to say, it was a big one.

I like Washington State wines.  The nose on this is heavy, some dark fruit, smoke, and tannin.  The flavor is equal to the smell.  It’s a big heavy red, unusual for something labeled as a blend.

It’s easy to drink, but let it get some air first.  To me, the bottle was better after being open for a day (but I didn’t aerate the first glass).

I can’t tell you much about this winery.  It’s virtually impossible to find this bottle online if you look.  But it’s worth searching out if you can find one.

I hope your holiday planning is underway, happy, and not too stressful.  I’ll be baking cookies the rest of the month (and probably dog treats, too), trying wines, and enjoying the season.

Take time this month to stop and listen.  Look around.  Enjoy the lights instead of rushing past.  Drop your change in red collection tin and smile at the person ringing the bell.  Too often we rush, missing the beauty, joy, and warmth of the holiday season.

Stop.  Drink a glass of wine on an outside patio, enjoy the cold, and watch the shoppers pass you by.  Have your photo taken with Santa (no matter how old you are).  And enjoy the holiday season.