Wine-o: Cupcake Angel Food 2010

Cupcake Vineyards Angel Food 2010, Livermore, CA

13% Alcohol

I was apprehensive about trying this wine.  I expected a sweet riesling like quality.  What I received was far better!  This was a great blend between a buttery California Chardonnay and a fruity Sauvignon Blanc. It is not a sweet wine, think more of a fruity Chardonnay.

Review on tastings.com

Pale golden straw color. Fruity and floral aromas of pineapple and peach jams with a soft, fruity medium body and a tangy, lemon and orange custard finish. A very attractive sipper.

Freya's Score: 8 What a fun surprise this wine was!  The labeling is also lovely.

Cost:  ~$9.00 from Walmart!

New Puppy To Buy List

When I found Freya I knew she was the doggy for me.  She was timid and beautiful, and her docked tail was strange to both of us.  I went to visit her at the shelter and was back 2 hours later with the BF to get the final stamp of approval.  He now says he liked her from the get go because I did so much, although she was a bit "muddy looking".

First thing we needed, was a kennel to put her in the car for the drive home.  We didn't think that far ahead, but she was so freaked out she just hunkered down in the passenger's seat and we were ok.  Second thing, a kennel at home so I could go buy all the other stuff she needed:

• Puppy Food
• Dog bowls (one for water, one for food, get plastic to start)
• Leash
• Collar
• Soft & Hard Chew toys
• Hair brush
• Shampoo
• Carpet Cleaner

If one were really on top of it, ideally they would have all of these items before they brought the dog home.  The next step was to make a Vet appointment.  Puppies need several booster shots to guard them against a variety of diseases.  Freya went through the necessary rounds of:

• 7-way (guards agains parvo, lepto, and many other viruses)
• Kennel Cough
• Lyme's Disease (we knew we would be traveling in the Northern USA a lot and requested this especially)
• Rabies Shot (given at 13 weeks)

The great thing is, a lot of Animal Hospitals are filled with very kind employees who will answer your questions.  I asked a ton, and was so excited with my new puppy that I probably forgot the answers to half.

Don't forget that while your puppy will make mistakes and messes, they still love you!  So correct them and then love on them, especially when they do something right or respond immediately to a stern "NO".

Wine-o: Chateau Ste. Michelle 2010 Pinot Gris

Chateau Ste. Michelle 2010 Pinot Gris Columbia Valley

13.5% Alcohol

While the Cupcake Angel Food was fruity and buttery, this has a crisp flavor to it that is completely different!  When I told my friend Dan at Macadoodle's that I wanted to try a NorthWest wine he directed me to this.  Apparently the Columbia river valley is known for Pinot Gris wines.

From the vineyard:

Our Pinot Gris style falls between the lighter Italian Pinot Grigio and the richer, rounder Pinot Gris from Alsace. The Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris offers fresh aromas and flavors of pear, fig and a hint of spice. A touch of Viognier contributes texture and an attractive floral character. This wine is a perfect match with scallops or halibut.

Freya's Score: 8 a great crisp taste that isn't overpowering

Cost:  ~$11.00 from the Pineville, MO Macadoodle's Liquor Store.  Buy a case of mixed wines and enjoy a 10% discount!  Or, check out their new e-commerce store for more great deals.

Wine-o: Charles Smith Merlot 2010

Charles Smith The Velvet Devil Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 Columbia Valley, WA

13.9% Alcohol

My initial reaction to this wine upon opening was "It tastes like smoked turkey!"  The smokey meat flavors were very tantalizing upon opening, but do not fear, they aired out in an hour, leaving a lovely velvety merlot behind.  The fruity flavors became more apparent with aeration.  This is a light merlot, delicious and lovely.

Described by Westchester Wine Warehouse

Charles Smith, the wine maker of this haunting 15,000 case production Merlot, has made an incredibly voluptuous, robust and balanced expression of this noble variety. It has a deep garnet color and an intensely concentrated nose of black cherry, blackberry essence, wild game and freshly ground black pepper. On the palate, it is full-bodied and velvety, wtih fine-grained tannins and an extremely long finish.

Freya's Score: 8 A great Merlot, not overly complex, and aired well from Day 1 - Day 4

Cost:  ~$11.00 from the Pineville, MO Macadoodle's Liquor Store.  Buy a case of mixed wines and enjoy a 10% discount!  Or, check out their new e-commerce store for more great deals.

Easter Banana Bread Muffins

This year, instead of the more traditional Easter Hot Cross Buns, I decided to make the King Arthur Flour Heavenly Healthy Banana Bread but in muffin form.

I do have a problem with this recipe, I have a hard time rationing it... hence turning it into muffins.  This also allowed me to try out a new muffin solution, instead of store bought wrappers, I used cut parchment paper.  (I love the rustic look.)  I changed the baking time to 30 minutes at 350.

In the past I have also replaced the butter in this recipe with sunflower oil.  Sunflower oil gives a great flavor to baked goods, however I have noticed that it decreases the baking time by a couple minutes.

Serve with chunky peanut butter...

Happy Easter!

Wine-o: James Mitchell Cabernet Sauvignon

James Mitchell Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Lodi, CA

13.9% Alcohol

I loved this wine from Day 1 to Day 4.  Day 1 upon opening it had a stronger smoky flavor, this mellowed out on Day 2 and really made me want to pair the wine with a good Barbecue venison.  As the smoky or oaked flavor mellowed the bright cherry and fruity flavors grew, making it pair well with homemade pizza made by the BF on Day 3.  (It should be noted that this pizza was amazing, only second to the Hoboken pizza I grew up on).

Described by fellow wine blog "Under the Grape Tree":

Grade=Above Average.  A solid red, with lots of black cherry preserves, brown spices, mocha and tobacco leaf.  Medium-bodied, approachable, a good value.

Freya's Score: 9 I loved this wine!  This is a bold and big California Cabernet.  Just what I've been craving!

Cost:  $11.88 from the Pineville, MO Macadoodle's Liquor Store.  Buy a case of mixed wines and enjoy a 10% discount!  Or, check out their new e-commerce store for more great deals.

Wine-o: Review from my Father, the California Conoisseur

Franzia Caberbet Sauvignon, 2011 CHILE

Alcohol: 12.5%

The Franzia wine is a collection of unknown vintages that have been developed since 1906, more than a century ago.  I, Andrew, friend and part-time keeper of the wolf-hound, Joy, am happy to explain to all of you some of the unique qualities of this wine.  

There is little known about this 5-liter box-wine. Millions of gallons are produced annually using grapes gleaned from 1000s of acres of old vines growing on the sun-drenched Chilean mountains. It is made using various processes that are unknown to the general public. Most impressive is that all these gallons were fermented and boxed in less than twelve months!

I am having a very difficult time trying to explain this wine. The aromas were delicate and muted, as might be expected from a generic red created by blending perhaps as many as 20 vintages from vineyards nestled intimately amongst the rocky crags of the Andes Mountains. There are delicate scents of - grapes - and more grapes. A grapey odor and taste that lingers delightfully in the mouth. However, it definitely requires aeration, and even then I was less than impressed.

I served this wine with breakfast - okay, Sunday brunch - and found the subtle (very subtle) flavors of currants and other fruit did not instantly remind me of anything. The wine is actually quite smooth. It is not harsh. Therefore, it is doubtful that additional years will improve this melange du vin.

Cost: ~ $12.98 per 5-liter box (about seven 750-ml bottles for about $2/bottle, or 40-cents per glass)  in Southern California, bought from the Albertson's location in Corona, CA. This is a great deal if you purchase it alone or with additional boxes. It is always on sale!