Wine-o: Marcus James Chardonnay

Marcus James Chardonnay, Eastern ARGENTINA
Alcohol 13.5%
Price: ~$11

Our move has been successful!  The art is up, and I am cleaning now because the dogs continue to shed, not for sanitization or moving reasons!  As the job search rages, I've converted momentarily to mondo sized wines, you know, the 1.5L steals that you can find for parties and whatnot.

If you know my current taste in white wine, you will know that I like buttery, full, Chardonnays, like Lucky Star's Chardonnay.  This is not buttery.  It is full, and the label says it all: "crisp fruity style with hints of apples and other orchard fruits..."  I really enjoy it.  It seems almost like a Sauvignon Blanc, but is drier as one would expect of a Chardonnay.  

All in all, it's great, it's large, and it's original looking. It goes well with appetizers such as tortilla chips with salsa or hummus, as well as roasted chicken.

Freya's Score: 70

Mona's Value: 6.4

Wine-o: Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Beaulieu Vineyard "BV" Coastal Estates 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, CA
Alcohol 13.5%

Price ~$11-

As I have had the pleasure to travel and visit with friends and family this summer, I thought that I would include various comments from our collective wine tastings.  I am often told that wine tastes differently to everyone, and that any review or observation is right!

"Fruity- good standard wine, great for chit chatting"

"Drinkable"

"soft, mmmm"

"smooth, no bite, not a lot of tannins"

Freya's Score: 77
Mona's Value: 7

Avocado Pit Project

Often I have wanted to grow an avocado plant from seed.  After many failed attempts, I had given up.  Until today!

While making guacamole I discovered that my avocados pits were beginning to sprout!  Now I know which end should go up in the water!  (The slightly more pointed end, the end with the round beige spot should go down and be submerged in water.)  And so it is currently living above my kitchen sink which gets some lovely southern sun.

My step-aunt lives in Southern California and has an avocado tree.  "How lucky you are!" I told her.  She then informed me that while she is able to gather 20 or so fruits not eaten by birds and squirrels, it also bears fruit once a year, about this time.  So if you're thinking ah-ha my avocado will quench my guacamole craving year round, that may not be the case...

Did I mention avocado pairs wonderfully with a Clos du Bois Chardonnay?

My Guacamole Recipe

Ingredients:

Avocados (enough for those in attendance)

Sea Salt to taste

Black Pepper

Cilantro (fresh is best, but dried will do)

minced onion (quarter of an onion for 1-2 avocados)

Chipotle Chili Pepper (note the Chipotle! can be bought at Walmart or your local superior grocery store)

Dash of lime juice

Cayenne Red Pepper (if you want to spice it up a bit)

Directions:

Mash avocados with fork, then add other ingredients and mix.  If keeping in the fridge a bit before serving, leave the pit in the bowl, it will help keep it from oxidizing.  If upon taste testing it doesn't taste right and you begin to panic, you can add some jarred salsa

Wine-o: Cellier du Rhone

Cellier du Rhone Cotes du Rhone 2009, FRANCE
Alcohol: 14%

When first opened, this wine was very acidic tasting.  However when one waits the recommended hour of airing, it was a beautiful flavor of berries.  Full bodied, I started describing it to the BF as "jammy" a flavor I am loving.

The bottle itself is beautiful green glass with a squared base (perhaps for easier storage?).  It would make a lovely candleholder, especially if you have a candelabra wine topper or lamp wick.

Vintage Notes

Price: ~$18 (estimated as this is hard to find)
Freya Score: 78
Mona Value: 4.4