The 9th Annual Charmed & Cherished benefit wine event was held April 25 bringing together wine lovers for an important cause. The event benefits the Cherished Friends of Ahava and their special guests program. Through the program nearly 900 men and women undergoing cancer treatment have been provided complimentary spa and wellness services.It certainly is a worthwhile cause – and the wine is quite an attraction as well. More than 40 wines were poured thanks to the generosity of Heidelberg Distributing. Delicious appetizers were also available to nosh on while viewing the various raffle baskets and auction items. The Toledo Club provided an elegant setting for the several hundred attendees.
A troupe of four attended from Toledo Wines and Vines, including Green Dragon, Glorious T and the Cabinator. We opted for the special reserve tickets (for an extra $10) that provided access an extra half dozen upscale wines.
My favorite was the 2009 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick red blend from Walla Walla Washington. This is an estate blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. The wine is rich, ripe and bursting with New World goodness. It retails for about $40.
Two other wines that merit special comment are the St. Francis Zin and the Luigi Tacchino Barbera. The St. Francis 2009 Old Vines Zinfandel is from Sonoma. This wine is a beauty with concentrated black cherry flavor and a long finish.
The 2009 Luigi Tacchino Barbera is fresh and fruity. Like many Italian wines, this is a beautiful partner with a variety of foods (try chicken or pork chops). The wine is aged in stainless steel, so there are no harsh tannins.
Other tasting team favorites include:
- Lucky Country Shiraz, Australia
- Conn Creek Anthology red blend, Napa Valley
- Mumm Cuvee M sparkling white, Napa Valley
- Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington
- Trapiche Malbec blend, Argentina
No comments:
Post a Comment