Wine-o: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages

Georges DuBoeuf 2010 Beaujolais Villages, FRANCE

Alcohol 12.5%

Price $12

This is a red wine that definitely ought to be aired.  When I first tasted it, it had almost no flavor.  However the nose was very interesting, delicate.  The wine is smooth, very smooth.  To me I thought this mean no tannins, and the website describes it as "a smooth wine with fine tannins".

This wine is from the Beaujolais region of France, hence the description on the website.  The wines tend to be simple; low in tannins and higher in acidity.  I reviewed last Thanksgiving the 2011 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau.  Unlike that vintage which is drunken immediately, this type of wine can be stored for a couple of years.

Freya's Score: 71

Mona's Value:  5.9

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Harpoon Pumpkin Cider

Harpoon Brewery Pumpkin Cider

Windsor, Vermont

Alcohol

Price $8- (6-pack)

Imagine our surprise when we found not just Cider, but Pumpkin cider at the Harpoon Brewery store in Windsor!  Having tasted now the regular Cider and the Pumpkin, I will admit I prefer the regular cider. The pumpkin adds a bit of spice, and reminds me some of an apple pie.  The BF found it too sweet, but I prefer it over a dark lager or stout.

I am very excited to try to make beer bread with it as I think it will be amazing!

Freya Score 71

Mona Value 8.9

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Educational Video

Please enjoy this informative video on the different varietals of wine from our friends in the Paso Robles Wine Country.  Happy Saturday!

Wine-o: Smoking Loon Chardonnay

Smoking Loon 2009 Chardonnay, California
Alcohol:  13.5%
Price: ~$10.50

I confess, I bought this wine because of the amazing store display.  There is a sweepstake for this bike, and of course I entered myself, and The BF into it.  How cool would it be to have a wine cruiser bike?! (The only downside is that this is not a step through "ladies" cruiser which is my favorite...)

I selected a Chardonnay from their wide variety which included Old Vine Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, and more.  The wine had a pleasant, subtle taste of fruits.  It wasn't as dry as I prefer, but a bit more floral in taste.

Freya's Score 70
Mona's Value 6.7
The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price; this produces a better analytic which takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Heady Topper

Heady Topper Double IPA Waterbury, Vermont

Alcohol 8%

Price $12 (4-pack of 16 oz.)

The brewery is located in Waterbury, VT just 20 minutes southeast of Burlington along I-89 and right next to the Ben & Jerry's factory.  It is again a very nondescript building, but close to the highway.  They sell growlers and 4-packs of cans.  (Perhaps check their facebook ahead as they were out when we visited; they had just filled all of their Burlington area orders.)

This beer gains rave reviews from everyone we've met.  And Beer Advocate has ranked it as the #3 beer in the world.  Pretty impressive if you ask me.  To me, the hoppy flavors dissolved into a fruity goodness, swirling around my mouth.  It was a very different experience from other beers I've tasted.  I also like this brewery's business model.  This is the #1 beer their customers like, and so it is the ONLY beer that they brew.  Simple, smart, and lucrative.

The BF describes this as "#1 beer that I've ever had... that's still in production".  That's pretty good if you ask me...

Freya's Score: 98

Mona Value: 8.2

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc

Cupcake 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

Central Coast California

Alcohol 13%

Price $12

My mother is quite the fan of Sauvignon Blanc.  Usually they aren't as dry as a Chardonnay, and they often have a trace of citrus or herbal zest to them.  She particularly likes those of the herb resonance, such as Nobilo and Kono.  

However, the Cupcake is a little more affordable, and very available at almost any wine shop.  This wine has a nice zing to it and is more on the herbal side than citrus.  Definitely serve this chilled.  It paired well with cheese hors d'oeuvres and a humid evening.  Not overly sweet and a bit on the drier side; the whole family enjoyed this!  (Although I would still buy the Cupcake 2010 Angel Food over this vintage...)

Freya's Score 79

Mona's Value 6.6

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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