Claret Cup, the Mis-named Cactus?

 

Echinocereus triglochidiatus, the claret cup cactus, is the state cactus of Colorado. Yes, since 2014. And here you thought the Legislature just debates wolves and higher taxes-I-mean-fees.

More botanical info here, including a typical dispute over subspecies. 

But let's talk about wine instead. "Claret" is a largely British umbrella term for dry red wines from the Bordeaux region of France, which is probably short on cactus.

Click to embiggen.

 

As this Google Ngram shows, use of the term "claret" in books fell off fast in the 20th century, although it's still heard conversationally in the UK, I know.

Maybe some fussy American wine merchants, wine judges, etc. still use "claret." I don't hang out with that crowd so cannot say for sure.

The grapes used in "claret" include those favorites Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, among others.  

Really, to Americanize the name, we should be calling it "California Fruit-Bomb Cabernet Cup." 

"Cab Cup" for  short.  

When Your Dog Sends You a Message

Late in May (a month when I did not blogging, sorry, but I had reasons), my wife and I made a short trip to Taos, New Mexico, to decompress and spend the evenings having dinner with various friends there. 

We had rented an AirBnB that permitted dogs, so Marco the Chesapeake was coming along. 

Like every dog I have known, he recognizes when you are packing, whether for a trip to town or a long trip, and he is right there expecting to come along. Sometimes, yes, sometimes no.

This time, I had left my bag on the bedroom floor while I tossed in last-minute items. I came back to it after doing something else — and there was his Kong toy in the bag

"Don't forget me."

It gave me great pleasure to send him the "You're doing, for sure!" signal, which was to load his crate into the Jeep.